Seliger 2009

On July 19-20 my fellow co-workers and I have attended “Seliger 2009” which is a Russian national youth festival and camp. The theme of the festival for that week was “technology of good” which can be interpreted as “doing good deeds for people and the society as a whole”. Russian youth presented various social projects that they are currently implementing in their home towns and regions as well as their ideas for future activities. The social projects that were presented were based on many issues such as - the struggles of the disabled, elderly, those living with HIV/AIDS, and environment and climate change. Their projects also promoted healthy citizenship and the development of a strong civil society in those spheres.
One of the most important issues in the world today is one of climate change and the environment. There has been much contemplation that Russian youth do not care about environment and climate change. In reality this is not so. On July 19, over 500 Seliger participants came to see Pushpanath Krishnamurthy – the global campaigner of Oxfam’s Climate Change campaign, speak about climate change. This number shows that indeed, Russian youth are interested in climate change and environmental problems, and that they want to do something about it. The energy and passion which filled the room was incredible! You could see their concern and urge to learn more, especially when they were presented examples of climate change consequences in regions of their own country. Many people in Russia do not realize that there are changes happening in Russia, they believe it happens somewhere else in the world – a remote place which they have no concern for. Pushpanath Krishnamurthy explained to them that it is happening “here and now” and that it is their duty to be the “pilots” of the planet for the future. It was an interactive conversation almost, where young people were able to ask a global campaigner, a person who had seen climate change consequences with his own eyes, questions and get some answers to help them understand the severity of this issue on a much more advanced social level. Pushpanath became the “local celebrity” for the two days – he listened, motivated, and showed much support towards Russian youth. Young people were constantly coming up to him for advice and consultations on their projects, ideas and barriers that stand in the way of their implementation.
Overall, such dialogue was not only important for Russian youth but for the Climate Change program coordinators as well. In fact, they were able to find out more about what Russian people actually know about the issue, and how they could coordinate future climate change programmes in a more effective manner that would be the most beneficial and informative for the general public.
It is truly amazing that through festivals such as Seliger, young Russian people may thrive and learn more about the key issues that are happening in society and become more motivated to participate and change the world for the better.