Press Centre

Phone: (812) 702 33 73

Email: info@juniorg8.ru

Press centre is located at Management Training Centre, Radishcheva st., 4, Pushkin.

Press Releases

J8 Closing Ceremony – Looking Back

In the evening of July 17, the closing ceremony of the “Junior 8” Summit took place on the Zerkalnye Ponds of the Catherine Park.

The farewell evening began with a concert where Alexey Vorobyev, “Diva” and Sergey Lazarev performed. After the concert the Russian Team, greeted by the applause of other delegates, one by one signed the J8 flag and handed it in to the national team of Germany, which will be the host country of the next year’s G8 and J8 Summits. Then young people went to the Cameron Gallery, where a theatrical show “Good and Evil” began. The final accords of the show were the J8 Anthem and splendid fireworks.

The fest was over late in the night, only a couple of hours before the departure of the first teams…

MTV Russia is the chief information partner of the J8 Summit.

J8 – Final Working Day

In the morning on July 17, J8 delegations gathered for the concluding session of the forum. At this sitting they were joined by Arkadi Dvorkovich, Head of the Expert Department of the Russian President.

Mr. Dvorkovich talked about the future of the participants of the Summit and discussed the ways of implementing J8 ideas into reality. He also expressed the hope that the J8 delegates would keep in touch with each other after the end of the Summit.

Then each of the Summit participants signed the J8 final document.

The arrival of Andrey Fursenko, Minister of Education and Science for the Russian Federation, who celebrates his birthday today, became a complete surprise for young people. He was immediately lifted up by moderators at the applause the J8 delegates and “Happy Birthday” exclamations.

After the end of the session the Russian team sang ditties dedicated to the birthday of the Minister and congratulated him one more time.

MTV Russia is the chief information partner of the J8 Summit.

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MTV Russia Shoots Video for J8 Band

On July 16, “Junior 8” Summit participated in a musical event. J8 Band, which consists of members of the national teams, sang a song We are J8 written during the forum.

The show of the J8 Band was filmed by MTV Russia TV channel near the Nevsky Gates of the Peter and Paul Fortress. Editing of the video began right after the shooting was over. The video will go on the air soon.

MTV Russia is the chief information partner of the J8 Summit.

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J8 Delegation Meets the G8 Leaders

On July 16, for the first time in the history of the G8, a meeting of the representatives of the J8 national delegation and the G8 leaders took place. Young delegates presented the final document of the J8 forum, “Address to the Leaders”, and discussed it.

This year J8 delegates decided to depart from the “communiqué” format, as “address” represents the contents of the document more precisely than “communiqué”.

MTV Russia is the chief information partner of the J8 Summit.

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J8 Has Chosen Delegates for the Meeting with the G8 Leaders

In the evening of July 15 national delegations chose their representatives for the Meeting with the G8 leaders. The Russian Team was the first to decide upon its delegate: they chose Tatiana Ushakova from Yekaterinburg.

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Special Vernissage of Pavel Filonov’s exhibition for the J8 Teams

On July 16, 2006, young J8 delegates will visit the State Russian Museum. Students will have a chance to get acquainted with one of the most ambitious projects of the year – the yet unopened Pavel Filonov’s exhibition “Witness of the Unseen”, a vernissage of which will take place only next day in the Benois Wing. Organizers included the exhibition into the J8 agenda, so that delegates could not only take a look at the Russian classical art, but also to become acquainted with its avant-garde representatives.

Pavel Filonov was among few artists who defined major trends in the art of the 20th century – Picasso, Malevich, Kandinsky, Dali, Klee and other reformers of the world art. Paintings by this Russian artist, a theorist of art, the founder of analytical realism and one of the leaders of the Russian avant-garde of the first half of the 20th century, are well-known both in Russia and around the world.

Pavel Filonov’s creative life was not an easy one. His first personal exhibition in 1930 was forbidden. Till his very death in 1941, Filonov lived practically without means of subsistence, being unable to exhibit his works. He gave all his paintings to the state as a gift, hoping that someday his art will become available to the public.

