Center for Civil Society International ([email protected])
Wed, 17 Sep 1997 13:33:05 -0700 (PDT)
CCSI presents excerpts from the Agency for Social Information (ASI) e-mail
information bulletin. Translated from Russian by CCSI volunteer Alyssa
Deutschler. For more information on how to receive ASI's bulletin
regularly, contact:
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AGENTSTVO SOTSIALNOI INFORMATSII
Kutuzovskyi pr. 22 pod. 14a,
Moscow, 121151
Tel./fax: (095) 249-3989
E-mail: [email protected]
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N 35 (144)
29 August - 4 September 1997
In this issue:
* A Proposed Law for Alternative Military Service Hopes to Resolve
Social Problems in Moscow
* Muscovite Women Gain a Real Chance for Advancement
* Criminal Case Brought Against Young Christian Democrats in St.
Petersburg
* Campaign Against AIDS & Drug Abuse Reveals a Change in Attitude
in Nizhnii Novgorod
* Youth Campaign Held in Krasnodar
* International Seminar on Ecological Problems in the Black Sea
Region Held in Turkey
* * * * * * *
A Proposed Law for Alternative Military Service
Hopes to Resolve Social Problems in Moscow
Activists from the "Youth Solidarity" group presented their
program for an alternative to obligatory military service to
journalists at the Russian-American Press Center on September 1.
"Youth Solidarity" is planning to present the proposed law for
discussion at the next scheduled session of the Moscow City Duma.
Ilya Zanegin, member of "Youth Solidarity," told journalists that
the program will put those who refuse to enlist for their
mandatory military service to good use. "The program will help
resolve many social ills in Moscow," Zanegin stated. In
accordance with the proposed law, young men could work at public
hospitals, humanitarian social organizations or charities in lieu
of military service. Participants in the alternative program
would be assigned to positions where they were most needed;
working, for example, as janitors, carpenters, nurses, or social
workers. In contrast with the current regulations for military
service, young men could pursue post-secondary school education
(at night or correspondence courses) during their "alternative"
service. In the words of "Youth Solidarity" members, the law
would create one of the most democratic of all alternative
military service programs in Europe. If passed, the law would be
an important step towards military reform in Russia.
* * * * * * *
Muscovite Women Gain a Real Chance for Advancement
On September 3 at the Hotel Ukraine in Moscow, an international
conference entitled "Women & Life in the Big City" was held. The
conference was sponsored by the Committee for Interregional
Relations (of the Moscow city government) and the Soroptimist
Club. Members from various Moscow women's organizations attended
the conference, along with foreign representatives from the
Soroptimist Club, including women from Greece, Israel, Germany and
the US.
Lyudmila Shvetsova, director of the Committee for Interregional
Relations, lamented the lack of women in positions of government
power in Russia during her speech at the conference. However,
Shvetsova asserted that opportunities for advancement do exist for
women--opportunities that are currently being supported thanks to a
government program created by her committee. The program plans to
publicize the activities of women in commercial and social
spheres, make the public aware of the numbers of unemployed women
with higher education, and formulate a quota system to ensure
numbers of positions for women at different levels of government.
The committee has already created a database of women executives
and managers.
Emilia Chugunova, president of the Women's Foundation for
Employment & Free Enterprise, spoke of several examples of women
taking an active role in creating opportunities for themselves:
for example, a former teacher who opened a folklore museum for
children; or a mother who created a network of cottage industries.
"The number of women who are independently starting their own
businesses or ventures is growing," stated Chugunova.
