Postcard from Bishkek

On April 7th, 1964, IBM announced a new range of computers – the IBM System 360, although the first models weren’t delivered until the following year.

It was revolutionary in its way.  Up until then, computers had been designed to solve a particular problem, or class of problems.  The System 360, however, was a general purpose system; instead was intended to cover the complete range of applications, large and small, commercial and scientific – hence the title, 360 … it gave 360°, all round, coverage.

It wasn’t a single machine but a family of computers, (with six models), each sharing the same architecture and instruction set; some were small and cheap, whilst others were larger, more expensive systems, and there were a variety of add-on’s, (or peripherals), to meet specific needs.  It gave clients the chance to purchase a cheap system and then upgrade.

They might well have been revolutionary back in the 1960’s but they don’t sound so impressive when compared to today’s computers with operating speeds like 0.0018 to 0.034 MIPS, (millions of instructions per second – today some of the top computers run at 178000 MIPS), and an internal memory of between 8kb and 8Mb (kilobyte and Megabyte respectively – my computer has 3.49 GB or Gigabytes).

Incidentally, some people reckon that today is also the birthday of the internet as it was on April 7th, 1969 – just five years after the System 360 was announced, that the first RFC, (Request For Comments, the official publication of the Internet Engineering Task Force defining internet standards and practices), was published.  There are now over 6000 of them.  Two of the latest, (Nos. 6592 and 6593), were, in fact April Fools’ jokes, but I am not sure how many people would have got the joke – I know that I didn’t, although I did like the bit about the dangers of “Googling the word ‘google’”.

In the field of computing technology advances at an incredible rate, and it often gives me pause for thought.  I was still in Primary school when IBM made its announcement about the System 360, although I had already entered secondary school when the first model was delivered to a client … and was still there when the first RFC was issued.  I still used log tables and a slide rule when taking my Maths exams, and later took another exam using a hand cranked calculating devise based on Leibnitz’s step geared wheel principle.  It was some years before the handheld electronic calculator, (yet alone the pocket calculator), made its appearance.  Although, technically, it wasn’t the manufacturer of the first personal computer, Apple Computers was founded on April 1st, 1976, by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne, (who apparently sold his 10% stake just two weeks later – for just USD2300 … I expect he wishes he had held on to them … it’s now earns more than Microsoft and Google combined – it certainly proved that it wasn’t an April Fools’ Joke).   In the 1980’s I used to watch the faces as the children in my class as it dawned on them that the technology in their digital wristwatches wasn’t available to Neil Armstrong as he walked on the moon in the summer of 1969.

We’ve gone through some pretty major changes in Kyrgyzstan in recent times.  Of course the revolution two years ago, (on April 7th, 2010), was one of the main ones.  After the Tulip Revolution in 2005, March 24th, was declared a holiday to commemorate the event, but, (although it was suggested, this particular anniversary was never declared a holiday – just a Memorial Day.  Several events are planned for today, such as the official unveiling and dedication of the memorial outside the White House and the planting of trees in several Kyrgyz cities.  As it happens, the parliament has now passed a resolution cancelling the holiday on March 24th.

In the Western tradition, yesterday was Good Friday, and tomorrow is Easter Sunday.  According to the Orthodox tradition, however, Easter isn’t celebrated here until next Friday.  Both the previous revolutions took place at Easter, (in 2005 the revolution occurred just before Easter and in 2010 just after), so you can imagine that when we heard there was to be large protest rally held by the opposition in Djalal Abad, (with a suggestion that protestors might then head toward Bishkek on the 10th), people have begun to feel a little nervous.  However, apart from a certain amount of speculation about the possibility of a “third revolution” and that there are “plots” to cause further disruption, with “militants” being sent to Kyrgyzstan to destabilize the situation,(even if, as one commentator puts it: “Thus far, the new leadership has failed to live up to popular expectations”),  there doesn’t seem to be much evidence of the sort of government unpopularity and social disquiet that was evident on the previous occasions, and so it seems as if it merely a case of “coincidence”.  Indeed, there have been extensive discussions between the government and leaders of the opposition, one of whom has sent a signal that he will not “allow” anyone to hold another revolution or coup in Kyrgyzstan.