"Pavel Filonov. Witness of the Unseen" is Filonov’s second large-scale solo exhibition in the Russian Museum since 1988. It comprises about 160 works, including 85 canvasses and 75 works of graphic art.

There is another fact which makes this exhibition remarkably interesting for the younger generation: the exhibition includes not only painting by an artist of the first half of the 20th century, but also a dedication project to this master by a present-day artist. Vadim Zakharov, famous Russian conceptualist, created a huge installation – a three-meter moving lion figure that is reading Filonov’s biography.

The exhibition is organized by the State Russian Museum with the involvement of the Proactive PR Company and will be on display till October 1, 2006.

MTV Russia is the official information partner of the J8 Summit.

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J8 Painted a Lion for a Charity Auction

On July 14, the J8 delegations took part in a charity event “Lion Parade”. The participants of the Summit decided not to confine themselves only to the elaboration of an official communiqué, but to start implementing their ideas in practice immediately.

Thus, young people came up with an idea: they decided to take part in a charity event and paint a replica of a sculpture of a lion, one of the characteristic symbols of St. Petersburg architecture. The figure of a lion was provided by the organizers of the “Lion Parade” – World Wide Club of Petersburgers.

The lion painted with flowerers and ornament was sold by auction. The money received from the sale will be channeled to the Scientific Applied Center for rendering help to HIV-positive pregnant women and HIV-positive children (under the aegis of Republican Clinical Infectious hospital).

Invitations to the auction organized within the J8 Summit were send out to some of the largest St. Petersburg and Moscow companies. Many were willing to buy the figure; so the outcome of the auction beat all the records. The sculpture, which starting price was $20 000, was sold for $50 000. The lion was purchased by the “Open Technologies” Company.

Konstantin Zhebenev, president of St. Petersburg representative office, said that “Open Technologies” worked on the Russian market since 1994 and ranked among top system integrators in Russia. “When participating in such events, we try to establish a connection between such children as the participants of the J8 Summit, who have vast capabilities and are already able to realize themselves, and children who have much less opportunities,” Mr. Zhebenev said.

Similar events are being organized all over the world for more than ten years already. Sculptures of cows, pigs, lions, bears can be seen in the streets of many cities of the world. Many famous artists, actors and public figures participated in such events. Thus, last year in Moscow, a painted cow was knocked down for $38 000.

MTV Russia is the official information partner of the J8 Summit.

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Vladimir Putin Gave J8 a Surprise

Today on July 14, the J8 teams had a meeting with Viktor Khristenko, Minister of Industry and Energy for the Russian Federation. The discussion was interrupted by unexpected news: Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, arrived at the Training center, where the J8 delegates work and live. The appearance of the President came as a complete surprise to the participants of the J8 Summit. First Vladimir Putin joined the videoconference with Cairo that was held by part of the delegates. The J8 participants were discussing educational issues with their counterparts from Egypt. Vladimir Putin greeted the young people and answered several questions from Cairo. After that the President went to the White Hall, where the problems of energy resources were being discussed, and addressed the J8 participants with a salutatory speech. The President took part in a talk about energy, preparations for the G8 Summit and means of combating terrorism and answered children’s questions.

At parting Vladimir Putin wished young people to have pleasant discussions and said that he and his G8 colleagues would be looking forward to meeting the J8 delegates on July 16 in Strelna.

All J8 events are covered by MTV Russia, the official information partner of the J8 Summit.

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J8 Concluding Document – What Will It Be?

On July 13, J8 work groups started elaborating a draft of the concluding document of the Summit. The J8 Communiqué will be handed in to the G8 leaders on July 16 during a joint session of J8 and G8. The teams reflected upon two issues: what would be the contents of the document and in what form should it be presented?

Robert McGuire: “There is a need for constant search for means of cooperation”

On July 13, the J8 delegations discussed energy resources and their role in the future of mankind. Robert McGuire, head of investment banking services Morgan Stanley in the field of energy, took part in the discussion. He told young people about energy problems that humanity was facing. The most burning issues among those are the deficit of environment-friendly technologies and new sources of energy, as well as the growing energy gap between developed countries, that are rich in energy, and developing countries suffering from shortages of electricity.

