Recently the list of independent mass media in the Russian Far East has widened – in December 2005 the first issue of online journal ‘The Krai’ was published.
The bilingual publication is a joint project of Leadership Development International (LDI) and the Institute of Sustainable Development (ISD).
Based in Vladivostok, The Krai seeks to provoke thought and open discussion on issues that affect or interest the lives of the people of the Russian Far East, and beyond.
“From culture to business to politics, we educate, shedding light on individuals and institutions effecting positive changes in our world, while raining criticism on passiveness, incompetence, the backward and the unjust. We value prose that is edgy and opinionated but informed; authoritative but absent euphemism and cliché. The Krai believes that establishing forums for the free exchange of ideas, both within and between nations, is an essential component of any intelligent, civil society. Writing from a variety of perspectives, our only ideological bias is that we don't have one. The Krai will have scope,” The Krai editors wrote on the ‘about us’ page of their website.
You can see the magazine at www.thekrai.com

On December 29, shortly before the New Year celebration, Sakhalin office of Kidsave International held an event called ‘Present from Father Frost’ for 103 inmates of Troitsk orphanage aged 7 to 18.
Preparation for the event started on December 14, when kids, on request of Kidsave, wrote letters to Father Frost. In the letters children told about themselves and asked for some specific present they would like to receive for New Year. Some kids asked for ski, some – for sledge, many girls asked for dolls, boys – for toy cars.
Kidsave handed over the letters to Sakhalin companies and individuals who bought the presents or provided money for this purpose.
After the New Year Party in the orphanage on December 29, each child received his long-awaited present.
Kidsave managed to engage in the action about 20 Sakhalin companies, with which it hopes to cooperate in the future in the capacity of corporate mentors for the orphans.
Kidsave’s mission is moving children from institutions into families or long-term relationships with caring, responsible adults. This process is supplemented with public education and social marketing programs to drive change in public knowledge and initiate change in attitude and behaviors towards institutionalized children.
Kidsave programs in the Sakhalin Region are implemented in cooperation with the regional educational department and are financed by USAID, Sakhalin oil and gas companies ‘Sakhalin Energy’ and ‘Starstroi’ and with charitable donations of individuals and corporations.

The FOREST method of conducting public advocacy campaigns against illegal logging and protecting the forest, is now being institutionalized into Russia with the assistance of local RFE NGO ‘The Khabarovsk Branch of All Russia Nature Protection Society’, a partner of the FOREST project.
On December 24, the Khabarovsk Regional Exhibition Center invited USAID-FOREST partners to conduct a public campaign against illegal logging during a regional exhibition.
FOREST partners conducted an event identifying how illegal logging damages communities, municipalities, and this has led to a high level of interest by regional authorities toward illegal logging issues as well as the utilization of NGOs to inform the public of this serious issue.

On December 15-16, Taylor Ruggles, Country Assistance Officer for Russia, Office of the Coordinator of Assistance for Europe and Eurasia, US Department of State, visited Vladivostok. During the brief visit, Mr. Ruggles:

• met with Margarita Chupikova, Director of American-Russian Educational Center in Vladivostok, and Nicole Crabtree, ARC Coordinator in RFE. Chupikova made a presentation, in which she covered center’s activities, resources, financial issues, and partnership relations. She also shared her view of a future network relationship of American-Russian Centers in the RFE.
• met with Vitaly Beregovsky, Secretary of Primorye Anti-Corruption Coalition, which unites over 30 public organizations. Beregovsky reported about the main activities of the coalition, its experience in fighting with corruption and plans for the future. Olga Likhacheva, MSI Coordinator of ‘Partnership against Corruption’ Project financed by USAID, also attended the meeting. She told about a series of activities aimed at preventing corruption. Among the activities are creation of a mechanism of authorities’ reporting; simplification of administrative procedures; improvement of transparency of local authorities through open access to information; public awareness campaigns on reasons and consequences of corruption; and raising public intolerance to corruption. Likhacheva mentioned that a total of 11 anti-corruption projects have been financed.
Patrick Grove, a representative of ABA/CEELI (American Bar Association/Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative), joined the meeting. ABA/CEELI advances the rule of law by supporting the law reform process in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
• took part in the launch ceremony of the Russian Far East Affiliate Office of the New Eurasia Foundation (FNE RFE). The FNE RFE was established to allow the FNE to more efficiently and effectively implement its programs in the Russian Far East and thereby create more opportunities for the region to be integrated into nation-wide programs. The goal of FNE RFE is to develop and implement development programs in the Russian Far East that are focused on increasing the effectiveness of migration processes in the region; solving social problems through joint efforts with local authorities, non-profit public organizations and the private sector; and preserving the human capital of the region while increasing its intellectual potential. Representatives from the local and regional governments, business community, diplomatic missions, universities, scientific institutions, international and local non-government organizations and civic groups attended the ceremony.
• discussed prospect for the development of the Regional Initiative RFE with its coordinator Svetlana Vasina.
• met with US Consul General in Vladivostok John Mark Pommersheim.

