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EESTI ELU reedel, 6. novembril 2020 — Friday, November 6, 2020
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Greens’ same-sex marriage petition most signed in portal’s history ERR, October 2020 English-language supplement to the Estonian weekly “EESTI ELU” Tartu College Publications Founding Chairman: Elmar Tampõld Editor: Laas Leivat 3 Madison Avenue, Toronto, ON M5R 2S2 T: 416-733-4550 • F: 416-733-0944 • E-mail: editor@eestielu.ca Digital: www.eestielu.ca
An Estonian scandal as the Russian media sees it Russian on-line media were quick to comment on rightwing EKRE politician and Estonian Interior Minister Mart Helme’s quotes on several issues as published recently in Germany’s of Deutsche Welle including its Russian edition. Estonian Defence League expert unit ‘Propastop’, that monitors, exposes and analyzes Russian propaganda has identi fied numerous media outlets that have covered the subject – Regnum, EADaily, Vesti, Vzglad, REN TV, Izvestia, MK.ru, RuBaltica. A variety of aspects from Helme’s interview were covered. With regard to Ukrainian workers arriving in Estonia, Helme was quoted: “We don’t want them here. Ukrainians don’t speak Estonian. They speak Russian, that’s for cer tain. … Estonia is too small.” Proud of an image as a staunch Estonian nationalist, Helme’s remarks about Vla dimir Putin seem at first glance to be contradictory to a typical anti-Kremlin stance: “Putin must act like a pharmacist, weighing everything with sensi tivity to ensure that everything is in balance, for effective foreign policy.” Helme stressed that Putin is a pragmatic, who has no need to focus on the Baltic states because they are “provinces of Europe”. As the days passed from the date of Helme’s interview the ‘homophobia’ theme became the sole focus of Russian messaging, presenting it as the major scandal caused by the minister’s personal handling of it. President Kersti Kaljulaid is quoted as suggesting that some one with homophobic views shouldn’t be a cabinet minister. The Russians emphasize the burgeoning public calls for Helme’s dismissal. One of Helme’s quotes (which the Western press pro bably considers most out rageous) is repeated in full by the Russians: “This is not homophobia. I say that those who state that our referendum is unnecessary are ‘hetero phobes’. They force there way into the beds of heterosexuals. They intrude, but we keep out of their beds. If they can spread
their ‘homopropaganda’ we should be able to do ours. The state cannot survive without children and morals.” This thought is compounded by the Russians saying that Helme wants gays to leave for Sweden where they’re welcome and life would be easier. Porpastop suggests that the reason Helme’s opinions de served such wide attention in Russian media is the anti-gay theme involved with which Russia wants to ridicule the West. Most of the articles in the Russian media include “ho mophobia” in the headline with the term in apostrophes. It’s to be noted that Russia enforces one of the most restrictive a nti-gay legislation found anywhere. Propastop explained com plexities in Russian propaganda which claimed that Helme saw no threat to Russia from the Baltic states while being NATO members. Concurrently it also stated that Helme, known as an ‘Euroskeptic’ is concerned about the European Union becoming an empire (in this instance the victims being the Baltic states, not Russia. ed.) The dichotomy here being the Kremlin holding Helme’s proNATO stance to be unaccept able but an anti-EU position to be welcome. While Helme’s motivation may be evident to Russian propagandists by the aforemen tioned, Propastop deciphered the nuanced messaging specifi cally in the ‘RuBaltic’ com ments. In a piece entitled “The West is sneaking poisonous allies into Russia”, RuBaltica claims that the Russian lan guage Deutsche Welle is not only interviewing an individual on a German publications’ “black list” of those who are classified as fascists but is also targeting Russian speakers with this. RuBaltic concludes that the German publication intend ed Russians to become more familiar with an ‘ally’ like Helme. RuBaltica reminds readers that the scandal surrounding Helme has shifted most of its focus onto the homophobic aspects of Helme’s interview and has treated as unimportant Helme’s thoughts about anti-