In conclusion, Mr. McGuire emphasized the importance of constant search for means of cooperation in order to create sustainable technologies and set up energy exchange between countries.

All J8 events are covered by MTV Russia, the official information partner of the J8 Summit.

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Lion Parade at J8 Summit

On July 14, 2006, 64 young delegates from 8 countries represented in the G8 will paint the sculpture of a lion provided by the organizers of a charity event “Lion Parade” in St. Petersburg.

The lion, one of the symbols of St. Petersburg, will turn into a “flowery tree” covered with Russian chamomiles, Californian poppies, German sunflowers, French lilies, English roses and even Mexican cacti. Each participant of the Summit will draw his or her own flower. A fantastic “flowery tree” will be warmed by the radiance of the lion’s sunny mane.

On the same day, at 4 pm, the lion will be sold at a charity auction.

MTV Russia is the official information partner of the J8 Summit.

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«Junior 8» draw tolerance

In the morning, on July 12, the J8 teams held a plenary session devoted to the issue “The spread of extremism and violence in youth culture”. The format of the session was elaborated by J8 moderators and was reminiscent of a game. Each participant of a national team was to depict tolerance and extremism. Then children brought their pictures and whole designs of paper and plasticine into the session hall. Authors commented on their works and then split them into groups according to their topics.

Soon new working groups were formed – in accordance with the topics of the works. At the end of the session these working groups offered their own means of solving problems that they touched upon in their pictures and designs.

The result was rather unexpected. It turned out that one can elaborate upon a topic much more profoundly when having depicted it, instead of simply having discussed it. “We have tried to implement the method of art therapy in our discussion. Creative work can convey our feelings and emotions, disclose our inner world more powerfully than words can,” said Fedor Manevsky, teams’ senior moderator.

MTV Russia is the official information partner of the J8 Summit.

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Anatoly Karpov: «This is the beginning of a new fine tradition»

On July 12, the teams met Anatoly Karpov, UNICEF goodwill ambassador and sixteen-fold chess world champion. In his short greeting speech Anatoly Karpov told the J8 teams about the history of chess movement and emphasized that the motto of the International Chess Federation, “We are one people”, is conformable with the views of the J8 teams on the problem of tolerance.

The second part of the meeting was arranged as a simultaneous exhibition where Anatoly Karpov played chess with 8 representatives of the J8 teams. The Grandmaster let his opponents consult their teammates and the advisors of the mini-tournament.

Before the meeting Anatoly Karpov said: “I’m glad to participate in the “Junior 8” Summit. And I’m glad that it is St. Petersburg that receives the delegations whose representatives are going to meet the G8 leaders for the first time. I think it is the beginning of a new fine tradition”.

MTV Russia is the official information partner of the J8 Summit.

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Evgeny Plushenko: «Now every child knows that he or she can take part in solving global problems»

