Don't work, have sex: Russian governor

ULYANOVSK: The governor of a central Russian province urges couples to skip work and make love instead to help boost Russia’s low birth-rate. And if a woman gives birth in exactly nine months time — on Russia’s national day on June 12 —  she will qualify for a prize, perhaps even winning a new home.   

Regional governor Sergei Morozov told employers to contribute to a Kremlin campaign to boost the birth rate by giving couples off to have sex. Russia’s population is shrinking by about 7,00,000 people a year as births fail to outpace a high death rate boosted by AIDS, alcoholism and suicide.   

This year a record 78 babies were born on June 12 at the main hospital in Ulyanovsk, beating the 2006 total of 26 babies.

At the town’s central post office, a sign urges locals to write love letters for free to anywhere in Russia, with postage pre-paid.