Fireworks for New Year’s Eve. Anderson. CC2.0
From eating 12 grapes before midnight in Spain to drinking champagne with ashes and planting underwater trees in Russia, check out these 10 countries and how they celebrate the New Year in different ways. You might find some new ideas for your own New Years in 2024.
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A village in Yakutia during the winter. @simoncroberts. Instagram.
It is seven AM. The sun hasn’t risen yet, but you’ve already gathered enough wood to heat your house for 9 months straight, in anticipation of the severe climate outside. You head to the back shed to grab the ice you harvested last November and put it in a giant tub of water to melt, ensuring that your family has something to drink when the water pipes will freeze. Now it’s time to make breakfast and wake your child up for school — because even though winter has finally arrived it’s warmer than -65 degrees Fahrenheit, which means it is safe to go outside.
This is how residents of the northern reaches of the Sakha Republic, common name Yakutia, live during the long winter months. Yakutia is located in Russia and is home to some of the coldest continuously inhabited places in the world. In villages like Oymyakon, located in the far north, the sun doesn’t rise until approximately 9am and sets at 2:15pm, meaning students have to walk to and from school in darkness.
Ten minutes in the cold, fresh air is enough to cause fatigue, stinging pain in any of the exposed parts of your face, and long-lasting aches in the fingers and toes. This is why many houses in the region are made of wood and built to withstand the extreme temperatures by filling every gap with oakum, a sealant made from plant fibers and tar, or even just the abundant snow, although the cold still finds its way through at times.
The Yakut people have learned to be productive in these conditions. Most men in the Republic’s far north have traditional jobs like cattle ranching, hunting, or making crafts, living lives that hardly resemble those of urban Russians. Knife-making plays an important role in the Yakut culture, with the blades known around the world for their strength and beauty.
Summer in a Yakutian village. @Kiun B. YouTube.
When summer comes around, Yakutia becomes a completely different place. While winter temperatures can plunge down to -70 degrees Fahrenheit, in the dog days of summer the weather can get to around 86 to 95 degrees, particularly at the end of July. Summers may be short-lived — only lasting 2.5 months — but it is also the busiest time of the year for Yakut people.
It is crucial to harvest berries before the frost sets in if one wants to eat fruit during the winter., A failure to harvest the hay needed to feed the cattle in time can lead families to lose their valuable livestock.
But with hard work comes a refreshing reward. During the summer, Yakutia turns from a snowy kingdom into a lush meadow full of dense forests. ManyYakuts take advantage of the balmy heat, and head straight to the nearest lake for a swim.
Yakutia is often called the land of rivers and lakes. There are over 700,000 rivers and 800,000 lakes that are rich with aquatic life, which is the perfect opportunity for Yakut people to stock up on food for the winter months.
Although Yakutia is by no means a popular tourist destination, the region is gaining more attention on YouTube and has fascinated viewers around the world. With increased visibility facilitated by modern communications technology , it will be no surprise if curious minds begin to pay attention to Yakutia.
Michelle Tian
Michelle is a senior at Boston University, majoring in journalism and minoring in philosophy. Her parents are first-generation immigrants from China, so her love for different cultures and traveling came naturally at a young age. After graduation, she hopes to continue sharing important messages through her work.
The ongoing war in Ukraine has caused hundreds of civilian deaths, with more than 2 million refugees having already fled the country. It is crucial in these trying times that Ukrainians know they have support. Here are some ways to help.
“Within a few days, maybe even today, it is possible that there will be no independent media left in Russia,” read a post on Meduza’s website. Meduza is an independent media source at extreme risk of losing its platform to inform the public. Russian President Vladimir Putin is working to have complete control over censorship in Russia and Ukraine, meaning citizens of these countries will no longer have access to any information besides what Russia’s government allows. Meduza has already been blocked in Russia, and now it is fighting to stay alive through the support of allies outside of these countries. The organization is looking for financial support and social media awareness.
For more information and to donate, visit Meduza’s website.
Reporters Without Borders is a worldwide independent media organization that works to keep freedom of the press and information to citizens of the world. According to their site, on March 4, Russia adopted a new law making the “publication of ‘false’ or ‘mendacious’ information about the Russian armed forces punishable by up to 15 years in prison.” This threatens every single independent media outlet in Russia and Ukraine. Support Reporters Without Borders through sponsorship, donations, volunteering and more listed on the website.
For more information and to support, visit Reporters Without Borders’ website.
The Kyiv Independent was launched three months ago by journalists who had been fired in Ukraine for defending editorial independence. Now, they are playing a vital role in keeping the freedom of the press alive in Russia and Ukraine. On their website, they have options to “become a patron” and donate to the organization’s GoFundMe.
For more information and to support, visit The Kyiv Independent’s website.
Working in conflict zones, Doctors Without Borders focuses on helping citizens in need after natural disasters, wars, epidemics and more. Responding to the Ukraine crisis, the organization sent 1,400 cubic feet of medical supply shipments on March 6, along with members of the organization. There are multiple ways to get involved with Doctors Without Borders from working in offices to working in the field, and if a career path isn’t something you’re considering, donating is another great way to show support.
For more information and to support, visit Doctors Without Borders’ website.
A global first responder organization, International Medical Corps provides emergency medical assistance to people in need in any circumstances. A hub in Poland has been created, so members of the organization can assist members of Ukraine and surrounding countries with physical and mental health situations. International Medical Corps is looking for donations to continue its efforts in Poland.
For more information and to support, visit International Medical Corps’ website.
Don’t have the money to donate? Another way to get involved if you are in the United States or Europe is by contacting government representatives in efforts to accept as many Ukrainian refugees as possible. Boundless offers great tips for formatting emails, finding your elected officials and learning information about what your contribution will do for citizens in need.
To find your representative, visit the U.S. House of Representatives’ website.
Global Giving is a nonprofit that connects other nonprofits with donors and companies. Helping to properly equip humanitarian projects in distressed communities and donating to the Ukraine Crisis Fund creates a direct impact on citizens in need. With a goal of $10,000,000, Global Giving has promised that all funds raised will go to providing shelter, food, clean water, health support, psychosocial support and more.
For more information and to support, visit Global Giving’s website.
As the world's largest humanitarian organization, The World Food Programme works to provide meals to all people in emergency situations. Working directly with citizens in Ukraine who have been forced from their homes and into hunger, donating to The World Food Programme will provide families with meal packages and more.
For more information and to support, visit The World Food Programme’s website.
