I. In Russia a National Program on "Russian Business Culture" Has Appeared
Until 1917 Russian business culture was an integral, equal part of world business culture. Moreover, Russian merchants and industrialists were famous for exceptional honesty, decency, reliability, and competence--qualities which at all times have been valued in the business world. Nowadays, based on testimony of foreign and Russian businessmen, the standards of business behavior in modern Russia differ unfavorably from that of the rest of the world.
In order to remedy the situation, Russian businessmen have undertaken several steps: in particular, a code of entrepreneurial ethics has been worked out, a "Charter of Business in Russia" has been established, etc. But for the normalization of the country's business life laws and regulations alone are not enough, there must exist the habit of following them; this must be turned into a tradition.
To fulfill this task, the Russian Federation Chamber of Commerce in 1995 initiated the establishment of a national program. A group of specialists worked on it--historians, economists, sociologists, psychologists, pedagogues. Based on the work of this group, a fundamental document was compiled under the title "The national program 'Russian business culture'." The document includes the theoretical basis of the program, an analysis of the modern conditions of Russian business culture, finances, methods, and perspectives on the development of business culture (in particular, a project to establish a Russian code of business ethics).
The fundamental goal of the program . . . is "to suggest a realistic system of measures and conditions to promote the establishment of the code of ethics into generally accepted norms of behavior for entrepreneurs."
The founders of the program consider one of their most important goals to be the formation of a positive image of Russian entrepreneurs among Russians and abroad. In connection with this, an important part of the program is:
The fundamental organizations involved in the program are the Center of Russian Business Culture and the Foundation of Russian Business Culture that are currently being formed. Also prepared to join as partners are: the Chamber of Commerce, the fund for presidential programs, the Association of Russian Bankers, the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, the Russian Federal Government's Academy of the Economy, the Federal Foundation for the Support of Small Enterprise, the non-governmental association "The Roundtable for Business in Russia," and the Russian Association for Ties with the Community.
For all questions and suggestions for cooperation, please call: (095) 929-0230, 929-0335, 929-0169; tel/fax: 929-0166; e-mail: [email protected].
II. Teens from "Prospekt Mira" Work to Stop the Spread of Drug Use and AIDs Among their Peers
The youth organization "Prospekt Mira" has existed in Moscow for more than four years. The majority of its activists are teens 15 years and older, grade school children and students. Many of them were at one time registered with the juvenile authorities. In "Prospekt Mira" they take a special course on how to prevent the spread of AIDS and drug use, which includes information on AIDS and the basics of psychology and communications. Having received this training, the children begin to participate on a volunteer basis in the program "Teens teaching teens."
The program includes lectures and discussions in schools, correctional facilities, and in discos. "I have already been involved in this work for four years," says student Yurii Chernousov, who is a second year student at the Moscow State Social University. "I give lectures, participate in meetings in attics and basements where teens gather. We tell these kids about the dangers of AIDS infection and of the use of drugs and alcohol. At first they treat us with skepticism, but then they listen with interest."
One aspect of the work done by volunteers at "Prospekt Mira" is to put on a theatrical performance which they compose and perform themselves. Each has their own role - "bottle," "cigarette," "dirty needle." The teens perform in discos and in youth clubs. . . .
The program "Teens teaching teens" is part of the city-wide preventative program "Children of the streets" and ought to be financed from the city budget. But the amount of funding to "Children of the streets" has been greatly reduced and now it is not clear on what funds "Prospekt Mira" will exist. The debt for the group's rent is 30 million rubles (about US$5,000).
Contact telephone: (095) 928-3134 (Svetlana Volkova).
III. In Nizhnii Novgorod a "School of Diabetes" for Children is Opened
The Nizhnii Novgorod Diabetics League has finally managed to fulfill a dream to establish a "School of Diabetes." The school will prepare children with diabetes to regulate their condition and to look after their health, in other words, to lead a normal life despite their disease. In the words of the president of the League, upon this will depend what kind of person one will become: a fully-valued member of society or an invalid with a dependent mentality.
This school-the second stage in the program "Diabetes in the City"-has become an example of successful cooperation between non-governmental organizations and the governmental and commercial structures. The best specialists will teach here, equipment will be provided by sponsors, and the lodgings will be provided by the "Nordis" school of rehabilitation.
To the question presented by an ASI correspondent, "Why did "Nordis" house the "School of Diabetes?" the school's representative Larisa Grishanova answered: "We have a similar approach to teaching as does the League. In classes of integrated instruction we teach regular students as well as handicapped students. The goal is personal development. From our experience we know that it is difficult for non-governmental organizations to start a new cause without budgeted finances and without the aid of a colleague."
