75th anniversary of Klooga massacre
(ERR)
“Klooga was a sub-camp of Vaivara concentration camp complex, established in Estonia in 1943 by occupying Nazi German forces, a force labor camp where inmates, predominantly Jews from the Vilna (Vilnius) and Kovno (Kaunas) ghettos in Lithuania and also from locations further afield in Europe, were sent. Ahead of advancing Red Army troops, SS personnel from the 20th Waffen SS Division, a unit made up of Estonian conscripts, massacred around 2,000 inmates in a single day, during the course of the evacuation of the camp during Sept. 19-22 1944.”
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Klooga photos
(Holocaust Research Project)
Estonia, Israel Mark 1944 Massacre
(Hamodia)
“Michael Tal, curator with the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial museum, joined Estonian officials at a ceremony Thursday on the site of the Klooga forced labor camp in northern Estonia.”
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Friday
20. September
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Russian ministry: We do not accept the concept of 'Soviet occupation’
(ERR)
"We would like to emphasize once again that the Russian position remains unchanged," (spokesperson Maria) Zakharova said as reported by news agency RIA Novosti. "We do not accept the concept of 'Soviet occupation,' which is how the liberation of European peoples from fascist enslavement is being presented. Russia therefore likewise rejects all claims for damages against it as artificial and lacking legal grounds.”
20. September 1939:
"BALTIC GRAB SEEN" | "OCCUPATION HINTED"
 |
| New York Times: 20. September 1939 |
European Parliament condemns Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
(Baltic Times)
“The resolution calls on the European Commission to decisively counteract “efforts by the current Russian leadership to distort historical facts and whitewash crimes committed by the Soviet totalitarian regime.” It adds that such attempts are “a dangerous component of the information war waged against democratic Europe that aims to divide Europe.”
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Estonian coastal dune landscapes are disappearing due to climate change
(Phys Org.)
“The most dynamic, fragile, and attractive part of the coastal zone is characterised by aeolian coastal dune landscapes, which extend over a 200 km² area in Estonia. Their formation is mostly determined by climate, sediments, and vegetation, which affect the movement of sand and the formation of dunes.”
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“The author of the dissertation focused her investigation on three regions of Western Estonia: Tahkuna peninsula on Hiiumaa, the Keibu Bay area, and Ruhnu Island.”
✔︎ Doctoral dissertation: “Development of aeolian coastal dune landscapes in changing climate and under human influence in Estonia.”
by Agnes Anderson
The Climate Hunters
Tracking down methane in the
Arctic Circle in northern Sweden
(Reuters)
“The researchers, all in their 20s, pursue an invisible threat to the planet: methane. Although not as famous as another global-warming gas, carbon dioxide, methane’s levels have surged, and scientists aren’t sure why.”
Saatse Boot: Russia’s Bizarre Border Blip With Estonia
(RFERL)
“… Saatse Boot (is) a wedge of Russian land that pokes into Estonia’s Setomaa parish and cuts through a road between two Estonian villages.”
Russians in Europe: Nobody’s Tool – The Examples of Finland, Germany and Estonia
by Anna Tiido - ICDS
“The three cases were chosen for analysis because each contains a significant Russian community, while differing in origin, outlook and status. The aim of this analysis is to investigate whether Russia views these communities as targets for manipulation and how the respective communities and states react.”
PDF of the Report:
Helme ei osale Macroni ja Conte rändearutelus, kuna tema väitel pole Eesti sinna kutsutud
(Postimees)
“Siseminister Mart Helme (EKRE) ei osale esmaspäeval Macroni ja Conte kokku kutsutud rändepoliitika arutelus, kuna tema väitel pole Eesti kutset saanud.”
The Kremlin Puts Its Faith in Arbitrary Authoritarianism
by Mark Galeotti - Moscow Times)
“… peaceful protesters can still find themselves labeled as violent rioters and even passers-by are at risk of being swept up into the police trucks. The message is simple. If you want to protest, we may let you, but we might also beat you and arrest you, regardless of how you behave.”
