Investigating the attitude of ancient Ukrainians towards nature, experts conclude that our ancestors were very ecologically-minded. This means that they lived in harmony with nature and used its resources sparingly, realizing the interdependence that existed between the flora and fauna and themselves. For example, they treated water as if it had a soul of its own, and therefore kept water bodies in order -- it was a part of our ancestors’ mentality.

Yuliya Popova, Kyiv Post Staff Writer

Despite hryvnia's fall, no visitor boom in sight

In a blitz television promotion on CNN, a bird's eye view of Ukrainian landscapes made for stunningly beautiful images of the nation. Had the camera zoomed in closer, however, one would see dilapidated castle walls, polluted forests and outdated infrastructure.

Overview of political events of the week

April 6

President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Pottering urged the Ukrainian government to unite, speaking from the rostrum of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Pottering assured that Ukraine and Europe are dependent on one another, particularly when it comes to energy security. Aside from that, the head of the European parliament noted that Ukraine is in need of fundamental constitutional reform that could serve as medication for the political crisis.

The Letter the Edmonton Journal didn't print

(Ed. Note: During the course of March The Edmonton Journal printed a number of opinion piece and letters regarding relations between the Ukrainian community and mew Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff. It started with an Op Ed piece by Oksana Bashuk Hepburn stating that Ignatieff alienates the Ukrainian community, was followed up with letters by Ukrainian News Editor Marco Levytsky and Etobicoke Centre MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj reporting on the meeting Ignatieff held with member of the Ukrainian community in Edmonton, February 27 [see Ukrainian News, March 5-17,2009] then a letter by Dior Breda noting Ignatieff's often contradictory stances.

(A) In your 05/Apr/2009 issue of e-POSHTA, you posted the 30/Mar/2009 Toronto Sun article by Peter Worthington on the Demjanjuk issue. You and Marta Onufriv even provided a translation into Ukrainian. Unfortunately, this article contains several serious inaccuracies:

April 15,2009 What is the message conveyed by the film? There are to main components of the message: [ 1] Russia is capable of producing a spectable given sufficient time and expense resources plus a star performer -- in the person of a Ukrainian Bohdan Stupka -- appearing in the main role [ 2] As a former colonial power, Russia still cannot resist the urge of leading a pack of Slavs stupid enough to believe in the defunct and discredited idea of Panslavism.

Immigrant families' dreams shattered by bullets All came from faraway lands, drawn by America's promises

Maria "Mima" Koropey Zobniw, age 60, passed away suddenly on April 3, a victim of a senseless act of violence. Maria is predeceased by parents, Malvina and Ostap Koropey; brother, Andrij Koropey; and uncle, Ivan Iwanejko. Maria is survived by her husband of 37 years, Lubomyr Zobniw; loving children, Dr. Zoriana Zobniw Nehrebeckyj (Yuri Nehrebeckyj), Dr. Adrian Zobniw, Oresta Zobniw Lisowsky (Dr. Taras Lisowsky), Chrystia Zobniw; brother, Orest Koropey and family; Godmother and aunt, Olha Iwanejko; sisters-in-law, Roma Chabursky and Irene Chabursky (Myron Chabursky); nephews, Roman, Zenon, Oleh, Orest, Lubomyr and their respective families; niece, Renata Romanchykevych and family.

The cancer of large-scale corruption was not eliminated three years ago and now it has returned with dreadful metastases. Especially worrying is a decision to grant up to 25 per cent of the Ukrainian domestic gas market to Gazprom's subsidiary Gazpromsbyt-Ukraine. The move presumably facilitates Gazprom's double book keeping, whereby gas is re-exported to Europe, which would seem to be the main reason of Gazprom's "commercial confidentiality" for years. Also, argue commentators, the state-owned (or Kremlin-owned) company can provide political support to Russian businesses and Russia-friendly oligarchs in Ukraine.

[...] Brussels first called for diversification of its energy supplies in 2000. Nearly a decade later, however, it is still dependent on Moscow for a quarter of its gas supplies -- and, as this month's crisis proved, virtually helpless when it dries up. Without a fundamental change in that equation, observers say, Russia will emerge the victor in any energy dispute -- no matter how tattered its credibility as a supplier. Neither Kyiv nor Moscow did itself any favors by making the EU an unwilling hostage in their highly political spat. But it is Ukraine, and not Russia, that is likely to face the greater consequences. [...]

Last Saturday night, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of Russia and his Ukrainian counterpart, Yulia Tymoshenko, met behind closed doors in Moscow to end an energy dispute that had left millions of households in eastern Europe without heating. [...] "The agreement is a big success for Ukraine," said Hryhoriy Nemyria, Ukraine's deputy prime minister and an ally of Tymoshenko. "The deal allows us to deal directly with Moscow and not through RosUkrEnergo. It will mean predictability, stability and transparency in the energy sector. Ukraine will no longer be vulnerable to external influences," he said, referring to Russia.

In the heady months following the Orange Revolution, after the crowds had swept the democratic opposition into power but before the hopes inspired by the movement had begun to fade, Ukraine's new, American-backed leaders decided to renegotiate the terms on which the country purchased natural gas from Russia.