Ukraine, Jan 1th 2023
Dear Mr. Antonio,
In the festive atmosphere of spring when the whole world is celebrating the arrival of the new year, with hopes for the best things to come to oneself and loved ones, I also join in with the same anticipation. I hope that the world will become a better place each day, where people from all corners are friendly and loving towards one another. In this joyful and warm atmosphere, I humbly write this letter to send you my congratulations and warm greetings!
I understand that you are very busy, so I only dare to ask for a few minutes of your time. Currently, children like me in different parts of the world are still facing extremely laborious work, lack of food, persistent hunger, families torn apart, and chaos... unable to experience a bountiful spring, sir. Therefore, in the midst of the world's pressing issues, I hope you will reconsider and pay attention to the matter of children, their rights. Children are the future seedlings of our nation, but they are being suppressed, forced... to lose their lives in devastated streets, in desolate seas. It truly pains the heart.
Under the names of streets, the threat of bullets, we, the children, live in fear day and night, uncertain of what will happen to our lives and our future when our country is submerged in war. I used to think it was just a game that would stop in a moment. But no, the war caused by Russia has lasted for over a year. Countless sorrows and losses have enveloped this land of Ukraine.
Yesterday, my friend and I just returned from the realm of death, lucky to have escaped from the pile of rubble caused by a ballistic missile directly hitting our school. But our teacher and other classmates were not as fortunate, they will forever remain in our beloved school on the sacred land of Ukraine, which Russia used every military tactic to seize.
I know that Ukraine is a land rich in resources, strategically located, so Russia uses the excuse of eradicating fascists to invade by any means and with all types of state-of-the-art weapons in order to occupy as much as possible. But oh! Everyone only lives for a few decades, who can keep the shell of life forever? Even the stomach has its limits, so why be so greedy? Have those individuals turned into demons, wicked sorcerers, haven't they? If that's the case, I ask you to establish the mightiest army to sweep them away. Restore a peaceful night to the world, give us children a joyful and innocent childhood, the opportunity to go to school, to be warm, and to be happy.
Oh, sir, I will sing a song for you that I really like!
"This Earth belongs to us, regardless of the color of our skin, dear dove, the cooing of loving birds, oh sea eagle, the sound of birds soaring above the waves, let's fly together, to make the Earth spin, let's fly together, to make the Earth spin."
Thank you for listening to me sing. Once again, I wish you good health, happiness, and success on the path ahead.
A child from Ukraine.