The first classes for the diabetic children will be held in the Gorodetskii sanitarium in the middle of July and the city classes will begin in September.
Contact telephone numbers: (8312) 41-7653 (the Diabetic League), 29-3214 (the "Nordis" school).
IV. In Barnaul an Internet Center has been Opened
On July 9 at the Altaiskii State University (ASU) an Internet center began functioning. This project was made possible thanks to financing from the Open Society Institute (Soros Foundation). The Soros Foundation has earmarked US$ 100 million for the development of the Internet in Russia, of which 20 million is for the establishment of such centers.
To guarantee entry into the global information network, Altaiskii State University also received financial support from the administration of the Altaiskii region. The quickly expanding channels for connection, which tie the Russian portion of the Internet, will be under the control of the Russian Federal Government.
The Internet is a "library" of all possible knowledge. By the year 2000 there will be over 300 million computers on the Internet. Use of the Internet gives students and teachers a higher level and quality of knowledge.
This is already number eight in a planned number of 32 Internet centers in the country's universities. The former rector of ASU Valerii Mironov was appointed as the center's director. Included in the plans of the Altaiskii center is a competition for the best humanitarian project . . . and to put information about the region, the krai, and the university on the Internet.
V. The Week of Protest Continues Against the Project for the Transshipment of Oil from the Tengiz Oil Fields through the Krasnodarskii Region
The week of protest action is led by the radical ecological movement "Keepers of the Rainbow" along with the sections of the Socio-Ecological Union from the Kuban and Adygui. The campaign started on June 30 in Krasodar with a symbolic burial march. They said goodbye to the Black Sea, which, in the opinion of the "greens," has practically no chance of survival.
On July 2, the ecological activists lead a picket near the Novorossisk city administration building. In only the first six hours about 1,500 signatures were gathered from local residents demanding that the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) not be permitted to construct an oil pipeline.
On July 3, across from the city market, about fifty activists of the "green" movement held a protest meeting which concluded with a march of a large number of people along the central streets of Novorossisk.
July 4, on the initiative of the leaders of the ecological movement, a press conference was held for Novorossisk journalists in which the representatives of the "Keepers of the Rainbow" and the socio-ecological union took part. At the press conference detailed information on the actions being conducted, the goals of this activity, and the attitude of the local community to the CPC was given. Also at the press conference demands were presented to the head of the administration of Novorossisk, of which the main ones were:
* to make an official decision on the absolute inadmissibility of placing an oil terminal in the settlement of Yuzhnaya Ozereika;
* to give permission for the planning of the Novorossisk section of the Utrish National Park.
On July 5 the "Keepers of the Rainbow" walked along the proposed course of the pipeline and assembled with the residents of Yuzhnaya Ozereika, where a plan of united action against the "pipes" was worked out with local activists. In the words of the chairman of the Committee for public self-government I. V. Karakezidi, out of 250 voters in Yuzhnaya Ozereika, only two supported the nearby construction of the oil terminal. In the evening of that day, the representatives of the radical ecologists took part in a meeting of the Council of the people's association for the defense of the Black Sea coast, a recently established association of resistance to the plans for industrial construction on the coast. Those gathered propounded the idea of holding a city-wide referendum to obtain the opinion of Novorossisk residents on the loss of the last place for rest and relaxation in Yuzhnaya Ozereika and the destruction of the Adrausskii game reserve. An appeal on this matter was sent to the local duma.
A meeting and march in defense of the Black Sea was repeated on July 6 in Anapa. Signatures were collected during the meeting. All-in-all, about 500 signatures were gathered.
Not having received a reply to their demands, on July 8 the "Keepers of the Rainbow" blocked the Novorossisk administration building. About 15 people laid down on the doorstep before the main entrance to the building. Signs were hung and a group of supporters, journalists, and television cameras gathered. After 2 hours the militia arrested the participants.
This week of protest action is just one of the stages in the "greens" campaign to attract public attention to one of the most dangerous ecological projects on the Russian Black Sea coast. One of the most important goals is the organization of a city-wide referendum in Novorossisk. . . .
Additional information can be obtained by telephone: (86134) 3-3125 (Valerii Timoshchenko, Novorossisk), 4-0153 (Marina, Anapa); e-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected].
VI. A Conference on "The Family Under New Socio-economic Conditions" Will be Held in Nizhnii Novgorod
The conference will be held October 2 - 4, 1997. The following topics will be discussed: * the economic aspects of the evolution of the family,
Representatives of non-commercial organizations are invited to take part in the conference The organizational committee must be informed of the intention to participate by the end of July. Synopses of presentations must be presented no later than the beginning of September.
Contact telephone: (8312) 65-8486; fax: 65-8592; e-mail: [email protected]
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