Op-Ed: Khimki Forest, grassroots symbol of Russian activism

Moscow - "Russian Khimki Forest Being Cut Down to Make Room for Motorway". There is something about this story that is just sticking to me.

The ancient forests of Khimki and its biodiversity are being threaten by French Vinci Concessions. So what? It's just another forest, another sad story, and nothing can be done about it. Yet, I cannot stop thinking about it. Obviously others cannot either. The news is spreading virally, showing up in places like the Phillipines and Turkey. The road to St Petersburg from Moscow will be build. That is not in dispute. The question is: does it have to take a detour through Khimki, built on bloodshed, destroying the “lungs of Moscow”? Moscow is the largest city in Europe, with over 10 million inhabitants. In the past few years, the “modernization” of Russia has been impressive. Since the start of his presidency in 2008, Dmitry Medvedev is making national and international headway, addressing Russia’s shortcomings directly, and at the same time building pride amongst his people, rewriting history more accurately, losing the image of the “evil empire”. There is something about his warm, yet intelligent face that is refreshing from the stoic faces of the not-so-distant past. It is a huge task he has taken on. Living in the shadows of Vladimir Putin, he is not given the full credibility that he deserves. And then Khimki Forest standoff showed up. Silence from the Kremlin. It is all so odd. Just one month ago, on World Environmental Day, Medvedev made an impassioned speech.

Every year on June 5 the globe marks World Environment Day. This day has been marked around the planet since 1972, although Russia has been taking part only since 2007. But as they say, better late than never, and indeed, it took us a while, but we have, fortunately, finally woken up to the vital importance of protecting nature, to the realisation that economic and environmental development go hand in hand, and to the awareness that without strict compliance with environmental standards we simply will have no future at all.

Finally I thought, a true leader in a time wrought with global corruption. Perhaps he could show us a different way. RT reports How the Russian soul can save the American Empire

Due to its unshakeable commitment to materialism and individualism, Americans now find themselves passengers on a spiritual shipwreck that perhaps only the Russian soul can salvage.

Khimki is a symbol for the Russian people which many consider the roots of activism, providing a human face and a growing consciousness. It is not just a fight for Khimki Forest. It is a fight for all our “forests” around the globe. The Western World likes to see itself as a defender of Human Rights. They rejoiced in the fall of communism, and pressured Russia to modernize. OK, where are they now? Perhaps busy setting up business, making a quick buck, with no priority or care to the environment or the people. One witness says:

I was there. It was completely terrible to see what was going on. Why on earth the Western participants of the project like Vinci do support all this? It is the worst kind of neo-colonialism when Western business uses corruption and dictatorship in Russia to make here their business in a way quite inacceptable in their home countries.

Let's give credit to those who have showed the courage to fight for the forest. 1. Mikhail Beketov, a journalist who was beaten into a coma, lost his leg, and retains brain damage. 2.Yevgeniya Chirikova, head of the “In Defense of the Khimki Forest” who has also been threatened, beaten and run over, and still dares to lie under the wheels of police cars to prevent them from leaving an alleged crime scene. She is a mother of two. 3.Greenpeace and WWF Russia, for legal and financial support. 4.Radio Free Liberty, for posting stories from countries with oppression. 5.To the activists who are camped out at the forest, setting up a barricade. Update: On July 23, 100 masked men showed up, threatening to kill the peaceful ecologists, tearing down their banners and tents. When the police came they arrested the activists, and not the hooded ones, who destroyed private property and uttered death threats. At the end, I still hold onto the hope that President Medvedev will come through. There has been a lot of changes in a short time, and he has been an amazing leader. . Give Khimki a chance. Go ahead build the highway, but give the people a voice and work with them, not against them like they are the enemy. NEGOTIATE a deal where everyone wins. Don’t let corporations run amok. Companies are good, industry is good, but they must work alongside the people that they serve. Sign petition.