Moscow's Massive Use Of Camera Surveillance
(RFERL)
“The city of Moscow has deployed more than 150,000 cameras with facial-recognition technology to follow the movements of anyone on the streets. The system has been used to track down protesters …”
Digital technology and the suppression of the Moscow protests
(Riddle)
“These digital tools provide and opportunity for the authorities and demonstrate how wary and hypersensitive they are to digital dissent; they are a staple of the authorities’ toolkit of repression, as well as a source of regime insecurity.”
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Thursday
19. September
__________
Estonia must strengthen ties with global diaspora community
(ERR - 17. Sept.)
"All Estonians, regardless of where in the world they live, are always welcome in their home country," foreign minister Urmas Reinsalu stressed. "Even as their path in life continues abroad, they should feel that Estonia is always facing them, and that their well-being is important to their homeland.”
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“ÜEKN chairman Aavo Reinfeldt said that the meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was important in moving forward with common understanding. "We discussed issues concerning the preservation of the Estonian language, the improvement of cooperation between Estonians living in Estonia and those living elsewhere, dual citizenship, and the greater involvement of citizens living outside of Estonia.”
Et vanalinn ei muutuks disneylandiks, vajame alkoholipiiranguid
(Pealinn)
"Kui tahame, et meie vanalinn säilitaks oma atraktiivsust kohalike elanike jaoks, peame hoidma seda väärika elukeskkonnana.” - Tallinna Kesklinna vanem Vladimir Svet
Joint-response training in Tallinn
(ERR)
“Tallink's Baltic Queen and the Port of Tallinn are conducting a joint exercise, KBRT2019, which will see Estonian authorities, emergency services, and companies practice solving chemical, biological, radioactive, and nuclear incidents.”
Riik tellib kaitseväe ja -liidu masinaparkidesse 8 miljoni euro eest renditööjõudu
(Delfi)
Can the EU Prevent Deepfakes From Threatening Peace?
(Carnegie Europe)
“Highly realistic fake videos could take online disinformation to the next level. The EU must take action to prevent deepfakes from becoming the next propaganda tool.”
Finland to raise next year’s refugee quota by 100 to 850
(Helsinki Times)
“The Finnish government announced its decision to raise the quota for next year in the wake of its newly concluded budget session, revealing that it will accept 400 Syrian refugees from Lebanon and Turkey, 200 Congolese refugees from Zambia and 130 refugees from Niger.”
Brexit: EU27 just wants Britain to go
(The Guardian)
“Why on earth would you want a country so bitterly and hopelessly divided to stay?” asked one diplomat. “The wounds are going to last generations.”
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“Officials in Brussels, and leaders in national capitals, are running out of patience. Hopes that Britain might eventually give Brexit up as a bad job and remain in the EU are giving way to prayers that it won’t.”
Demographic Trends Adding to Sense of Separateness in Kaliningrad
by Paul Goble
“Kaliningrad is not only geographically separate from the Russian Federation but also increasingly demographically distinct as well, with a population that has ever fewer links to the rest of the country, according to Salavat Abylkalikov and Vitaly Sazin of the Higher School of Economics.”
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“Since 1991, Kaliningrad has been an exclave geographically, the two write. But at the same time, it has become ever more “a demographic ‘exclave’” as well. The oblast’s population is increasingly homogeneous, native born, and less connected with other parts of Russia as a result of declining immigration.”
Target, Kaliningrad: U.S. Air Force
(Breaking Defense)
“The threat of long-range missile launchers in the Russian enclave is driving the Air Force to develop new tactics for multi-domain attack and dispersed defense.”
“TASS (Pro-Kremlin): ‘Don’t mess with us’ says Kaliningrad governor.” - https://tass.com/defense/1079088
Is the Russia-Belarus Merger Anything More Than a Mirage?
(Carnegie Moscow)
“An article published in Kommersant newspaper on September 16 about the impending economic merger between Belarus and Russia created quite a stir in both countries. Yet the agreements that have apparently already been reached are not accomplishable in the short timeframe laid out, if they are even feasible at all.”