Talking of protest meetings and rallies, it has been suggested that there be a moratorium on future demonstrations.  I am not sure how that will go down.  Although many will welcome the suggestion, I am not sure that the experience of other countries, (including the UK) in “reading the riot act” offers much hope of relief.

The transit base at Manas is still in the news.  President Atambaev has once again reiterated, in a meeting with the American Assistant Secretary of State), that the base will close in 2014.  Meanwhile, a protest meeting was held outside the parliament, complete with “Yankee go home” signs, calling for compensation, (three million dollars), for ecological damage which they say can be attributed to the operations from the base.  In what was, perhaps, the strangest twist in this long running saga, it was revealed during the week that Bishkek has asked the US to leave some drones, (remote controlled pilotless aircraft), after the withdrawal from Afghanistan, (and Manas).  Apparently, the American side reported that “Washington is ready to consider the request”.  The implications of reports that the possible continuation of the use of Manas airport in Bishkek as a transit center for NATO after 2014 “was also discussed” were not lost on the international media. I have seen more than one report that suggests commentators feel that there may yet be some “wriggle room” left to allow some compromise agreement to be reached.  That won’t go down too well with those who are adamant that the base should go, even before the 2014 deadline, even if the Americans assure us that the base will not be used for “military operations”, (i.e. an attack on Iran).

In the meantime, at one moment the Russians seem to be eager to rebuild fences … with Sergei Lavrov, the Foreign Minister , saying how Russia positively values the relationship with Bishkek and several bilateral agreement s signed during his visit.  He noted that bilateral trade is growing, but hasn’t yet reached the level of pre revolution days.   Also, President elect Vladimir Putin telling President Atambaev in a short letter thanking him for his congratulations on his election victory that he is sure that he is ready to actively work together on mutual bilateral cooperation and that the “Russian Kyrgyz Strategic Partnership will be further strengthened”. On the other hand, they are playing hardball … insisting on the renegotiation some earlier bilateral agreements  – on the Dastan torpedo plant and the construction of the Karambata Hydro electric plant – and threatening to re-impose duty on fuel exports to Kyrgyzstan.  They did this in 2010 which helped to lead to the unrest which resulted in the downfall of Kurmanbek Bakiev.

The main news of the week, however, seems to have been the international visitors that we have had … from the US, (the Assistant Secretary of State and CENTCOM Commander); from Russia, (Sergei Lavrov, the Foreign Minister), and from the President of Mongolia.  President Elbegdorj has met with Almazbek Atambaeva, and other officials, and they have discussed a wide range of issues such as the development of bilateral links, (five agreements were signed), including establishing an air link between Bishkek and Ulan Bator, (the proposed route is Istanbul-Bishkek-Ulan Bator), cooperation in mining, industry, (particularly meat processing and export), and agriculture, (including the purchase of Cashmere Goats from Mongolia and the Mongolians are interested in Kyrgyz sheep).  A three day Kyrgyz-Mongolian business forum is being held.  Invitations have been issued for future official Presidential and Parliamentary visits to Mongolia.  The Mongolian delegation also paid a visit to Lake Issyk Kul – Kyrgyzstan’s main tourist spot, but as it’s not exactly the tourist season, they will not be able to see all that the region has to offer.

(Oh, and for the record, President Atambaev has left for an official visit to Azerbaijan.)

 

Since 1950, April 7th has also been World Health Day and there are a few events going on to commemorate the day.  This year the theme for the day is Ageing and continuing good health – something with which I can easily identify.  For Kyrgyzstan as a whole, however, the global tendency for an aging population is not so relevant.  Although life expectancy may well be increasing as in other countries, (meaning that more people live longer – there are apparently almost 300000 people over the age of 65, over 50000 over 80 and just over 300 who are over 100), the birth rate seems to be fairly stable and the population shows a steady rate of increase of about 1.2% a year.

I don’t know whether it is connected with World Health Day, but it has been reported that, (although the raw figures may be relatively small), there has been a reduction of registered cases of several infectious diseases: Hepatitis B, C and non specific; Chicken Pox; Whooping Cough; Brucelosis; Venereal Diseases, Syphilis and Gonorrhea; Mononucleosis and Influenza.

One of the activities to mark the event is a “flashmob” but as it has been announced in the mass media well ahead of time, I am not sure that it really qualifies for that title.

