570. Russia's War on Energy and How it Uses Winter as a Weapon: Alex Cornell du Houx & Ievgeniia Kopytsia
Dec 16, 2024
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Alex Cornell du Houx, a former Marine and Maine legislator, teams up with Ievgeniia Kopytsia, an energy law scholar from Ukraine, to discuss energy resilience amid the ongoing conflict. They delve into the strategic weaponization of energy by Russia, revealing how attacks on infrastructure threaten Ukraine’s survival. The conversation emphasizes the need for a comprehensive energy security plan that pivots to renewables, and highlights veterans' roles in Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts, advocating for green jobs and energy independence.
Ukraine's resilience is exemplified not just by enduring challenges but by leveraging them to achieve ambitious goals amid adversity.
The integration of veterans into Ukraine's reconstruction efforts is vital for democratic resilience and ensuring their influence in decision-making processes.
Deep dives
Definition and Evolution of Resilience
Resilience is defined as the ability of a system to absorb stress while maintaining its core functions and structure. In the context of Ukraine, this definition evolves to encompass not only the capacity to respond to shocks but also the ability to advance towards ambitious goals amidst adversity. Ukraine exemplifies this advanced form of resilience, demonstrating that genuine resilience involves not just surviving crises but leveraging them to leap forward. The conversation highlights a crucial distinction between resilience and the Russian approach of merely enduring pain, underscoring the complexities of how resilience is perceived and achieved.
The Significance of Energy Security
Energy security is identified as vital to the resilience of Ukraine, impacting community health and overall stability. A personal experience in the military revealed the dire lengths individuals would go to secure essential energy resources, illustrating an unhealthy dependence on autocratic suppliers like Russia and OPEC. In response, initiatives such as an Energy Security Marshall Plan for Ukraine focus on building resilience through energy independence by promoting renewable energy solutions. The strategic shift towards energy security not only empowers Ukraine but also positions it as a global leader in resilience against environmental and geopolitical challenges.
Cultural Resilience Amidst Infrastructure Attacks
Cultural resilience in Ukraine is highlighted through the persistence and growth of national identity, despite Russian efforts to demolish its cultural infrastructure. Efforts have been made to protect cultural assets, such as literature and the Ukrainian language, even as energy and physical infrastructure face ongoing threats. The targeting of energy facilities by Russian attacks serves dual purposes: crippling daily life and attempting to demoralize the population. Yet, Ukraine's response underscores its resilience, as communities innovate and adapt, demonstrating strength in preserving cultural identity while navigating an ongoing crisis.
Inclusive Reconstruction and Veteran Integration
The importance of integrating veterans into Ukraine's reconstruction efforts is emphasized as crucial for democratic resilience and societal stability post-conflict. With the risk of oligarchic influences rising alongside financial influxes, ensuring veterans have a voice in decision-making processes is vital. Current policies are being tailored to support veterans in small and medium business ventures, maximizing their inclusion across various sectors. This approach not only addresses the needs of veterans but also contributes to broader societal healing and alignment with Ukraine's democratic aspirations.
Alex Cornell du Houx served on the Energy Utilities and Technology and
Legal and Veterans Affairs committees, sponsoring 14 successful pieces
of legislation and co-sponsoring 98 successful bills. He won the REED
award for the best national Public Affairs Campaign for his work
co-founding Operation Free, a coalition of lawmakers and veterans
promoting energy security. Cornell du Houx participated in and led State
Department delegations to Southeast Asia to foster
government-to-government relations, is a Kentucky Colonel, a senior
advisor to the Veterans Campaign, and Partner with the Truman National
Security Project. He has provided value-based communications,
empathy-based fundraising, and EQ & Public Leadership training
worldwide. Alex served in the Marine Corps infantry for seven years and
is currently a Public Affairs Officer with the Navy Reserve.
Dr Ievgeniia Kopytsia is a law scholar specialising in environmental,
climate and energy law from international, EU and Ukrainian
perspectives. Her research focuses on climate change and net zero legal
dilemmas in the poly-crises era. Dr Ievgeniia Kopytsia also serves as an
Associate Professor at Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, where
she leads "Sustainable Law and Policy Research Centre" and coordinates
Europe-Ukraine Energy Transition Hub - an international consortium
aiming to leverage the green reconstruction of Ukraine and provide
support to strengthen Ukraine’s governance, regulatory frameworks, and
market mechanisms in the field of energy, sustainability, and climate
action.
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LINKS:
Alex Cornell du Houx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Cornell_du_Houx
https://alexcornell.org/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cornellalex/
https://www.usfca.edu/faculty/alex-cornell-du-houx
https://protectingamerica.net/about/alex/
https://x.com/alex_cornell
Ievgeniia Kopytsia
https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/people/dr-ievgeniia-kopytsia
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ievgeniiakopytsia/
https://netzeroclimate.org/netzero_team/ievgeniia-kopytsia/
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SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER
A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of
Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to
Ukraine's frontline towns.
https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras
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TRUCKS UNDER CHRISTMAS TREE
With this campaign, we will raise funds for 1 truck to help brave
warriors from the 237th battalion, 129th brigade who leverage technology
and manage to hold russian advance at the very edge of the frontline.
In partnership with Car for Ukraine.
https://donorbox.org/trucks-under-christmas-tree/fundraiser/silicon-curtain
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SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain
https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain
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TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:
Save Ukraine
https://www.saveukraineua.org/
Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas
https://superhumans.com/en/
UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in
Ukraine
https://unbroken.org.ua/
Come Back Alive
https://savelife.in.ua/en/
Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen
https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine
UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy
https://u24.gov.ua/
Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation
https://prytulafoundation.org
NGO “Herojam Slava”
https://heroiamslava.org/
kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and
Przemyśl
https://kharpp.com/
NOR DOG Animal Rescue
https://www.nor-dog.org/home/
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