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“Freedom is a burden and a blessing” – Russia After the USSR

“Freedom is a burden and a blessing” – Russia After the USSR. Economics George Molokin : a 25 year TV journalist in the USSR… Now unemployed in the new Russia

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“Freedom is a burden and a blessing” – Russia After the USSR

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  1. “Freedom is a burden and a blessing” – Russia After the USSR • Economics • George Molokin: a 25 year TV journalist in the USSR… Now unemployed in the new Russia • George: the Soviet man was a slave to the system. The fall of Communism liberated him. Yet if the man has not forced the slave (dependency) out, he’s still tortured. A slave, when given his freedom, is often helpless.

  2. Jobs • VAZ attracted many workers – cost $3 billion to build. • Poor working conditions – paint fumes • Foreign Investment Needed • Lack of experience with capitalism/ free market economy

  3. Religion • Freedom = competition of beliefs • Russian Orthodox Church: has been the salvation of its people with millions of believers; Troubled by “the tragedy of conversion to Evangelical Christianity” • Evangelical Christianity: aggressive missionary work targeted at the new Russia… more heated and bitter amongst Christian sects

  4. Crime • Was almost nonexistant in USSR • Instability of the “new Russia” fuels crime (uncertain times: pressure, fear of change) • Case study of Kazan • Murder Rate: upsurge in murder “astounding” • Mafia: street toughs or a larger network of a spectrum of illegal activities: larceny, prostitution, drug trading, stealing/ smuggling weapons from the military! • Teens are especially lured – previously controlled by gov’t youth leagues, solid discipline in school • Tragedy of Lawlessness: many innocent people injured with stolen weapons, gang activity…

  5. Environment • Under USSR: decades of uncontrolled pollution • Some say it is the most inhumane legacy of Soviet rule • No freedom of press – gov’t owned/ censored newspapers, no EPA in USSR • In the new Russia, Nina Toropynz investigates for The Volpa USSR: no stories of pollution were permitted. Nina is a courageous reporter working to reveal the extent of environmental damage/ danger.

  6. Environment (con’t.) • Case Study: Astrakhan • Fish: “you are what you eat” • Over 50% of babies born in Astrakhan, had birth defects! • Astrakhan gas plant: single largest employer in region AND biggest polluter. (also funds Nina’s paper) • Early 1980s, 15 underground nuclear explosions were held to create underground cavities for natural gas. • Radiation in drinking water!!!!!! (major health concern)

  7. 1991 • Resignation of Mikhail Gorbachev • Collapse into Independent States – reality of autonomy • Finding the truth / revealing gov’t cover-ups! • Becoming a world partner/ leader via trade… • Struggling to represent the people • Struggling to protect nuclear materials…. • Navigating unchartered post Cold War waters in relation to the United States!

  8. Russia Today – your lifetime… • What do you associate with modern day Russia? • Why?

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