Contact Telephone: (095) 171-1336 (Committee for Interregional
Relations)
* * * * * * *
Criminal Case Brought Against Young Christian Democrats
in St. Petersburg
Authorities in St. Petersburg have accused the Young Christian
Democrats of inciting citizens to avoid their mandatory military
service. The organization has refuted the charges, saying that
the charges are false and the case against them completely
fabricated. "All we've done is informed young men of their
constitutional rights to alternatives to military service, in
agreement with article 59 of the constitution," stated Vitalii
Milonov, director of the Young Christian Democrats. The charges
against the Young Christian Democrats seem strange, considering
that the St. Petersburg city government has long supported the
creation of an experimental service "battalion" for those seeking
an alternative to traditional military service. The battalion
should begin operations by the end of the year, despite the fact
that the federal law on alternative military service hasn't yet
been passed in the Duma. The governor of St. Petersburg,
Vladimir Yakovlev, met with Russian Federation Minister of Defense
Igor Sergeev on September 3rd to discuss the experimental
battalion. The number of young men in St. Petersburg seeking to
avoid military service has been growing during the summer
enlistment, 170 men indicated they were seeking an alternative to
their mandatory service.
Contact Telephone: (812) 311-9869
* * * * * * *
Campaign Against AIDS & Drug Abuse
Reveals a Change in Attitude in Nizhnii Novgorod
A campaign seeking to educate citizens about the risks of AIDS and
drug abuse took place in Nizhnii Novgorod during the city's Hot
Air Balloon Fiesta, on August 30th. Whereas during last year's
campaign (also held during the Fiesta) Nizhnii Novgorod citizens
were reluctant to take materials or pamphlets offered on the
subject of AIDS and drug abuse and few took part in a survey on
AIDS awareness, this year campaign organizers reported that 2000
pamphlets and condoms were given away and many fiesta-goers
actively participated in a survey on AIDS and drug use
administered by TV network NN. Additionally, an anonymous hotline
was in operation during the campaign, where Aleksei Moiseev, a
youth drug counselor from the "Family" agency, answered callers'
questions.
The campaign was part of the "Journalists Against AIDS" program,
sponsored by the Anti-AIDS Foundation and the Agency for Social
Information. Until September 30th, program organizers are
accepting original articles, reports, and documentaries dealing
with the effect of drugs and AIDS on young people, along with the
role of the family in the prevention of AIDS and drug addiction.
Contact Telephone: (8312) 31-3564 (Elena Belyaeva)
* * * * * * *
Youth Campaign Held in Krasnodar
On August 30th a campaign on the role of youth in society was held
in Krasnodar, as part of the "Civil Society & the Development of
NGOs" program. Participants in the campaign included the
Association of Young Leaders, Yur-Inform (a young lawyer's
organization), and several rock groups from the Krasnodar region.
The campaign included fun games and contests dealing with serious
themes, such as constitutional rights, civic responsibilities, and
peaceful conflict resolution. Participants cited the campaign as
an excellent opportunity to inform young people about the role of
NGOs in Krasnodar.
* * * * * * *
International Seminar on Ecological Problems
in the Black Sea Region Held in Turkey
"The Black Sea-One for All" was the slogan of this year's Black
Sea Environmental Programme, an annual seminar during which
representatives from countries surrounding the Black Sea meet to
discuss environmental issues in the region. Representatives from
Romania, Turkey, Bulgaria, Georgia, Ukraine, and Russia attended
this year's meeting and presented information on environmental
issues and programs that impact the Black Sea region. One of the
topics discussed was ecological devastation in the Dunai river
basin. Research conducted by the Black Sea Environmental
Programme has indicated that water from the Dunai is contributing
to high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus found in the Black Sea.
Similarly, the Dunai was responsible for more than half of the oil
waste found in the Black Sea waters. Also discussed at the
seminar were ecological issues in the Novorossiiska region, a
Russian city on the Black Sea. Videotape shot by local eco-
activists in Novorossiiska showed the results of a disasterous oil
pipeline rupture in May of 1997, and was subsequently broadcast on
television channels in all six countries attending the seminar.
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| CCSI presents excerpts from the ASI Bulletin. The |
| ASI Bulletin is a publication of the Agency for Social |
| Information (ASI) in Moscow. Originally published in |
| Russian, selected stories are translated and posted to |
| the CCSI listserv CivilSoc. Back issues are available |
| in both English and Russian language by following the |
| "Archives" link and choosing "ASI Bulletin Excerpts" |
| |
| http://www.friends-partners.org/~ccsi/ |
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