Fun with Maps – The Kamchatka Peninsula

 Fun with Maps – The Kamchatka Peninsula

When the Soviet Union fell in 1991 it was the first time in over 50 years that outsiders were able to visit the topic of this episode of Fun with Maps, Kamchatka.

Kamchatka is a 900-mile-long peninsula roughly the size of California, yet only 400,000 people were allowed to live there, and all had to have special military clearances. The reason for the secrecy was Kamchatka's location so near Japan and the US that Soviets could listen in on communications during the Cold War. 

 Kamchatka is an example of a map having enormous geopolitical implications. Russia may have regrets about ceding the Kuril Islands to Japan, not to mention selling Alaska to the US in 1867.  Had they not, how those events may have influenced history we will never know.  

More Fun with Maps episodes

More Russians in Cleveland

Cleveland Mayor Jackson at Hungarian Revolution of 1956 Ceremony

The Crack in the Berlin Wall began with a hole in a flag in Budapest!

At one time (maybe still) there were more Hungarians in Cleveland than anywhere in the world outside of Budapest.  Many Hungarians came here in 1956 because of the Fight for Freedom against the Soviet Union in Hungary.

 Mistress of Ceremonies Jeanette Grasselli Brown introduced Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson at the program celebrating the 60^th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution and Freedom Fight of 1956. 

The event took place in the Rotunda of Cleveland City Hall and dozens of ‘56ers were in attendance.

Cleveland Hungarians

Possibility of Russian Aggression in Baltics

Ambassador Ginte Damusyte-Damusis was the keynote speaker at the 98th Anniversary of the Lithuanian Declaration of Independence Program in Cleveland.

She was asked about the mood and possible fears in the Baltics about the current Russian policies.
She told how many have now had a taste of democratic life and are concerned about a return to Soviet era control.

http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/lithuanian/lithuanian.htm

Energy Independence in Lithuania

Ambassador Ginte Damusyte-Damusis was the keynote speaker at the 98th Anniversary of the Lithuanian Declaration of Independence Program in Cleveland. She spoke of the improvement since the Soviet Union era specifically in the energy sector.

Lithuania had been dependent on Russian oil and gas but is moving toward energy independence.  This is especially important now as Russia uses energy for political influence.

http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/lithuanian/lithuanian.htm

Keeping Lithuanian alive during Soviet era

Before she worked with the Lithuanian Diplomatic Service, Ginte Damusyte-Damusis headed the Lithuanian Information Center during the Soviet Union times.

The goal was to keep Lithuanian alive internationally and deal with human rights and other issues and tell the world of the mass public support for the Sąjūdis (Movement).

She told of the progress since the reestablishment of independence.

http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/lithuanian/lithuanian.htm