UNICEF is running an emergency response for Eastern Ukraine, leading health, social policy, child protection and many more programs to aid families affected by the conflict. UNICEF is looking for volunteers, donors, social media support and reporters to help with the efforts in Ukraine.
For more information and to support, visit UNICEF’s website.
An organization started directly in response to the attack on Ukraine, United Help is focusing on wounded warriors, humanitarian aid, medical supplies and raising awareness. Donating to United Help Ukraine will directly help Ukrainian citizens, soldiers and frontline volunteers.
For more information and to support, visit United Help Ukraine’s website.
Offering free short-term housing for over 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, Airbnb is relying on the help of citizens across the world. Airbnb is looking for donations and possible hosts to house refugees. Nonprofits are working with Airbnb during this time to book homes for eligible citizens.
For more information and to support, visit Airbnb’s Help Ukraine website.
Knowing what organizations have the best intentions and support for people in need can be difficult. The American Endowment Foundation provides a great resource for choosing the right organizations where your support will make the biggest difference.
Haleigh Kierman
Haleigh is a student at The University of Massachusetts, Amherst. A double Journalism and Communications major with a minor in Anthropology, she is initially from Guam, but lived in a small, rural town outside of Boston most of her life. Travel and social action journalism are her two passions and she is appreciative to live in a time where writers voices are more important than ever.
Two continents, seven time zones, 9,288 kilometers. These are all features of the Trans-Siberian railway’s journey, which takes commuters from Moscow to Vladivostok, highlighting the diverse landscape and natural beauty of Asia. In this video, travelers spend 16 days on the railway, covering about 5,000 miles from Beijing to Moscow. Their route, deviating from the standard line, takes them — and viewers — through the Gobi Desert, along Lake Baikal, and into cities such as Kazan and Ulaanbaatar. This video highlights not only the underappreciated features of central Asia, but provides a sneak peak into the future of trans-continental travel.
A tunnelbana train in Stockholm. Tony Webster. CC BY 2.0.
Metro systems exist on every inhabited continent on the planet, being as unique in comparison to one another as are the diverse cultures and communities they serve. Some are highly efficient at moving people from point A to point B, others are rooted in the history of the local community and a few even serve as living art galleries that are ever-expanding. Here is our guide to the 10 must-visit metro systems to ride on in your lifetime.
Serving 100 stations throughout the region, Stockholm’s Tunnelbana, which translates to “tunnel railroad,” is one of the newer metro systems in Europe, opening its first line in 1950. What makes the Tunnelbana unique is that it is considered to be the world’s longest art gallery, featuring an extensive collection of art made by over 150 artists.
The Buenos Aires Underground, known locally as Subte, is the oldest underground railway system in the Southern Hemisphere, dating back to 1913. The system hones in on its historic origins by providing both historic and modern train cars and stations which are spread out across its seven lines.
Featuring 22 lines spread across 728 stations that serve both the heart of the city and rural communities, the Seoul Metropolitan Subway is one of the longest systems in the world. Opening its doors in 1974, Seoul's subway continues to grow, with several line extensions slated to open throughout the decade.
The iconic London Underground sign in front of Big Ben. Defence Images. CC BY-NC 2.0.
The oldest underground railway in the world, the London Underground began operation in 1863 and has since grown to serve 270 stations. Known in London as “the Tube,” the metro system provides easy access to neighborhoods throughout Central and Greater London, as well as connections to a slew of airports and other transit systems.
A Berlin U-Bahn train in a station. Michael Day. CC BY 2.0.
Famous for its eye-catching yellow trains, the Berlin U-Bahn is one of the oldest and largest metro systems in Europe. The system had been partly severed in two parts during the Cold War due to the divide between East and West Berlin. Today it boasts 10 lines serving 173 stations, with an annual ridership of around 553.1 million.
A graffitied metro car in Athens passes in front of the Acropolis. Tim Adams. CC BY 2.0.
Like Stockholm’s Tunnelbana, the Athens Metro serves as both a rapid transportation system and an extensive museum. In the system’s Syntagma Metro Station is a handful of the nearly 30,000 artifacts from the classical Greek, Byzantine and Roman periods which were excavated during the construction of new system lines in the 1990s.
Two trains in Tokyo pass over one another. David Gubler. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
Offering seamless transitions between its stations and those of its counterpart, the Toei Subway, the Tokyo Metro is considered by many to be one of the best metro systems in the world for both convenience and cleanliness. Serving 180 stations across 9 lines, the Tokyo Metro has continued to expand as the city has grown to be the largest by population in the world.
An MTR train in Hong Kong. David Leo Veksler. CC BY 2.0.
The Mass Transit Railway is a heavily-riden transit system serving Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, with a daily ridership of over 4.9 million. The transit system has a world-renowned reputation for being clean, affordable and reliable, as well as for offering free WiFi at all of the system’s stations.
The lights of a Paris Metro train passing over a bridge. Luc Mercelis. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
The Paris Metro is a cultural landmark of the city, with stations highlighting the unique Art Nouveau architecture style. It is one of the densest metro systems in the world, consisting of 136 miles of track connecting 304 stations . The Paris Metro is also one of the busiest, being the second most traveled in Europe and tenth in the world.
A Soviet-era metro station in Moscow. Tarnya Hall. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
An extensive metro system with stations highlighting Cold War-era architecture, the Moscow Metro is the busiest system in Europe, serving 2.5 billion riders annually. The system has 241 stations and has connections to other transit systems like the Moscow Central Circle, Moscow Central Diameters and Moscow Monorail.
Jacob Sutherland
Jacob is a recent graduate from the University of California San Diego where he majored in Political Science and minored in Spanish Language Studies. He previously served as the News Editor for The UCSD Guardian, and hopes to shed light on social justice issues in his work.
A small show of support in Siberia. reassure. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
To this day, Yevgeniy Glebov doesn’t know how the two strangers found his address. Secure in his apartment, he heard a knock at the door. He opened it. They asked, “Aren’t you that gay activist?”
Yevgeniy needed to go to the hospital to recover from his injuries. After he reported the assault, the police closed the case without looking for a suspect. He expected little else from the authorities in Irkutsk Oblast, the Russian federal subject deep in Siberia where he lives and works. His NGO “Time to Act” provides legal, psychological and HIV prevention resources for the region’s LGBTQ+ community. However, this work also puts a target on his back. Advocating for gay rights is mostly a thankless job, demanding secrecy. For most LGBTQ+ Russians, it’s safer inside the closet than out.
