I. Government of Moscow to Award Grants to Non-Governmental Organizations
II. Grassroots Organizations Protest the Rostov Nuclear Power Plant
III. Women of the World Help Russian Children
ANNOUNCEMENTS
IV. Fund of Ecological Inventions Welcomes Cooperation
V. Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe Offers Training Program
VI. Rori Peck Foundation Announces a TV Report Contest
I. Government of Moscow to Award Grants to Non-Governmental Organizations
In an important development, the City of Moscow has recently announced a policy of awarding grants to grassroots organizations for work that contributes to "the social development of the city." On July 25 in Moscow City Hall there was a meeting to discuss implementation of the new Moscow law "On Social Order." Meeting participants discussed a package of documents and learned about the city program to award grants on a competitive basis.
The Chief of the Moscow Department of Public and Interregional Relations, L. Shvetsova, spoke of possible social-governmental councils which would unite organizations with a similar focus, such as women's, youth, ecological, and interethnic organizations. One such council has already been created for veterans and includes governmental officials, veterans and their organizations. Today Shvetsova met with women's non- governmental organizations to create a Government of Moscow Social-Governmental Council which will work to improve women's situation in Moscow. L. Shvetsova urged meeting participants to assist in Moscow's Social Development Program. She mentioned that all Moscow City legislative drafts will now get a public review, including from NGOs with expertise in a particular area. The mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzhkov, expressed his support of this initiative.
II. Grassroots Organizations Protest the Rostov Nuclear Power Plant
The environmental movement "Zelyenyi Don" (Green Don) is leading the ecological opposition to the start-up of two units of the Rostov Nuclear Power Plant. In April 1996, Green Don planned to hold a conference on the results of Rostov Nuclear Power Plant social expertise. However, Green Don activists say that March 4, 1996, their archives and conference materials were stolen and their newspaper's office was plundered. Nevertheless, with the support of ISAR, Socio-Ecological Union, Greenpeace and ecological Cossack associations, Green Don movement activists managed to publish important materials on the problems of Rostov Nuclear Power Plant. Green Don representatives indicate that information from the Ministry of Nature is faulty and is based on the 1979 original plan for Rostov station, instead of the real plant conditions. Novocherkassk, Donetsk, and Donetsk oblast authorities are also opposed to starting the reactors. According to the Supreme Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine resolution, the launch of a nuclear power plant cannot be implemented without public agreement from adjacent territories.
III. Women of the World Help Russian Children
The Moscow organization "Action for Russia's Children" is a coalition of women the volunteers from different countries, working in orphanage houses, boarding houses and crisis centers. It is a nonprofit charitable organization, which exists on donations and consists of over 200 volunteers. Most of the volunteers are foreigners.
One of the main goals of "Action for Russia's Children" is to assist abandoned children in need of surgeries or medical help. Surgeries are conducted by Russian surgeons, but the most complicated cases are referred to Great Britain. "Action for Russia's Children" has also created a system of therapeutic and psychological assistance for orphans and chronically ill children. The association opened a special orphanage for children up to 4 years old with Cerebral Palsy and Downs Syndrome. Together with the organization Operation Smile, "Action for Russia's Children" helps children with severe speech disorders. Usually such children end up in a boarding house for the retarded, although their mental development is normal. Activists of the "Action for Russia's Children" say they feel the need to educate people and change their viewpoint about children with chronic diseases.
Contact phone: (095) 945-2493, 250-9974
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
IV. Fund of Ecological Inventions Welcomes Cooperation
The Fund of Ecological Inventions (FEI) is a system of mutual assistance for non-governmental environmental organizations, groups and activists. FEI collects and analyzes the experience of previous environmental actions and methods of environmental protest and shares this information with interested organizations and individuals. The idea of FEI was suggested in 1988 by Alexander Kunarev, Candidate of Technical Sciences and member of Russian Green Party, and was supported by the Netherlands Embassy.
Contact information:
7th Peschanaya ul. d.7, kv. 61
Moscow 125252
E-mail: [email protected]
V. Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe Offers Training Program
The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe offers a Junior Fellowship Program for environmental activists from Eastern Europe and countries of the former Soviet Union. The program provides training in international environmental cooperation, and organizing and operating an environmental NGO. The Regional Center covers room and board plus a small stipend. Applicants should be no younger than 20 and no older than 30, should have experience of working with NGOs, be interested in environmental issues, and have a good command of English. Applications are due September 15, 1996.
For more information, contact:
Adriana Krazium, Junior Fellowship Program
Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern
Europe
Miklos ter.1, H-1035
Budapest, Hungary
Tel.: (361) 250-3401
Fax: (361) 250-3403
E-mail: [email protected]
VI. Rori Peck Foundation Announces a TV Report Contest
The Foundation is created in the memory of TV operator Rori Peck, who died during filming the tragic events of October 1993 in Moscow. The contest is for freelance TV reporters and will evaluate initiative and courage of the report, technical and professional skills, civic and personal sensitivity demonstrated in coverage of conflicts, human and ethnic minorities' rights violations, repression and persecutions. Application deadline is September 10, 1996.
For more information, contact:
Catherine A. Fitzpatrick
Committee to Protect Journalists
Tel.: (212) 465-1004, ext. 101
Fax: (212) 465-9568
E-mail: [email protected]
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