On July 11, J8 teams met Evgeny Plushenko, manifold figure skating world champion and Olympic prizewinner. Many children were looking forward to this meeting with special interest.
Tatiana Ushakova, J8 Russian Team: “I am very fond of figure skating. It is one of the sports I like best; that is why I supported Evgeny Plushenko during the last Olympic Games. He is an outstanding sportsman; and I’m looking forward to getting to know him better.”
Participants talked to Evgeny, watched him starring in an ice show and had a master class given by one of the world’s best figure skaters, who won 47 gold and 14 silver medals. Plushenko is one of the first sportsmen in history to have presented a cascade of quadruple toe loop – triple toe loop – triple toe loop (Cup of Russia, 2002). The Turin Champion skated so brilliantly that children could not withhold their delight; they applauded rapturously and stormed Evgeny with questions.
Janusch from the J8 German Team wondered what Evgeny would say to the G8 Leaders, if he had such an opportunity. “Probably I would talk about peace and friendship. Country leaders have to love their Fatherland and their people and be friends with it. Because we’re nothing without our people. All we need is positive energy, love and peace. We do not need war. Struggles should only take place in sports,” the sportsman said.
After the talk Evgeny congratulated Kristina Abretti, a birthday girl from Canada, who turned 16 on that very day. A present, pink plush bunny, out of hand of the Olympic Champion made this birthday unforgettable for the girl.
After Evgeny’s performance, the ice was occupied by young trainees of the Mishins couch couple: ballet on ice “Paradise” presented parts of their new programs.
At the end of the show the participants of the “Junior 8” Summit inspired with the performance of Russian figure skaters stepped on the skating rink themselves. For many of them this was the first skating experience ever; nevertheless, it didn’t prevent them from trying to learn and repeat pas shown by the champion with remarkable enthusiasm. At parting the participants of the J8 Summit received DVDs with Evgeny’s performances signed by him personally and made some memorable photos.
“I’m very glad to participate in the Junior 8. It is simply great that children are given the opportunity to meet heads of states and discuss some important issues with them. Besides, every child could become a member of the team. From now on, every child in the world will know that he or she can take part in solving global problems. This provides will to victory, gives everyone a chance to dream about victory. To reach for the better, for the winning in one’s personal Olympic Games,” Evgeny said.

MTV Russia is the official information partner of the J8 Summit.

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Andrei Fursenko: “We Must Learn To Understand Each Other”

On July 11, the J8 discussed education and values of the young generation. Education and Science Minister Andrei Fursenko joined the delegates for the discussion.

“It is important that the children not only draw up a final communiqué but also express their ideas and feelings. It is important that children from various countries communicate with each other and establish horizontal lines of interaction. As to the final document they will broadcast it via the Internet much faster than any government would,” said the minister.

Minister Fursenko’s brief presentation outlined the aims a modern education system must strive to achieve: “The main problem is that the level of knowledge is not able to cope with the pace of global economic development. Life changes very fast, the system of knowledge changes every five to seven years. We cannot teach everyone everything at once. Our goal, the main thing that we must teach children in school, is to teach them how to learn and make sure they love acquiring new knowledge and move forward.”

“The key to turning our children into good people is to ensure that good people teach them,” he added.

The Russian minister concluded by saying: “If we are to help other countries we must understand how they see the world and respect their expectations. Only then our help will make a difference.”

MTV Russia is the official information partner of the J8 Summit.

Andrei Fursenko: “We Must Learn To Understand Each Other”

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Mikhail Zurabov: “Helping HIV-infected people is our moral responsibility”

Iin the afternoon on July 10, the J8 teams attended their first plenary meeting to discuss the spread of HIV and other socially significant infections and drug addiction among youth. Russian Minister of Health and Social Development Mikhail Zurabov joined the discussion.

He told the children that this year G8 leaders have included infectious diseases in the agenda for the first time in forum's history. Also, G8 leaders have pledged to keep the issue on the agenda for the future.

The minister was asked about the most difficult problem facing healthcare today. “No problem can be resolved without the involvement of the patient. Building mutual trust is our main task,” the minister stressed.

Most questions from the audience concerned the measures which the ministry is taking to help HIV-infected people adapt in society.

"HIV-positive people are no different from us, and they can count on our assistance. Helping them is our moral responsibility. The main challenge now is provide timely and effective care.”

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Junior 8 2006 Has Opened

The Junior 8 Summit has officially opened today, on July 10, 2006, in the town of Pushkin, outside St Petersburg. This project has given children the opportunity to become their countries’ representatives who will be able to voice young people’s opinions about the challenges facing the world today. To become one of 8 team members everyone had to go through a system of national contests.

“You will have to make your judgment about what will be happening here, because you are our future, because our countries’ future is in your hands. We must know what you think. G8 leaders are waiting for the results of your work over the next few days,” St Petersburg State University Rector Ludmila Verbitskaya said at the opening ceremony.

