“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” Those wise words not only symbolize the efforts of civil society organizations to build a new Ukraine. The words also symbolize the steps we need to take as citizens to fight corruption, ensure government accountability, and improve our environment and healthcare system. Whether it be a forest fire or dust storm, worldwide pandemic or mental health threats. Each and every one of us should be ready to face challenges, change one’s mind when needed, and adapt. Civil society plays a significant role in this effort. In this edition, we will focus our Highlights on Ukrainian CSOs that provide edutainment responses to the coronavirus epidemic, conduct discussions on the lessons of Chornobyl during the times of a pandemic, and organize an eco-marathon to encourage Ukrainians to be eco-friendly.
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Weekly Chart
During the quarantine, people think a lot about the freedom of movement, and the right to medical care and social support from the state. Some are glad about it and some are upset. What did people say about the violation of their rights before the quarantine? In what sectors have Ukrainians faced the most violations? Learn the details about these issues in our weekly chart.
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Partner News
The CSO “Freedom” Presents 21 Days of Eco-Friendly Challenges via Online-Marathon
Looking for go green guidance? Join the CSO “Freedom” and its special online-marathon. Everyday, throughout the three weeks of the marathon followers on social networks will receive special eco-tasks. By accepting the challenges and completing tasks, participants will acquire eco-friendly habits and step-by-step become real eco-heroes! Read more
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“Lessons of Chornobyl in the Times of The Pandemics”: Don’t Miss the Zero Corruption Talk This Week
Corruption has no boundaries, just like radiation. The misuse of power, poor governance, new forms of censorship, and digital control can all be avoided. But how? AntAC will discuss it with the best global thinkers during the online Zero Corruption Talk discussion on April 26th. Read more
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Enjoy a “VidCOVIDalnyi Quarantine” with the Association of Music Events
On April 18, the All-Ukrainian Association of Mass Music Event Organizers, supported by USAID/ENGAGE, organized an online festival called “Intercity Communication.” The festival was broadcasted non-stop over 12 hours on Hromadske and brought together festival organizers from 10 cities, and over 20 singers and music groups. The music festival was viewed by almost 13,500 Ukrainians. The event promoted a “VidCOVIDalnyi Quarantine” and social initiatives dedicated to the fight against coronavirus. A fundraising campaign by the charity foundation “Patients of Ukraine” to support Ukrainian hospitals and medical staff collected more than 12,000 UAH during the festival. Read more.
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Regional News
Locate Your Own Regional Events
In Sumy, The Bureau of Legal Communications will learn how civil activists can influence development and improve the city’s architectural accessibility. On April 22, the CSO will hold an online meeting devoted to architectural accessibility in Sumy and invite an architect of the Sumy Regional Council.
If you want to know more about the work of police on monitoring compliance with quarantine rules, then the next event is for you. On April 24, Centre of Policy and Legal Reform will organize an online experts’ discussion titled “The Police and Population Interaction During the Quarantine.” Within the event, CPLR experts will present the results of the Public Safety and Trust in Law Enforcement study.
And finally, during the week, the Ukrainian Leadership Academy will host several online webinars. Vladyslav Rashkovan, Deputy Executive Director of Ukraine at the International Monetary Fund will dwell on economic issues in the webinar “Global Economy and the Impact of the Epidemic on Ukraine,” and Valerii Pekar, co-founder of Nova Kraina Civic Platform and successful entrepreneur will share insights about “An Ideal Storm for Ukraine and Our Businesses: What to Do.”
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Civil Society News
From Failures of Eco-Bills to Dust Storms and Forest Fires
Since April 16 until recently, Kyiv was the most dangerous city in the world for air quality. The air pollution index exceeded the norm by several times. This was due to strong winds, forest fires, and dust storms. Why is it the case that smog and dust storms will be a common occurrence for Ukraine without an urgent change in climate policy? Discover the answer together with VoxUkraine. Read more.
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Join An Online World Earth Day Event
Dust storms in Ukraine, anomalous droughts and massive fires in forests, lack of drinking water and, as a consequence, a threat to food security. All these are the consequences of human activity and climate change. If you want to find green solutions for Ukraine, then join the online Earth Day 2020 LIVE event on April 24. To participate, register via the link.
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COVID-19 Challenge Hackathon: Your Ideas Could Contribute to the Fight Against the World Pandemic
Every day we see many different initiatives, ideas, and projects that emerge to combat the COVID-19 epidemic in Ukraine. This desire shows how much we can develop to help one another in a crisis. But often, people work on very similar projects. Or there are some interesting ideas that need a strong team for implementation. So, if you have an interesting idea for combating coronavirus, sign up for the COVID Challenge Hackaton. Read more.
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What Are We Reading?
What do health and environment have to do with the rule of law? The enforcement of government regulations is crucial to our well-being. For example, the air we breathe and the water we drink are impacted by the adherence to or the violation of regulations, and are therefore impacted by the rule of law. According to the results of the World Justice Project’s latest Rule of Law Index, Ukraine has made slow progress in improving its rule of law… the systems of accountability, just laws, open government and access to impartial dispute resolution. While Ukraine still falls behind the global average, ranking 72 out of 128 countries, it was one of few Eastern European countries to improve during the last five years. Read more.
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