Dec 2, 2022
Russian air attacks have left millions of Ukrainians without power and heat as winter approaches. So, the US has pledged to give Ukraine $53 million to repair its energy plants and equipment. The Biden Administration hopes allied nations will join the effort.
The pledge was announced during a Group of Seven nations meeting. That was on Tuesday.
“Equipment will be rapidly delivered … to help Ukrainians … through the winter,” the State Department said. The aid will include items needed to create energy.
For nearly two months, Russia has bombed Ukraine’s gas production and power plants. Kyiv is Ukraine's capital. Ukraine’s leaders call the attacks a war crime. They say Russia is trying to turn the cold into a weapon. Citizens' lives are in danger. They're struggling to survive. Ukrainian officials say the attacks have harmed nearly all of the nation’s power plants.
Ukrainian citizens have responded to the attacks with rage and defiance.
“You will not get us down,” Lesia Sazonenko told The Associated Press. “We will prevail.” A recent poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found that 9 of 10 Ukrainians share her feelings.
During power outages, Sazonenko has walked down and up 17 flights of stairs in her high-rise to take her dog outside. She leaves flashlights, treats, and water for neighbors who are dealing with the lack of power.
Across the city, people are getting ready for a holiday with no lights. Kyiv's mayor said, “We cannot let Putin steal our Christmas.”
Photo from Reuters.
This Tiny Model Town Shows How We Could Achieve 100% Clean Energy
This video shows a model of a fictional town called Renew-a-ville that demonstrates how we can make our cities and towns operate without burning fossil fuels.
The Truth about Bitcoin's Energy Use
This video from Grist explains bitcoin, blockchains, and the energy use involved in cryptocurrency transactions.
How Earth's Tilt Causes Seasons
This video shows how Earth's axial tilt causes sunlight to reach the Northern and Southern Hemispheres differently, depending on the time of year.