VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
On a platform that also serves as a giant scale, a group of 100 overweight young men and women waited to meet the prime minister. The booth was called “Vladimir Putin and Healthy Lifestyle.” Nikita Italiantsev told the prime minister that he has lost 37 kg just in one year, dropping down to 113 kg. Vladimir Putin noted that it takes willpower to achieve such success. Then he was invited to step on the scale with them. The group weighed in at 6.3 tonnes. “We are not all that thin,” said the prime minister with a smile. In response, the project’s participants promised the prime minister that together they would lose a tonne within a year. “And I promise to lose half a kilo,” said Vladimir Putin.
At the other end of the camp, Alexander Shumsky presented his project to the prime minister. He proposed allowing drivers to turn right on red light if it does not interrupt the flow of traffic. He suggested attaching a plastic green arrow to each traffic light to indicate this. Alexander believes that the project will be inexpensive, save petrol, and reduce traffic jams by 15%. According to the young man, right-on-red is a common rule in the USA, Canada and Germany, among other countries. Vladimir Putin immediately contacted deputy head of the Ministry of the Interior, Victor Kirianov, to share the young innovator’s proposal. “I have been told that Germany is already implementing this policy. Check into it, please”, said the prime minister.
While touring the camp, Vladimir Putin approached a rock-climbing wall. A climber secured by a rope was climbing the wall. The prime minister watched the climber and then climbed half way up without any support.
Another booth featured a tandem bicycle. The presenter noted that riding a tandem bike is not easy because it requires synchronisation and teamwork. “President Medvedev and I will come back here and give it a try,” said Vladimir Putin.
Activists representing various movements showed the prime minister videos in which they spoke about their activities. Stopkham project leader Dmitry Chugunov described the efforts his organisation makes to combat road rage. The prime minister supported their initiative and urged the group to address even the smallest violations in everyday life. “If we don’t ignore these violations, our discipline and our safety will improve. And that is critically important,” said Vladimir Putin.
Another short video presented by Ecology project leader Tikhon Chumakov spoke about Yuri Yarikin, head of Bulatnikovskoe village in the Moscow Region. Mr Yarikin agreed to clean up improperly disposed garbage only after activists dumped it at his office door. “Well done,” the prime minister said, with a hint of irony.
Vladimir Putin also spoke to another group of activists that want expiration dates stamped on all products more distinctly. Evgenia Smorchkova noted that “on each cigarette pack there is a warning that smoking kills. Likewise 10% of the packaging for products should be used to warn about expiration date.”
“That should not be difficult,” said the prime minister. “Let’s draft a proposal and I will ask Mr Zubkov to consider it.”
The prime minister also met representatives of a bodybuilding and powerlifting club. Club members demonstrated their strength by squatting 300 kg and rolling up two frying pans with their bare hands, which they then gave to the prime minister as a gift.
Another project leader, Dmitry Daniliev, proposed a new way of installing water and electricity meters.
