Kherson Digest

From May 28 till May 30, 2014 the Head of the Department of Economics and Business Administration at Sumy State University, Director of the Institute for Development Economics (of Ministry for Education and Science (MES) and National Academy of Science) Dr., Professor, Leonid Melnyk took part in the meeting of the Commission for Ecology, Environment and balanced nature (under Scientific and Methodological Council) of MES of Ukraine.

On the plenary session, which was held at Kherson Agricultural University objectives problems and prospects of environmental education in Ukraine were discussed. The Chairman of the Commission, Rector of Odessa State Environmental University, Professor Sergey Stepanenko addressed the audience with a key speech.

Rector of Kherson State University (KhSU), Prof. Oleksandr Khodosovtsev, Rector of Kherson State Agrarian University (KhSAU), Prof. Valeriy Bazaliy, Head of Department for Natural and Agricultural Education at the Institute for Innovative Technologies and Educational Content MES Nataliya Tymoshenko, as well as other participants in the meeting took part in the debate.

Then members of the Commission participated in the scientific- methodical seminar “Current state of training and methodological support for environmental training”. The seminar was held at the training and production base “Burevesnik” (KSU) in the town of Lazurnoe.

In his speech at the seminar Prof. Leonid Melnyk suggested gradually (first in scientific and educational literature, and then in legislation) to adopt a new terminological basis. Instead the Russian term for “sustainable development” (“ustoichivoye razvitiye”) and Ukrainian terms (“stіyky rozvitok”, “ekologіchno zbalansovany rozvitok”) he encouraged to use “sesteynovoe razvitie” (in Ukrainian – “sesteynovy rozvytok”). This term allow in Russian and Ukrainian languages provide adequate verbal form for such a multifaceted meaning of the term «sustainable development» adopted at the Summit in Rio de Janeiro (1992). In addition, it would provide an opportunity to avoid layering of two different concepts. As it is well known, the term “stable (as it means in Russian) development” (e.g., business or country) existed long before 1992 and successfully continues to exist until now. It has no relation to environmental issues or social life. It means a stable output growth.

Today in the absence of an adequate term there are a number of insurmountable problems with translation into the Russian and Ukrainian languages such concepts as sustainable transport, sustainable settlement, sustainable goods. It makes no sense to explain how ridiculous these concepts will sound in Russian or Ukrainian. Can there be an unstable transport, unstable settlement or unstable goods? The term “sesteynovy” will adequately link relevant words with the meaning which was laid in 1992 in the definition of «sustainable development». The idea of a new term was supported by the majority of participants. A new concept “sesteynologiya” (sustainology) i.e. the science about sustainable development appeared in a collective discussion.

Participants had the opportunity to make an introductory tour on the territory of the projected National Nature Park “Nizhnedneprovskiy”. The final point of the boat tour was Golaya Quay.

Participants had a walking tour in “Dzharilgatsky” Black Sea Biosphere Reserve. On concrete examples, participants were able to see the consequences of a wrong environmental policy are. Uncontrolled taking of sand for industrial purposes in the 1990s and early 2000s led to erosion of priceless beaches near the village of Lazurny. A significant part of recreational facilities was destroyed. Environmental monitoring strengthened in the middle of 2000s made it possible to return the beaches.

A grim joke was born among the participants. In a commonplace phrase, “Man said – man did!” – one very important part misses: “A man thought!”. Just in this complete form, this phrase should be a key principle for impacting the environment.

It was a pleasant surprise for prof. L.G. Melnyk who is a coached basketball community leader to meet a soul mate – basketball coach, Candidate of Geographic Sciences, Associate Professor at the Department of Ecology and Geography at KSU Aleksey Davydov. He not only trains the first Ukrainian league women’s team from KSU “Tavrіyska Zirka” but is an appointed coach of the national Cadet team of Ukraine (15–16 years old girls).

Kherson pleasantly surprised by its pro-Ukrainian spirit and an abundance of national flags even on private houses. Often, the participants welcomed the local population in the national “Glory to Ukraine!”. In response – «Glory to the Heroes!”…

…It inspires optimistic hopes for the blossoming future of the country.