Gay pride hasn’t yet reached the mainstream in Russia. Homophobia runs rampant in Russian society and riddles the country’s laws. Article 148 of the Russian criminal code gives prosecutors the license to claim any violation of religious practice as a crime, giving them a cudgel against gay rights groups. In 2013, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin signed into the law a ban on “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations” designed to prevent children from viewing or learning about anything homosexual. These laws reflect widespread disdain and discrimination against queer folks. The bill passed the State Duma with unanimous support.
Anti-homophobia demonstration in Russia. Marco Fieber. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Homophobia is less rampant in the cultural capitals of Moscow and St. Petersburg. There, gay clubs, beaches and bookstores thrive because of a highly concentAnti-homophobia demonstration in Russia. Marco Fieber. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.rated LGBTQ+ community. On the other hand, in Siberia, the presence of gay life diminishes as the threat of hate-fueled violence increases. Gay men have been lured to online dates in remote locations only to find a violent gang of homophobes when they arrive. Police have been known to abuse queer people as well. Yevgeniy once drove to nearby Angarsk after a supposedly gay boy had been brutalized by two strangers. When he arrived, the police had arrested the boy to accost him about his sexuality, letting the attackers go.
This environment demands a different approach to LGBTQ+ activism than in Russia’s European part. There, activists like Nikolay Alexeyev vociferously demand their rights. Alexeyev organized the first Moscow Pride parade in 2006, which then mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov deemed “satanic.” The participants in the small parade faced arrests from the police and attacks from Neo-Nazis, but the subsequent, yearly demonstrations made Alexeyev the public face of the gay rights movement. He frequently brings his combative style to TV debate shows. On such a show, he grew so frustrated with a fancifully-hatted woman decrying “homosexual extremism” that he called her a “hag in a hat” and left.
A protest placard mocking Putin. Marco Fieber. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Alexeyev often makes life difficult for gay activists in far-flung areas of Russia. Yevgeniy claims that the Russians he interacts with on a daily basis aren’t ready for Pride festivals, and that his pugnacity alienates those they need to win over. Irkutsk Oblast is home to 2.5 million people, but only forty LGBT activists, Yevgeniy estimates. His work with Time to Act doesn’t even pay. For money, he works at a local bakery.
A long road lies ahead for Yevgeniy and his fellow activists. LGBTQ+ folks remain political untouchables across the Russian political spectrum. Even Alexei Navalny, Putin’s most powerful foe, does not touch the issue of gay rights. Amnesty International revoked his status as prisoner of conscience mainly because of his unapologetic xenophobia, but also because of his comments about the LGBTQ+ community. In a recent interview, Navalny repeatedly used a Russian slur to describe gay people.
In the Soviet era, gay folks, if discovered, were sent to gulags—brutal work camps that relied on the frigid tundra to stop prisoners from escaping. Queer artistic luminaries such as filmmaker Sergey Paradjanov and poet Anna Barkova were enslaved there, leaving a legacy of queer survival. Their spirit invigorates LGBTQ+ activism in Russia; it is sorely needed. Although gulags now sit empty, queer Russians too often find their only safe haven in the closet.
Michael McCarthy
Michael is an undergraduate student at Haverford College, dodging the pandemic by taking a gap year. He writes in a variety of genres, and his time in high school debate renders political writing an inevitable fascination. Writing at Catalyst and the Bi-Co News, a student-run newspaper, provides an outlet for this passion. In the future, he intends to keep writing in mediums both informative and creative.
Red swirls cover the walls of this Russian salt mine. Mikhail Mishainik. Daily Mail.
Along the eastern edge of Russia’s Ural Mountains lies the city of Yekaterinburg, an industrial giant currently experiencing an explosion in population and construction. Although the city itself overflows with its buzzing nightlife scene and hectic economic sector, a nearby site also attracts curious eyes and aspiring photographers. 650 feet below Yekaterinburg lies a peculiar system of salt mines often known as the “psychedelic salt mines.”
These mines earned the name “psychedelic” for the hypnotizing pattern that covers the entirety of the caves. Any visitor would be easily mesmerized by the sight; the walls display a magnificent swirling pattern that mimics sound waves or animated gusts of wind. How the caves came to be such a fascinating art show is equally interesting, as the rich, almost electric swirls of blue, yellow, red and orange are entirely natural. They exist due to large deposits of the mineral carnallite, which is commonly used in fertilizer. The mineral showcases its vibrant range in the caves, but can also be found in a colorless state. Unlike most popular caves, the psychedelic salt mines are not narrow passages requiring extreme flexibility to squeeze through; the winding channels stretch for many miles and are truly spacious.
Cave walls underneath Yekaterinburg. Mikhail Mishainik. Daily Mail.
The caves date back 280 million years to the Permian period, and are a result of the Perm Sea having dried up. These rich salt deposits were largely forgotten for many years until around the second millennium B.C., when Russia began salt mining.
Additionally, only recently have photos of the cave even been shown to the public. Although the attractive site seems ideal for family-friendly adventures and novice photographers, the caves are closed off to the public. Only a small section of the caves are still in use, and the other parts require a special government permit to access.
However, a photographer named Mikhail Mishainik is credited with the awe-inspiring photos we now see. Along with some friends, Mishainik spent many hours exploring the caves, being sure to capture the magnificence of their artwork along the way. Mishainik stayed overnight in the pitch-black caves and chronicled his uncomfortable yet exciting experience. Due to the mineral deposits, the air inside is salty and dry, creating a constant feeling of unquenchable, perpetual thirst. Mishainik also claims that the lingering sense of instability in the caves is part of the excitement, since the caves face the threat of gas leaks and landslides.
It is uncertain whether any more than a select few will ever lay their eyes on the rainbow swirls of these caves, but one thing is sure: if such magnificence lies hidden under this one city, there are limitless other gems waiting to be uncovered by unsuspecting travelers.
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Ella Nguyen
Ella is an undergraduate student at Vassar College pursuing a degree in Hispanic Studies. She wants to assist in the field of immigration law and hopes to utilize Spanish in her future projects. In her free time she enjoys cooking, writing poetry, and learning about cosmetics.
People walk by Zentrum Paul Klee in Bern, Switzerland. Lys Ippos. CC BY 3.0.
The most popular museums in the world—the Louvre, the Met, the Tate Modern—offer an incredible breadth of art, but are often crowded, congested and overwhelming. Lesser-known museums can offer exceptional art, culture and history, all without the lines and high volumes of other visitors. Here are 10 of the best museums around the world that fly under the radar and are home to unique and fascinating collections.
