For those of you in the New York area, I will be a participant in “What is Russia Thinking? The Word from the Last of the Independent Media.” The event is organized by the Paul Klebnikov Fund, a foundation started by the late journalist’s family, and the Eurasia Foundation to honor Mikhail Fishman, this year’s recipient of the Paul Klebnikov Prize for Excellence in Journalism. Fishman is the editor-in-chief of Russian Newsweek. The panel will include a discussion between Fishman, Andrew Meier, Sarah Mendelson, and myself.
If anyone makes it to the event, be sure to come up and say hello.
An invitation for the event is available here.
I’ll probably see you there, but $50 suggested donation? Really?
Thankfully, I have a courtesy NYU ID for library privileges…
Great that you are doing this, Sean. From the little I know of the Klebnikov family, they’re working as a positive force in US-Russian relations in a sincere tribute to the memory of Paul Klebnikov. Once I met Peter Klebnikov at an Environmental Defense Fund event where we spoke about the work EDF is doing in Russia. The specific example Peter offered was with regard to the dirty coal-burning municipal power plants in so many cities of the former Soviet states. Big gains in air quality, thus livabiliy, can be easily had by just retrofitting the furnaces to burn cleaner. Some Western tech applied with Russian engineers employed. Peter works to get it done. Like my children, Peter and Paul had a Russian baba that not only taught them the language but also instilled a sense of ‘Russians’r'us.’ I just found him very inspiring – not seeking headlines, just working hard in an area where he sees potential for success and great impact. Wish his brother had had a chance to develop such wisdom.