VI International Festival of Social Technologies in Defense of Family Values "Pro- Life 2015"

7-9 July , 2015  Moscow     a group of scientists from  the  Association of  Orthodox Scholars  (AOS) participated in the VI International Festival of Social Technologies in Defense of  Family Values ​​"Pro- Life 2015". It is the largest annual international forum of the Russian-speaking social movement in defense of  life, dedicated to the celebration Day of  Family, Love and Fidelity. Objectives of the Festival: to attract wide public attention to the need, to implement social and cultural policies, to support the institution of the family, overcoming the demographic crisis by increasing the number of large families, assistance to pregnant women, protection of children before birth, the idea of  ​​legal prohibition of  abortion.

"Traditional family values have been succinctly formulated by the commandments of the Old Testament. They have been experienced throughout the history of mankind and recognized by all religions and even included in an atheistic moral code of the builders of communism. Our mission is - to remind that the main thing in the life of every man is his family, his children; -to protect the value of  human life from the moment of conception;-to  combine all those for whom the problem is urgent; - to create a huge range of  like-minded people around the world ", - says Sergei Chesnokov, President of ANO" International Festival of Social Technologies in defense of family values "Pro- life".

Festival events were preceded by the International Symposium "Fundamental concepts of modern science about the beginning of  human life". Scientists from Canada, France, Israel, Mexico, Poland, Serbia, the United States  participated along with Russian scientists. The resolution of the symposium said that "participants of the symposium supports all the initiatives aimed at restriction and prohibition of  all forms of prenatal infanticide. In particular, approve the proposal of  the Most Holy Patriarch of  Moscow and All Russia Kirill to exclude abortion from the compulsory healthcare  insurance system, as a measure aimed at reduction of  abortion number  in Russia, and a step on the way to full legislative  protection of  the human  life in the period from conception to birth " .

Of  particular interest was the plenary report of  Gregory Brekhman,  Ph.D, Head of  Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Medicine Department (Integrative  Research  Institute ,Israel) on "The emotional life of a prenatal child." see video report link viperson.ru›articles…festival…tehnologiy…zaschitu….

There was also a stormy debate about the report of Jennifer Kimball, director of  Culture of Life Institute (US) on "International practice of prenatal adoption:  legislative and ethical challenges."

About 400 participants from 118 municipalities of 12 countries, including 43 Russia’s  regions came to Moscow.

The Association of  Orthodox scholars was represented by a group of over 10 people from  Russia’s  branches (Voronezh, Moscow, the city of  Murom) and a branch in Serbia. Co-Chairman of  AOS Ph.D., professor VSU  I.I. Kosinova after the report on the structure and work of the Association discussed the cooperative activities of AOS  and ANO "International Festival of Social Technologies in defense of family values" Pro- life ". Presentations were made by Ilicheva I.M., Ph.D. "The spiritual development of a  child in utero" (Moscow) and  Gabbasova N.V., associate professor in medicine "Preservation of the reproductive health of young people in today's world" (Voronezh). Firstova E.V., associate professor in pedagogics inspired  recording  a series of interviews of scientists from different countries for the program "Science and Faith" of cultural and educational channel " Blagovestye (gospel)" . The  members of AOS  from Serbia showed a video with the results of the project "Say NO to abortions!", held in Belgrade. This project took 3rd place in the contest  of  the festival "Pro- life". In their  thank-you speech at the awarding ceremony they expressed confidence that  "Great Russia and Serbia are sure to win  "Pro- life" fight and achieve a ban of  abortions at the legislative level," as that happened in Poland, for example.

Members of the AOS were awarded in two other categories: SCIENCE - Belyaeva E.V. "Anthropological value of the human embryo: a view of the Church and the State"; MEDIA - Information-Analytical channel "Blagovestye (gospel)" for its contribution to the information campaign of the Festival and Symposium 2015.

It is encouraging that a number of  participants have applied for membership in the Association of  Orthodox Scholars. 

In the photo you can see  the most interesting moments of the festival, including exhibitions and folklore performances.