The exterior of the Louisiana on the Oresund Sound. CC BY 4.0. Kim Hansen.
The Louisiana, located outside of Copenhagen, Denmark, is home to one of the most immersive modern art collections in the world. In response to Danish museums turning away modern art, founder Knud W. Jensen created the Louisiana in 1958. The museum’s integration of indoor, outdoor and digital space allows visitors to move through art dynamically, fulfilling Jensen’s goal of a truly integrated art experience. This museum is also one of the only in the world with a permanent light installation from Yayoi Kusama, whose temporary installations in cities such as New York are almost impossible to get tickets for.
The Museum of Broken Relationships. CC BY 2.0. Pros Opee. CC BY 2.0.
This museum, created by artists Olinka Vistica and Drazen Grubisic, is located in Zagreb, Croatia, with a second gallery in Los Angeles. The museum’s mission is to create a shrine of symbolic possessions that commemorate and treasure humanity’s ability to love and to lose. While the Museum of Broken Relationships is a physically stunning museum, the heart of this project stems from its global engagement. The museum’s online component has space for everyone to share the story of their heartbreak. View the online portion of the museum here.
Interior of the Pitt Rivers Museum. Geni. CC BY 2.0.
The Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford, England, is home to over half a million artifacts from around the globe. A fascinating collection of anthropological and archaeological items, the Pitt Rivers Museum is unique because of its organizational system for displays. Rather than grouping items together by period or people, the Pitt Rivers Museum groups items together by type, illustrating the commonalities between different peoples and histories throughout the world. You can visit the museum virtually today.
The Tenement Museum exterior. Beyond My Ken. CC BY 2.0.
The Tenement Museum in New York City is devoted to the history of immigration and migration to the United States. Located in a formerly dilapidated tenement building that was home to immigrant families between 1860 and 1930, historian Ruth Abram and social activist Anita Jacobsen built their museum around the stories of these families. In connecting public policy, oral history and immigrant narratives, the Tenement Museum offers a moving and topical exploration of recent history.
The Kunstkamera in St. Petersburg, Russia. Flor Stein. CC BY 4.0.
Established by Peter the Great at the beginning of the 18th century, the Kunstkamera’s collection comprises nearly 2 million oddities. Located in St. Petersburg, Russia’s first museum was founded with the goal of containing all of the world’s knowledge in one building. This massive collection remains relatively unknown outside of Russia, but offers one of the world’s most vast displays of global anthropology and ethnography.
The facade of Castello di Rivoli. M. A. CC BY 2.5.
In 1984, the Castello di Rivoli became the first museum in Italy completely devoted to contemporary art. Located just outside of Turin, this museum is located in a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The castle buildings are open to the public and the modern art exhibitions within the castle walls are world-class, with the Castello di Rivoli also serving as one of the world’s premier art history research centers.
Zentrum Paul Klee exterior. Krol K. CC BY 3.0.
This museum, located in Bern, Switzerland, is dedicated to the work of artist Paul Klee. Klee’s artistic collection is remarkable in its own right with his groundbreaking exploration of color theory, but the draw of this museum is also the physical building. Designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano in 2005, the iconic building integrates the natural hilly landscape with metallic swoops and arcs that mirror Klee’s art. Check out the online exhibit, “Mapping Klee,” at this link.
“Snake” by Sidney Nolan in MONA. Jeff Owens. CC BY 2.0.
MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art, is an ever-changing collection of ancient, contemporary and modern art. Located in Hobart on Australia’s island of Tasmania, the museum is built into a cliff and prioritizes multimedia installations, engagement with community-based art, and live performances. MONA elevates the museum experience by operating a winery, hotel and restaurant on-site that all mirror the museum’s ethos: fun.
Interior of the Museum Willet-Holthuysen. Remi Mathis. CC BY 3.0.
The Museum Willet-Holthuysen is a homage to Amsterdam’s golden age. Built in 1687, this canal house was donated to the Dutch city in 1895. The 18th- and 19th-century room decor is still in its original condition, and the gallery walls are lined with paintings from the Willet-Holthuysen private collection, allowing many of the paintings to be displayed in their original historic setting. View part of the collection online here.
Signs in the Neon Museum. Adrian Grycuk. CC BY 3.0.
Since 2005, this museum in Warsaw, Poland, has been dedicated to the preservation of Cold War-era artifacts; namely, neon signage from the Soviet Union. In the Eastern Bloc, which included Poland, there was an official effort from the 1950s to the 1970s to “neonize” the state. The Soviet attempt to bring Western aesthetics to Eastern Europe has been preserved at the Neon Museum, where gallery walls are lined with an array of colorful relics.
Sarah Leidich
Sarah is currently an English and Film major at Barnard College of Columbia University. Sarah is inspired by global art in every form, and hopes to explore the intersection of activism, art, and storytelling through her writing.
A long road to recovery. Chaoyue Pan. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Bashar Assad didn’t survive his country’s civil war alone. Only with the help of Russia was he able to resist rebel forces and reestablish his grip on Syria. Now, his grip on power seems unshakable, and the question has moved from who will win to how Syria will rebuild. This challenge, however, Assad might have to do alone.
It will be a mighty task. Every aspect of Syria’s economy suffered in the almost decade long civil war. Oil, the country’s primary export, is being produced at one-sixth its prewar level, and last year’s wheat crop was half the prewar average. 60% of businesses have closed either permanently or temporarily. What savings citizens had are losing value fast, for the Syrian currency lost 70% of its value against the dollar. The forthcoming peace is preferable to war but far from easy.
COVID-19 only adds to the country’s plight. The Assad regime has attempted to hide the extent of the devastation by blaming COVID-19 deaths on “pneumonia,” but the damage is clearly intense. Desperate for food and cash, many Syrians shirked lockdown measures. Other measures enforced in other countries are impossible to follow in a war zone. What little medical infrastructure existed has been swiftly overwhelmed.
The ruins of Aleppo. Ihh Insani Yardim. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Syria’s allies and neighbors seem content to watch its slow death and profit where they can. Recently, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited not to help with reconstruction efforts but to scope out energy and construction contracts. Russia knows it can depend on Syria’s loyalty because the Assad regime has nowhere else to turn. Turkish involvement in Syria, meanwhile, focused on supporting anti-Assad rebels along with limiting the influence of regional Kurds, an ethnic group with aspirations of a nation-state.
