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Harmony Forum

Peace from Harmony
Altai-Mir University for harmony






2006 annual report

 

mission

 

Altai Mir University supports the unique indigenous culture of peace

of the Altai Republic of Russia by assisting a multi-regional coalition

of educational institutions, governments, businesses, and NGOs to

implement cultural and technological tools for sustainability in

inclusive, capacity-enhancing ways.

 

objectives

 

 

o Practical educational and technological tool sets are in use by key

sectors (inclusive of gender and indigenous culture) to support

sustainable and peace-enhancing development in rural southern

central Siberian region, focused o­n the Altai Republic.

o Whole-system planning is integrated across sectors and regions,

optimizing strengths and remediating weaknesses.

o Urgent needs for healthcare and civil society-building are

addressed through targeted multi-stakeholder planning, and

implementation of seminars and distance-learning programs

concurrently with projects necessary to build a functioning

technical infrastructure.

o The valuable culture and ecology of the Altai region are

internationally nurtured according to local indigenous leadership,

so that the legacy is available to meet global needs, especially the

health and spiritual resources for which the region is renowned.

o Internationally collaborative research for “best practices”

accelerates development innovations.

 

from the president

 

We stand at a threshold.

 

Russian cities are getting back o­n their feet, and big international donors

are looking elsewhere. However, rural Russia is still as remote as any

developing country. Rural Russia’s sparse population is getting sparser,

because Opportunity seems to stop at the city limits, and the divide

continues to grow.

As Russia is finding its way back to business as usual, the world seems

to be discovering that “business as usual” (read: rampant consumerism)

might not be such a good thing for the planet. Maybe we need the

diversity of culture that still exists, however tenuously, off the beaten

path. The indigenous people of Altai Republic in southern Siberia

from farmers to statesmenbelieve that hope for the whole planet will

arise out of their homeland.

The vision of Altai Mir University is to step into that hope for the

futurefinding and building o­n the ancient wisdom that is reemerging,

by using modern, collaborative, communication and

educational tools. To accomplish this in the face of receding external

funding will require inclusive and innovative strategic planning, and

pragmatic “whole-systems” implementation.

Our first steps across the threshold have been toward extensive research

and planning, bringing together existing institutions and leadership,

and finding collaborative partnerships to bring the idea of “universe”

back into “university.”

THANK YOU to the hundreds of people and organizations who have

contributed to our fledgling organization with your encouragement

and gifts. We look forward to a very fulfilling journey together!

 

Carol Hiltner

President, Altai Mir University

 

milestones

 

Although we officially incorporated in September, 2006, we’ve been fulfilling our objectives

for more than a year. Altai Mir University initiatives are structured to support local

development efforts. For most of these events, detailed written reports are available either

on-line at www.AltaiMir.org/events.html or by e-mail. Our 501(c)3 status is pending.

 

“peace-mapping” summit

The first Altai Mir University initiative was an international “Peace-Mapping Summit” o­n

July 16-17th in the Altai village of Tyungur, with sponsorship from Vuisotnik Tourist Base,

using Open Space Technology format. About 35 participants from four countries gathered

to map local initiatives for global peace.

 

environmental clean-up

The seminal initiative, begun in 2005, was a Clean-Up and environmental education program

for the Mt. Belukha region, which is increasingly inundated with trekkers’ garbage.

Collaborators included: Sergey Shafarenko and Lena Lebedeva of the World Wildlife Fund

- Russia; Valery Yakubovsky of the Republic of Altai Mountain Rescue Service; Igor Sailankin,

director of the Belukha National Park administration; Gorno-Altaisk Rotary Club; and Galina

Lebedeva of Vuisotnik Tourist Base.

WWF-Ru made a year-long effort to bring together all the stakeholders to make a

comprehensive plan, with moderate success. However, the result (aside from the actual,

successful clean-up efforts), was the realization of the need for organized, collaborative,

on-going planning communication, not o­nly regarding Mt. Belukha, but to support any

development effort in the region. Out of this need, Altai Mir University emerged.

On July 25th, an international group of about 30 people gathered by remote Lake Akkem at

the base of Mt. Belukha to pick up trekkers’ garbage, as the culmination of a year-long

collaborative planning effort. We filled 27 garbage bags. Earlier in the summer, an educational

campaign was initiated in the Altai Republic, and after that, the garbage was taken out by

mountain rescue helicopter.

 

milestones

 

GUS/altai mir fact-finding mission

In August/September, Eurasia Foundation fundedan international “Fact-Finding Mission”

in collaboration with Takeshi Utsumi of Global University Systems and Linda Hawkin

Israel of MAMAs, with fantastic support by Marina Tyasto of Siberian Academy for Public

Administration and Lyudmila Komkova of the Russian NGO “Connect.” We met with

top-level educators, municipal administrators, regional cabinet ministers, hospital directors,

communication specialists, cultural and environmental NGOs, and citizen activists.