This is the second J8 summit. The first Junior 8 Summit took place in Edinburgh, Scotland, in July 2005, while the nearby town of Gleneagles hosted a G8 meeting at the same time. Forum participants developed a communiqué which they handed to Prime Minister Tony Blair. Topics for discussion at the J8 are selected on the basis of priorities set out by the country presiding at the G8. Russia considers children’s and youth policy to have a great impact on the country’s development. Therefore, Russian hosts had worked hard to organize the event: for the first time in the forum history Russian delegates were selected by TV viewers from all over Russia and for the first time 8 J8 spokespersons will meet G8 leaders.

In the morning of July 10, teams, guests and journalists gathered together in the courtyard of the Kochubei Mansion where the participants are staying. In their welcoming speeches adult guests stressed the importance of future results of the forum’s work.

“You have gathered here to help your peers. Children from all over the world are waiting for your help. I think that the G8 and J8 must solve all serious problems together,” said Ann M. Veneman, UNICEF Executive Director.

Guests and organizers were united in their assessment of the forum. The ceremony was followed by a press conference.

“Children constitute a third of the world’s population and their voice is very important as they will own the world in the future”, said UNICEF’s goodwill ambassador Sir Roger Moore.

It is very important for us that children have the opportunity to tell us their views and be heard,” said Katerina von Gechmen-Waldek, the chief curator of the project.

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J8 Spent Morning in a Russian Village

09/07 In the morning J8 Teams arrived at a folklore Russian village of Shuvalovka. At once they found themselves swirled in real country life – children made souvenirs with the help of professional potters and smiths, reeled in rounddances with skomorokhs, Russian buffoons; and Ariadna Chernova sang a folk-song for the guests.

Soon a fashion show by the famous fashion designer Masha Tsigal began. After the show a surprise awaited the guests: Masha has designed not only the uniform for the Russian Team, but also blazers for every participant from other delegations. Eight sets of uniform for national teams made great presents for J8 participants. Having left Shuvalovka, guests headed to Petrodvorets.

MTV Russia is the official information partner of the J8 Summit.

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Minister Shvydkoi Meets J8 Delegates

His informal presentation has become a prologue to the teams’ journey across Russian history which will take place today, on the Russian day of the summit. On this journey young people will learn about Russian culture and history, its traditions and modern technologies.

Mr. Shvydkoy traced the origins of modern Russian culture to two main sources: the original Russian culture embodied by Moscow and the European one embodied by St Petersburg. He also told the children about Russian ballet, theatre and literature that have become symbols of Russia in the world. In his talk, Mr Shvydkoi stressed the significance of the town of Tsarskoye Selo because the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin studied there. Pushkin is as important to Russians as Dante to Italians and Goethe to Germans. For it was in Tsarskoye Selo, also known as as the town of Pushkin, that the J8 participants began to learn about Russia, its multinational culture, its past and present.

In conclusion, Mikhail Shvydkoi wished all J8 participants fruitful work at the forum and invited them to return to “Russia with love”.

MTV Russia is the main information partner of the J8 Summit.

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Reception of J8 Delegations Took Place in the Catherine Palace

8/07 The Catherine Palace hosted a reception in the evening, marking the opening of the J8 Summit. Mikhail Shvydkoi, Head of the Federal Agency for Culture and Cinematography of Russia, Ann M. Veneman, UNICEF Executive Director, and actor Roger Moore, the famous James Bond and a UNICEF good will ambassador, took part in the event.

The meeting started with the guests’ welcoming speeches in the Catherine Palace Throne Room. Ann Veneman expressed the spirit of the meeting by saying that while Germany is hosting the World Football Championship which united people from all over the world St Petersburg is hosting the J8 Summit which united young people of different countries.

After the official part of the ceremony the guests were invited to step outside into courtyard where a concert featuring Russia’s Eurovision 2006 song contest nominee Dima Bilan took place.

Two military orchestras followed Dima with a fascinating show. The teams went on stage to the hymns of their countries where the Russian team joined MTV VJ Alexei Vorobyov and the band “Diva” in the singing of the J8 Hymn. Natalia Makuni, who is the Russian Team’s press attaché had written the song’s lyrics especially for the forum. Following the first notes of the hymn a fireworks display lit up the sky over the festive Catherine Palace which marked the end of the day.

