The Ukrainian Institute and Bickerstaff.176 creative agency have launched the Genocide Speech Monitor, a tool for analyzing political speech, especially relevant on the second anniversary of the escalating conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This project aims to track genocidal rhetoric in leaders' statements worldwide.
The Genocide Speech Monitor was launched on the 90th anniversary of the Holodomor - the Ukrainian artificial famine, a major tragedy that claimed millions of lives. According to the National Holodomor-Genocide Museum, the famine of 1932-1933 caused over 4 million Ukrainian deaths and 1 million unborn losses.
The initiative can draw parallels between the past and present, showing how rhetoric can precede tragic events. It revisits Stalin's 1932 declaration that led to a famine in Ukraine, resulting in 4 millions of deaths. This historical context is linked to recent events, noting a statement by Vladimir Putin just before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, illustrating the potential impact of leaders' words on their actions.
In 1932, Stalin stated, “If we do not start correcting the situation in Ukraine, we may lose Ukraine.” These were not just words; they were followed by specific actions – a man-made famine in the territory of Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of over 4 million Ukrainians and the loss of 1 million unborn.
90 years later, on February 21, 2022, we hear from Putin – “modern Ukraine was entirely created by Russia, more precisely, by Bolshevik, communist Russia”. Three days later, Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Volodymyr Sheiko, Director General of the Ukrainian Institute, about the goals of the informational project: "Honoring the 90th anniversary of the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine, we tell the world the truth about this tragedy, its precursors, and consequences. Genocide does not come suddenly; it is planned and systematic terror, accompanied by the genocidal rhetoric of its ideologues. We created the Genocide Speech Monitor – a practical tool for foreign audiences that allows tracking such rhetoric in the context of the Holodomor as well as current events."
The Genocide Speech Monitor is designed to help identify early signs of genocidal rhetoric, aiming to prompt global awareness and preventive measures. By examining the public statements of government officials, the project seeks to reveal possible intentions behind their words.
“We can draw clear parallels between the rhetoric and actions of the Kremlin in 1932-1933 and today. This unpunished evil has returned to Ukraine. With this project, we urge other countries to pay attention to the statements of their leaders and the leaders of neighboring countries,” explains Mariia Kochurenko, strategist at Bickerstaff.932 – a Ukrainian creative agency involved in the development and implementation of the project on behalf of the Ukrainian Institute. The project underscores the connection between the rhetoric and actions of leaders, drawing a line from the past to the present.
The tool is completely free and available for use worldwide. In its first weeks, it was used by journalists, investigators, and thought leaders keen to track extraordinary political statements that might get lost in the vast information flow.
It's noteworthy that the Genocide Speech Monitor displays genocidal quotes identified by AI using internationally accepted signs of genocidal rhetoric. However, the percentages displayed should be interpreted with caution, considering potential nuances due to the AI's ongoing learning and refinement in data analysis.
Jason Kanchilarzh, an Eastern Europe, Eurasia, and Balkans expert with a master's degree from the Vienna Diplomatic Academy, asserts, "In today's world of rampant online disinformation, political extremism, and genocidal rhetoric, the Genocide Speech Monitor is an indispensable platform that will undoubtedly benefit future researchers and concerned global citizens."
Plans are in place to expand its functionality, enabling the AI to analyze public information from open sources in real-time and identify genocidal rhetoric in leaders' words.
For further information:
The informational project was developed by the Ukrainian Institute in collaboration with the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory, the National Museum of the Holodomor-Genocide, and the creative agency Bickerstaff.176.
Anastasiia Polska
[email protected]
+380967827728
Source: Story.KISSPR.com
Release ID: 907029