Published: Friday 25 February 2022
It is impossible not to be moved and feel anger about the events of this week, and all eyes are rightly looking at the UK, the West, and NATO to lead by example and stand up to Putin.
Many Councils, organisations, and businesses will be lighting up in Ukrainian colours, or flying flags, in support of the people who are already suffering in the early days of what could be a long conflict.
I understand why, but I wanted to set out here why Kensington and Chelsea Council will not be lighting up for Ukraine.
This is something we have never seen before in a generation. If we treat the issue the same as we do many others, by lighting up buildings, putting pictures in a special frame on social media, we risk becoming numb to the events happening right on our doorstep.
This is war in Europe. People are going to need real support and Putin will need to see real action in response to what he has done.
K&C is home to the Ukraine embassy, so we have a special connection already to the people of the Ukraine, and we have residents in the borough from both nations. We care too much about what is happening in the Ukraine to just light up our building, we will be writing to the Ukraine embassy and asking them if there is any support of any kind this local authority can provide.
It would also be wrong of us to assume that all Russians support the actions of one man and his army. As early protests have shown us, Russians are also taking to the streets in protest at this invasion, it would be wrong for this Council to make those people feel marginalised here in our own borough.
Finally, every time we light up a building for a cause, it costs the Council and our taxpayers between £2,000 to £4,000 – for equipment, installation, and operation. Money that could be far better spent. We would prefer to make this a K&C donation to the charities that will be providing humanitarian support in the coming days, months, and possibly even years ahead.
I would urge everyone across the borough to do the same – do what we can to support, not just acknowledge. The people of the Ukraine will need every one of us.
We have made the area outside the Town Hall available to faith groups, should they wish to hold peaceful vigils, prayers, and bring communities together. And, just like we did for Afghanistan last summer, this Council stands ready to support people fleeing conflict and persecution.
At a time of war, our actions will speak far louder than our words.
Thank you,
Elizabeth