Latest news with #Lego
IOL News
4 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
The Spectacle of Innocence: How the Narrative of 'Stolen Children' Became the West's Weapon of War
The portrayal of children in the Ukraine-Russia conflict serves as a potent tool of propaganda, revealing the complexities behind the narratives that shape public perception and policy, writes Gillian Schutte. Image: IOL / Ron AI In war, the image of a suffering child has long been one of the most potent tools of propaganda. A child is the cipher of innocence, the mirror of adult failure, the vessel into which we pour our grief, outrage, and moral certainty. It is no wonder, then, that in the ongoing geopolitical conflict between NATO-backed Ukraine and Russia, children have become a front line in the information war. The Washington Post's tear-soaked profile 'Thousands of Ukraine's children vanished into Russia. This one made it back' follows the return of 12-year-old Illia Matviienko, a child allegedly abducted, reprogrammed, and rescued just in time from the clutches of Russian state adoption. It is a finely crafted narrative. Illia is traumatised but eloquent. His grandmother is tireless and brave. His toys are metaphors. His memories are edited for maximum effect. But behind the Lego blocks and Garfield plush toys lies a darker machinery of manipulation. The story reads like it was written by a Pentagon-funded scriptwriter, with emotional cues planted at every paragraph break, not to report on the tragedy of war, but to mobilise sentiment for war. Let us look past the misty-eyed storytelling and ask the harder questions. What really happened to Ukraine's children? Who is keeping the score? And who benefits from turning their suffering into clickbait diplomacy? The Propaganda Template, From Wag the Dog to Wag the Child The Washington Post, long known for its role in manufacturing consent for U.S. foreign policy, frames Illia's ordeal as evidence of systematic Russian child theft. His story becomes the keystone in a broader claim: that tens of thousands of Ukrainian children have been deported, re-educated, and erased by the Russian state. The article even cites figures: 'at least 19,500 children' according to Yale University's Conflict Observatory, whose funding, incidentally, is being cut under Donald Trump's administration. Ukrainian officials inflate the figure still further: 'maybe 50,000, maybe 100,000.' No one knows for sure. No one can prove anything. But certainty is not required in the spectacle of war propaganda, only repetition and righteous tears. The real figures? According to Russia's official delegation at the Istanbul peace talks, led by Vladimir Medinsky, the only list ever presented to Moscow by Ukraine contains 339 names. Russia says it has already returned 101 of these children. Ukraine, for its part, has returned 22 Russian children who ended up in its care. These are verifiable exchanges. And yet the Western press refuses to mention these facts. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Selective Suffering, Why Is Only One Child a Headline? The case of Illia Matviienko is tragic. But why is it the story? Because it performs well. It has all the ingredients of pathos: dead mother, lonely boy, forbidden adoption, grandmother's heroism, poetic justice. It sells. It moves. It inflames. But in Russia's version of events, there are also children traumatised by shelling, evacuated from war zones, not abducted. Many were found alone in buildings or hospitals. Others were taken to safety at great personal risk by Russian soldiers, some of whom died in the effort. And when relatives come forward, parents, aunts, grandmothers, the children are reunited. No obstacle, no cover-up. Just bureaucracy and war. Yet these stories are not told. There are no Washington Post front pages for the Russian soldier who saves a wounded child under fire. There is no Pulitzer bait in the case of a child returned to a reunited family in Donetsk. These children do not cry in English. They are not crying for NATO. Manufactured Numbers, Manufactured Consent Russia has repeatedly demanded evidence: names, documents, statements from parents. None have been forthcoming. The Ukrainian and U.S. positions rely on estimates, projections, and a deep well of emotional speculation. Russia, meanwhile, says: here is the list you gave us, here are the returns we've made. The disparity between accusation and evidence is not accidental. It mirrors the propaganda campaign that preceded the war in Iraq, the intervention in Syria, the bombardment of Libya. Western soft