What’s left of Azaz. Christiaan Triebert. CC BY-NC 2.0.
The United States and Europe provide only humanitarian aid. The U.S. heaped sanctions on Assad’s government in an effort to force at least a semi-democratic settlement, but Assad drifts still further into authoritarianism. At one point, President Donald Trump entertained assassinating the Syrian leader after his use of chemical weapons in 2018. “I would have rather taken him out. I had him all set. Mattis didn’t want to do it,” Trump said, referring to former Secretary of Defense James Mattis. To switch from a desire for assassination to a respectful negotiation would be a stark, and unlikely, change.
Rather than give aid, Russia seems content to exploit Syria’s weaknesses. As always, the decisions of Syria’s leaders and allies will mainly affect Syrian citizens. The Assad regime’s finances have been bled so dry that it is rumored that customs officers and generals impound trucks and confiscate goods just to charge hefty bribes for their return.
The plight of Syrian mercenaries illustrates just how dire life the situation has become. Years of fighting created a generation of young men whose only marketable skill is waging war. With no fighting left to be done at home and hungry families to feed, these men have enlisted as mercenary soldiers for Turkey and Russia. Once on the fringe of Syrian life, brick and mortar offices now house recruiters who advertise on WhatsApp, often lying about the safety of certain deployments. Families have more or less accepted fighting as a necessary means to make a living. In the current economy, there are no other options.
Nowhere left to run. a.anis. CC BY-ND 2.0.
What these fighters make can hardly be called a living. A soldier earns the equivalent of $1 a day, most of which has to be sent home to their family. Syrian mercenaries were deployed in 2019 to fight the conflict in Libya, and just recently, they were deployed to fight for Azerbaijan against Armenia in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh territory. Russia and Turkey have made pawns out of Syria’s most desperate citizens to support their foreign policy expansions. As one Syrian businessman loyal to Assad observed, “Our saviors have become vultures.”
Syria’s isolation will only intensify in the near future. The Netherlands recently announced that it is preparing a case for the International Criminal Court at The Hague for “gross human rights violations and torture in particular.” Russia repeatedly blocked efforts from the U.N. Security Council to refer such a case, but the Netherlands has bypassed the U.N. altogether. It is yet another thrust from the international community to move Assad in a more democratic direction., For the time being, however, Assad refuses to budge and the plight of Syrians is likely to continue.
Michael McCarthy
Michael is an undergraduate student at Haverford College, dodging the pandemic by taking a gap year. He writes in a variety of genres, and his time in high school debate renders political writing an inevitable fascination. Writing at Catalyst and the Bi-Co News, a student-run newspaper, provides an outlet for this passion. In the future, he intends to keep writing in mediums both informative and creative.
A train enters a station in Nice, France. Marsupilami92. CC 2.0.
In a post-coronavirus world, one may expect a sudden boom in flights, trips and vacations. While modern jet-setting is appreciated for its conveniences, sometimes travelers prefer a relaxing journey instead. Living in an age when technology is king and flights are abundant, sleeper trains provide an opportunity to slow the pace of packed itineraries and immerse riders into a unique experience. They can almost be compared to cruises, as the trains function as both transportation and a place to rest. In Europe, sleeper trains have grown in popularity as the pace of life accelerates. There are several sleeper trains, and Norway’s Dovre Railway, Russia’s Trans-Siberian Railway and the Thello between Paris and Venice, Italy, are worth focusing on.
Norway’s Dovre Mountains in the winter. Ggranvik. CC BY-NC 2.0.
The Dovre Railway, Norway
The Dovre Railway, stretching from Oslo to Trondheim in Norway, is one of the only sleeper trains in the country. The rail network in Norway was challenging to build due to the country’s stiff mountain peaks and various tunnels, but it is perfectly suited for those who want to experience this mountainous country without physically traversing the terrain.
A train in Oslo, Norway. Don Ramey Logan. CC BY-SA 3.0.
The Dovre Line specifically winds through the Dovre Mountains, creating stunning views as it travels along the country’s national parks. Nature is close, and musk oxen may even come up to the train when it is stopped.
Musk ox in Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park. Fakepeterpan. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
In total, the trip takes about seven hours with several stops, but the stunning scenery makes the trip well worth it.
View from inside a Trans-Siberian Railway train. Wazari. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
The Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia
Another journey known for its mountain views is Russia’s Trans-Siberian Railway, but the length of the trip is what makes it one of the most famous railways in the world. There are three routes along the railway, and the longest of the three, between Moscow and Vladivostok, covers 5,772 miles and takes seven days to travel. Along the journey, one gets to witness not only the snow-covered Siberian landscape and the Ural Mountains but also cities such as Irkutsk, known as the “Paris of Siberia” for its neoclassical architecture and finely detailed structures.
The Irkutsk Train Station in Russia. Luxury Train Club. CC BY-SA 2.0.
While many opt to stay in hotels along the way, the Golden Eagle train offers travelers amenities such as double beds, a wardrobe, a TV and DVD player, storage space and heated tiles in the shower room. Riding along the Trans-Siberian Railway in this manner confirms why the journey is so famous.
Thello train in the countryside. Bahn.photos. CC BY-ND 2.0.
The Thello, France and Italy
The Thello, which runs from Paris to Venice, Italy, provides an entirely different atmosphere than the previous trips. Connecting two of Europe’s most famous cities, the Thello train stands as the only overnight route from France to Italy. Riding this train allows one to embrace the French countryside before the route bends through the snowy Swiss Alps and dives back into the Italian countryside.
Thello arriving in Milan, Italy. Bahn.photos. CC BY-ND 2.0.
In addition to romantic views, it is also a comfortable trip according to travelers, with plenty of room to sleep and incredible dining options. Being the only train of its kind to travel from France to Italy, it is not a surprise that this train is frequently taken by both Europeans and international travelers.
While sleeper trains are not the most common way to travel, what they provide is an incomparable opportunity to slow down and enjoy the ride.
Renee Richardson
is currently an English student at The University of Georgia. She lives in Ellijay, Georgia, a small mountain town in the middle of Appalachia. A passionate writer, she is inspired often by her hikes along the Appalachian trail and her efforts to fight for equality across all spectrums. She hopes to further her passion as a writer into a flourishing career that positively impacts others.
