[vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Federalnaya Gazeta № 6 (142), June 2008
One of the key tasks of state economy is building of national innovation system. As Dmitry Medvedev noted at the forum “Russia. Growth Management” forum (Krasnoyarsk, 2008) “We must increase the support for fundamental science, at the same time improving the organization of this science. We should implement mega-projects in the breakthrough areas of technology development, concentrating the resources, personnel, attention of the state on them, closely cooperating in this direction with the business, so as not to miss the chances that we are given today and not to be left behind of the civilization”.
Knowledge for the masses. Knowledge for the people
In this regard we want to remember the time when our country, which barely rose from the ruins of war, was the first to launch an artificial satellite in 1958, which caused a shock in the United States and as a result increased American spending in the field of knowledge. The entire West took up the study of Soviet exemplary higher education.
Millions of Soviet citizens had a membership card of the All-Union Society “Znanie” and were proud of it. Two hundred million inhabitants of our vast country in cities, villages and villages, in shops and on construction sites had the opportunity to join the Knowledge. The motto: “Knowledge for the masses! – was not a slogan, but a real practice. World history knows no other example of such a large-scale program of familiarizing millions of people with scientific knowledge. Achievements of science were used to hide glaring shortcomings in public administration: so impressive were the successes in the development of nuclear energy, aviation, astronautics.
Society “Znanie” quickly became a powerful factor in the formation of public ideals and values in the USSR. It became prestigious to be an engineer, to be engaged in research work. Young people were striving to attend technical universities. On the screens was born the image of an intellectual worker. “Znanie” continued to increase its activities, the idols of society moved from the factory shops to scientific laboratories…
On January 25 this year in Moscow was held a reception in honor of the 60th anniversary of the All-Union Znaiye Society. In the halls of Sokolniki Falconry in Sokolniki gathered members of Znanie from all corners of the former Soviet Union. Thanks to the efforts of Efim Malitikov, President of the International Association (MA) Znanie, a documentary film reflecting the brightest moments of life of the Society was prepared and shown, and former leaders, members of the Society were awarded with Grand Gold Medals and valuable gifts.
On this festive evening we were lucky to plunge into the atmosphere of the distant “Znanie” years, bringing back memories of the past. Today, thanks to the tremendous work of E. Malitikov, careful preservation and multiplication of the best educational traditions established by the Knowledge Society, the rich experience of its predecessor, the International Association “Knowledge” is an active participant in developing the global agenda and UN programs in the XXI century.
Yefim Malitikov has been active for more than a decade in the practical introduction of modern information and communication technologies (ICTs) into the system of distance education. He is the founder of the World University of Distance Education (WUDE), which was established to disseminate knowledge through the latest practical achievements of Russian and world space technology.
As Hanifa Mezoui, Head of the NGO Section of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, notes: “AI Znanie’s work in promoting intellectual and humanitarian activities, establishing contacts between scientists and specialists of different countries, exchanging information, disseminating scientific, technical and humanitarian knowledge, is fully in line with the goals of the UN.”
In the words of Carlos Magarinos, UNIDO Director General: “Thanks to the energetic leadership of E. Malitikov, “Znanie” not only obtained consultative status in UNIDO, but also had a significant impact on the work of our organization, consisting in the development and implementation of the program of cooperation with non-governmental organizations”…
Russia has always been famous for its Lomonosovs, had great potential for development, and was proud of its science cities. Today there are all the prerequisites for the rise of fundamental science, but state support is needed in its priority areas.
Water from bottles, clean air from balloons…
Yefim Malitikov, a recognized authority in the field of satellite remote education, full member of many Russian and world academies, Deputy Director General of the International Biographical Center (Cambridge, UK) and Director General of the International Biographical Institute (USA), Leonardo da Vinci award winner “For inspiring achievements” to the question “FG”: “What, in your opinion, is the stability of the state?”, replied:
– “Restoring ethics, respect for one’s own state and trust in government is the foundation of state stability. Trust in government is easy to lose, but difficult to regain.
If society is ethically recovered, and religious, national, and other relations are settled, that society will surely believe and trust in its own state.
Young people today are eagerly learning foreign languages in order to communicate with each other across the globe–through the Internet, on a plane, by telephone, etc. This is a great opportunity to make local, provincial-minded people into people of the World, which is already small even for the present generation…
There will come a time when ethically healthy communities will fight together for sustainable development and the preservation of universal planetary resources, as opposed to today’s world in which the most powerful seek to take over the resources of the rest.
Remember, did we consume bottled mineral water in such quantities 20 years ago? We were drinking tap water. Tomorrow, in the same 20 years, we will consume clean air from bottled water so as not to poison our lungs…
Survival and sustainable development of mankind on Earth is only possible with the ethical recovery of the entire world community”.
Zulfiya BONOYEVA[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row]
