I. A New Regional Non-Governmental Movement "Artecologia" is Formed

"Artecologia," the first movement in Russia to preserve cultural heritage via information technology, was registered as a non- governmental, non-commercial organization on June 4, 1997. The goal of the "Artecologia" movement is the preservation of the spiritual environment ("the cultural ecosystem"), much as the basic idea of "the greens" is the protection of man's habitat. This organization, in the view of its founders, is the first step toward a global movement to preserve world cultural heritage via the use of laser disks and other long-lasting forms of recording made possible by modern technology.

The founders of the movement consider their main duty to be the submission of proposals to governmental and international organizations to preserve national cultural heritage and cultural values by recording them in long-lasting form using digital technology. For this, it is necessary to form a collaboration with producers of digital recordings, foundations from various countries, international organizations, financial bodies, and private parties on the subject of the promotion and preservation of cultural values.

Contact telephone: (095) 230-0222, 433-1886; fax (095) 230-1307.

II. Budget for the City Program "Children of the Streets" Has Been Cut by 80 Percent

On June 16, the international day of the war against drug users and the drug trade, a conference was held in the Moscow City Duma on the work of the program "Children of the Streets." Deputies of the city duma, leaders of non-governmental organizations, representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church, workers of the city administration on internal affairs, and doctors/narcotic experts took part in the conference.

"Children of the Streets" hopes to establish, in each city neighborhood, a center which will: work with "difficult" teenagers; conduct anti-drug and anti-alcohol measures; support sports; and conduct sociological research. The mayor of Moscow, Yu. Luzhkov, issued a decree on February 25, 1997 to establish a city center "Children of the Streets" to prevent neglect, crime, alcoholism, and drug use among minors. In accordance with the decree, the department of finance was supposed to provide 41 billion rubles to help establish the program in 1997. However, its employee, deputy Evgenii Balachov reported that financing was cut to 5 billion rubles, and even those funds have not been received.

At the same time, the number of homeless children in the capital continues to rise. Today there are over 50 thousand. According to the data of the Association of Medical-Social Research, Economics, and Information, 37 percent of all underage boys and 31 percent of underage girls smoke, 79 percent of young boys and 90 percent of girls drink alcohol, and 17 percent of boys and 8 percent of girls have tried drugs. Moscow's lone reception- distribution center, 14 city shelters, militia and educational bodies and organizations, and the existing medical institutions are not equipped to deal with the problem.

Participants in the conference asserted that, as in prior times, an inter-departmentally coordinated program is essential. "We have only the efforts of individual organizations, but not united action in the struggle for our children, we do not have practical steps," said the president of the philanthropic foundation "NAN" and the main children's drug expert in Moscow, Oleg Zykov. "The "Children of the Streets" program needs to expand and obtain greater trust and in the near future, if it does not start to act, the critical comments which have been leveled against it will be justified."

Critical comments were also heard at the conference. In particular, the correspondent of the Moscow-based newspaper, "Tverskaya, 13," Svetlana Kolosovskaya said that the program ought to be dismantled because it might lead to irreparable harm. "We asked the mayor not to begin the financing of the program," she announced. "In one of its divisions, "Teenagers helping teenagers," they openly state that prophylactics can protect a teen from AIDS. But scientists in the U.S. have come to the conclusion that they do not protect people from HIV-infection. Moreover, the propaganda of "rubber articles" can only introduce children to early sexual activities."

Duma deputy Evgenii Balashov, nonetheless, is not losing optimism and does not consider it necessary to stop the program. "Five billion rubles will be enough until the end of the year," he assured conference participants. "Most importantly, a beginning has been laid: already there is a location for the teen center "Children of the Streets" and a shelter in the southern district; a direction has been chosen."

Contact telephone: (095) 928-3134.

III. A New Bulletin on Philanthropy in the Novgorod Region

In Novgorod, the first issue of the bulletin "Patron" was issued. The publishers are the non-governmental philanthropic foundation "Life and Health" and the Novgorod regional diabetic society of invalids. The material in the bulletin discusses city and regional charitable activities, the tax benefits for philanthropists that are envisioned by the government, and advice for first time sponsors.

