Media Freedom in Russia - not much better

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/20/news/press.php

I'm pretty late with that, have been busy with work. I'm enjoying it, but it tends to turn me hyper, so I've been spending lots of my free time relaxing; I've been for Thai massages twice in the last three weeks or so, and want to get back to aikido soon.

The milongas are going well. Although I usually take a big chunk out of my Sunday to make the playlists, I enjoy that, and the milonga itself is usually the highlight of my week.

Bastards!

I've been told I'm harsh on Russia in this blog, and that's fair enough. That doesn't deter me from criticising iniquities in Russia, and it doesn't mean I'm wary of criticising iniquities in the US. One of the biggest disgraces there has to be the military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay. Just read this.

Of course, that kind of thing doesn't happen without the general climate to support it. And, with a climate that disregards international law and moral norms, including the Geneva Conventions, the torture of inmates at Abu Ghraib for no reason (albeit three years ago) is not entirely surprising. Nor is the treatment of non-hostile persons travelling through American ports and airports (see here).

This flouting of law and morality hardly helps win hearts and minds. Compounding this, when these cases come to light the relative silence of the American government on the subject is damning. I have no respect for the creators and implementers of these policies, and little respect for those who support such policies without questioning them. Looking beyond my own little prejudices, this gives more than enough ammunition to critics of America and to governments looking to justify their own sins. If the Americans want to preach to the world the ideals of democracy and freedom, they need stronger moral and legal foundations.

Fools!

The Russian Government has banned foreigners from working as shopkeepers or sales assistants in shops. Foreigners can still work in support functions, like cleaning and managing, and in wholesaling, but the guys selling to Russians in shops in Russia must now be Russian themselves. This was done in the name of Russian citizens, at least partly in response to disturbances in Kondopoga between Russians and Chechens. But the effects will be widespread and damaging to Russia's economy and Russian citizens.

Aside from the small portion of Russians who will now be able to take these jobs, most Russians will now face higher prices caused be the higher wages Russians take over economic migrants. In addition, Russian workers will likely be less willing to work long hours, meaning both that shops won't be open as late (an inconvenience) and that they won't be as profitable. This will reduce the money supply in the economy, slowing economic growth. Essentially the economy will become less efficient by denying a large portion of the labour force jobs for which they are well-suited.

All this is pinned on events last year in Kondopoga, where a fight in a restaurant left two Russians dead and provoked bout of demonstrations, which have variously been compared to riots and pogroms. See the RFE/RL story, and this Russian Blog entry for a Russian take on the events, and some more recent coverage from ITAR-TASS. Quite how this legislation will help reduce tensions like those in Kondopoga is beyond me. I suppose the aim is to put some pressure on foreigners to leave, yet with all the jobs still available to foreigners, including owning, running, and working in restaurants like that where the troubles started, I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Not that I'd recommend further restrictions, of course. That'd be really bloody stupid in economic terms, and utterly repugnant in moral terms.