I. Russian Men Join the Women's Liberation Movement

"Anna," a crisis center for women, has begun a new project named "Male Solidarity." One of the chief aims of the project is to unite men who support the ideas of the women's liberation movement. Another no less important issue is the liberation of men themselves, helping them to overcome the behavioral stereotypes of using violence to resolve conflicts.

The goal of the project is to demonstrate that there is an alternative type of man different from the usual; that it is possible to be a man while refraining from violence and discrimination in relationships with women. Everyone today faces a choice, the creators of the new project believe: whether to consider aggressive behavior and discriminatory practices permissible or categorically to reject them. The participants in "Male Solidarity" are convinced that society as a whole and every person individually should take a firm position on this question and demand that brutal actions toward women and the use of violent methods to resolve conflicts be condemned both by public opinion and the law.

The project includes two programs: "Men Stop Violence" and a research program. The project will also include educational seminars for youth with the goal of forming habits of nonviolent interaction and overcoming discrimination in relationships with women. There will also be seminars for men who use violence.... The creation of a social club for men who share the ideas of the women's liberation movement and wish to participate in the project is also planned. The project will also undertake gender research on male themes.

Telephone: 384-5415 (Andrei Sinel'nikov)

II. New Wheels Help People With Disabilities Have Full and Active Lifestyles

From March 10 to 12, gatherings for people with disabilities who use wheel chairs took place at the crisis center "Chaika" [Sea Gull] under the aegis of the Moscow oblast Department of Public Social Security. It was organized by the Egor'evsk Social Security Administration and the firm Katarzhina, which has been producing wheel chairs for the past two years.

Twenty-nine people aged 16 to 50 participated in the gatherings. They were residents of the cities of the area around Moscow who lost their mobility after severe trauma to the spine or injury to the spinal chord. Alexander Evdakimov and Natalia Vanina, instructors from Katarzhina who have studied the system of active rehabilitation developed by the Swedish social organization "Rekruterings Gruppen" [Swedish spelling uncertain], provided instruction and showed how to use a wheelchair. They demonstrated the most difficult maneuvers of going up and down steps (including those without hand rails), overcoming obstacles such as curbs and pot holes in sidewalks, and how to use crosswalks.

"The rehabilitation we offer is not only physical. It is also social and psychological," says Natalia Vanina. "After all, our clients are immobile. They lead lives of seclusion. We try to show them that they can live like other people. Wheelchairs help them do that."

Andrei Keller, the head of the Evor'evsk Social Security Administration, undertook all aspects of organizing the gatherings. He organized repairs to the premises [used for the gatherings], found housing for the participants, and even found a bus with a lift to take people to a swimming pool where they could learn to swim. There was a disco every evening. Apparently you can even dance in a wheelchair! And at the end of the gatherings each participant received free of charge a light, maneuverable wheelchair made by the skilled craftsmen at Katarzhina. This wheel chair costs around two million rubles, and the oblast Department of Social Security paid for this costly gift.

The telephone number of Katarzhina is 482-1936.

III. An International Practical Conference Titled "The Regional Press: Contemporary Technology As a Factor in Independence" Will Take Place April 16-19 in Volgograd

The conference is being organized by the Volgograd printing concern "City News," which is a participant in the international Russian-American "Program for the Development of the Mass Media." The program will include round tables with the titles "International Foundations: Results and Prospects for Work With the Regional Mass Media," and "Problems of Investment in the Development of Newspapers." Seventy regional publications in Russia, representatives of the government of the Russian Federation, large international foundations that provide support to the Russian mass media, and representatives of Russian and foreign banking concerns will take part.

In addition the program will include the opening of Russia's first private newspaper press belonging to the private information and publishing concern "City News." It was acquired through a grant from the Program for the Development of the Mass Media.

[The deadline for registration was April 4.] Telephone numbers and e-mail addresses given for contacting the organizers are: (095) 232-3481, 249-8637, 249-0522. Fax: 232-3633. E-mail: [email protected] (Alexei Pankin) or [email protected] (Robert Coalson): or (8442) 33-7413, 36-1387, 33-7333, 36-1083. E mail: [email protected].

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