The Estonian Greens’ petition in support of same-sex marriage hosted on the Citizen Initiative Portal rahvaalgatus. ee is the most-signed in the website’s history. As of noon on Tuesday, the petition has gathered more than 30,000 signatures. The petition launched by the non-parliamentary Estonian Greens party is calling for the Family Act to be amended to allow for same-sex marriage in Estonia. As it has gathered over 1,000 signatures, it is likely now to be debated in the Riigikogu. Kadri Org, democracy expert at the Estonian Cooperation Assembly/ Rahvaalgatus.ee, told ERR News on Monday that “Petitsioon perekonnaseaduse muutmiseks” is the most-signed petition in the history of rahvaalgatus.ee website. “Rahvaalgatus.ee has been operating for four-and-a halfyears from March 2016 and since then, 51 collective propos als have been drafted and sent to the Riigikogu through the platform. Most of the collective proposals that have been sent to the Riigikogu have received a few thousand signatures maxi mum. The second-highest num ber of supportive signatures that a petition has received is slightly over 7,000,” she said. The petition with over 7,000 signatures was related to animal rights, and a petition to end fur farming in Estonia, which was recently debated by Riigikogu members, gathered over 6,000. (Continued on page 10)
Russian sanctions, the domi neering nature of the EU, Ukrainian workers endangering Estonian security and the Baltic states as NATO members posing no threat for Russia. In this particular instance Ru Baltica seems to be not on the same wavelength as the rest of Russian media, which views Helme as an ally who regards all aspects of the European Union with derision. EADaily and Izvestia con clude that Helme’s suggestions about Ukrainian workers not being welcome in Estonia is the main reason for calls demand ing Helme’s dismissal as minis ter. It’s to be noted that the audi ence for these outlets is Russian speaking not only in Russia, but also the Baltic states and elsewhere. In order to separate propaganda from objective reporting, one must see the reasons behind the selection or avoidance of specific topics, the treatment that issues are given and the intensity with which themes are published. This takes abundant insight and expertise. Bravo Propastop. LAAS LEIVAT
The Põhjarada guide troop finally got out of the virtual world and met at Estonian House, albeit masked and at a distance, and proceeded on a hiking assignment as planned. Having heard that Estonian House no longer was owned by Estonians they went to check out the sign which indicated otherwise. Shouldn’t it read “SOLD”? In any case Eila, Eliise, Imbi and Tuuli are ready to see, depending on the price, if the sign can be purchased and erected on their front lawn, in front of a house actually owned by Estonians. Photo: Archive
EUFF embraces Canada-wide audiences as it moves online Join this virtual cinematic adventure from 13 to 29 November 2020
line-up includes works by established European directors as well as talented newcomers. There is something for every one in this diverse array of 27 films.
Extraordinary circumstances, such as those we are living in today, call for new and crea tive ways to experience life and the arts – and cinema is no exception. The Canadian Film Institute, the European Union Film Festival in Toronto, and The Cinematheque in Vancouver have joined forces with the Delegation of the European Union and the Embassies and Consulates of EU Member States to present the first-ever online edition of the European Union Film Festival (EUFF) in Canada. We are delighted to be able to continue the decadeslong tradition of presenting European cinema in Canada despite the challenges of COVID-19. This year’s festival repre sents an unprecedented collabo ration aimed at rewarding our devoted fans for their support over the years while, at the same time, providing cinéphiles across Canada an opportunity to explore the best contemporary European cinema. The 2020 edition of the EUFF kicks off on 13 No vember with the box office smash hit from Germany, ALL ABOUT ME, directed by Oscar-winning director Caroline Link. Ranging from romantic comedies to historic dramas and political thrillers, this year’s
In addition, in hopes of offering special and personal insights into the programme, the EUFF will present inter views with many filmmakers whose works are being screened in the 2020 edition. Each film will be ‘live’ online for a 48-hour period, which gives you plenty of time to watch the films. All films are presented in their original languages with English, and, in some cases, French sub titles. Go to www.euffonline.ca
In recognition of Estonian House’s 60th celebration (covid-style and socially distanced), we are pleased to give away a special anni versary tote bag. These will be available at Northern Birch Credit Union during their opening hours, and at the office at Estonian House. We look forward to seeing you in person postCovid restrictions. INGRID LAAR, Manager