On December 15, 2005, THE NEW EURASIA FOUNDATION (FNE) hosted a Launch Ceremony in honor of its first regional branch, The Russian Far East Affiliate Office (FNE RFE). The ceremony took place in the Diamond Hall of the Hyundai Hotel.
The FNE RFE was established to allow the FNE to more efficiently and effectively implement its programs in the Far Eastern Federal Okrug (also known as the Russian Far East) and thereby create more opportunities for the Region to be integrated into nation-wide programs. The Russian Far East Affiliate Office of the New Eurasia Foundation has as its goal to develop and implement development programs in the Far Eastern Federal Okrug that are focused on increasing the effectiveness of migration processes in the region; solving social problems through joint efforts with local authorities, non-profit civic organizations and the private sector; and preserving the human capital of the Region while increasing its intellectual potential.
During the Launch Ceremony more than 80 guests - representatives from the local and regional government, the business community (Primorski Diamond LLC, S&T Group, Primtelefon Company, "Green Leaves" Company, etc.) , diplomatic missions, universities, scientific institutions, international and local non-government organizations and civic groups - had an opportunity to learn about the FNE RFE development strategy for the Region.
In addition, those present discussed future possibilities for cooperation and the implementation of joint initiatives, which have the potential to further the economic, social and cultural development of the Russian Far East.

In the framework of his visit to Sakhalin, US Consul General John Mark Pommersheim visited the Sakhalin Center for AIDS Fight and Prevention on December 8.

Center’s Director Yelena Lomakina and her deputies told Mr. Pommersheim about the HIV/AIDS situation in Sakhalin. According to them, to date a total of 180 cases of HIV and AIDS have been registered in the region.

They also reported about the international programs they have been participating in since 1999. The knowledge they obtained through those programs helped the center to start early HIV/AIDS prevention, which – apart from the remote location of the region – is one of the reasons for the low rate of HIV/AIDS cases in Sakhalin.

The Consul General inspected center’s laboratory and resource center and paid a brief visit to a conference room, where a training for psychology students on AIDS issues was being conducted.

On December 7, John Mark Pommersheim, the US Consul General in Vladivostok, met with Sakhalin alumni of the US Government sponsored programs.

About 30 alumni attended the meeting, which was held at the American Corner in the Sakhalin Regional Library.

Opening the meeting Mr. Pommersheim delivered a speech, in which he stressed the importance of establishment of relations between Russian and American individuals. He mentioned that over the last ten years more than 50,000 Russians visited the United State in the framework of exchange programs.

The alumni told the Consul General how the participation in USG-sponsored exchange programs changed their lives. Most alumni have made a good use of the experience they received in the exchange programs.

Atmosphere at the meeting was very warm – after the official opening part each alumnus had a chance to personally communicate with Mr. Pommersheim. All alumni admired the great knowledge of the Russian language of the Consul General.

During the 3-day visit to Sakhalin, US Consul General in Vladivostok John Mark Pommersheim attended a session of the Korsakov Rotary Club on December 6.

About 25 people, including representatives of the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Rotary Club, took part in the session.

Mr. Pommersheim delivered a speech emphasizing the importance of friendship between Russian and American individuals for the development of the Russian-American relations. Rotary Clubs is an example of establishment of such individual relations, the Consul General said.

He also mentioned that currently over 2,000 American citizens live and work in the region.

Presidents of the two Rotary Clubs told Mr. Pommersheim about activities of their clubs and plans for the future.

At the end of the session a traditional fund-raising was held, during which a total of 6,000 rubles (200 dollars) were collected.

On December 1 – the World AIDS Day, ‘Sakhalin Center on AIDS Prevention and Fight’ (AIDS Center) joined the worldwide action ‘Stop AIDS. Keep the promise’.
Over the month previous to the date, the AIDS Center conducted a series of activities on HIV detection and prevention, such as free HIV tests, lectures on HIV prevention among students of Sakhalin schools and universities and online answers by Center specialists to the questions of Sakhaliners at a local Internet forum.
On December 1, the Center invited its partners, representatives of the regional administration and local businesses, and Sakhalin mass media to tell about the HIV/AIDS problem on Sakhalin and report about its activities in 2005 and plans for the future.
Head of the Center Yelena Lomakina reported that to date 172 HIV patients have been detected in Sakhalin. According to her, the HIV rate in Sakhalin is low – the region holds the fifth position among the ten Far Eastern districts on HIV level.
A representative of Sakhalin Energy Investment Company donated to the Center a check for 10,000 dollars and 10,000 condoms. Lomakina commented that money received from Sakhalin Energy last year has been spent to develop the volunteer movement in the Center, and most of last year’s 10,000 condoms have been distributed among the risk groups.
At the end of the event all participants took part in completing a ‘Hope Tree’, each leave of which read a reason to live and care for health.
For more information, please visit www.sakhalinantiaids.ru