The Alaska times headline will soon read “Polar bears forced to learn Russian as US cedes the Arctic to Putin.” One of the little publicized effects of Putin annexing the Arctic for the Russian Federation is the new requirement that polar bears become bilingual – they must learn Russian. This requirement will filter down to Eskimos, Native Alaskans and Canadians in the near future, as ice cities under Moscow’s control emerge.
And in anticipation of the growing Arctic tourism, Russian language programs are being offered in newly built 5 star hotels made of ice, to encourage exotic education travel, not unlike those during Winterfest in Scandinavia and Quebec. At the Stoly-Ice Excelsior, a luxury residence under development, you will be able to enroll in vodka sommelier classes and caviar culinary institutes. Putin sure understands how to turn an energy rich region into a business enterprise and travel destination.
Consider in the first three months of this year the number of international tourists visiting Russia increased by 16 percent compared to the same period last year and reached 7.3 million, according to Rostourism, citing data from state statistics service Rosstat. Not exactly an unbiased source, but still not bad numbers.
My contacts in Moscow have told me Putin is planning on creating, and competing in a Russian version of the Iditarod to the North Pole, with Santa handing out the awards. In anticipation of Putin’s victory, they are already etching his name on it. One presumes he will win anyway, nyet?