Never tell the truth to people who are not worthy of it.
(Mark Twain)
The Storonnomiri, the Russian peaceniks, had their roots in the Far-East War and its dreary aftermath. Founded by traumatised and maimed soldiers, the party today, however, was dominated by young urban middle class folks who never had seen the armed force from the inside. Typically, women were outnumbering men by factor three. Nuclear disarmament was a central objective, and also civilian use of nuclear energy was viewed very negatively.
Amazingly, the party had garnered a solid votership. This was due to massive print media support – and widespread fear of a nuclear armageddon. It had not escaped the attention of the Russian public that the Rodinyadniki’s advent to power had seen the Nyemtsi preparing for a nuclear strike. Followers of the jingoists would shrug off this occurrence, of course, but many urban voters had been scared stiff.
The party was insignificant in the countryside, but the urban conglomerations along the Volga, in the Ural Mountains and along the Trans-Siberian railways were true hotbeds for them. Because these areas formed the heartland of Russia’s industrial and scientific strength, the followers of the Storonnomiri typically were well educated and well-heeled.
In the past, there had been various attempts to merge the Peaceniks with the Environmentalists and the Animal Welfarists in order to form a mighty preservative movement. This had never worked. The Russian environmentalists were a rural movement, predominantly fighting mining and the environmental havoc it created. They were supporting nuclear energy because it went easy on the environment. That made them incompatible to prevailing Stroronnomiri ideas.
The Animals Welfarists were a small party mainly vitalised by middle-aged and old ladies. Their programme might match with many ideas of the peaceniks, but their lifestyle didn’t. Therefore, the opportunity to form a potent counter balance against the jingoists never had come off.
(Mark Twain)
The Storonnomiri, the Russian peaceniks, had their roots in the Far-East War and its dreary aftermath. Founded by traumatised and maimed soldiers, the party today, however, was dominated by young urban middle class folks who never had seen the armed force from the inside. Typically, women were outnumbering men by factor three. Nuclear disarmament was a central objective, and also civilian use of nuclear energy was viewed very negatively.
Amazingly, the party had garnered a solid votership. This was due to massive print media support – and widespread fear of a nuclear armageddon. It had not escaped the attention of the Russian public that the Rodinyadniki’s advent to power had seen the Nyemtsi preparing for a nuclear strike. Followers of the jingoists would shrug off this occurrence, of course, but many urban voters had been scared stiff.
The party was insignificant in the countryside, but the urban conglomerations along the Volga, in the Ural Mountains and along the Trans-Siberian railways were true hotbeds for them. Because these areas formed the heartland of Russia’s industrial and scientific strength, the followers of the Storonnomiri typically were well educated and well-heeled.
In the past, there had been various attempts to merge the Peaceniks with the Environmentalists and the Animal Welfarists in order to form a mighty preservative movement. This had never worked. The Russian environmentalists were a rural movement, predominantly fighting mining and the environmental havoc it created. They were supporting nuclear energy because it went easy on the environment. That made them incompatible to prevailing Stroronnomiri ideas.
The Animals Welfarists were a small party mainly vitalised by middle-aged and old ladies. Their programme might match with many ideas of the peaceniks, but their lifestyle didn’t. Therefore, the opportunity to form a potent counter balance against the jingoists never had come off.
