This is the first editorial in this week's issue of the Sakhalin Times.

The recent European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) public consultations on the Sakhalin II project’s environmental and social issues followed a similar and disturbing pattern. The Moscow consultation was virtually hijacked by environmentalists who desperately pleaded with the bank to not finance the project. A prominent Moscow-based NGO threatened to file yet another case against Shell for what it claims is the non-disclosure of information about the impact of the Sakhalin II project on the environment.

A similar tune was played at the three consultations in Sakhalin. It’s arguable whether the “real” representatives of the Sakhalin public were present at the meetings. What did seem obvious was the fact that a similar set of points were being constantly recycled and repeated by a set of people who seemed to have a particular agenda. In all fairness, Sakhalin Energy has taken the time and effort to respond to just about any claim made by the green brigade. Detailed accounts of the precise measures being taken by the company to safeguard the environment have been disclosed to the media, environmentalists and the EBRD. Despite this, we have seen little respite from the groups campaigning against the project.

It fails to be seen whether the EBRD was satisfied with the way the public consultations were conducted or if in any way it benefited from them.

Looking at the Sakhalin II project from an absolutely impartial point of view, one can safely say that it is very much in the best interests of Shell and Sakhalin Energy to ensure that every minor precaution is taken to protect the environment. The impact of an environmental disaster at the hands of the Sakhalin II project would be calamitous for Shell’s reputation and operations worldwide. In addition, we also need to consider the fact that the project would have faced severe action from the Russian Government if it was in any way non-compliant with the requirements of Russian environmental laws.

The buzz is that the EBRD is satisfied with the project’s environmental standards and is moving towards sanctioning the loan. There are a few other factors that need to be considered. The geo-strategic importance of the project can by no means be underestimated. The project is a stable source of energy for the North American and East Asian markets and can help them drastically reduce their dependence on the volatile Middle East.

However, the EBRD is a highly respected institution and expects the highest possible environmental standards from borrowers. The fact is that the Sakhalin II project’s second phase will only be financed by the bank if it is sure that these standards are met, regardless of political or other considerations.

This is the first editorial in this week's issue of the Sakhalin Times

A group of “experts” from Moscow has almost managed to create a sense of general panic in Sakhalin and the Russian Far East about a potential bird flu epidemic. This panic is in response to the return of migrating birds to this part of the world. In a few weeks, warmer temperatures are going to bring a lot of migrating birds back to Sakhalin. It is a well known fact that wild birds carry at least 16 low pathogenic flu strains. However, the new strain of the virus, the H5N1, is highly pathogenic and capable of mutation. This has made many people think that the migrating birds are going to bring some sort of pneumonic plague with them.

Virologists have been able to establish the fact that wild birds weren’t the first to develop the virus. Domestic poultry from China are believed to have produced the virus and infected wild birds.

Several “experts” have proposed solutions to prevent the spread of the bird flu in Sakhalin. Suggested measures include quarantining the border with China regularly and screening all visitors who seem to have a fever and cold. Others have suggested that all migratory birds (and all crows, pigeons and sparrows in Russia) should be shot. Such cruel measures will not help contain the spread of disease. Shooting at migratory birds will only make them fly in a completely different direction and infect other areas. The birds that get shot will fall down and become prey to wild animals allowing the virus to spread even more.

We need to face the reality that that the bird flu is here to stay and that there in no possible way to eradicate it at the moment. The H5N1 virus is very prone to mutation so one strain may develop into another. The best way to protect humans is to change the conditions in which birds are kept in poultry farms as this is where the strain originated. There is a vaccination for this strain and the only solution is to vaccinate all poultry farms in the country.

It is unlikely that a huge amount of people are going to contract the virus from birds. The Avian Flu has killed around 100 people in the last ten years. These figures don’t suggest that we are in for a major epidemic. The recent mass death of birds near the Baltic Sea and in Southern Russia didn’t lead to any loss of human lives. Rather than getting the members of the public unnecessarily worried about the dangers of the avian flu, the federal authorities should focus on educating people on the need to follow basic hygiene practises. It’s important that the general public knows that a simple thing like regularly washing one’s hands can help prevent contraction of the bird flu.

This is the first editorial in this week's issue of the Sakhalin Times

Just about every young man finishing his bachelor’s degree in university has a convincing reason as to why he is not fit to serve in the armed forces. All of a sudden, 23-year-olds who had 20-20 vision have suddenly developed chronic eye problems. Others mysteriously develop an illness overnight or meet with an accident of some kind. There are 25-year-olds with heart diseases and even younger people with potentially fatal illnesses. Let’s not forget the young men who have a dependent parent or a newborn child. There are definite ways to avoid what many refer to as a prison term.

The recent media spotlight on the army has just exposed what a large number of people already know. All this attention has, in turn, put a lot of pressure on the defence ministry to ensure that strict action is taken against those “hazing” their peers. Statistics were released to the media about the sheer number of cases filed against abusers. Despite all the extra scrutiny, there have been 3 tragic deaths of soldiers in the Sakhalin Region in the last few weeks. It’s still uncertain why a Kuril Island soldier hung himself in a kennel in February. Allegations of abuse have been strongly denied by the unit. Another soldier in the Kurils was beaten to death with a shovel and the suspect is now on the run. The case attracting the most publicity is that of the soldier from Ulyanovsk, who died after he allegedly fell on broken glass in a drunken state. This case is sure to create a nationwide storm.