MTV Russia is the main information partner of the J8 Summit.

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J8 Flag Raised

J8 started its work on July 8. The official ceremony of hoisting the J8 2006 flag took place in the courtyard of the Kochubei Mansion where forum participants live.

Despite the fact that some teams arrived in St Petersburg late last night all delegates came together at 10am in the courtyard of the Management Training Center for the ceremony. The head of the team of moderators Fedor Manevsky, Assistant Professor of the Department of Medical Psychology and Psychophysiology, St Petersburg State University, opened the ceremony. The only representative of St Petersburg in the Russian team Kirill Levin raised the flag. Presently, the official J8 2006 hymn started to play while hundreds of balloons flew into the sky, symbolizing the Tricolor, the Russian national flag.

The official ceremony turned into a celebration. It turned out that a member of the American delegation Edgar Hernandez had recently had his birthday. So the forum participants could not leave it unnoticed and rushed to give their colleague their best wishes.

The event ended with every J8 participant getting presents. After that the teams went for a walk in the Catherine Park.

All J8 events are supported by MTV Russia, the main information partner of the forum.

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All J8 Delegates Have Arrived

J8 international delegations arrived in St Petersburg on July 7. Teams from the US, the UK, France and Germany arrived from Frankfurt at Pulkovo 2 last night. Another three groups of delegates from Italy, Japan and Canada flew in around midnight. The Russian team met the guests at the Management Training Center in Pushkin, where J8 participants will live and work. An official initiation ceremony for the new arrivals took place on the lawn of the Kochubei Mansion that houses the Training Center. The Russian hosts tied head bands with J8 symbols around the guests’ necks. National flags of the participating countries were hoisted in honor of the international teams.

July 8 will be the first working day for young delegates. A reception will take place at the Catherine Palace to mark the beginning of the J8 Summit. Singer Dima Bilan, Russian participant of the Eurovision 2006 song contest will conclude the evening. The Russian team’s presentation will be the main highlight of the evening. Russian team members will join young MTV stars Alexei Vorobyov and “Diva” to sing the J8 hymn that was written especially for the St Petersburg forum by their peer, Team Russia’s press attaché, Natalia Makuni.

On July 9, foreign guests will spend the day learning about Russian culture and history, as well Russian high-tech achievements.

MTV Russia, J8 Summit’s main information partner, is coving all forum events.

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J8 To Host Masha Tsigal Fashion Show

The famous fashion designer Masha Tsigal will come to St Petersburg to take part in the J8 Summit. She designed a special collection for the forum, the Team Russia uniform. The Masha Tsigal fashion show will take place on the Russian Day, July 9, in the Russian historic village of Shuvalovka. Russian team members will act as models in the show.

This event will be unusual in the fashion world: Masha, who designs primarily clothes for adult, launched her first children’s collection in May 2006.

Masha Tsigal is the heir to the famous Moscow arts dynasty of the Tsigal-Bernshteins. She has been designing clothes since 1995. In 1999, she graduated from the London College of Fashion.

Masha Tsigal received a prize from the hands of Paco Rabann for her first collection “Let’s Be Like the Sun” at Untamed Fashion Assembly in Riga. Masha’s later collections were featured at haute couture fashion weeks in London and Moscow and other international events.

Whitney Houston, Prince of Monaco Albert, Russian pop stars Kristina Arbakaite, Angelika Varum and TV stars wear clothes designed by Masha Tsigal. Masha designed stage costumes for the singers Dima Bilan and Dezl and the bands “Diskoteka Avaria”, “Bdva” and “Tatu”.

Forum participants will meet G8 leaders. It will be a unique event because at last year’s J8 Summit in Scotland G8 leaders did not invite their young colleagues to their sessions. The children just handed over their communiqué to Prime Minister Tony Blair.

MTV Russia is the official information partner of the J8 Summit.

Sir Roger Moore to Take Part in Junior 8 Summit in St Petersburg

Ann M. Veneman, UNICEF Executive Director, Carel de Rooy, UNICEF Representative in Russia, Lady Kristina and Roger Moore, the famous James Bond and UNICEF’s goodwill ambassador, are coming to St Petersburg on July 8, 2006.

