Don't let them fool you.
Legendary reggae musician Bob Marley created the song “Don't let them fool you”, in which he lamented the master narrative that sought to portray some nations, cultures and traditions as inferior to others.
And the lyrics resonated in my head during my recent visit to Russia; St. Petersburg in particular, whose name has changed four times.
Saint Petersburg during the years of Emperor Peter the Great, then the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II was forced to move it to Petrograd (same as Saint Peter but sounded more Russian) and then Leningrad (the city of Lenin) during the era of communism and returned it to St. Petersburg in the glasnost era, after a popular opinion poll.
Since time immemorial, the West packs – in the press, books and films – the master narrative of being superior to most countries and, even more, to its number 1 enemy, the USSR/Russia.
The myth
Hollywood directors helped to promote an image of a dark and backward Russia. Every possible and imaginary stereotype was used to portray her as a villain and the USA as a hero.
Even after the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia continued to be Hollywood's No. 1 scoundrel, with the threat of Russia's weapons and nuclear power being a feature in these films that suggest we need to be on constant alert as they could destroy us. just on a whim.
The Russians are always the bad guys, the terrorists and the United States and its army are always the savior angels. The message is clear and simple: be afraid of sinister Russia.
Don't let them fool you...
The reality
In contrast to these Hollywood myths, I was welcomed by a Russia of modernity, architectural splendor and a very rich history and culture. And let me also add that it is a country whose citizens are in tune with fashion trends. I could be in one of South Africa's wealthy shopping malls with some of the world's fashion names adorning the windows.
When we landed in St. Petersburg, I was struck by the endless forest – as far as the eye could see. Behind the trees were skyscrapers painted in contrasting colors.
I later learned from the mayor of Sosnovy Bor, a city where the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant is located, that the environment, nature and its people are central to the city's plans.
“Sosnovy Bor is a good example of a city where the peaceful atom serves to benefit people, making life more prosperous, more promising, more beautiful”, he explained.
The mayor wasn't just bragging about why he loves his city – as he should be – because there are tangible examples of what he was saying. There are public spaces that were built with nature and people in mind. A walk through a park with a river running and surrounded by trees is an example.
Parents take their children to play in the park, feed the ducks and connect with the beauty of nature. The benches around the park scream modernity and probably explain why we are told this park was built during the covid lockdown period just a year or two ago.
Outside Sosnovy Bor City Hall is the statue of Lenin – one of many in Russia – and opposite it is the Kentucky Fried Chicken – a symbol of the communist era and new, modern Russia, but more importantly, a financially profitable market recognition of what the Russian economy has become.
Is the father of the Russian Revolution turning over in his grave or has he had to accept that times have changed? I bet he's turning over in his grave, but his time is up.
The beaches around this town are pristine – another indicator of the harmonious relationship between “nature, its people and the peaceful atom”.
If this was in doubt – and yes based on Hollywood's scare tactics, it should be – concerns about nuclear power's impact on the environment and people living in areas around Nuclear Power Plants would have been laid off recently when Rosatom , held its Second International Fishing Tournament Conference in Sosnovy Bor in the Gulf of Finland.
Held on the 8th of September, the event brought together athletes from ten countries where Rosatom has built or intends to build Nuclear Power Plants. Among this year's competitors were three fishermen from South Africa, India, Bangladesh, Armenia, Egypt, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkey.
The tournament is just steps away from the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant (LNPP), which is Russia's largest Nuclear Power Plant in terms of capacity and one of the first in the world to receive state-of-the-art 111+ VVER reactors.
The event took place in the Pro Anglers League format, which is a European spinning tournament for fish from boats, and brought together 26 guests. In total, 203 fish were caught during the tournament with a total weight of more than 7 kg.
India won with Arunabha Sannigrahi and Santosh Jaiswar in first place. Egypt and Russia came in second and third, respectively. A participant from India received a special award for the “biggest catch”. A team from Uzbekistan was awarded a special nomination “the determination to win”.
Rosatom's International Fishing Competition provides a window into nuclear energy safety and safeguards for the environment and the people living around nuclear cities.
The Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant's control room is monitored 24/7 by three shifts of staff to ensure strict security measures are maintained. External international environmental organizations monitor the impact of the Nuclear Power Plant on the environment, the Gulf of Finland and the people living around the Nuclear Power Plants.
Public information, participation and buy-in are fundamental for the new units to be built, explained the mayor.
There is an African proverb, with many variations, that applies here:
"Until lions have their own storytellers, hunters will always be the heroes of their stories."
Don't let them fool you, Russia will have to tell the world its story, to stop being the villain the West portrays.
What do you think of this testimony? Are there really villains and heroes in this “modern” world, or just economic interests? We want to know your opinion, do not hesitate to comment and if you liked the article, share and give a “like/like”.
Picture: © 2022 Pinky Khoabane