The young people that dash off to take part in the flashmob may need to take care … the state of the roads has come under considerable attention with a campaign to highlight the number of pot holes – even in roads that were repaired just a year ago(!).  Although unconnected to this, there has also been articles about the repairs to the roof (and floor) of Bishkek’s main indoor swimming pools – Delphin (or Dolphin)  - a which has also been recently repaired but is apparently still not fit for use and so remains closed to the public.   (Despite this lack of a base to train, however, the local swimming team has managed to win medals in an international competition.)

 

It seems as if, at long last, there is progress on the question of relaxing the visa regime … the bill approving this has passed its first reading in the parliament … but not without some controversy.  Apparently one of the deputies protested that some of the details had changed and so voting could not take place … but was silenced by the speaker.

Meanwhile, we’ve had other good news in that some more border posts are likely to be opened for cross border traffic.  As yet, I am not sure if this will help us, in that they may only be for local traffic, (i.e. for citizens of the two bordering states), and not for people from “further abroad”.  Even so, it is a welcome move.

 

During the week we’ve had the results of another international survey.  This time Kyrgyzstan didn’t come in the top 5, (as I mentioned that we did last week when it comes to the percentage of GDP spent on military expenditure); this time Kyrgyzstan took 115th place out of the 142 countries surveyed.  The topic on this occasion was Information and Communication Technology, (ICT), development.  The report was prepared for the World Economic Forum and the survey has been conducted annually since 2002.  Sweden came out top of the rankings for the third year running, Singapore in second place and Finland in third.  The US was in  8th place and the United Kingdom in 10th.  I haven’t seen the full report, so I don’t know the criteria that was used, but I was surprised by Kyrgyzstan’s relatively low placing – especially when compared to Kazakhstan which occupied the 55th place – Russia being just slightly behind in 56th.  It may because I am based in the capital, Bishkek, but my impression is that a lot of people are very computer savvy – especially when it comes to internet use.  When it comes to other reports, a large proportion of people, (even out in rural regions), use their mobile phones for internet access.  There are reports about Bishkek’s trolleybuses introducing wi-fi internet access; when I was in a meeting on Thursday, one of the participants was busy tweeting details of the discussion as we were talking; and when I had a meeting with another person on Friday, he was using his phone to check the websites that were mentioned as we were talking.  (Incidentally – he also posted a photo of two of the cats, (Tom and Vasya), sleeping as we were talking – and in three hours it got viewed 63 times).

Finally – and absolutely nothing to do with Kyrgyzstan – for any teachers of ICT who get to see this … I wish that this page had been available to me as a resource when I was in the classroom …

And, FINALLY, finally – anyone looking for a job? : no, not with us … but I think we can guarantee an interesting time.

 

Postcard from Bishkek: the weekly postcard that I send out as an email also gets posted on the website ianbek.kg each week – and there are other postcards which don’t get sent out.  This week, for example, there were postcards about:

• An ABC of Bishkek – a quick tour around some of the sights of Bishkek … but I had trouble with some of the letters – especially ‘X’ … any suggestions, anyone?
• Thirty is a dangerous Age – reflections on the events in the South Atlantic thirty years ago
• Camera Shy – about attitudes to photographs
• Scouting – concerning the scout movement here in Kyrgyzstan … in response to a tweet, expressing surprise that we had one
• KGNU – about the “monster” Kyrgyz National State University, one of the major universities here in Bishkek
• Learning lessons from a Presidential visit – with some thoughts arising out of the visit of the President of Mongolia to Kyrgyzstan

For the record, we’ve also put some new panoramas onto www.see.kg … click the “latest” to see the last two which were taken earlier this week in Attaturk park here in Bishkek … to see some of the other more recent ones you need to click on Bishkek and scroll down to the bottom of the list.

It is now possible to follow me on Facebook, (where I have specific pages for Celestial Mountains and ianbek … and also links.kg and Kyrgyz Diary), and on twitter, (@Bishkekpostcard and @celestialMTC ).

 

If you decide that you don’t want to receive these weekly postcards in your email anymore, please drop me a line to  and I will take you off the distribution list.  Alternatively, if you know someone who might be interested in being added to the mailing list, then get them to drop me a line and I’ll be happy to do so.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DM_IBM_S360.jpg

Tags: Expat, Life_in_Kyrgyzstan, Weekly_Postcards