Events
1975
Sakharov Nobel Prize. In 1975, Andrei Sakharov (21 May 1921 - 1989), often called father of the Soviet hydrogen bomb,
became the first Soviet citizen to win the Nobel Peace Prize for his
work as an outspoken dissident to the Soviet regime. In 1957 his concern
with the radioactive hazards of nuclear testing inspired him to write a
pioneering
article on the effects of low-level radiation. This might be considered
his first step towards dissent. The Soviet authorities denied him permission to go
to Norway to receive his award.
Birthdays
1959
Boris Efimovich Nemtsov was born 9 October 1959. Russian politician who was Deputy Prime Minister of Russia from 1997 to 1998. He was a co-founder of the Russian political party Union of Rightist Forces and is an outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin
1874
Nicholas Roerich ( also known as Nikolai Konstantinovich Rerikh) was born on October 9, 1874. Russian painter, philosopher, scientist and writer. Roerich was a dedicated activist for the cause of preserving art and
architecture in times of war. He earned several nominations for the Nobel Prize
Nicholas Roerich is known first and foremost as a Russian-born artist. His paintings, of which there are thousands around the world, explore the mythic origins, the natural beauty, and the spiritual strivings of humanity and of the world.
ReplyDeleteIn New York there is Nicholas Roerich Museum. The mission of the museum is essentially a narrow one: to make available to the public the full range of Roerich's accomplishments, which cover the realms of art, science, spiritually, piecemaking, and more.
The Museum displays approximately two hundred of works, and keeps them permanently on display, for visitors who come from around the world. Indeed, for many of these visitors, the Museum is a destination of great importance; the paintings speak to them of their own inner yearnings and possible fulfillment. For them, Roerich's paintings are a kind of teaching about spiritual development, about culture and its role in human life, and about opportunities for the achievement of peace in a fractious world.
The birthday of Nikolai Konstantinovich Roerich is always a special moment in the Kullu Valley (India), also known as the Valley of the Gods and spiritual home of the visionary Russian painter-philosopher. The annual Roerich festival has become a landmark of sorts, spreading its festive cheer and spiritual radiance all around in this western Himalayan town. The stage is now set for even grander celebrations at the 20th anniversary of the Roerich Estate in 2012.
Background to the Sakharov Prize
ReplyDeleteThe Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is awarded each year by the European Parliament. The prize was set up in 1988 to honour individuals or organisations for their efforts on behalf of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Parliament awards the human rights prize, endowed with 50,000, at a formal sitting held in Strasbourg on or around 10 December, the day on which the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948.
How is the winner chosen?
Nominations for Sakharov Prize can be made by political groups or at least 40 MEPs. The Foreign Affairs and Development committees vote on a shortlist of three finalists based on the nominations and later the Conference of Presidents chooses one Laureate.
Since 2008 Boris Nemtsov and Vladimir Milov have published several reports criticising Putin's regime and proposing alternative ways of development for the country:
ReplyDeletePutin. Results - February 2008
Putin and Gazprom - September 2008
Putin and the Crisis - February 2009
Sochi and the Olympics - April 2009
Luzhkov. Results - September 2009 (first edition)
Putin. Results. 10 years - June 2010. Translated into English as Putin: What 10 Years of Putin Have Brought. This is a revised edition of the report Putin. Results of 2008. This report has been published in one million of copies.
Putin. Corruption - March 2011. Written by co-chairmen of the People's Freedom Party Boris Nemtsov, Vladimir Milov, Vladimir Ryzhkov and the Solidarity movement spokesman Olga Shorina. The priting of report is funded with donations. So far, funds have been collected for 440,000 copies.
The last two of these reports are currently distributed by activists of the Solidarity and the People's Freedom Party.