power thrives on emotional shorthand: Saddam's incubator babies, Gaddafi's Viagra-fuelled soldiers, and now Putin's child kidnappers. It is a pattern. The facts are fluid. The imagery is fixed. What Russia Says, and the West Won't Print Medinsky's statement in Istanbul was clear. Russia is open to verification. Russia is returning children. Russia is establishing regular exchanges. It has proposed temporary ceasefires in 'grey zones' so commanders on both sides can collect the corpses of fallen soldiers, a practical and humane suggestion, met with silence. Meanwhile, Western media focuses on Lego toys and bedtime trauma. It does not ask why Ukraine will not publish a full list of the missing children. It does not examine the political utility of these stories in maintaining Western support, arms supplies, and diplomatic cover. Nor does it question why the first move in any peace negotiation is not truth and reconciliation, but a spotlight on Russian war crimes. The narrative must be secured before the facts can catch up. The Illusion of Innocence Yes, Illia's story is heartbreaking. All war stories involving children are. But to isolate it from the broader matrix of wartime reality, to use it as a blunt weapon against the Russian state, to decontextualise and sentimentalise it into a moral fable, is to exploit that child all over again. War is complex. Children are not pawns. But in the battle of narratives, they become precisely that. They are used to distract from inconvenient truths, to derail diplomacy, to justify endless escalation. And while the West cries for Illia, what of Vitalii, the friend left behind in the Donetsk hospital? What if he was never abducted, just never found? What if he was just another casualty of the same propaganda war that made Illia a headline? Beyond the Toy Box The Washington Post piece may be compelling. It is certainly emotive. But it is not journalism. It is spectacle. A carefully staged morality play in which there are only villains and victims, no context, no complexity, no dissenting voice. The weaponisation of children is one of the oldest tricks in imperial warfare. And as long as mainstream media continues to traffic in half-truths and Hollywood storylines, the real victims of this war, on both sides, will remain unheard. We should care for every child affected by war. But we should be suspicious of which children we are told to care about, and why. The portrayal of children in the Ukraine-Russia conflict serves as a potent tool of propaganda, revealing the complexities behind the narratives that shape public perception and policy, writes Gillian Schutte. Image: IOL
Buzz Feed
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
24 Crafting Kits That'll Help You Discover A New Hobby With Your Hands
A marble paint kit for a family activity that you can later use in OTHER crafts. The gift that keeps on giving! A Lego flower bouquet because you thought adult Legos were all about Star Wars and architecture — until now. A mini Bob Ross paint-by-numbers kit to help you start out small with your own "happy little trees" before you move onto bigger canvases and projects! This comes with three pre-printed canvases, seven paint pots, a mini brush, and a mini easel to help display your handiwork and inspire further artistic endeavors. Or a customized pet paint-by-number that'll be a step up from the ones of your childhood. After all, your kitty is a star and is practically begging to be honored in a work of art. A transparent embroidery kit so you can pick out a design that'll ~mesh~ well with your existing decor. A modeling kit of a classic painting to bring some extra dimension to a gorgeous piece of art. If you can't decide between modeling clay and painting, this is a fun compromise. A Sculpd pottery kit so you can realize some stunning creations without needing to use a kiln (like lots of pottery requires). Yes a pottery class is cool and fun but sometimes you'd rather DIY something at 1:30 a.m. on a Tuesday while you catch up on Love Island. Or a 5-pound bucket of Crayola Air Dry Clay for under $20 will help you really get a bit wild with it without feeling like it was a waste of money if your creations don't turn out like you wanted. A DIY stained glass raven to toe the line between spooky, and extremely cute and charming. Sounds like a great excuse to rewatch The Fall of the House of Usher. A felted succulent monster kit that'll give you a new hobby now that it's dark outside when you leave work AND some nice little desk buddies to rival your work nemesis's gorgeous desk plants. A tiger face punch