Movement of The First

Some Movement’s Closing Ceremony participants.

As the photo shows, the Movement of The First is a youth organization at the closing ceremony of its second Congress which took place at Moscow’s VDNKh ‘s Russia exhibit as have so many other events over the last two months. Putin spoke at the event’s closing ceremony; but aside from the following paragraph citing the attendance and some other figures, what I encourage readers to do is click this link to the embedded 8 minute video and watch and listen if you want to hear Putin’s few words followed by what appears to be a very impromptu/spontaneous singing of Russia’s national anthem. However, what IMO is most impressive is the energy of the youth and the great satisfaction Putin gained from it all. Here’re Putin’s few words:

I cordially greet all the participants of the congress of the Movement of the First, all of them Guests. This is a huge detachment, 3,000 people came to Moscow. And in total, in the "Movement" In a short period of time, there were already 4.7 million people, or almost five million people. In the events, that you organize and conduct, seven million people participated. It's a huge army.

According to the Movement’s Wikipedia entry:

On 19 May 2022, on the day of the 100th anniversary of the All-Union Pioneer Organization, a project was submitted to the State Duma on the creation of an all-Russian movement «Russian Movement of Children and Youth "Big Change"» On 7 June 2022, the State Duma adopted it. On 14 July Putin signed the Federal Law “On the Russian Movement of Children and Youth”. On 20 December 2022, at the organizational meeting at the Artek secondary school, the very first cell of the RDDM "Movement of the First" appeared.

Unlike the Young Pioneers, the Movement isn’t compulsory and seems to be open to the world, not just Russia given it has two distinctive websites, Russian and English, that have slightly different content on their main pages. Russian:

This is an opportunity to become the best version of yourself, a worthy heir to the great deeds of the discoverers, founders and pioneers, who are distinguished by the desire to win in all endeavors and the unwillingness to rest on their laurels. Being a member of the Movement is the choice of the strong and ready to write their name in the history of Russia.

The "Movement of the First" is hundreds of unique programs for the upbringing and formation of an individual, an active and responsible youth community, for which respect for the traditions and cultures of the peoples of Russia, historical continuity and involvement with the fate of the country, in which the main value was, is and will be the family, are important.

The English page includes the above and adds the following:

GOALS OF THE MOVEMENT

THE MAIN GOALS OF THE MOVEMENT OF THE FIRST ARE:

Facilitating the implementation of state policy in favour of children and youth

Promoting the education of children, their vocational guidance and organising leisure activities for children and youth

Creating equal opportunities for the comprehensive development and self-fulfillment of children and youth

Preparing children and youth for a full-fledged life in society, including shaping their world views on the basis of traditional Russian spiritual and moral values, the traditions of the peoples of the Russian Federation and the achievements of Russian and world culture, as well as developing in them socially significant and creative activity, high moral qualities, love and respect for the Homeland, diligence, legal culture, respect for the environment, and personal responsibility for one’s own fate and the fate of the Homeland to the present and future generations.

The Russian appears to be more focused on the kids while the English seems aimed more at adults. The Russian site has a far more interesting recording of how the Movement came about. Although it’s officially recorded that it was proposed to Putin by Diana Krasovskaya “to create a movement uniting the children of Russia,” the way it’s organized tells me it was Putin’s brainchild. Wikipedia again:

The organization is under the personal supervision of the President of Russia, who directly controls all three permanent governing bodies: the supervisory board, the coordinating board and the board.^[He appoints the chairman of the board and the deputy of the supervisory board, and also heads the supervisory board. The supervisory board chairs the Coordinating Board and appoints the chairmen of the regional boards.

The supervisory board of the movement is headed by the President of the country Vladimir Putin, the chairman of the movement is Grigory Gurov. Those who have the status of foreign agents or persons not admitted to teaching activities cannot organize the education of members of the organization.

Clearly, Russia has learned the necessity of protecting its youth organizations from outside interference as they are, IMO, clearly formed to counter Cancel Culture and the illiberal “values” that go with it. I highly suggest visiting the English site to learn about the Movement’s values and what it promotes. IMO, the whole world could benefit if this became a universal organization, but I’m sure the West will find some way to denigrate its aims. I recall my youth (1960s) in Cub and Boy Scouts and see very little difference. We’ll discover soon enough if this organization or those like it were mentioned in the Carlson/Putin interview.

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