Ukraine is against Climate Change

On 20th of September, stroke the most visible and media covered event – Global Climate Strike. An international initiative has united youth and eco-activists all around the world. Fridays for Future movement and climate strikes on Fridays were inspired by Swedish teenage girl Greta Thunberg.    

Ukraine is striking as well. More than 2000 people from 21 Ukrainian cities joined. I was there as a photographer and an activist. The march for climate was held in Kyiv. It started at Mykhaylivska Square and President’s Office was the finish line/the end point. 

To be present many individuals traveled quite a distance. I’ve even foreigners discussing the event. They came to support Ukraine. It surprised me. Though it shouldn’t be surprising – we share one planet after all.  

Greta often says that reversing climate change is especially important for youth and younger generations: they will meet consequences. But people of all ages and backgrounds joined the Global Strike: teenagers, students, kids, the whole families, older generations, military men, Kyiv Pride activists. They canceled their plans, skipped school or courses at Universities. They came to protest and make their voices heard. 

What did they strike for?

✅100% clean energy!

✅Fossil fuel abandonment!

✅Energy efficiency is priority # 1!

✅Stop subsidizing industrial livestock!

✅Development of green transport!

✅Prohibition of disposable plastic!

All the demands were written in the letter to President. Follow the link to read it: bit.ly/2mS2cip

The March has ended but not the eco-initiatives.

On 21st of September, #EUBeachCleanUp challenge took place in Kyiv. It was a cleaning on the Dnipro River beach. The project was organized by EUWI+ in cooperation with EU Delegation to Ukraine and State Agency for Water Resources of Ukraine. 

Young European Ambassadors joined the cleaning as well. At 11 a.m. we grabbed gloves and huge black garbage bags. The area of cleaning was wide, so we encountered all types of trash: paper towels, tires and lots of plastic. 

We worked alongside with locals. Inspired by the initiative, one of them stated: “I will come here again to clean up on my own”.  

Have you known that there are different numerations on plastic? I haven’t, not until our YEAs team had to classify it all. After participating in the quiz with the riverine and marine litter, we even received prizes – eco-bags andbamboo straws.  

The problem with plastic is that there are too much of it. It all needs to be recycled, so that the plastic won’t add up. As a reminder and an art form, the unique bench made of recycled plastic was presented to the participants. What a creative way to deal with an unwanted plastic waste!

The message of the whole initiative was to encourage people to take action. Instead of complaining about littered beaches, you can just grab a few friends and make the beach clean again. 

Eco-activists don’t wait. They take matters into their own hands. We deserve to live on a healthy planet – so we act. 

Ukraine is for Climate Action.