needle kit for a snazzy interior addition that you can point at and say, "I made that" anytime someone asks. But, also anytime someone *doesn't* ask. A compact, beginner-friendly watercolor palette to help you get your paint brushes wet when it comes to this super fun medium. It's not for everyone but it can be quite forgiving so you can build your confidence! This comes with 100 colors to help you realize your artistic vision. A pineapple string art kit that won't care that you're not so great at coloring or painting in the lines. It's going to look so charming up on your wall! Hand Lettering 101 if your penmanship has been compared to that of a doctor's or a chicken's, and you were so rudely reminded of it when filling out cards for people on your list. Recipients won't even know what's coming the next time you send out a card. A wax seal stamp kit in case you'd like to feel like you're in a period piece when sending your pals some snail mail. The kit has all the supplies you'll need to get started! A mini animal sewing kit that doesn't require any prior sewing experience to craft. I mean, just look at them! A punch needle art workshop that comes with a box of materials and a tutorial from artist Arounna Khounnoraj of Bookhou. A rainbow dot afghan blanket PDF pattern if you're feeling super ambitious (I believe in you!) and wanna wrap yourself up in something you made with your own hands. The concept! Can you believe?! Or a cloud blanket knitting kit that comes with the works for a dreamy result that'll give you plenty of time to get the hang of your brand-new hobby. A bookish dollhouse you can DIY and then slide right onto your bookshelf in a spot where you can admire all the time. A miniature coffeehouse kit that'll help you make your own Central Perk at home. A paint-by-sticker set if you and paint have a pretty poor track record. With this, there's zero mess! Plus they build some vintage-style travel posters you'll wanna show off at home. An owl macrame wall art kit just begging to fill that blank space on your wall that needs a little something. A terrarium starter kit with a pair of dinos that'll find a nice lil' home in it.
Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Aussie mother sparks debate with ‘shocking' gift at a child's party
An Aussie mother has sparked debate by bringing her own cleaning supplies as a 'secret present' for a child's birthday party, as opposed to a more traditional gift. Perth mother Amanda Sainsbury-Salis explained on a TikTok clip she didn't want to bring gifts to a 'family birthday party', which she believed would end up in landfill. 'So, this is my secret present that I like to do at kids' birthday parties ... I like to bring a bag of rags,' Sainsbury-Salis said in her now viral TikTok clip. Sainsbury-Salis brought out a number of other little supplies, including cling wrap, which she says the hosts usually run out. Sainsbury-Salis continued: 'You know when you're at a kid's birthday party and everyone wants to help, but nobody knows how to help because they don't know where any of the cleaning stuff is? Sunrise host Monique Wright (middle) was joined by journalists Luke Bona and Susie O'Brien for Hot Topics on Friday. Credit: Seven 'I like to bring dishwashing detergent because you can bet your boots that the parents may have run out of dishwashing liquid. 'I bring a cleaning product because who knows how to find the cleaning products in someone else's house. 'And the other thing I bring is a lot, a lot of tea towels because these are really, really handy and nobody knows where to find the tea towels in somebody else's house.' On Friday, Sunrise's Monique Wright was joined by journalists Susie O'Brien and Luke Bona, who spoke about the unusual gift. 'I think you're probably wiser sticking to Lego. Just give a kid a present,' O'Brien said. 'If someone with a bag of cleaning products I would say 'come on in, friend! Start on my pantry. Work your way through!' 'I have friend who turns-up to my house for dinner and they go 'could I repack your dishwasher? I don't like the way you have done it.' The mother said she takes a bag of rags to the child's birthday party. Credit: Seven 'Clearly, my standards aren't as high as some peoples! 'You want to clean at my house? Come on in!' Bona laughed off the idea of turning up to a kid's party with a bag of cleaning rags. '(She should have put something in there) like a dust buster. 'A Kmart dust buster. Don't go the Dyson. 'Could I just say this: 'can that woman's child be invited to a birthday party at my place twice a week?' 'That would be amazing!'
