Editorial

We were awakened on this past Thursday with the horrifying news of the military invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
As an international association brought together by a common interest which centers on the tomato crop, we have since our foundation become used to cultural differences. Differences in language, religion, politics, opinion and attitude have not prevented us from working together, so that we have become what could easily be described as, above all, a group of friends.
I know that I can express here and on behalf of us all, the horror we feel at these dark days for Ukraine. 
The adjectives which are usually used to describe war:  Fear, Death, Destruction, Injury, will be now accompanied by the more intimate and personal tragedies of young lives cut short, broken families, lost children, Hunger and Homelessness.
The flight of women and children from the war zones in Ukraine to neighboring countries has started, with hundreds of thousands arriving at the borders of neighbor countries in the first days of the war.  
If common sense, charity and understanding do not prevail, and the war cannot be halted, these numbers will increase dramatically.
As this tragedy unfolds literally in front of our very eyes, we MUST be active in supporting the innocent victims.
It is easy to devalue the importance of the expression of our individual opinions, of our prayers and of our thoughts for our friends in Ukraine, 
I may be misunderstood by some, but we must also pray for Russia, that they may find that the true value of Peace and Understanding is that strength is not synonymous with right and that the pursuit of Peace is not a sign of weakness.

Martin Stilwell, President, Tomato News SAS
on behalf of all tomato processors