Russians get day off to procreate, win prizes

[miditek]

Russians get day off to procreate, win prizes

This was too much. Now when I die, I can finally say with some certainty that I've seen it all!

www.denverpost.com/ci_6624865

By The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 08/15/2007 12:42:25 AM MDT

Moscow - A Russian region of Ulyanovsk has found a novel way to fight the nation's birth-rate crisis: It has declared Sept. 12 the Day of Conception and for the third year running is giving couples time off from work to procreate.

The hope is for a brood of babies exactly nine months later on Russia's national day. Couples who "give birth to a patriot" during the June 12 festivities win money, cars, refrigerators and other prizes.

Ulyanovsk, about 550 miles east of Moscow, has held similar contests since 2005. Since then, the number of competitors, and the number of babies born to them, has been on the rise.

Russia, with one-seventh of Earth's land surface, has just 141.4 million citizens, making it one of the most sparsely settled countries in the world. With a low birth rate and a high death rate, the population has been shrinking since the early 1990s.

In his state-of-the-nation address last year, President Vladimir Putin called the demographic crisis the most acute problem facing Russia and announced a broad effort to boost Russia's birth rate, including cash incentives to families that have more than one child.

Ulyanovsk Gov. Sergei Morozov has added an element of fun to the national campaign.

The 2007 grand prize went to Irina and Andrei Kartuzov, who received a UAZ-Patriot, a sport utility vehicle. Other contestants won video cameras, TVs, refrigerators and washing machines.

[Stealth]

I'm on the phone, but I will take no responsibility after I return!!

[NeonVomit]

Hey, falling birthrates need to be combatted *somehow*

[miditek]

I'm on the phone, but I will take no responsibility after I return!!

In the U.S., the authorities would be looking for a monthly child support check, but in Russia, it looks like you might stand to gain a few rubles!

[browneyedgirl]

Oh, a live version of The Price is Right, but more fun!
Well, I guess it would bring couples closer together, and "Ivan" could win a new Westinghouse to store his vodka supply!

Where does a couple have to go to sign up?

[NeonVomit]

Such practises are common in countries with low birthrates, like Japan and Scandinavian countries. They have a noticable boost on numbers.

[browneyedgirl]

Do the participates get the prize when the wife finds out she is pregnant, or after the baby is born?
LOL! I just pictured in my mind a frazzled father-to-be pacing the maternity ward waiting room thinking,"Where the Hell am I going to put that 60-inch projection TV in our 12'X12' studio apartment?

[stratoplayer]

I`d guess only the babies born on June 12 get prizes..

[browneyedgirl]

This is sorta embarrassing but babies usually do not make their appearance EXACTLY 9 months after conception. The norm is 265-272 days after the deed. So, these babies would more accurately arrive about June 5th, give or take a day or two. Unless its a first baby--many times first babies are overdue, so there may be a few of the infants born on June 12.
So, in actuality, the Russian treasury may not lose much!

[black death]

Haha...this is like competing whose baby is born first in the year...the first child on January 1 ...the winner is usually someone who was absolutely NOT interested in this "game"

[Rebel]

"Son, let me tell you something, we never really wanted you, just the T.V."
---
"In other news, Russian orphans are a new fad it seems, Orphanages are overflowed with a rush of mid-june birthday born babies.
---
"I'm going into labor!"
"It's noon June 11th honey! Just hold out 12 more hours!!!"
---
(June 12th)
(At hospital waiting room)"I'm going into labor!"
"Well mam, the wait for birthing babies is about 5 hours, if you'll take this number here and step into our labor waiting room."