Leaks about Russian-Belarusian Unity Plans are the Story
(Window on Eurasia)
“(The leaks) … are intended to send a message to the West that Vladimir Putin is not “a lame duck” but will be in office long after 2024 …”
Arvamus: Hitleri "Minu võitlus", selle suve müügihitt
(ERR)
“… Veidi edasi kaevates selgus, et esimene, tuhande eksemplarine, tiraaž oli läinud nagu vesi kerisele ning nüüdseks on ka teine ja vist juba ka kolmas, samuti tuhandene, trükk läbi müüdud.”
__________
Wednesday
18. September
__________
Metsade majandamine mõjutab puistute süsiniku sidumise võimet
(ERR Novaator)
“Maaülikooli teadlased viisid Eesti metsades läbi uuringu, millest selgus, et intensiivsemalt seovad õhust süsinikku noored ja keskealised puistud, samal ajal, kui vanemad metsad muutuvad süsiniku allikateks.”
Estonian tech companies pledge to become climate neutral in 10 years
(ERR)
“Thirty-three Estonian technology companies signed a Green Pledge at Tuesday's Tallinn Digital Summit 2019, promising to take their operations to a completely environmentally sustainable basis by 2030. Later this week, the signed agreement will be handed over to the President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid, who will be participating at the UN Climate Summit on Sept. 23 in New York.”
More Climate
Change Articles
Helme’s half-baked plan
(Postimees)
“To be perfectly honest, it falls into the same category as Martin Helme’s attempt to illegally fire police chief Elmar Vaher. No one believes Helme is so dumb as not to have realized that what he attempted was illegal. He simply made a move that pleased EKRE voters,” a former minister said.”
Kaitseministeerium muudab ühe populaarseima matkapiirkonna ohualaks
(Postimees)
“Kaitseministeerium laiendab keskpolügooni ohuala nii, et selle alla jääb ka matkajate seas populaarsed Põhja-Kõrvemaa matkaalad.”
Nordic War Drama Shoots in Tartu
(FilmNewEurope)
“Henrik Ruben Genz’s war drama Erna at War / Erna läheb sõtta, a coproduction between Denmark, Belgium and Estonia starring Trine Dyrholm, is currently shooting in Estonia. It’s the first time that a film project that big is filmed in Tartu …”
Helsinki’s Backing of Tunnel to Estonia Gives New Impetus to Rail Baltica Plan
(Window on Eurasia)
“Russian analyst (Vladimir Skripov) argues that a Helsinki-Tallinn tunnel will boost traffic along a Rail Baltica network and make it sufficiently profitable that the EU will join China in funding the project, making its completion almost inevitable and reducing Russia’s influence in the region.”
Europe Fails to See Moscow Using Economics as a Weapon
(Window on Eurasia)
“Not Only Against the Former Soviet States but Against It as Well …”
The economic policy at the heart of Europe is creaking
(The Economist)
“Health of the single market is vital for the future of Europe’s economy.”
https://www.economist.com/briefing/2019/09/12/the-economic-policy-at-the-heart-of-europe-is-creaking
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Tuesday
17. September
__________
Eesti Keele Aasta 2019
(Postimees)
“Septembris keerleb elu eesti keele õppimise ja õpetamise ümber. Peetakse esimest ülemaailmset eesti keele nädalat, millega tahetakse jõuda koguni kolme miljoni eesti keele õppijani ning Tallinna ja Narva vahel sõidab eesti keele rong.”
Koeru Church under restoration
(ERR)
“The interior decorations at Koeru Church in the village of Järve-Jaani, about 100 kilometers southeast of Tallinn, which date from the 13th to 15th centuries, were rediscovered by art historian Villem Raam eight years ago, and the process of restoring them was begun …”
https://news.err.ee/981090/gallery-restoration-work-breathes-new-life-into-medieval-interior-artwork
The Specter of 1939
by Edward Lucas - CEPA
“Every Pole knows why September 17th, 1939 matters. … The 80th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of eastern Poland will go unmarked in the West. In Russia, it will prompt yet more lies and propaganda obscuring the Soviet Union’s cozy ties with Nazi Germany. …”
Peeter Helme: kas te tahate totaalset sõda?
“Praegune opositsiooni õhutatud valitsuskriitika pole normaalse parlamentarismi osa, vaid loob pildi üha teravamast maailmavaatelisest sõjast meie ühiskonnas, kirjutab Postimehe peatoimetaja Peeter Helme.”
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