Out of that mission, we have the beginnings of the necessary multi-regional, cross-sector

coalition for “whole-system” development. We also have a long list of fundable projects

(see www.AltaiMir.org/fundableprojects.htm) that address the most fundamental needs

of rural Altai Republic, and renewed hope among participants for tangible progress in

community development (see www.AltaiMir.org/collaborators.htm).

 

research and grant-writing

Being based in the US, o­ne of the major contributions Altai Mir University can make to

development efforts in Altai Republic is to do English-language internet research and

relationship-building with potential American and international collaborators and

funderswriting grant proposals in collaboration with Russian organizations. We expect

at least a few of these to come to fruition in 2007.

To further collaboration between stakeholders, we have compiled and distributed

numerous reports written by and for those stake-holders. (See www.AltaiMir.org/

events.html.)

We are focusing o­n strategic planning and educational curricula as well as the

communication infrastructure that is necessary for a distance-learning university.

 

milestones

 

strategic planning conferences

In collaboration with Siberian Academy for Public Administration with organized two

Open Space Technology strategic planning conferences, facilitated by Marina Tyasto

for whole-system planning of communication infrastructure in rural Altai, bringing

together participants from government, education/universities, public health, NGOs,

environmental and cultural groups, and business. .

On November 23-24, in Gorno-Altaisk, “Sustainable Communication System in Altai

Republic” was sponsored by Government of Republic of Altai, Gorno-Altaisk State

University, Novosibirsk State Medical University, and the Russian NGO “Connect.” About

80 people participated, submitting 27 reports in six general categories:

 

o Creation of unified informational/educational space o­n the basis of modern

informational telecommunications technologies (physical infrastructure) – Andrey

Osokin

o Uniting an effective system of communication between government,

municipalities, citizens, and business – Adar Soumin

o Development of the potential of personnel in Altai Republic – Tatiana Zharova

o Using telecommunication for development of whole system of life-saving/life

providing services in Altai republic – ( for militia, fire, disaster) M.C. Surilov

o Telemedicine and a single clinical system of medical documentation – Alexander

Karpov

o Single electronic mass media communication network – Yukhtina

On December 12-13, in Novosibirsk, “Leadership Role of Universities in the Development

of Altai Republic” was convened main themes resulting from the September 2006 GUS/

Altai Mir Fact-Finding Mission, specifically regarding the role of universities in the

sustainable development of Altaiin collaboration with Novosibirsk State Medical

University, Gorno-Altaisk State University, and the Russian NGO “Connect.” About 25

people participated, submitting 11 reports and 6 action plans. (See www.AltaiMir.org/

events.html.)

 

looking ahead

In 2007, we expect to continue in the same directions begun in 2006, facilitating strategic

planning and communication infrastructure to open interactive access between rural Altai

Republic, and Russia and the world. With a physical presence in Altai, we will continue to

collaborate with local organizations o­n grant proposals and strategic initiatives, focusing

on the idea that education is a powerful and cost-effective development tool.

On the basis of hundreds of meetings with diverse people from Altai, as well as two Open

Space strategic planning conferences, the action items fall into the following categories:

 

1. Internet connection in rural regions, including facilitation of infrastructure

development, as well as a program to supply computers directly to Altai’s citizens,

schools, NGOs, and municipalities.

 

2. Related to internet connection, but o­n the content side, the need for coordinating

centers and/or intranet “virtual communication spaces” to enable interactive work

throughout the Republic has come up repeatedly.

 

3. Strategic planning, leadership training, and educational programs supporting the

crucial issue of indigenous land rights.

 

4. Russian and international funding efforts in any category related to mission.

 

5. Facilitation of distance learning, especially for public health and participatory

governance.

 

6. Other initiatives:

 

o Support for and participation in theGlobal Leadership Forum at Siberian

Academy for Public Administration o­n May 2-5, 2007.

o International caravan (Arkaim, Altai, Baikal) as initiated by GONG3000, and

in collaboration with Altai Books.

o Painting exhibition in Altai Republic.

 

Board of Directors

Carol Hiltner, President

Jacqueline Stratton, Vice President

Carolyn Cilek

Juliette Engel, MD

Susan Quattrociocchi

 

International collaborative team

Marina Tyasto, International Relations, SAPA

Lyudmila Komkova, NCP Siberian Educational-Consulting Center

“Connect”

Takeshi Utsumi, Global University System

Linda Hawkin Israel, MAMAS

Victor Chernoskutov, International and Interregional Relations, SAPA

Alexander Karpov, Medical Informatics, Novosibirsk State Medical

University

Tatiana Zharova, Gorno-Altaisk office, SAPA

Ezher Tatin, Committee o­n the Development of Entrepreneurship,

Industry, Transportation & Communication for Altai Republic

Andrey Osokin, Informatics, Gorno-Altaisk State University

Nina Goncharova, President of Siberian Center of Eurasian Projects,

Coordinator of the “Planet 3000” Project

www.altaimir.org

Comprehensive reports of our initiatives are

available o­n our website, in English and/or Russian.

Financial report available o­n request.

Carol@AltaiMir.org

+1-206-525-2101

16212 Bothell Everett Hwy., Suite #F172

Mill Creek, WA 98012-1219 USA

 

May 11, 2007

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