This visit is testament to the significance of the J8 forum: for the first time in its history J8 Summit participants will be able to meet G8 leaders. At last year’s Junior 8 Summit in Scotland participants submitted a communique to the heads of the G8 countries but did not actually meet them.

Ann Veneman was appointed UNICEF Executive Director in 2005. Ann Veneman had held various positions in the Departments of Agriculture and Trade in the Reagan and Bush Administrations.

Queen Elizabeth II appointed Roger Moore Knight Commander of the British Empire in October 2003, marking not only his acting talent but also his work as UNICEF’s goodwill ambassador.

MTV Russia is an information partner of the J8 Summit.

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Tolerance Experts Advise Russian J8 Team

The Russian J8 Team held a consultation seminar “Spread of Extremism and Violence in Youth Culture” on July 6. Dr Svetlana Gurieva, Associate Professor of the Department of Social Psychology, St Petersburg State University, and her colleague Olga Mikhaliuk took part in the seminar as invited experts.

Ensuing discussion showed that the Russian team thought the most important theme was “Education as a Solution to Global Problems”. The audience was encouraged to answer the following question: ‘How can education help uproot extremism and violence in society?”

“Parents must teach tolerance to their children from a very young age”, a Russian team member Mikhail Uretski voiced his opinion. “Education is a problem of international dimensions. Teachers should travel to other countries and share their experience with their colleagues abroad. This way they will be able to ensure that the children they teach will be capable to create a society free from violence and racial hatred”, shared her views Tanya Ushakova from Ekaterinburg.

The J8 Summit is supported by MTV Russia, the main information partner of the event.

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Russian School Children and Experts Discuss Energy Saving

The Russian J8 team held a consultation seminar “Energy Resources and the Future of Mankind” on July 5. Tatyana Romanova, Associate Professor of the Department of European Studies at the Faculty of International Relations, St Petersburg State University, took part in the seminar as invited expert.

It is impossible to imagine the world today without a reliable energy supply which is a prerequisite of humanity’s successful development. Therefore, energy saving will become a major issue to be discussed at the J8/G8 and was put on the Russian team’s agenda.

Energy consumption increases alongside population growth and economic development in the world. It means that there is a growing need to invest in energy and build an efficient energy saving system. The number of countries which do not have enough energy reserves and which therefore have to import energy is constantly growing. Despite this people use energy inefficiently and wastefully. Energy supply cuts due to natural and man-made catastrophes, accidents and terrorist attacks, as well as the detrimental impact of energy industry on the environment make the energy problem a vital concern.

What should the G8 countries’ governments and people do to save the world from an approaching energy crisis? First of all, work together towards creating favorable conditions for the use of existing energy reserves.

Tatyana Romanova put serious questions to the children which helped them develop recommendations for the G8 leaders: “What is the reason for a scarcity of resources? How can we diminish the impact of natural factors such as lack of or complete absence of resources? How can international cooperation help to solve the lack of resources?”

“Russia must develop new technologies rather than be a mere supplier of resources” (Mikhail Uretski, Kazan)

“All countries must regulate the distribution of resources and implement alternative energy technologies, use all resources, not just oil and gas’ (Ariadna Chernova, Vladivostok)

“Russia must introduce energy consumption levels compulsory for everyone” (Sofia Dzuba, Taganrog)

“The Russian Government must ensure cost efficiency of energy production equipment” (Pavel Golodov, Zelenogradsk)

“It is necessary to ensure exchange of resources” (Sergei Romanovich, Tomsk)

“And first of all technology exchange” (Anton Yurko, Moscow)

The J8 Summit is supported by MTV Russia, the main information partner of the event.

