Russia--did you know?

[blueheeler1]

Well, not quite the argument thread posted recently but how about this to generate responses:-

Financial situation of the average Russian
Median wage in Russia is ca. 300€, which makes it one of the poorest countries in Europe. Only Ukraine and Serbia are poorer, and both were recently torn by war.

Health
Russia is on the 110th place in the world by life expectancy (among 183 countries). The life of the average Russian is almost 10 years shorter than the life of the average American (70.5 vs 79.3).

Security
Russia is on the 167th place in the world by intentional homicide rate. There are almost 3x more murders per capita in Russia than in the US (9.5 vs 3.9), in spite of the draconian gun laws in Russia.

Freedom
Russia is on the 148th place by the Press Freedom Index. Between Venezuela and Iran.


There are definitely worse places to live than Russia. For example, many African countries have a worse quality of life.
But by the standards of developed countries, the life of the average Russian is comparable to the life of the lower class, far below the poverty line.

There is a reason why 19% of Russians want to leave Russia forever.

Contrary views welcome.

[Balanbam00]

.....''Let my people go !''

[oldcolner]

Communism works well for some





Not for others

[oldcolner]

Not for others

Poorest cities

Coming in at first place was the city of Tolyatti, the administrative center of Stavropolsky District. The city is among the largest in the country, with a population of over 720,000 people. Founded in 1737 as Stavropol-on-Volga, the city was renamed in 1964 in honor of former Italian Communist Party secretary, Palmiro Togliatti. While the city is home to few major industries, including the Russian car-manufacturer, AvtoVAZ, which is the largest employer in the city, 13% of Tolyatti residents were found to be critically poor, and struggle
13% of Tolyatti residents were found to be critically poor, and struggled to afford a simple meal. Another 57% of the residents were found to be low-income.

Originally known as Stalingrad, the city of Volgograd is one of the most popular cities in Russia, with its rich history drawing foreign tourists. With a population of over 1 million residents, Volgograd is the largest city on the list. Volgograd was ranked the fourth poorest Russian city, where 63% (the highest on the list) of its population was termed as low-income, while another 18% were termed as critically poor.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Only had one experience.

Went to Moscow on a British inspired Trade Mission in May, 1997.

It was the coldest, greyest, most miserable place I have ever visited. (Blackburn aside!)

Food was modest and expensive, no choice in restaurants and bars and the atmosphere was always hostile.

White women and people of colour really need to stay well away.

The World Cup has "Potentially Disastrous" written all over it IMHO.

[sinkov]

I know a guy who's company had a contract with a German firm to organise and set up a stand for them at a trade exhibition in Moscow. The level of bribery and corruption he had to contend with in order to see the job through and honour the contract almost put his company into receivership, and it took it him a good few years to get it back on it's feet again. Needless to say he's steered well clear of any dealings with Russia or Russians since.

I can remember Bikey saying when he signed for us that when he was in Moscow playing for Lokomotiv he used to carry a gun. He felt safer that way.

What does puzzle me though is why, when a Russian rust-bucket aircraft-carrier on it's way to or from the Med, chugs up the English Channel, which is an International waterway, we go to the expense of sending a warship out to 'escort' it. What the feck for, does the MoD think it's the precursor to an attack or invasion ? It's pathetic.

And any England supporters stupid enough to be going to Russia for the World Cup , are asking for all they're surely going to get.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

[B]"And any England supporters stupid enough to be going to Russia for the World Cup , are asking for all they're surely going to get".

...and get it they will!

[Norder]

.


....."Neither borrower nor a lender be"

[oldcolner]

Anyone see the programme about Putin the New czar
A man who happened to be in the right place at the right time. After the fall of the USSR Yeltsin was persuaded to make him his deputy and then to retire allowing Putin to become acting president of Russia. He was not elected, the plan being that that would allow him to gain profile and thus be known to the electorate.
He came to Britain to learn how to be President by studying Blair then at the height of his career and Bush.
The worm turned when he thought the West reneged After the split of the Ukraine from the USSR and the plan to help it join the eu.

It’s worth a watch with the story told by the people who made the man.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09vb7m3

[oldcolner]

Putin the New czar is on BBC2 at 11.15 - worth a watch especially the psycho analysis.