Between humanity, security of supply and political failure

There is surprising unity in view of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. Surprising because things will turn out very differently: the clear rejection of war in Europe cannot hide the fact that the willingness to take in refugees will probably quickly lose momentum again.

Most recently, Austria's ÖVP Chancellor Nehammer came out in December last year: In the middle of the corona pandemic and a civil war in Afghanistan, he showed a lack of humanity and left, among other things Deport well naturalized school children. Activist Helene-Monika Hofer: "Politics must not be made on the back of human lives. It is irresponsible to force people onto a plane in the middle of a pandemic to take them to a country embroiled in civil war.”

For the EU, the Ukraine war means a new start in terms of humanity and solidarity. Will the concern last? Will the Ukrainian refugees be distributed fairly among the European countries? It has never really worked so far: we remember the stream of refugees from Syria. To the Moria refugee camp. people in cold and dirt. And we remember the defensive attitude of Europe, and especially that of the Austrian ÖVP's inhumanity policy.

However, the Ukraine war is also jeopardizing Europe's security of supply. This is where the lack of commitment to sustainability takes revenge. For too long has been stuck to fossil fuels, the expansion of Wind power and Photovoltaics curbed - for their own political clientele. Conclusion: In 2022, in the middle of the climate crisis, Europe and Austria are still extremely dependent on gas and have to fear for their own supply. For the EU was therefore last Atomic power the answer to the sustainable energy question. Njet, Putin lectures us with the concern of Europe being contaminated.

But gas is not the only problem. Almost unnoticed and politically negated, dependency on imports has increased steadily in recent years. In the meantime, self-sufficiency is not covered in many areas, not only in Austria. According to a current Greenpeace report, only 58 percent of the vegetables and 46 percent of the fruit required in Austria are grown. There is a massive overproduction of meat.

Our new Health Minister Johannes Rauch shows what is at stake: He sees his task as preparing Austria for a possible corona mutation in autumn. It doesn't matter if it comes or not. Applied to the climate crisis, the political failure shows: Austria is actually not prepared for anything. The banana republic is now only 36th in the climate protection index. Alternative energy sources have only been pushed hesitantly in recent decades. Oil heating, on the other hand, continued to be subsidized with tax money until last year. Successful politics looks different. That can cost us the future.

Photo / Video: Option.