Energy-saving rainbow
Ukrainian kids imagine our future as being pure, light, and warm
They say that children have the right perspective on this world and that the truth comes out of the mouths of babes and sucklings. Also with the help of kids we can learn what the future will be like when they grow up. It seems that the National Agency of Ukraine for Efficient Use of Energy Resources wanted that very thing when it announced the artistic competition “Children for Pure Energy.” On Feb. 16, 2010, Kyivites and the guests of the capital will be able to see the works of the winners at the exhibit at the Ukrainian Home.
The Day managed to see them earlier — so far the competition works are exhibited in the Agency. “The competition and the further exhibit are traditional,” said Serhii Yermilov, head of the National Agency, to The Day. “By working with almost all the children in our country (the competitions are taking place in schools, regions, the oblasts, and in Kyiv), we are fulfilling, so to speak, outreach and educational functions.
Our kids, as they say, need to know from cradle that energy resources are finite, and therefore they should be used wisely and economically, and that there are so-called alternative and pure forms of energy to guarantee the future of humankind.
“Children are happy with the role of science-fiction artists, and sometimes they paint such pictures from which our engineers could draw the ideas (i.e. solar cell phones). Children are thinking, and a process of self-education is taking place. A person grows up ecologically and economically competent and starts understanding that expensive gas that comes from afar could be replaced by something, which is often found under our feet. Moreover, after participating in the competition, children begin to positively influence the adults with their characteristic adherence to principles and categorical approach.”
Tetiana Kovryha, head of the media relations department, enters the client’s office. She is also responsible for organizing the competition and reading children’s poems. This is what Yuliana Nesterovych wrote:
“‘Love Ukraine!’ is what we hear from TV. ‘Love your native land’ are the words that we see.
Adults, o please, explain it to me, what do you mean by ‘Love Ukraine’?
My dad clarified it simply for me: ‘To love Ukraine is to care about it!’
My son, remember the law – the bowels of the earth must be wisely used.
Oil and gas, coal and peat – they make our life lighter and warmer.
They make devices work for us – but also they pollute the atmosphere.
It’s time for initiative and for searching an alternative!
Water should replace diesel and gas, while a fragrant liquid, gas.
Let’s gather sunrays and make them serve people.
If we harness wind, we’ll make use of its powerful energy.
Let’s learn to recycle to make garbage and refuse useful.
And if we clean our native Earth, we will have a chance for the planet’s rebirth!”
I go back to the corridor where the competition pictures are hung: solar cars and entire sun cities, the countries of the pure energy. The captions say: “Don’t want to be frozen in winter? Make your window warmer in the summer.” Lida Bobrytska, a fourth-grader, wrote in her picture: “Dear kid, you should remember not to use light in vain. Help your parents save money, and you’ll save the earth’s nature!” For now the works are mostly drawings and watercolors, sometimes oil paintings. The children’s fantasy impresses, and you are surprised by the color combinations. And above all this harmony is a good social and technocratic idea: “The future is in our hands.” You see it and you become confident that very soon time will come when all this will be embodied in metal. Both adults and kids should see the exhibit!
