Transcript Unit 5 – Chapter 16

Unit 7
Russia Today
I. Section I
Living in Russia
A. Changing Economies

The Soviet Command Economy

Government owned everything!


Banks, factories, mines, transportation, farms
Soviet government emphasized heavy industry so they could become a
world super power

This caused little production of consumer goods

This made it very difficult for the citizens to have the basic things they needed to
survive!

People resorted to purchasing things on the black market – illegal trade system –
very high prices

Market Economy



Privatization



Gorbachev tried to move towards a new economy
Privately owned businesses
This occurred more after the fall of the Soviet Union
Unfortunately, many Russians did not reinvest their money in Russia, they
chose to do so in other countries
Transition Continues
Moscow Growth
B. Agriculture & Industry

Agriculture

Kolkhozes vs. Sovkhozes – know the difference!

Industry




#1 – Petroleum
extraction & processing
Crude Oil
Iron Ore, Manganese,
Nickel
Manufacturing



Steel
Heavy Machinery
Ag Equipment
Volga Coupe
Belarus Tractor
C. Transportation & Communications


Transporting Goods
 Roads aren’t good – especially in Siberia
 Depend mostly on railroads & waterways for transportation
Transporting People
 Railroads are most common
 Many people do not own cars


Use public transportation
Use airlines

Very expensive

Transporting Energy

Pipelines


Natural Gas & Oil
Mass Communications
 Soviet Union – controlled all of this!
 Now – private ownership has grown
D. Global Interdependence


Trade
 Has developed partnerships
with other countries for
trade
 Became a member of
APEC (Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation) in
1998
International Relations
 Growing
 Poorly funded military
 Getting loans from other
countries
II. Section II
People & Their Environment
Moscow
A. Managing Resources


Using natural resources to help strengthen
their economy
Has inherited a legacy of horrible
environmental problems

During Soviet rule, the government only cared
about power and not damage they were causing
to the land


Russia must now use their natural resources without
causing similar damage
Must also repair the damage already done
B. Pollution

Water Quality

One of the world’s largest supplies of freshwater

Much of it is very polluted



Volga River
Lake Baikal – oldest & deepest lake in the world
 Polluted by neighboring paper factory
Soil & Air Quality


Soil poisoned with waste and pesticides
During the 1990s, experts believe that only 15%
of Russia’s urban population had acceptable air
quality
B. Pollution (cont)

Nuclear Wastes

Between 1949-1987, the Soviet Union set off more than 600 nuclear
explosions & stockpiled nuclear weapons


The whole world is concerned with the fate of this issue
Nuclear wastes are the by-products of nuclear power


Can remain radioactive for thousands of years (cause cancer – for example)
Chernobyl


During the Cold War, nuclear power generated much of the power in the
Soviet Union
In 1986, a fire in a nuclear reactor in the town of Chernobyl (Ukraine)
released several tons of radioactive particles into the environment



Over 8,000 people have died so far
Millions more are continuing to suffer
In Russia alone, over 19,300 sq. miles contaminated


Over 30 million people used to live there!
After Chernobyl, there has been much international pressure to close these
type of plants
B. Pollution (cont)
Chernobyl plant explosion site
Relations with the US

How has our
relationship changed
since the Cold War
ended?

How has Putin led his
country?

”Dasvidania”

Pronounced:
Da-svi-da-niya

Good-Bye