Eesti Elu / Estonian Life No. 46 | Nov 15, 2019

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EESTI ELU reedel, 15. novembril 2019 — Friday, November 15, 2019

A Baltic-style spiritual journey at this year’s EstDocs

Nr. 46

President: Fall of Berlin Wall reminder to work towards freedoms today ERR, November 2019

English-language supplement to the Estonian weekly “EESTI ELU” Tartu College Publishing Committee Founding Chairman: Elmar Tampõld Editorial Board: Enn Kiilaspea, Jüri Laansoo, Tarvo Toomes Editor: Laas Leivat 3 Madison Avenue, Toronto, ON M5R 2S2 T: 416-733-4550 • F: 416-733-0944 •  E-mail: editor@eestielu.ca

Trolls revisited (II) To not arouse suspicion and to put a facade of authenticty to their postings the Trolls are quite adept at positioning their political comments between neutral and innocent articles on life style travel, etc. They are able to swamp the opinion sec­ tion of the media to make a meaningful interchange of ideas impossible. Observers say that one must not overestimate the influence that the Internet Trolls have. People simply stop commenting when the Trolls’ barrage of ­ aggressive and insulting com­ ments produces a hostile, abusive milieu. Thoughtful com­ mentary there would be meaningless. In 2015, it was discovered that a network of propaganda websites were all allegedly ­operated by one Nikita Pod­gorny of the Internet Research Agency in St Petersburg (Troll farm, IRA). They mainly tar­ geted Ukraine, Euromaidan, Western policies and justified Russian intervention. Other websites originating from the IRA covered pro-Syrian government, an­ ti-Western topics, promoted Putin and Russian nationalism. The IRA has its headquarters at another location than the main Troll farm, at Olgino. Google research has been able to pinpoint Troll activity also to that location by geographically correlating specific phrases and names such as ‘sanctions’, ‘Maidan’, ‘Poroshenko’ to one facility. An anti-Western exhi­ bition called Material Evidence is also said to have been or­ ganized by the IRA. Topics for Trolls are current and socially important. For ­instance, last May a study reported that Russian Twitter bots had tried to hyper the anti-­vaccination controversy in the U.S. by posting pro and anti opinions on the debate. (A bot is s software application that is programmed to do certain tasks. It’s automated to run according to specific in­ structions without a human user needing to start them up. They often imitate or replace human behaviour. A social bot communicates somewhat autonomously on social media often influencing the course of discussion and/or opinion of its readers.) A study found that 400,000 bots were responsible for for 3.8 million tweets approximately 19% of the total volume. An MIT study found that lies are 70% more likely than facts to be retweeted. The US president has been duplicate in retweeting at least one lie. The battle against fakery and disinformation has required a vigilant effort waged by savvy technocrats. Facebook report­ ed that in the first three months of 2018 alone, it removed 538 ­million fake accounts from its platform. Research shows that fakery spreads faster and wider on­ line than truth does. Nearly half the of the traffic is con­ trolled by bots. Online fakery is not only politically oriented it is used by marketers to boost business worldwide in an ever-changing digital marketplace. It’s known as influence marketing. Online is rife with fake product testimonials and products. According to experts familiar with the enormous problem ­facing online users worldwide is the lack of a a systematic, structured and coordinated effort by the organizations owning the popular platforms. An unwavering agreement of what is ­authentic by strict definition and what doesn’t meet the crite­ ria is necessary. The fight is against not only the massive Russian bot oper­ ations but all fakery augmented by online recommendations for search engines, click on ads, review forums etc. Current legislation manly everywhere does not hold platforms respon­ sible for the content that appears on them. Other media – news­ papers, TV and other traditional information/comment carriers are accountable for what they disseminate. The digi­ tal platforms must abide by the same standards. LAAS LEIVAT

