Head Ülestõusmispüha! Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! This year I decided to do something a little bit different so I am spending my Easter holidays in beautiful Ukraine. Wishing you all a very safe and happy Easter long weekend!

Estonia 100: Free children's book ‘Tiny tree’ (Pisike puu)

The Estonian Children’s Literature Centre and the Ministry of Culture have a lovely custom of presenting all newborns with the book ‘Tiny tree’ (‘Pisike puu’ in Estonian). In 2018, on the initiative of the organisers of the Estonian centenary celebrations, every child born to an Estonian citizen abroad and added to the Estonian population register will also be given the book.   

For more information please click here: https://www.ev100.ee/en/pisikepuu

VIDEO: Artur Rehi - How American Estonians celebrated EV100

I recently discovered the YouTube videos produced by Estonian vlogger Artur Rehi. Artur is a 22 year old student from Jõgeva who is currently studying acting in Hollywood. Artur is a prolific YouTuber who has been making videos since the age of 14. His channel now has over 600 videos, most of them about his beloved Estonia. He covers a range of topics including history, culture, the things he loves and misses about Estonia and tips for the wannabe traveller. Artur is a very likeable and entertaining character and quite outgoing for an Estonian! The video below is one of his latest.

Kalle Laanet elected new vice speaker of the Riigikogu

Kalle Laanet (right) with President Kaljulaid and Riigikogu speakers.

On Monday Reform Party MP Kalle Laanet replaced Hanno Pevkur as deputy speaker of the Estonian Parliament. Laanet has been active in politics for the past ten years and has over twenty years experience in law enforcement. His most recent post in the Riigikogu was with the Justice Commission.

Congratulations Kalle!

To learn more about Kalle Laanet, click here.

Stunning time-lapse video of Tallinn by Dmitry Tkachenko for EV100

Today is World Poetry Day (üleilmne luulepäev)

One of Estonia's  most beloved poems is Juhan Liivi's 'Ta lendab mesipuu poole' (he flies towards the beehive).

HSBC report reveals Estonia is one of five countries least vulnerable to climate change

Estonia is one of five countries considered the least vulnerable to climate change, according to a new study by HSBC. 

The bank assessed 67 developed, emerging and frontier markets on vulnerability to the physical impacts of climate change, sensitivity to extreme weather events, exposure to energy transition risks and ability to respond to climate change.

According to the report released on Monday, India is the most vulnerable country to climate change, followed by Pakistan, the Philippines and Bangladesh. The five countries considered the least vulnerable to climate change risk are Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, and New Zealand.

The 67 nations represent almost a third of the world’s nation states, 80 percent of the global population and 94 percent of global gross domestic product.

Of the four nations assessed by the bank to be most vulnerable, India has said climate change could cut agricultural incomes, particularly unirrigated areas that would be hit hardest by rising temperatures and declines in rainfall.

Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Philippines are susceptible to extreme weather events, such as storms and flooding. Pakistan was ranked by HSBC among nations least well-equipped to respond to climate risks.