he Russians are acknowledged masters of polar navigation and have the largest and most comprehensive fleet of icebreakers in the world. 'Big Red Ship Rides' describes two voyages on these ships - to the Arctic, the geographic North Pole, aboard the nuclear powered Yamal, and to the Antarctic aboard a more conventional diesel icebreaker, the Akademik Fedorov. Russia was the first nation to reach the North Pole by ship in 1977 when Captain Yuri Kuchiev made a voyage that was thought to be impossible. Following his achievement with the Arktika he was subsequently awarded the accolade "hero of socialist labour".
or most people the word Vietnam conjures up the image of a war that was now a very long time ago. It is an image that the Vietnamese themselves resent. They have a very rich and unique culture that goes far beyond a painful period of history. Vietnamese Britain set out to look at at the lives of the Vietnamese community in the UK and to challenge common perceptions. Many were the original refugee "boat people" but through their children what soon became apparent was a community adapting and succeeding in a new life. The project was supported by the An Viet Foundation in Dalston, London, where the work was finally exhibited.
