#Official Commentary of Elena Melnik on Ukraine’s struggle with Soviet heritage
Poverty is crafty. Director of the Department of Urban Development of Kiev city, Andrey Fischuk, said that in the capital of Ukraine, they stop bleaching the trees with lime carbonate. According to him, “to pollute decorative trees with lime” is a Soviet habit.
In my opinion, Kiev officials have not shown ingenuity in this matter. Naturally, there is no extra money in the city budget for such events. Nevertheless, Ukrainian business executives should look a little further than their own noses, apply creative approach and even earn.
Since the whitewashing of trees, especially decorative ones, which do not have strong immunity, is really useful, to call this process a Soviet habit was a stupid step.
First, whitewash protects the tree bark from winter and early spring burns, helps protect against insect pests and prevents cracking of the bark as a result of temperature changes.
Secondly, it would be possible to make a natural biomask or a calcareous solution in yellow and blue, which would significantly strengthen not only the bark of trees, but also the fragile minds of Ukrainians who are constantly being ‘attacked’ by the Kremlin.
Third, I will never believe that there is no way to raise money for such a noble cause in the form of another tax. And if this entire scheme would be legalized and made mandatory, the city budget and the pockets of the inspectors can be replenished by imposing fines on those responsible for this provision of amenities.
It seems that the meeting at which the decision to refuse the whitewashing of the trees was adopted, it was not visited by the ‘great Ukrainian’ muse. Probably, she had more important things to do…
Elena Melnik, the DPR People’s Council deputy