Estonians are finding musical ways to raise funds for Ukraine suffering from Russian aggression. Three charity concerts are to take place in Estonia in the next week. Cover photo: Svjata Vatra, a Estonian-Ukrainian band
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
-John Lennon „Imagine”
It is no secret Estonians just love to sing. Take a look at our Song Festivals, for example. Even our fight for freedom from Soviet occupation was named accordingly – the Singing Revolution. Now, in these days of battling for freedom in Ukraine, Estonia is willing to pay it forward and sing to support Ukrainians, raising money to support fighters, refugees, and culture. If you have planned a trip to Estonia or are simply willing to help, here are some things you could do.
Folk music charity concert
First, on October 19 there will be an Estonian-Ukrainian Folk Night charity concert at Endla Theatre in Pärnu, Estonia, conducted by Museum of New Art and supported by, amidst others, by City Council of Pärnu and Estonian Public Broadcasting. Performers list Svjata Vatra, Kukerpillid, Kihnu Virve ja children instrumental ensemble Kihnu Pillilapsed. Revenues of this event will be used to buy lifesaving equipment for Ukrainian fighters. Further details can be obtained on the event's facebook page.
Opera for Ukraine
Next, on October 20 the Estonian National Opera in Tallinn holds a charity gala concert in cooperation with the National Opera of Ukraine, „Estonia for Ukraine,” in order to use the money raised from the donations to purchase a new high-end Estonia Piano for the pupils of Sloviansk School of Fine Arts. The program features performances by Estonian National Opera Chorus, Boys’ Choir and Orchestra, Estonian National Ballet, and soloists Lilia Grevtsova (soprano, National Opera of Ukraine), Olga Zaitseva (soprano), Andrei Romanenko (tenor, National Opera of Ukraine), Angelina Shvachka (mezzosoprano, National Opera of Ukraine), Pavlo Balakin (bass), Olga Golitsa (principal dancer, National Opera of Ukraine), Aleksandr Stojanov (principal dancer, National Opera of Ukraine), Katerina Dyadyura (pianist, Ukraine), conducted by Jüri Alperten, Mykola Dyadyura (National Opera of Ukraine). There is no fixed price for the concert – everyone can decide how much they want to donate. In addition, it is possible to support the project with a money transfer to the bank account of the Estonian National Opera EE351010002011259003 with the keyword “Ukraine” as the description. You can also donate by leaving the money directly in the charity boxes available in the Estonian National Opera beginning from September 29. It is possible to make donations until December 1. Further details are available at the Tallinn Opera House website.
Eurovision finalists, pop and folk bands to hold charity concert
Then, on October 21 a charity concert „From Estonia to Ukraine“ is staged at Nordea Concert House in Tallinn by NGO Vaba Ukraina/Free Ukraine, raising funds to buy medical supplies for people suffering in Ukrainian conflict. Contributing artists include Grandmasters of Estonia's pop music Tõnis Mägi and Ivo Linna (Eurovision Song Contest 1996), Lenna Kuurmaa (ex-Vanilla Ninja, Eurovision 2005) Birgit Õigemeel (Eurovision 2013), Sandra Nurmsalu (ex-Urban Symphony, Eurovision 2009), Ott Lepland (Eurovision 2012), InBoil, Karl Erik Taukar, Rasmus Rändvee, ensembles Svjata Vatra and Elephants from Neptune, Ukrainian folk rock group Haydamaky, Defence Forces Orchestra and Estonian-Ukrainian choir „Ukraina.“ For additional information see the event's website.
In addition to the above Estonia's Women's Home Defence organization has launced a campaign for it's members to knit warm cotton socks for Ukraine's fighters and war refugees. As a rule all the socks have to be hand knitted to pass on the warmth of hands and hearths of Estonian women.
Even if you can't attend these events, you can still support the cause to help Ukraine by donating money to NGO Free Ukraine (Bank name: Swedbank; Bank address: Liivalaia 8, 15040 Tallinn, Estonia; Account holder: MITTETULUNDUSÜHING VABA UKRAINA (NGO Free Ukraine); IBAN: EE042200221060257931; SWIFT/BIC: HABAEE2X) or to corresponding relief organizations in your country. Every bit counts and perhaps a simple roll of bandage bought for your donation will save someone's life. Lest not forget: evil only can prevail when good men do nothing.
Russia's aggression in Ukraine continues. We, the peoples of the world can not stand by. Let's bring the victory closer, together!
Bonus: video of the Estonian-Ukrainian band Svjata Vatra, one of the performers at the upcoming events. Live at Viljandi Folk Music Festival 26.07.2014 first at Kaevumägi, Estonia:
UPDATE: During the concert, the Estonian NGO Vaba Ukraina was able to raise 175 635.50 € in donations. Here is a compilation of the best songs of the concert on 21 October 2014:
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January 6 – 1 Ukrainian military was killed in gunfire in the ATO area, – informed NSDC spokesman Andriy Lysenko.