The theme of the first issue was: Business and Philanthropy. The most interesting article of the issue -- "Art that gives life" -- tells of a charity art auction of works by the best artists in Novgorod. The auction was organized on the international day for the protection of the children of the Novgorod region by the Center for Artistic Endeavors, the television/radio company "Slaviya," and the philanthropic foundation "Health and Life." The money received will be used to help children with cancer.

The bulletin is distributed free in the regional and city administration, in embassies and consulates of foreign governments, in commercial structures, in non-governmental, non- commercial organizations and in Novgorod's sister-cities in the USA, Germany, and other countries.

Publisher's telephone number: (81622) 953-78.

IV. "An Invitation to the Teacher", a new journalism project from the Open Society Institute (Soros Foundation)

The project "An invitation to the teacher" is part of the Open Society Institute's program "Journalists and Journalism," which seeks to raise the level of professionalism in the Russian mass media. Under this new project expenses are covered for specialists to travel to and conduct short (not more that a week, with a maximum of 12 academic hours) courses at journalism faculties and departments in Russian universities.

The proposed theme of lectures include: management of the mass media, legal norms of journalism, journalistic etiquette, theory and practice of foreign journalism, theory and practice of Russian journalism, theory of journalistic text, basics of television and radio journalism, modern mass media design, basics of advertising, problems of public relations, journalism and the Internet. Lecturers can be teachers as well as journalists.

The Open Society Institute covers all trip expenses (train, room in a hotel, daily expenses, other fees). Any state institution of higher learning which teaches journalism can participate in the program. To invite a guest teacher, send a request to the program "Journalism" or call.

For those wishing to give a short lecture course in one of the universities, also send an application to "Journalism." The application should contain the following: a short biography (date of birth, education, work experience, list of publications, and other information on your education or practical experience); title of the course with a listing of the lecture themes; the text of one of the fundamental lectures (this should not be more that two pages). Applications are reviewed by program experts.

Additional information is available from the Open Society Institute at the following address: 107078 Moscow, B. Kozlovskii per., house 13/17 (Yurina Irina Yukhanovna, program director. Nina Dmitrievna Balyasnikova, Anna Stanislavovna Filimonova, Viktoriya Leonidovna Struts - coordinators).

Contact telephone: (095) 928-5634, 21-2065. Fax: 288-9152. E- mail: [email protected].

V. Novikovskii Children's Home Needs Help

The Novikovskii Children's Home in the Ostrovskii Region, Komstromskii Oblast, houses 130 handicapped children, half of whom are confined to bed, and 92 of whom are under 16 years of age. The institution needs medical equipment and food products. However, the most fundamental problem is the construction of a new building because the old building lacks basic conveniences.

The administration of the Komstromskii oblast along with the oblast duma are involved in collecting money and other contributions (monetary, any medical equipment, medicines).

Telephone number for information: (0942) 57-7685 (Irina Vladimirovna Pereverzeva, chair of the commission on social issues of the oblast duma).

VI. After a Presentation by a Non-Governmental Organization, the Shooting of Stray Dogs Was Declared Illegal

By the order of the head of the Gorodetskii regional administration, in the city of Gorodets, homeless and stray dogs were shot from March 7 -14, 96. For each one killed, the huntsmen received 15 thousand rubles. The shooting of the animals took place on a small street during the morning rush hour and the animals that were not killed on the spot were left there to die. A dog who had an owner was out on the street without a leash or collar during the "hunt" and was caught in the raid.

According to an announcement by the non-governmental, non-profit organization for the protection of animals "Kind Hands," the Gorodetskii city office of the public prosecutor has conducted an inquiry into the incident. As a result of the investigation, the shooting of homeless animals was declared illegal, but the head of the regional administration has submitted a protest.

"It is very important to declare the order of the head of the administration illegal in court and to punish all of those directly guilty of killing the dogs," says Natalya Zaikina, vice president of "Kind Hands." "We hope that what is fair will triumph."

Telephone for "Kind Hands": (8312) 67-7536 (Nina Gennadevna Abelit), 41-0791 (Natalya Aleksandrovna Zaikina).

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