RAGA Joins Transatlantic Institute in Their Efforts

RAGA is primarily focused on the betterment of mutual understanding
between the U.S. and Russia. However, as powerful as these two countries
are, they do not exist in a vacuum. Their relations can be best improved
only in the context of a successful global strategy of maintaining
peace, stability, prosperity, justice and fairness to all nations.

The Fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, has symbolically put an
end to the Cold War and inaugurated a new era for the entire planet.
There are some compelling reasons to celebrate this date as World
Freedom Day. The Transatlantic Institute (www. t-i.org.uk), based in the
United Kingdom, came up with the initiative and started the celebration
in 2004.

Recently, during a conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, on October 14-15, I
met a couple of people from the Transatlantic Institute among other
conference participants. Upon learning of our organization, the TI
people suggested that RAGA take part in celebrating World Freedom Day
(WFD). They assured me that the TI is not a partisan organization, does
not advocate any particular course of U.S. or British foreign policy,
does not affiliate with NATO or European Union, but rather favors a new
political paradigm transcending present political and military alliances
and divisions.

After talking to them and examining their website (see the TI mission
statement below), I am convinced that their WFD initiative is fully
consistent with the goals of RAGA and therefore RAGA is honored to join
their effort. As a matter of fact, at their request, I prepared a
Russian translation of their flyer. Since this site is offered only in
English, below are some excerpts from the English language flyer:

The Transatlantic Institute is coordinating and supporting the worldwide
commemoration of this historic date. Together with other organisations
around the world, we will establish World Freedom Day on the
international calendar.

Our aim is to have organisations around the world celebrate World
Freedom Day by releasing white balloons, and to commemorate the
historical importance of this day by holding conferences or colloquia,
or private discussions.

*Why is it important to commemorate World Freedom Day?*

To promote a clear understanding of one of the most momentous events of
the Twentieth Century,

since it provides a valuable model for the understanding of many
struggles occurring throughout the

world. It also serves as a reminder that vigilance is the key to the
maintenance of a free society.

And, as in the past, freedom does not come without sacrifice.

*How can your organization become involved?*

We are encouraging all those reading this who consider themselves
advocates of freedom, to

conduct a meeting on 9 November, both to recall the events of 1989, and
to discuss what freedom

means to them and how it can best be defended and fostered. Schools,
religious organisations,

NGOs and student groups can be involved, e.g. musicians might want to
dedicate a concert to

freedom and to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall.

*Suggestions for questions to open a discussion on freedom:*

- What marks the difference between a free society and an unfree society?

- How are the freedoms enjoyed in free societies currently protected,
and in what other ways could

they be protected?

- What role do citizens have to play in ensuring the preservation of
freedoms?

- Is the society we live in becoming freer or less free?

Those who are interested in a downloadable document in Russian, click on
http://www.t-i.org.uk/pdfs/wfdrussian.pdf
and as a separate webpage
http://www.worldfreedomday.org.uk/russflyer.php.

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