For further information please visit the J8 website www.juniorg8.ru or contact J8 PR Managers Evgenia Gryaznova or Maria Genkevich on 7(812) 702-33-73, mobile +7 901 313 27 78, +7 901 313 27 73 or via email: media@juniorg8.ru, info@juniorg8.ru

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St Petersburg State University Rector Ludmila Verbitskaya: “These children may become leaders of their countries one day”

St Petersburg State University Rector Ludmila Verbitskaya is confident that the Junior 8 Summit will make an important contribution to the well-being of young people around the globe. “I believe that the idea behind this forum is a great one. It is important that youth be involved in such developments. Maybe when these young people grow up they will become leaders in their countries”, says the Rector of St Petersburg State University. “And of course it is wonderful that they have this opportunity to discuss today the issues which will be the focus of discussion at the G8.”

The head of the university stresses great importance the J8 has for all young people. She says that it helps them “orient themselves in an understanding of today’s world.”

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Russian J8 is holding consultations on the issues of power saving and education

On July 5, the Russian J8 Team will have the first day of seminars and consultations with Russian experts. Participants will thoroughly discuss te following topics: “Energy Resources and the Future of Mankind” and “The Education and Values of the Younger Generation”.
Tatiana Romanova, professor of St. Petersburg State University, will give a talk on the reasons that made Russia choose energy sustainability and security as the key issue for the discussion within the G8 Summit. The other topic of the talk will be possible consequences of energy crisis for future generations and the means of preserving the energy balance of our planet.
Nadezhda Golovanova, consulting expert from St. Petersburg State University, will dwell upon the issues of education and present-day values of the younger generation. The topics that Russia offered for the discussion within the G8 Summit are improvement of education quality, mutual recognition of educational achievements on the international level, and adaptation of migrants in receiving countries through specialized educational programs.
As explained by tutors, the seminars’ main task is to give participants a general idea of problems, trends and perspectives and help them elaborate the position of the team on the issues.
The Russian team will devote the evening of the first busy working day to a training “Studying rules of decorum (reception and meeting)”.

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Russian “Junior 8 Summit” Team has started work

The Russian team has gathered together in the J8 Training Centre. The last participants to arrive were Anton Yurko from Moscow and Tatiana Ushakova from Yekaterinburg. Both of them finished school and no longer have the status of pupils. Anton entered the faculty of World Politics of the Moscow State University and now is a university student; while Tatiana is still considering the opportunities of her future career.
“I have not yet decided where to study”, she says, “I would like to acquire fine classical knowledge, that is why I’m hesitating between the Philological faculty and the faculty of Philosophy”.
Since the very first day the team has started active preparations for the forthcoming events. In the evening the team settled on the lawn in front of the Training Centre and had a two-hour English class with professors from St. Petersburg State University. The class was devoted to the discussion of the problem of HIV and AIDS spread.
Valery Kudashov, the team tutor, says: “Our first and most important task is to make up a strong and close-knit team in the several days we have. The Russian team, unlike teams from other countries, includes students from different cities – from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok. At the moment we are holding trainings and organizing games; we are helping participants to get acquainted and make friends. Though I have to say we are seeing no troubles with that so far”.

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Svetlana Khorkina supports the Russian J8 Team

Svetlana Khorkina, Olympic champion, threefold world champion in gymnastics, juror of the “Magnificent Eight” TV project, wishes luck to children who became delegates of the Russian J8 Team and promises to support our team as actively as it is done in sports.

“I believe that children, participants of the J8 Summit, will be able to contribute their fresh interesting ideas to political process. Unlike adults, they can frankly ask questions they are concerned about. I think they will make a noticeable contribution to the work of J8 Summit: our children have team spirit, inventiveness, ability to evaluate the situation soberly and to act so that neither their parents, nor Russia will be ashamed of their decisions”.

It should be noted that, though many participants will be entering higher educational establishments in the near future, they are interested not only in the problems of education set forth for the discussion at the G8 and J8 Summits. Our team also has its own views on other topics that can be hardly called junior: energy sustainability and security, infectious diseases, terrorism and tolerance.

“Though during the J8 Summit I will be far away from Russia, I will support our team. Besides, as a mother, I wish all children a happy and peaceful childhood; and I wish every child would have a family. I wish all the people health and happiness!”

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