Mary Contini column: Showing solidarity with Ukraine

The therapy of cascading water gives a feeling of wellbeing, invigorating us and releasing stress.

Life is much more comfortable now than when I was growing up.

My family laugh at me, but we were considered comfortably off, living on the shoreline of Cockenzie. Even so, we had no central heating, just a coal fire in the sitting room, and it was not unusual on bath night that, as children, we lined up to share the bath water. We ought not to take our current luxuries for granted.

I’m sure, like me, your morning routine is clouded by thoughts of the images and stories we see every day and night of the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine.

Less than two weeks ago the people were living lives like us, comfortable with jobs, schools, hospitals, and hot showers. Now they are fleeing for their lives.

We all have many contacts with Ukraine: neighbours, friends, and not least, Edinburgh, our capital, is twinned with Kyiv. It is as if our own are being attacked.

Mary Contini

As a nation we have reached out to help. Supplies, clothes, food are being donated and shipped by the truck load. Money is being given generously to send immediate financial support.

You will have heard of the problem of ours and the EU’s heavy dependency on Russian gas and oil. One of the ways we can all help is to try to use less of both.

We can turn down the central heating and thermostats, walk and use public transport, reduce gas on the stove and so on. Wearing warm clothes, insulating homes, closing windows and curtains can all help maintain heat in the house and help us use a little less fuel.

If we all do something, then our dependence on Russian fuel will be reduced. With small changes with hardly any discomfort, we can show our solidarity.

This disgraceful war must stop.

Let’s not say in the future: “If only we had done more”.