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Former Soviet Union: 15 Years Since the August Coup

Veronica Khokhlova · 08:40

lingua → es

Today is 15 years since the beginning of the events that some people consider (RUS) Russia's Orange Revolution - but which are better known as the August Putsch.

This year, on August 20 and 21, memorial services will be held in Moscow for Dmitry Komar, Ilya Krichevsky and Vladimir Usov, the three men who were crushed to death by tanks during street confrontations. On August 22, which is Russia's State Flag Day, there'll be a rally near the government building in Moscow, known as the White House.

LJ user labas (Igor Petrov) was one of the defenders of the White House in 1991. He wrote a piece for a newspaper shortly after the events, and, when 13 years later he was feeling nostalgic during the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, he posted parts of this old text (RUS) on his blog. Below is the translation:

PRESTO (August 20)

How many of us are here? […] Fifty thousand, one hundred, five hundred? We are soaking wet under the nervous rain and we are warming up near small fires; we are crowding around the happy owner of a portable radio and we are stomping the revolutionary mud with our wet sneakers; we've gathered here to defend freedom, so long-awaited, so badly-needed […].

Who are we? […] The people, old and not so old, good, different, people who've suddenly gathered at this square and become what we really are. [Lots of] young people, and here's this 14-year-old guy who asked me for 2 kopecks to [make a call from a pay phone] and tell his relatives with pride: “I'm staying for the night here. Don't worry, ma, we are defending our Motherland.” And this sweet feeling of unity, and being positive of our victory, despite it all, and yesterday's thoughts and worries are nothing to us now, […] - and the already very familiar dirigible is greeting us from above with the tri-color [Russian, not Soviet] flag.

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China: Blogs from the dark side

John Kennedy · 08:05

Does it goes without saying that the internet—particularly blogs and BBS'—is the place to go for unchecked and alternative voices in China? What about those blocked Chinese-language websites hosted overseas? Many like Wenxue City and 6Park also offer blogs, and here are titles of today's recommended posts from a few of them:

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Escondida Copper Mine Closes Production Because of Strike

Rosario Lizana · 01:53

The high international prices of copper have caused the workers of the biggest copper company in the world to start a strike 12 days ago. They are asking for a better salary. Last night, 800 miners had a violent incident with the police forces who were trying to break up the strike. Today Escondida Mine decided to stop production. Esther Croudo (ES) explains the impact of the decision:

“..Since August 7 at 7:00 in the morning Escondida Mine stopped production; the copper mine with the highest production in the world, that represents 8% of the world production and the 23.5% of the Chilean production, which contributes 2.5% in the gross domestic product.

Even though some tasks continue, the official day of stopage was today. She continues explaining that:

more than 2000 unionized workers at the mine demanded that the salary’s and benefits should reflect the actual high price of the “red gold.” When have we seen an average prize of US $3 per pound?”

Regarding the reason that convinced the enterprise to stop production tocopilla online (ES) writes:

“the enterprise said that the insecurity was provoked by the striking miners plus the obstacles in the roads that lead to the ore deposits. The loss of the Escondida Mine is US 100 million dollars”

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Links

East Asia

The blogger at Vietnamese God visits the first KFC outlet in Hanoi and finds that it is attracting a lot of people. “I wonder why people like to eat fast food when they have so many options to choose from on the street in Vietnam, as well as some good Thai food, Indian food, for a more reasonable price.”