Changes

=== Russia ===

=== Russia ===

Russia and other nations in the Soviet Union regained their independence when the Union broke up.   

Russia and other nations in the Soviet Union regained their independence when the Union broke up.  One Russian predicts that the United States will also break up in a similar way.   

Mikhail Gorbachev rose to power in the Soviet Union and in 1985 he promoted a new policy called “glasnost” or openness.  This ended decades of censorship by the communist dictators, and free speech began to work wonders.  Books could be published and churches could preach the Gospel.  He released some political prisoners.  Faced with a failing economy, Gorbachev adopted “perestroika”, which was a restructuring of the Soviet economy.  He permitted some ownership of private property, such as small businesses, farms and factories.

Mikhail Gorbachev rose to power in the Soviet Union and in 1985 he promoted a new policy called “glasnost” or openness.  This ended decades of censorship by the communist dictators, and free speech began to work wonders.  Books could be published and churches could preach the Gospel.  He released some political prisoners.  Faced with a failing economy, Gorbachev adopted “perestroika”, which was a restructuring of the Soviet economy.  He permitted some ownership of private property, such as small businesses, farms and factories.