War is the worst thing that can happen to people and to nature.
The devastating impact of war on people and the environment is being horrifically exemplified by the events of the Russian government aggression in Ukraine.
Russian troop attacks on nuclear power plants, seaports, hazardous waste storage facilities, oil depots, gas stations, landfill sites, and heating and water supply facilities, etc are directly harming people and the environment.
With the increase of neoliberal and oligarch economic power, the negative impact on people and the planet increases. Nature does not have time to recover from, or compensate for, the destructive consequences of human economic and military activity.
We call on Russia for peace and the withdrawal of invasion forces.
We call on the EU and the rich countries of the world to use all the levers possible to stop the hostilities between Russia and Ukraine and to prevent further occupation of the territories of Georgia and Moldova by Russia and the emergence of new hotbeds of war.
After securing peace, we believe that a green post-war recovery strategy should be facilitated – first of all for Ukraine, but also for Moldova and Georgia. When the end of the horrible war comes, a strategic reconstruction will be necessary that is in line with the needs and challenges of the climate crisis and of a just transition.
We support the territorial integrity of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia within the UN-recognized borders and the desire of these countries to move closer to a large European family and to proceed with a just transition away from the catastrophic current system which is at the route of human suffering and climate and ecosystem breakdown.
Regardless of their official EU candidate status, all countries facing occupation and war and seeking a peaceful sustainable future deserve our deepest solidarity and support.
- Statement by JAGODA MUNIC, Director, Friends of the Earth Europe, and DAVIT SIDAMONIDZE, International Coordinator, Friends of the Earth Georgia
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