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
This viral Lego toast is dividing the internet—and it's the cutest chaos you will see today
You've seen avocado toast, you've seen cinnamon swirl toast—but have you ever seen LEGO toast? That's exactly what food vlogger Catherine Hellings dropped on us, and 'dropping' feels right, since she uses an actual Lego brick to stamp cute patterns onto a slice of bread before toasting it. The result? A light brown, butter-slathered canvas that looks way too cute to eat—but people are definitely eating it. . First, Catherine presses the Lego brick onto the raw bread, imprinting that iconic block pattern. She toasts it lightly, spreads on a generous slab of butter, then toasts it again—just enough so the butter melts into the grooves, creating a buttery grid of heaven. Her Instagram caption nails it: 'Hot buttered Lego toast! … perfect for Lego-loving kids (& grown‑ups too!).' And yeah, anyone who's ever built a brick castle is gonna crack a smile. Of course, the internet had lots to say about this neat little experiment Some comments were pure love: 'So fun! If you toasted another slice, I wonder if they'd lock together.' Another praised the simplicity: 'How fun and cute.' Clearly, the adorable factor scored major bonus points. But, in classic internet style, there were plenty of haters too. One unimpressed viewer sneered, 'Seriously, if I'm making toast instead of something else, it means I don't have time for this nonsense.' Ouch. Another put it more bluntly: 'What exactly is the point?' And if that wasn't harsh enough, this gem of practicality surfaced: 'That took too long. Place some blocks on a small board the size of bread and do it all at once. ' Harsh—but kind of relatable for any parent who's ever made food art only to have a toddler declare it 'yucky.' And those are the best kind of comments—the 'relatable real-talk' ones the internet lives for. For every 'aw, so cute,' there's a 'really? Toast with Legos?' mix of confusion and mild contempt, and those reactions are gold. This isn't some haute cuisine. This is a playful idea—simple, quirky, compelling. And it worked. Over 2.1 million views later, it's clear people are into small kitchen surprises that make them smile. Even the harshest critiques had to click, watch, and comment. That's the kind of viral content we all talk about around the breakfast table…or when we should be eating it. If anything, this video reminds us that food creativity doesn't always need a Michelin star or mystical ingredients. Sometimes it needs just a slab of butter, a warm kitchen, and a Lego brick you didn't wash yet. And maybe a little nostalgia. It's about tapping into childlike wonder, making something surprisingly delightful out of the everyday—and maybe inspiring you to make your own toaster art. In a world where we're all chasing the next viral food trend, this reminds us: creativity doesn't have to be complicated. It just has to make us say, 'Aww… and also wait, what?' That's the spice of life—snack edition. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
7NEWS
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
Aussie mother sparks debate after taking cleaning supplies as a gift for child's birthday party
An Aussie mother has sparked debate by bringing her own cleaning supplies as a 'secret present' for a child's birthday party, as opposed to a more traditional gift. Perth mother Amanda Sainsbury-Salis explained on a TikTok clip she didn't want to bring gifts to a 'family birthday party', which she believed would end up in landfill. 'So, this is my secret present that I like to do at kids' birthday parties ... I like to bring a bag of rags,' Sainsbury-Salis said in her now viral TikTok clip. Sainsbury-Salis brought out a number of other little supplies, including cling wrap, which she says the hosts usually run out. Sainsbury-Salis continued: 'You know when you're at a kid's birthday party and everyone wants to help, but nobody knows how to help because they don't know where any of the cleaning stuff is? 'I like to bring dishwashing detergent because you can bet your boots that the parents may have run out of dishwashing liquid. 'I bring a cleaning product because who knows how to find the cleaning products in someone else's house. 'And the other thing I bring is a lot, a lot of tea towels because these are really, really handy and nobody knows where to find the tea towels in somebody else's house.' On Friday, Sunrise's Monique Wright was joined by journalists Susie O'Brien and Luke Bona, who spoke about the unusual gift. 'I think you're probably wiser sticking to Lego. Just give a kid a present,' O'Brien said. 'If someone with a bag of cleaning products I would say 'come on in, friend! Start on my pantry. Work your way through!' 'I have friend who turns-up to my house for dinner and they go 'could I repack your dishwasher? I don't like the way you have done it.' 'Clearly, my standards aren't as high as some peoples! 'You want to clean at my house? Come on in!' Bona laughed off the idea of turning up to a kid's party with a bag of cleaning rags. '(She should have put something in there) like a dust buster. 'A Kmart dust buster. Don't go the Dyson. 'Could I just say this: 'can that woman's child be invited to a birthday party at my place twice a week?' 'That would be amazing!'