Woman holding up a #MeToo sign. Mihai Surdu. Unsplash
The #MeToo Movement has been one of the largest and fastest-growing movements of the past decade and it is not confined to the United States. Its origin was in 2006 on Myspace when Tarana Burke coined the term “MeToo” to speak out against sexual abuse that she experienced. It only gained widespread popularity in October 2017 when actress Alyssa Milano decided to post to Twitter asking survivors to tweet in solidarity using #MeToo if they had experienced any form of sexual harassment. The response was enormous and those who abuse women and men are being called out online today.
A lesser-known movement in Russia and Ukraine began in 2016, a year before Milano’s tweet. #IAmNotAfraidToSpeak was started by Ukrainian activist Anastasia Melnichenko, who in a Facebook post wrote, “I want us — women — to speak today ...We do not have to make excuses. We are not to blame. Blame always lies with the rapist.” Many women did come forward on that day and continue to speak out. Despite the fact that the hashtags have changed somewhat, women are still asking for attention from the world in the same way as in the United States. On July 16, 2019, #INeedOpenness and #IDidn’tWantToDie were trending in another attempt to challenge the norm of sexual harassment, domestic abuse and rape in Russia.
This month, bereft of a hashtag, another wave of allegations have flooded Twitter including accusations of sexual harassment surrounding many prominent men within Moscow’s media circle. One of the men accused, Sergey Prostakov, is a journalist and editor of opposition website MBKh Media. Following the allegations, Prostakov promptly resigned and issued an apology. Another liberal, veteran journalist Pavel Lobkov, was called out for inappropriate advances toward men. His response was that he grew up in an era where “students were sleeping with their teachers, and hugging or even kissing a colleague at a party was completely normal.”
Valya Dekhtyarenko was the woman who retweeted her friend’s testimony about her abusive relationship and therefore began the series of women naming their abusers. She criticized the hypocrisy of the same “progressive media who have been disclosing sexual harassers amongst Russia's ruling elites" now being outed as abusers. Similarly as in the United States, there are those who believe that sexual violence against women is not a problem. And in Russia people still use the old proverb “if he beats you, it means he loves you.” The discourse is slowly shifting and those in power are seeing the consequences of their actions. It is still unclear, however, whether the movement has fully formed into what has been seen in the United States.
Hanna Ditinsky
is a sophomore at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and is majoring in English and minoring in Economics. She was born and raised in New York City and is passionate about human rights and the future of progressivism
Protesters marching in Khabarovsk on July 18. Штаб Навального в Хабаровске // CC0 1.0.
Tens of thousands of protesters continue to demonstrate in Khabarovsk, Russia, for the third week straight in an forceful show of civil disobedience against the Putin administration. The protests, which began on July 11, are in response to the Kremlin-led arrest of the popular Khabarovsk Krai governor Sergei Furgal for accusations of multiple murders.
Khabarovsk is the administrative center of Khabarovsk Krai and a city of almost 600,000 people who live over 4,000 miles away from Moscow. Governor Sergei Furgal, who was elected to his position in September 2018, beat Kremlin-backed incumbent Vyacheslav Shport and has since been viewed negatively by President Vladimir Putin. Furgal is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party, while Shport is a member of United Russia, the country’s ruling party.
Governor Furgal was arrested on July 9 on allegations that he played a role in the murders of several businessmen in the region in 2004 and 2005. He was flown to Moscow shortly after to be placed on pretrial detention and was replaced by Mikhail Degtyarev, who previously served in the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of its Federal Assembly.
“How can Putin's trust be more important than the trust of the people?” protester Zahar Zaripov said in an interview with Deutsche Welle. “Our governor was dismissed by Putin, because he supposedly lost his trust. And what about our trust? We were the ones who elected the governor, not Putin!”
The protests have since spread to other cities in the region, such as Novosibirsk and Vladivostok. Protests in Russia’s Far East are rare; most take place in Moscow or St. Petersburg, where the Kremlin is generally able to exercise its control much more easily.
Many of the protesters not only view the ongoing demonstrations as a show of support for Furgal, but as an act of defiance against a corrupt presidential administration. A little over four weeks ago, President Putin won an allegedly fraudulent constitutional referendum which would allow him to hold his current position through 2036.
“When a person lives not knowing how things are supposed to be, he thinks things are good,” protester Artyom Aksyonov said in an interview with The New York Times. “But when you open your eyes to the truth, you realize things were not good. This was all an illusion.”
Another protester, Alexander Gogolev, expressed his disdain toward the Kremlin in an interview with The Guardian.
“The center is sucking resources from the Far East,” Gogolev said. “[And we get] nothing in return.”
This defiance toward the Putin administration has not been limited to the protesters in Khabarovsk Krai. Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, protested the results of the constitutional referendum as well as the arrest of Furgal.
“We gave you the constitution, and you’re putting us in handcuffs,” Zhirinovsky said. “Shameless! You are sitting in high office and start acting like Stalin!”
Zhirinovsky later signaled that his supporters in the Federal Assembly may resign in protest if the situation does not improve.
Governor Furgal is currently in custody in a Moscow jail as he awaits his trial, which does not yet have a definitive date but may take place as early as Sept. 9. Protests are expected to continue throughout Khabarovsk Krai for the foreseeable future.
Jacob Sutherland
is a recent graduate from the University of California San Diego where he majored in Political Science and minored in Spanish Language Studies. He previously served as the News Editor for The UCSD Guardian, and hopes to shed light on social justice issues in his work.
A person walking among graves in Srebrenica, Bosnia, the site of the Srebrenica massacre. matsj // CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
On July 11, mourners gathered for a memorial service at the Srebrenica Genocide Memorial in Potocari, Bosnia, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre. The service, which included the burial of nine recently identified victims, comes as many Bosnians continue to mourn the loss of loved ones during the massacre.
The commemoration was not limited to the region around Srebrenica. Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina, played sirens throughout the city at noon on July 11 in memory of the victims of the massacre.
Serge Brammertz, chief prosecutor of the U.N. International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia until its shutdown in 2017, spoke on the importance of honoring the massacre’s victims - and of labeling the event as a genocide, something many Serbs refuse to acknowledge.
“To truly honor the memory of those lost 25 years ago, and to recognize the victims and survivors with us today, it is our responsibility to keep fighting for justice and truth and to call what happened in Srebrenica by its name, genocide,” Brammertz said.
The Srebrenica massacre was the killing of more than 8,000 majority-Muslim Bosniak men and the mass deportation of Bosniak women and children from the area around the town of Srebrenica during the Bosnian War in 1995. Units of the Bosnian Serb army led by Gen. Ratko Mladic carried out the atrocities. The massacre was formally classified as a genocide by the United Nations in 2004.
