Russia Urged to be "Fruitful"

[D. Allan]

Russian Governor Sponsors Conception Day

BY LIZA KUZNETSOVA

ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

MOSCOW -- A Russian region best known as the birthplace of Vladimir Lenin has found a novel way to fight the nation's birthrate crisis: It has declared Sept. 12 the Day of Conception and for the third year running is giving couples time off from work to procreate.

The hope is for a brood of babies exactly nine months later on Russia's national day. Couples who "give birth to a patriot" during the June 12 festivities win money, cars, refrigerators and other prizes.

Ulyanovsk, a region on the Volga River about 550 miles east of Moscow, has held similar contests since 2005. Since then, the number of competitors, and the number of babies born to them, has been on the rise.

[D. Allan]

There is more at http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20070814/API/708140740

[Bravus]

Not exactly a *fair* competition, unless the ladies put in some fairly sophisticated work on timing their cycles, but a nice idea. Or, you know, they could just allow immigration from some of the many over-populated areas on earth.

[Dr. Shane]

Quote:

they could just allow immigration from some of the many over-populated areas on earth.

From what I have read about this already - and I didn't follow this specific link - this movement is a racist, nazi-type movement that is concerned about immigration into Russia already. The are encouraging procreation among WHITE Russians.

[D. Allan]

This Russian authority says skilled and unskilled migrants are needed in Russia.

http://www.russiatoday.ru/guests/detail/239

[D. Allan]

Quote:

New Russian immigration policy with contradictions 2007-01-23

Photo: Barentsphoto.com

The new Russian regulations on immigration and foreign labour are based on a set of fundamental contradictions, sceptics maintain. While Russian authorities stress the need to fight extremism, the new rules might worsen conditions for foreigners living in Russia. -How well thought out are the new policies? What will their economic consequences be? editor in chief of the Profil journal, Georgii Bovt asks. He fears that the new regulations might have the potential to accelerate inter-ethnic tensions in the country.

The new rules, which came into force in mid-January regulate more strictly the influx and activities of foreign laborers. The regulations might be seen as the government’s response to recent incidents like last fall’s inter-ethnic clash in Kondopoga, Republic of Karelia.

According to the laws, immigrants are now prohibited from selling medicines or alcohol, and as of April 1 foreigners will not be allowed to make up more than 40 percent of workers in kiosks and markets. By 2008, all those working in retail sales will be required to hold Russian citizenship, Georgy Bovt reports for the Moscow Times.

New quotas for workers are also being introduced. This year, the plan allows for the granting of 308,842 general work visas. Another 6 million people from countries with which Russia has reciprocal visa agreements will also be granted the right to work in the country.

http://www.barentsobserver.com/index.php?id=424238&cat=16149&xforceredir=1&noredir=1

Too bad I'm retired. It might be a good way to see Russia.

Do they have Cuban immigrants? They have a history of relations with Cuba.