Commorated recently was the It’s EstDocs and, as usual, I am 30th anniversary of the fall of scribbling away in a darkened the Berlin Wall, a signal event film venue, trying to write in the ending of the Cold War, legibly and think crea­tively as congregation obviously agrees and the drive for democracy a I watch this year’s films and and whether she is taking in and independence across take notes for what I hope Syrian refugees, standing up for Central and Eastern Europe, will be a thought-provoking the rights of same-sex couples including in Estonia. yet reasonably sensible article. or visiting her elderly and President Kersti Kaljulaid This year marked the 15th housebound parishioners, she noted on her social media page anniversary of EstDocs, the carries these strong convictions the significance of the event home­ grown and volunteer-­with her wherever she goes. then and now, something she is managed documentary film I find an element of spirituali­ reminded of almost daily, by an festival held in Toronto every ty in “A Man From A Fairytale” artifact in her office, from Nov. ­ Novem­ ber that features Esto­ about the storied ballet dancer 9, 1989. nian and other collaboratively Toomas Edur, whose remark­ “News moved slowly and made films that range from able achievements on world ­erratically behind the iron cur­ ­amateur to professional, comedic stages changed and grew when tain 30 years ago. However, it to tragic, and everything in he took the helm of the was rarely the case that, when ­between. Estonian Ballet Theatre as news did arrive, its symbolism I try to knit together some Artistic Director. “Life gets was as unambiguous as what kind of overall theme or im­ ­easier when you realize no one happened in Berlin on Nov. 9, pression from each festival and is here forever,” he says. He 1989,” the President wrote. though not all films of course had to dig deep when it came “The photo (see above-ed.) fit into one particular mould, I time for him to leave the stage depicts a piece of the Berlin have come up with this feeling as a dancer. Wall that I walk past almost that started to bubble up on the Ruti Murusalu, director of daily at the office. As such, it is first day and that did seem to both this film and “Risti simultaneously a symbol of build steadily throughout – and Treasures,” joined the film ­ separation and freedom; the that is, spirituality. ­audience via Skype from Esto­ wall still reminds us of the need I ask EstDocs moderator nia and provided a glimpse into to work actively for freedom, Artur Talvik, a film freelancer the background of making the for commonalities and for and politician (he is co-founder films. ­understanding,” she went on. of the Richness of Life Party in The Berlin Wall was built in Latvian filmmaker Herz Estonia), what he thinks. Frank said that he has had a 1961, meaning it has been “Yes,” he says. “There does feeling of grief since early down longer than it was up; the seem to be that element to the childhood, which started when fall came just two-and-a-half films. The world has changed, he heard the first few lines of months after the Baltic Way, a and I think people are looking the Bible. “I have a feeling I human chain linking all three for meaning in their lives.” was born sad.” These poignant capitals in Estonia, Latvia and He added during one of his words were just part of Lithuania, commemorated the commentaries to festival-goers “Bridges of Time,” an ethereal 50th anniversary of the signing that the emotional events and look at the early documentary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact reactions to the issue of climate filmmakers in Estonia, Latvia between the Soviet Union and change, for example, represent and Lithuania, which allowed Nazi Germany, effectively the people’s need to try and do us to traverse a path of our own precursor of Estonan occupation something to help our world spirituality as well as offering a by both former powers. survive the current turbulent view of how these artists thought and worked. Moderator ­environment. Helping survive turbulence Artur Talvik explained that tions to revisit what they had has been the life work of Father these early filmmakers, many of shot. Vello Salo, a much beloved whom had to work on their The film’s Estonian producer Estonian priest, who shared his craft in the days of Soviet occu­ Riho Vastrik joined the au­ pation, has to produce work that own particular style of spiritual dience via Skype. He said the goodness to his congregation begged the audience to “under­ film, which is the Lithuanian stand what was written between and many friends. His story was entry to the Academy Awards the lines.” featured by director Jaan this year, was an homage to The film cleverly intersperses Tootsen in the touching film these early filmmakers “who original footage with present “Everyday Mysticism,” which help define who we are as day interviews with the film­ opened EstDocs on Friday, Nov. Baltic people.” makers, some of whom traveled 8. (Continued on page 12) back to their original film loca­ Described as a theologian, traveler, priest and soldier, Father Vello was a remarkable soul who led an active and en­ gaged life and breezed easily, and with sensitivity, through many cultures with his grasp of 16 languages. The filmmaker followed his increasing years with a particular grace and sen­ sitivity, including some beauti­ ful moments with his friend and poet Jaan Kaplinski who re­ marked “the same sea in us all.” The grace of spirituality was very evident in the dedicated life of Lutheran pastor Annika Laats in “Risti Treasures.” She stands firm in her beliefs that everyone is equal and deserves respect. “If we bury our heads The main effort through which estdocs is successful has been in the sand and ignore other contributed by: Lembitu Ristsoo, Maimu Mölder, Mihkel Ranniste. Photo: Jaak Järve people, that will be end of the church,” she said. Her devoted