In the 25 years that have followed, not all who call Srebrenica home have felt like the racial tensions which brought about the massacre have been addressed. According to a 2018 poll, 66% of Serbs in Republika Srpska, Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Serb-run entity, deny the genocide.
Almasa Salihovic, a survivor of the massacre, discussed in an interview with Al-Jazeera about how there are those within the community who celebrate July 11 as “the day of liberation of Srebrenica” from the Bosniaks.
“That's what scares me the most,” Salihovic said. “Even if we don't have incidents in Srebrenica like physical fights, we still have these hidden attacks which is far more worse … You have people who would still do the same thing tomorrow if they have the chance and if we don't speak even more loudly than we do now, then I'm really not sure where this is going.”
This misinterpretation of the genocide is not limited to the massacre’s sympathizers in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Shortly after the commemoration events began throughout the country, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic publicly referred to the genocide as one of several “misunderstandings from the past.” The Serbian government has previously apologized for the massacre, but has not yet recognized the event as a genocide.
For the time being, Bosnia-Herzegovina continues to urge the international community to counter any denial of genocide. The European Union, the United States and a number of other countries have officially recognized the massacre as a genocide, while Russia, notably, denies the event’s scale. Additionally, efforts to identify victims of the massacre within Bosnia-Herzegovina and abroad are ongoing.
Jacob Sutherland
is a recent graduate from the University of California San Diego where he majored in Political Science and minored in Spanish Language Studies. He previously served as the News Editor for The UCSD Guardian, and hopes to shed light on social justice issues in his work.
Arctic oil spill over time as seen by the European Space Agency’s Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite. CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO.
On June 4th, 20,000 tons of diesel fuel spilled into the Russian Arctic after a fuel reservoir collapsed at a power plant near the city of Norilsk. It is considered Russia’s second largest oil spill in modern history. The site of the spill is the Ambarnaya River. The site of the spill, the Ambarnaya River, has turned into a deep red pool of deadly oil. Since then, Russian President Vladimir Putin has instituted a state of emergency for the region around Norilsk, and investigations into the power plant are beginning.
In terms of economics, it is vital that Russia acts with speed in order to clean up the oil, as they are the world’s third largest oil producer. Environmentally, though, the disaster is even worse. This oil spill has the potential to wipe out entire species in the region, literally poisoning and suffocating the plants and animals that rely on the Ambarnaya.
There was a slight delay between the actual spill and reporting of the incident to the public, so the investigation process is playing catch-up. As investigations are ongoing, it is not entirely clear how such a massive disaster could have happened. The power plant claims that the fuel reservoir possibly collapsed due to thawing of permafrost below it. This could be a result of the larger issue of global warming and over-construction on unstable permafrost.
Norilsk, Siberia, Russia. GRIDArendal. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Norilsk Nickel, the company that owns the power plant under investigation, is a huge economic force in Russia as they lead the world in nickel and palladium production. This has not stopped the Russian government from taking the power plant director, Vyacheslav Starostin, into custody. It is pursuing a criminal case of pollution and alleged negligence against the company.
Putin began the work to remedy the spill by declaring a state of emergency over the region, but he expects the company to pay for the costs of damages. In collaboration with Norilsk Nickel, the Russian government’s state of emergency allows for more clean up personnel to be dispatched to the area. According to BBC, Oleg Mitvol, former deputy head of Russia's environmental watchdog Rosprirodnadzor, said there had "never been such an accident in the Arctic zone". Mitvol said the clean up could potentially cost 100bn roubles (£1.2bn; $1.5bn) and take between five and 10 years
Cleanup efforts have been difficult because of the remote location of the plant. The crews are unable to use barges due to the shallow water, and there are no roads leading to Norilsk. Sergey Dyachenko, chief operating officer of Norilsk Nickel, told reporters on June 4 that the company plans “to transport contaminated oil to temporary sites for remediation.”
To prevent the oil from spreading to other areas, containment booms have been placed on the Ambarnaya River. In response, Greenpeace stated on its website that it “will help collect only a minor part of the pollution, and therefore it would be safe to say that nearly all of the diesel fuel will remain in the environment.”
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0.
The United States has also offered its help. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted on June 6, "Saddened to hear about the fuel spill in Norilsk, Russia." He added that despite their disagreements, “the United States stands ready to assist Russia to mitigate this environmental disaster and offer our technical expertise.” Although the U.S. State Department and White House have not specified the ways they plan to help, efforts are in progress.
It is not known how long the process to clean up the oil will take, or if all of the oil can even be cleaned up. Until then, it is important to note how environmental disasters in the Arctic like this are a result of the other dangerous environmental practices in place. The soil, plants and animals in this region of Siberia will be undoubtedly impacted and some species may never recover. This is not the first oil spill of its kind, and it will likely not be the last.
Renee Richardson
Renee is currently an English student at The University of Georgia. She lives in Ellijay, Georgia, a small mountain town in the middle of Appalachia. A passionate writer, she is inspired often by her hikes along the Appalachian trail and her efforts to fight for equality across all spectrums. She hopes to further her passion as a writer into a flourishing career that positively impacts others.
Child Adoption by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Alpha Stock Images
The coronavirus has created new challenges and caused disruptions for child adoptions and surrogacy as adoption-related travel has been delayed and U.S. courts were closed for nonessential hearings. On April 22, 2020 President Trump signed an executive order that restricted immigration into the U.S. for the next 60 days due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Adoptive families were concerned about how the order would impact them and their prospective children. Holt International, a nonprofit, faith-based adoption agency received an official notice that “children can still travel home to the U.S. with their adoptive families, and international adoptions can move forward without delay.” While this is a relief for American adoptive families, it is only one of the hurdles families faced as the coronavirus has complicated international and domestic adoption, as well as surrogacy.
International Adoption
From 1999 to 2019, 275,891 international children were adopted by families in the U.S, according to data from the U.S. Department of State. Children from China, Russia, Guatemala, South Korea, and Ethiopia accounted for 71% of all international adoptions to the U.S. since 1999, according to a 2017 study by the Pew Research Center. In early February 2020 the State Department suspended visas to China, effectively banning travel to China because of COVID-19. As the coronavirus continued to spread, the U.S. restricted travel from Europe, effective March 13, 2020. With the travel bans in effect, American families who were in the process of adopting internationally had their plans delayed, some without a timeline due to the uncertainty around when shelter-in-place orders and the travel bans will be lifted.
