#atla 1.19

[kristallioness]

"I wasn't there when the Fire Nation attacked my people. I'm gonna make a difference this time."

The imperialistic Fire Nation started the Hundred Year War, committing genocide against the Air Nomads, invading the Earth Kingdom and attacking the Water Tribes. 🔥

On the 24th of February 2022 - when Estonia was supposed to celebrate its 104th Independence Day - imperialistic Russia escalated the 8-year-long war in Ukraine into a full-scale invasion, committing heinous war crimes and genocide against their people. It's been over 10 years since they annexed Crimea, and occupied parts of Donetsk and Luhansk in Eastern Ukraine. The war is still ongoing.

The Ukrainians don't have a chance to become tired. We don't have the RIGHT to become tired.

Ukraine is fighting our fight today. This could've easily happened to us or any other Eastern European country - we were lucky. What happens there will determine the destiny not only in Europe, but for the rest of the world. And the haunting question lingering on all of our minds is (if Ukraine doesn't win)… Who's next?

Ukraine has to win this war. And Russia MUST lose this war. Ukraine is a sovereign country that MUST regain 100% of its territory. Their land is NOT a bargaining chip. (How much of your own land would you be willing to give away to foreign invaders? A county? An entire state? The whole country!?)

Estonia stands with Ukraine. 🤝

🇺🇦 Слава Україні! 🇪🇪 Elagu Eesti!

Here are some local (and international) Estonian associations / charities that are accepting donations to support the Ukrainians in their fight for all of our independence, peace and freedom:

NAFO 69th Sniffing Brigade (one of THE most impactful foundations)

Official Estonian organizations:

Estonian Defence League

Estonian National Defence Promotion Foundation

Estonian Rescue Association

Estonian Food Bank

Estonian Red Cross

Estonian Refugee Council

Estonian NGOs:

NGO Mondo

NGO Vaba Ukraina

NGO Will For Victory

Universities supporting the studies of Ukrainian students in Estonia:

Tallinn University of Technology

University of Tartu

Bonus, in case my view on the war wasn't clear: (Aang's fight is LITERALLY Ukraine's fight right now. Katara's fierce support for him is how fiercely Estonians are supporting the Ukrainians.)

Щедрик, щедрик, щедрівочка, Прилетіла ластівочка… 🕊️

[kristallioness]

♦ The Gaang and the Old Masters ♦

My heart belongs to the Water Tribes, no doubt about it.. Maybe because I like to think that Estonia and its people are very similar to their small community, who have a deep sense of love too, which holds us together through anything. Or because we've had to fight for our freedom and land for as long as history can remember, hence I relate to their struggle. We have 4 seasons, with winter being very close to my heart due to the snow, skiing, holidays, Christmas, New Year, Estonia's Independence Day. And my personality is most like Katara's a waterbender's, even though I was born a firebender (a Leo). Also, I almost forgot, but their clothing has our flag colours in it (blue-black-white)!

Again, drawing the background with all those details was really fun! I should really try to draw them more often (depending on how challenging the scenery is) since I always end up enjoying doing it. I loved playing with all the blue shades and using special acrylic-type brushes that made it look like it was painted using oil pastels. And those clouds came out so fluffy!

I cannot stress enough how much I adore the parka Katara is wearing here (all of her outfits tbh). I never really noticed how similar her and Pakku's outfits were - the parka, the sleeves and fur trimmings near their wrists - until I drew them standing together. Their poses came out exactly like I'd imagined and the entire piece as a whole looks even better than I'd hoped. I wanted Pakku to be kneeling (almost like proposing) while handing Katara her necklace back (either lower or equal to her height when doing so), staring at her lovingly (recognizing a bit of young Kanna in her) - leaving a humble, gentle feeling/impression. I absolutely loved drawing him!

I believe their most important trait was forgiveness (maybe it's not the best word, but HEAR ME OUT because I know what the last 2 pieces are gonna be and this is a trait that also describes the last pair, but they have a different, much more fitting word). Katara forgiving his sexist attitude and proving to him (why) he was wrong by mastering combat waterbending faster than any other student he'd ever trained. Pakku forgiving her for fighting him in more ways than one (including to change the policies in the Northern Water Tribe, his stubborness, giving him a well-deserved water whip to the head) and understanding what the rules of their community had cost him (a long happy life together with his beloved Kanna), which led to accepting her as his student.

Also, I've been thinking about this for some time and I gotta ask: what would've happened if Aang had been a girl? The last airbender, the Avatar, who needed to master waterbending to fight in a war, and the only place where (s)he could've done that was in a community where women could only learn and use waterbending to heal. Food for thought... (@avatarwindboy - I remember like you were the one who tossed this idea out there, so it's only fair I mention you here.)