- Title: RUSSIA: Russia's most remote Chukotka region booms, but alcohol problem remains
- Date: 14th August 2009
- Summary: INSIDE ANADYR MUSEUM, MODEL OF TRADITIONAL TENT USED BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ON DISPLAY TOUCH SCREENS INSIDE LOCAL MUSEUM SHOWING TRADITIONAL LIFE OF CHUKOTKA'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE DRAWING ON LCD SCREEN EXHIBITS SHOWING TRADITIONAL LIFE ON TRUNDRA HAND-MADE BAG OF REINDEER SKIN ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) YEKATERINA OTKI, GUIDE IN MUSEUM, SAYING: "Thanks to our former governor Abramovich Roman Arkadevich we have here such beautiful buildings, like this very nice museum. We have other cultural centres as well, such as an ice palace, a sports palace, an art school, a college and many other sites." EXTERIOR OF REVAMPED MUSEUM STREET SCENE NEWLY BUILT CHURCH GOVERNOR ROMAN KOPIN WALKING AWAY FROM HIS DESK (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) GOVERNOR ROMAN KOPIN SAYING: "Roman Abramovich invested in Chukotka two and half billion U.S. dollars, which had of course a significant impact on the development of the region. At the moment we are continuing to implement the projects that he started and supported." VIEW OF PORT SHIP CRUISING, WIND TURBO'S IN BACKGROUND TWO MEN SITTING AT BUS STOP DRINKING BEER TWO WOMEN SITTING, DRINKING ALCOHOL GROUP OF YOUNG WOMEN STANDING WITH DRINK HEAD OF RED CROSS SITTING IN OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) IDA RUCHINA, HEAD OF THE RED CROSS IN CHUKOTKA, SAYING: "Today, we are trying to find new ways to fight alcoholism. We are trying to bring together all the international experience, such as from Alaska, and from specialist who have developed their own methods. All together we are trying to help those people who want to get rid of their addiction to alcohol, and help them find themselves." RUCHINA AND VOLUNTEER LOOKING AT FLYERS AND VITAMIN PILLS USED TO HELP ALCOHOLICS FIGHT THEIR ADDICTION JARS WITH VITAMINE PILLS RUCHINA PACKING PILLS YOUTH SITTING OUTSIDE, DRINKING HANDS HOLDING CIGARETTE AND CAN OF BEER (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) 22-YEAR-OLD PAVEL SAYING: "People here have simply nothing else to do and that is why they start drinking, they just tank up on alcohol, they drink huge amounts of vodka." DRUNK MAN STUMBLING HOME GROUP OF YOUNGSTERS DRINKING SUN SET ON SEA
- Embargoed: 29th August 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Lifestyle
- Reuters ID: LVA4PCDJ6WYCBXN8H04LSVZLFNPZ
- Story Text: Seven years of spending by billionaire Abramovich has boosted Russia's most outer region, but failed to solve the area's alchohol problem.
Stranded in pristine arctic tundra and nine time zones away from Moscow, this region in the far northeastern corner of Russia is an unlikely bright spot in a country mired in economic doom and population decline.
Chukotka, nearer Alaska than Moscow, is an impoverished region revived by the billions of ex-governor Roman Abramovich.
Salaries rose fivefold during his term, easing the shock to reindeer herders starved of subsidies after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The mood of the residents contrast with those in other parts of Russia, which has seen its population decline due to alcoholism, accidents and violent deaths.
In the capital, Anadyr, vivid colours lift apartment blocks out of the grey sunless day.
It is cold here even in the midst of summer, but children wrapped in woollen coats and hats continue to play in the town's modern parks, and couples pushing foreign-made prams stroll newly-laid roads.
The hospital that serves Chukotka's biggest town has been completely refurbished with cutting-edge equipment.
Marina Ostras, its deputy chief doctor, says the improved living conditions have led to an unexpected baby boom.
Only fifty thousand people live in Chukotka, twice the size of Germany, but a growing trend to having a second or third child is increasing the natural population.
"I think it has all to do with the fact that people believe in the future, for some that means being able to educate their children, for other it means taking them on a vacation. We have a stable situation here and that is reflected in the family plans of the people here," says Ostras.
In the maternity ward, Lilia Omrytagina has just given birth to her second child, Ruslan.
"We feel there is stability and we believe in tomorrow. Our mood has changed and there is a wish for more children," says 28-year-old Omrytagina.
The hospital says about 800 people are born in Chukotka every year while deaths number only around 500.
The traditional lifestyles of Chukotka's indigenous people, who comprises nearly 30 percent of the population, are proudly displayed in an ultra-modern local museum.
The museum is one of many buildings revamped during the seven year's of Abramovich's rule.
"Thanks to our former governor Abramovich Roman Arkadevich we have here such beautiful buildings, like this very nice museum. We have other cultural centres as well, such as an ice palace, a sports palace, an art school, a college and many other sites," says Yekaterina Otki who works as a guide in the local museum.
Preservation of traditional ways of life, rebuilding infrastructure, housing and healthcare were the priorities of Abramovich's policy, and his social programs lifted Chukotka's indigenous people -- Chukchi, Eskimos and Evens, out of poverty.
But much of Abramovich's investment in Chukotka was through charities.
New governor Roman Kopin, in the job for one year, says after years of receiving handouts, the challenge for Chukotka now is to generate income by exploiting the region's abundant reserves of fish, coal and precious metals.
"Roman Abramovich invested in Chukotka two and half billion U.S. dollars, which had of course a significant impact on the development of the region. At the moment we are busy realising the projects that he started and supported," says Kopin.
Chukotka has become Russia's biggest gold-producing region, supplying a fifth of national output, since Canadian miner Kinross Gold Corp launched its enormous Kupol mine in mid-2008.
But while that is all good news for the economy, social problems like alcoholism remain.
Annual per capita alcohol consumption in Chukotka is 26 litres, versus 18 in the whole of Russia.
The problem is so serious that the sale of hard liquor is banned between eight o'clock in the evening and noon the next day.
Ida Ruchina, who set up the Red Cross in Chukotka, has been trying to fight the problem since she arrived in the year 2000.
She says half the people afflicted are indigenous people whose biological tolerance for alcohol is lower.
"Today, we are trying to find new ways to fight alcoholism. We are trying to bring together all the international experience, such as from Alaska, and from specialist who have developed their own methods. All together we are trying to help those people who want to get rid of their addiction to alcohol, and help them find themselves, " she said.
One of her programs is visiting the remote villages with flyers and vitamin pills and setting up Alcoholics Anonymous groups.
Ruchina believes the problem stems from the shock of the post-Soviet problem, but youngsters out on the street gave another reason.
"People here have simply nothing else to do and that is why they start drinking, they just tank up on alcohol, they drink huge amounts of vodka," said 22-year-old Pavel. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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