According to NPR, Chinese regulations state that adoptions must be completed before a child turns 14. In addition, adoptions from China take about one to two years to be finalized, according to America World Adoption. With the added delays of the coronavirus, NPR says this means that “some of those children are in jeopardy of aging out of the adoption system forever.”
Domestic Adoption
According to statistics from the Adoption Network, around 140,000 American children are adopted in the U.S. each year. Although the coronavirus has altered daily life and has made adoption more difficult, child welfare agencies are finding ways to continue domestic adoptions despite canceled court hearings. Agencies like the National Court Appointed Special Advocate and the Department of Children and Family Services have turned to technology to proceed with adoption hearings.
A Pennsylvania family was able to adopt their 7-year-old son Dominic over a conference call on April 6. Two families in Louisiana completed their adoption ceremonies over the phone on April 7. On April 16 in Arkansas, 2-year-old Jaden’s adoption hearing took place over a Zoom video call. Although families are not physically able to have their official adoption ceremonies, they are not letting that dampen their joy of adding a new addition to the family.
Surrogacy
While the travel restrictions have not affected some international adoptions, they have greatly affected surrogacy. The Washington Post reported that many people overseas with surrogates in the U.S. are either unable to enter the country or are stuck in the U.S. and unable to bring their newborns home. Since the U.S. government has put a hold on most routine passport services unless it is a life-or-death emergency, families whose newborn babies were born to gestational surrogates are unable to obtain a passport for their infant. Without a passport, parents cannot take their newborn home. According to NBC, that delay can cost parents around $20,000, on top of the staggering cost of surrogacy.
Asiya Haouchine
is an Algerian-American writer who graduated from the University of Connecticut in May 2016, earning a BA in journalism and English. She was an editorial intern and contributing writer for Warscapes magazine and the online/blog editor for Long River Review. She is currently studying for her Master’s in Library and Information Science. @AsiyaHaou
Part Cold War relic, part crumbling UFO, the Buzludzha Monument was once the epicenter of the Bulgarian Communist Party. Built in 1980 and only open for eight years, this mountaintop modern ruin was once a hub of Eastern Bloc activities that was abandoned after the fall of the Soviet Union. Since then, harsh winter conditions, looting and a lack of formal upkeep has resulted in the building's steady decline. The Soviet red star that sits atop the building is three times larger than the one atop the Kremlin—now, though, all that star signifies is that party's past rule.
Tucked away in the depths of Siberia is a town called Mirny. Amongst its picturesque landscape is something quite spectacular. In the heart of the city lies a 1,700-feet deep hole, once used as a diamond mine. As the first place diamonds were found in Russia, the Mir Mine is an iconic symbol in Russian history. While some of the surrounding mines remain active, the pit of the Mir Mine is now closed for business. The mine stands as a testament to the small town’s perseverance against the cruel conditions of Siberian winters and reminds its habitants that they are still a diamond in the rough.
What you should know about the Pussy Riot World Cup demonstration.
MLADEN ANTONOV/GETTY IMAGES
On July 15 during the middle of the World Cup final between France and Croatia, four protesters dressed as Russian police officers dashed onto the field, briefly halting the progress of the game.
In a statement made on twitter, the punk protest group Pussy Riot claimed responsibility for the disturbance.
Pussy Riot was founded in 2011 as a feminist protest punk rock group and has since become a powerful symbol of Russian resistance to the Putin regime. One of the groups most well known projects was their “punk prayer” protest in which members of the group in colourful balaclavas sang an anti-Putin political prayer in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior during the lead up to Russia’s 2012 election. The song and location of the protest were meant to serve as a commentary on the co-dependent relationship of the church and state in Russia. In response, two of the group's members were jailed for almost two years.
The New Yorker writes that in Pussy Riot’s statement on twitter claiming responsibility for the protest, the group cited Russian Poet Aleksandrovich Prigov’s work contrasting the difference between “heavenly” police officers who care for a utopian society, and “earthly” police officers who maintain corrupt systems. According to a video statement made by the group, “the Heavenly Policeman will protect a baby in her sleep, while the earthly policeman persecutes political prisoners and jails people for sharing and liking posts on social media.” In The New Yorker, Masha Gessen compares the group’s intrusion on the soccer match to the police’s intrusion in the everyday lives of citizens. She writes that “the beautiful world of sport has its bubble punctured by people running and flailing haphazardly, intent on destruction.” According to Pussy Riot’s own statement, “the earthly policeman, who intervenes in the game every day and knows no rules, is destroying our world.”
The police uniforms worn by the group carry a powerful symbolic message, but were also instrumental in enabling the group to carry out the protest. "No one stopped us," Pyotr Verzilov, a member of Pussy Riot told the BBC, "I know the Russian psychology: a police uniform is sacred. Nobody will ask for your permit or accreditation. I pretended to be yelling into my phone - 'Nikolayevich, where do you want me to look for them?!' - and I gestured to the steward to let me through the gate. He opened it."
Along with the explanation of the symbolism of their protest, Pussy Riot presented this list of demands:
1. Let all political prisoners free.
2. Not imprison for “likes”.
3. Stop Illegal arrests on rallies.
4. Allow political competition in the country.
5. Not fabricate criminal accusations and not keep people in jails for no reason.
6. Turn the earthly policeman into the heavenly policeman.
Shortly following the match, the Pussy Riot members who participated in the protest were sentenced to 15 days in jail and a 3 year ban from Russian sporting events. A video clip tweeted by anti-Putin activist Alexei Navalny shows the interrogation of two of the group's members. In the clip the police officer accuses them of bringing shame to Russia and says, "sometimes I regret that it's not 1937," referring to the Great Purge under Stalin in which at least a million people were executed. As the interrogation continues Verzilov says what become the most poignant words of the video, "I am for Russia, just like you — if you are for Russia."
The Pussy Riot protest is a reminder of the conditions millions of Russian people live under everyday.
EMMA BRUCE is an undergraduate student studying English and marketing at Emerson College in Boston. While not writing she explores the nearest museums, reads poetry, and takes classes at her local dance studio. She is passionate about sustainable travel and can't wait to see where life will take her.
You can hate it or love it, but you can't ignore it. World football is the thing that turns city alive. It unites the nations and let us enjoy the living.
Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula has the highest concentration of active volcanoes on Earth, and this video shows the Kamchatka Peninsula landscape. There are a total of 160 volcanoes in this region, and 29 of them are currently active.