Service in the armed forces doesn’t necessarily have to have grave consequences. It’s quite a noble concept for a young man to do his duty for the country and serve in the army. In principle, a year in the army can help discipline a young man and teach him many lessons including the need to compromise, adjust, be tolerant and work in a team. Army life doesn’t necessarily have to be about undue stress, harassment and torture. There are many former conscripts who have publicly stated that their time in the army has helped them live better, more fulfilling lives. A programme on a local Sakhalin television channel profiled the lives of such people, including a chef who works in a fancy restaurant in Vladivostok. This chef claimed that his culinary skills were honed and developed during his time in the armed forces. A more structured and professional set-up would ensure that young men learn the essential lessons of life, while serving in the armed forces. If there was no danger to personal safety, then more young men would voluntarily serve in the army.

The federal authorities need to be commended for their foresight in the overall reforms of the armed forces. The latest amendment approved by Moscow states that the mandatory service period is just one year. There is a structured plan to convert the armed forces into a totally professional unit. The reforms need to be all encompassing and must touch the very root of the problems in the armed forces.

This is the first editorial in this week's issue of the Sakhalin Times

The hype surrounding the Women’s Day holiday in Sakhalin was simply maddening. It’s a shame that a holiday meant to show simple appreciation for the fairer and gentler sex has become some sort of commercial monster that could even dwarf Christmas in London.

The concept of collectively packaging warm sentiments and channelling them into one day isn’t very Russian. Sakhalin’s women need to be lauded every single day of the year. Whether it’s the lady who works late night at the kiosks or the one sweeping the streets in the bitter cold, it’s the women that keep Sakhalin going. We toast Sakhalin’s women, who are among the bravest and most hard-working on earth. We also toast those who bear the “double burden” of working outside the home plus doing all the household chores. Such people include among others, nurses, teachers, telephone operators and interpreters (a vast majority of whom are young ladies). Rather than flowers and chocolates once a year, we need to look at making life better for women 365 days a year.

The basic aim of any “festival” is for people to “let go.” Women’s Day is the one occasion when women supposedly forget about their problems and get showered with all the love and affection in the world. What happens to all the goodwill on March 9? Sakhalin’s women get back to the same routine. The euphoria of being showered with toasts, compliments and gifts, fades and reality sets in. The routine problems start resurfacing in a hurry. The most common problems that women face are violence, discrimination and sexual harassment. These problems are just the tip of the iceberg. A holiday like Women’s Day is no solution for these evils. Unless we, as a society, collectively address the grievances of women, they will simply multiply.

We echo the sentiments and messages of goodwill for women on March 8 but we call on everyone to keep the essential spirit of the day throughout the year. If we did so, Sakhalin (and the world) would be a much better place to live in.

Tailpiece

The Russian Association of Crisis Centres claims that more than 50,000 Russian women are beaten by their husbands or partners every hour. The government must take steps to make domestic violence a distinct criminal offence, and to ensure that law enforcement officials are trained to recognise and prosecute violence against women, including domestic violence.

This is the first editorial in this week's issue of the Sakhalin Times

There is an old adage that sensational news sells. Sensational news becomes all the more interesting when it’s negative. The tendency of readers to crave such kind of news is exactly what the left-leaning international media are taking advantage of. So now, we have the big bad oil companies in Sakhalin that are taking away land from indigenous people and long-term residents, who had perfect lives before their region turned into one giant oil rig. This is the perfect kind of story for a gathering like the World Social Forum, where anti-globalisation activists and communists can cry a river about the big bad rich companies.

Sensational news items, especially in the electronic media can be convincing if taken at face value. The truth is a completely different matter. In the midst of all the hype, few people are actually aware that the first oil installations in Sakhalin came up in the 1970s. Since the region was closed for another two decades after the initial steps in oil exploration were taken, the global coalition of green leftists didn’t have the opportunity to draw media attention to the “dangers” of oil projects in Sakhalin.

There’s little doubt that Sakhalin’s original inhabitants live in pretty woeful conditions. Looking at their plight with a fair bit of objectivity, its can be understood that their hardships have more to do with the end of the paternalistic relationship they enjoyed with the erstwhile Soviet Government. Dare someone make a public statement to this effect and he or she risks being labelled as being on the oil companies’ payroll. Scientists, who happen to say that the impact of oil projects on the environment is greatly exaggerated, are also labelled as agents of the oil companies. In other words, for anyone to be labelled as non-partisan, they need to be anti-multinational companies.

It’s quite shameful that the philanthropic activities of the large oil companies are largely ignored by the international media. The fact is that Sakhalin Energy is absolutely under no obligation under Russian law to donate ambulances to hospitals, set up sustainable development chairs at the university or gift household appliances to war veterans (the “authorities” do no such thing). It wouldn’t hurt the media to at least occasionally mention these kinds of things. Then again, where’s the sensationalism in good news?

We’re not even hinting that the implementation of the Sakhalin shelf projects is flawless but their unbelievably biased and imbalanced coverage is unbecoming of the global media.