Russia

The timber industry, and especially its trade with China, is a significant contributor to Russia’s economy. The wildfires that spread through Russian forests in the summer of 2010 brought concerns about Russian forest management to the forefront for businesspeople and policymakers. Here, U.S. Embassy Policy Specialist program fellow Stephanie Hitztaler describes her field research examining the impact of Russia’s forest code on the timber industry, the environment, and small businesses.

As IREX launches its Promoting New Media and Media Convergence in Russia program, examples of how new media is changing the nature of communications and media continually appear. The new generation of Russians is completely entrenched in new media and is now learning how to influence public opinion (both in good and not so good ways) in the country. A recent scandal surrounding President Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to the Moscow University School of Journalism offers proof of this evolving environment.

In parts of Russia, a lack of social and employment opportunities can lead to self-destructive behavior. An independent evaluation found that one of IREX's programs helps youth build leadership skills and engage with their communities.

As a volunteer in Russia, I was frequently asked to speak to youth and educators about community service in the United States. Preparing for these presentations, I reflected on the well-accepted culture of “pitching in” within the US and on the recognized value of service in helping young people develop confidence, a sense of responsibility, practical skills, and a greater awareness of social issues.

The smile, stickers and Halloween candy I’d brought as a USRVI volunteer weren’t enough. Sasha needed much more than I could give in just one hour, and I had no idea where to start. At 15, he had run away from the orphanage to go home—many children in Russian state institutions have at least one living parent—and found things there in a state of chaos. Orphanage staff heard he was begging on the local electrichka train, found him and brought him back.

As World Press Freedom Day approaches and interest in ongoing popular uprisings in the Middle East garner well-deserved attention in the press, we should not forget how the digital revolution continues to upend traditional notions of media (and traditional notions of state control over the media) all over the globe.

Interviewing victims of trafficking and their rescuers is difficult work. There are few happy endings. However, occasionally one meets someone who emerges from unspeakable suffering with courage, clarity, and wisdom. Marina is such a woman.

Bringing Youth Government to Rural Russia The longer I live in Russia, the more I see similarities with the United States. Then there are moments where I am reminded of the tremendous differences. One of these moments happened last week while I was attending a youth government training in Kotovsk, a town of about 27,000 people in Tambov, one of the more conservative regions of Russia. The training was part of the USAID-funded Youth Development Competencies Program (YDCP), which in its fourth year is working to empower youth and effect change in youth policy in three Russian regions, including Tambov.

News coverage in the immediate aftermath of the bombing at Domodedovo airport came not from the television, but from blogs and tweets. Television news was slow to react to the terrorist attack. However, it did eventually switch to live coverage which dependended heavily on using YouTube footage and twitter feeds as primary source material.

Michael Mirny, the Chief of Party of IREX's International Media Partnerships Program in Russia, offers a summary of a roundtable on old and new media in Russia at the annual AAASS convention.