Remembering Misha the affable long beared Environmentalist and lovely friend.

The unofficial version:
Misha is one of those old friends I would invite to my "hipster" party.
He was affable and funny, always ready to listen and empathize. At my first Salmon bbq and I introduced him to Sanjay as the Russian outlaw, which drew a big laugh from him. In the brief time that i know him, I've come to really adore his hearty laugh and long beard.
He went on a self imposed exile in the Russian far east for a simple life and a committed fight for the environment and indigenous rights and was unfortunately put into a forced exile by the Russian bureaucracy back to the US where he had to be separated from his family.
The day he left the office for Mongolia, Friday September 5, he came by my office and shyly said Good Bye and that hopefully next time he will get to come with us to China. On second thought, I got up and wrapped my arms around him and gave him a big hug, the third person in my new office/new job whom I have befriended and felt comfortable enough to give a hug to. Unfortunately it was the last time I would ever see Misha. He went for a swim in an island off of Thailand while vacationing with his wife whom he hadn't seen in almost a year and never came back.

Dearest Misha, good bye and I hope you are resting in peace which I am sure you are because of your kindness and open heart.


The official version:
Misha Jones is Pacific Environment's Russia Program Specialist and has lived in Russia since 1986. In addition, he consults on biodiversity conservation and economic development programs and is working with Russian and international groups to promote socially and environmentally responsible mining. He works with Russia's indigenous community and in the last decade has assisted the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON) with its programs throughout Russia. Mr. Jones is an associate editor at the Center for the Protection of Wild Nature "Zov Taigi" and co-director of Staff Ink, an internet information network serving clients worldwide. He is fluent in Russian.