This woman is 103 years old. Her name is Munya, and she was born in Ukraine in November, 1903. She has survived three revolutions (and at least one attempted coup), two world wars, Stalin's purges (she's Jewish), the economic crisis, food shortages, floods and fevers.

» Read More

Another day, another political rally. This one's from the opposite side of the political spectrum... I think... Russian politics can be hard to work out. It must have been around September last year when I went along to have a look at a rally in support of Mikhail Khodorkovsky. It was hilarious. Only 50-70 people showed up in support of him. Meanwhile across a barricade a bunch of kids from the Nashi youth movement were there to shout abuse at the supporters. The Khodorkovsky team was fairly disorganised and any chants they started were quickly drowned out by the children armed with their high-powered whistles. Meanwhile, the kids had cool t-shirts and banners and were a much greater spectacle.

But some of them were no more than 13 years old. Did they really want to be there or have any strong beliefs about the issue? The information circulating was that they were getting paid to be there. Why?? Did anyone really think the completely disorganised Khodorkovsky supporters posed any sort of threat to the status quo? No one would even have noticed them if the kids weren't causing such a ruckus. A journalist also told me that there were security personnel there taking covert photos of Khodorkovsky supporters.

But complaints, rumours and rationalisation aside, all in all it was a fun day out for all involved: the supporters, the idle spectators, and especially for the children. And that's the most important thing.