January 6 – Russian tanks were noticed in Kuibyshev district and near Putyliv road junction in Donetsk. The enemy continues to transfer artillery units and armored vehicles to Donetsk. At least two large units consisting of armored vehicles and artillery were spotted in the area in last 2 days.
January 6 – More than 4700 people have been killed and more than 10 thousand injured as a result of the conflict in the east of Ukraine since April 2014 (UN Twitter account).
January 6 – In 2014 Ukraine imported 14.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Russian Federation – 11.3 billion cubic meters less than during previous year. Thus Ukraine has reduced its import of Russian gas by almost twofold.
January 6 – Starting today in the ATO area tickets will not be sold for the bus routes and passengers will not be transported to bus stops located in the ATO area. Bus transportation in the ATO area has been terminated to avoid life threatening situations due to possible terrorist attacks by Russian terrorists.
January 6 – Mariupol activists say that they have spotted the separatists, who in April and May last year seized a number of administrative buildings in the city. Mariupol residents have identified 5 persons, who actively participated in occupying the city hall, military base, and the Department of Internal Affairs.
January 6 – Security Services of Ukraine received new proof, that Russian Special Services are involved in the financing and organizing of terrorist acts in Ukraine.
Security Services of Ukraine's counter- intelligence apprehended one of the fighters in the gang "Svat", who after special training in an army camp in the city of Sevastopol received an assignment from representatives of the Russian Secret Services to organize and carry out terrorist attacks against peaceful ressidents in Ukrainian cities.
A resident of Mariupol, a citizen of Ukraine with the nickname "Phila", born in 1988, sentenced for stealing in the past, was brought into an illegally formed fighting brigade "Hiurzoya". "Phila" was issued an automatic rifle and sent to stand guard on the blockpost of the fighter "Chekhov". The apprehended one gave the Secret Services of Ukraine staff information about the direct involvement of Russian Special Services in organizing and financing of terrorist activities on the territory of Ukraine. He was a witness of the involvement of contracted soldiers of the RF armed forces in fighting against ATO forces. "Phila" also provided information about the illegal provision by the foreign side through uncontrolled parts of the border of heavy artillery – artillery parts, mine granades, etc.
In the process of the pre-trial research, the fighter provided information that the terrorist attacks using automats with explosions in Ukrainian blogpost in the micro-region "Eastern" in Mariupol and in the region Kominternove of the Donetsk region in the fall of this year were organized all from a mobile telephone and done under the direction of the representatives FSB RF. The radio-controlled automatic explosion was activated by a telephone call from a mobile phone of a member of the Russian Special Services. To get the "salary" for the fighters for doing the sabotages and terrorist activities, the leader of the gang "Svat" personally went to Moscow.
If Ukraine attempts to spread liberal values to the Donbas Deep South, the region's "white" elites and Ku Klux Klan will, once again, rebel. Moscow will claim that their rights are being violated by the Ukrainian racists and fascists in Kiev!
З одного боку бачимо явну чи латентну консолідацію Континенту (Світового острова). Росія зайняла гостро опозиційну диспозицію щодо США+. Китай – у вичікуючій диспозиції. Ряд країн ЄС, які традиційно тяжіли до Континенту (Німеччина, Австрія, Франція – див. Т.Возняк:
Проблема німецького вибору у російсько-українській війні) є у двозначній диспозиції. Вони тісно пов'язані/нейтралізовані Світовими океанами. Однак у випадку Німеччини так само тісно пов'язані/напівнейтралізовані Росією. Але щодень то більше пов'язані/напівнейтралізовані Китаєм, де у ФРН маса проектів та планів. Окрім того, на всі ці пов'язаності/напівнейтралізації накладається ще й шлейф традиційного континентального політичного мислення та позиціонування.
З іншого боку бачимо, як у формальний і не формальний спосіб консолідувалася традиційно антиконтинентальна англосаксонська ліга у складі США, Канади, Австралії, Нової Зеландії, Великої Британії.
І, ще раз повторимося, в точності з передбаченням Маккіндера до антиконтинентальної ліги долучився колишній центральноєвропейський "санітарний коридор", який тільки змінює свою назву (Міжмор'я, УЛБ, ГУАМ, Вишеградська четвірка). Однак від зміни назви його "санітарна", "ізолююча" функція не змінюється.
Сьогодні у склад віртуального неформалізованого Міжмор'я ситуативно входять Польща, Україна, Литва, Латвія, Естонія, Румунія, Молдова. В принципі, там є місце і на Білорусь та Грузію. І деякі кроки Білорусі Лукашенка підтверджують, що і вона у непрямий спосіб майже непомітно, проте дрейфує, наскільки може, у тому ж напрямку.