This newspaper was mailed on Friday, April 3, 2020
Kommentaarid ja arvamused (lk. 5)
Estonian Life English Language Supplement (p. 8–10)
Alates / since 2002 Nr. 13, 2020 Reedel, 3. aprillil — Friday, April 3
www.eestielu.ca
Postal Agreement No 40013472
Üksiknumbri hind: $4.00
Kanadas registreeritud üle 10.000 COVID-19 juhtumi Kanada on teatavasti juba nädalaid tegelenud aktiivselt viiruse leviku tõkestamisega – nii föderaalsel, provintsi- kui munitsipaaltasanditel. Piiran gud, mida kehtestatakse, muutuvad rangemaks ning inimestelt oodatakse eelkõige olukorra tõsiduse mõistmist ja juhiste igakülgset järgimist. Sõnumid, mida inimestele edastatakse, on selged: püsige kodus, käige väljas nii vähe kui võimalik, hoidke füüsilist distantsi, peske käsi jne. Enamik seda kindlasti teeb, kuid ikka tuleb teateid ilusa il maga väljas viibivatest inimes test paikades, kus 2-meetrise distantsi hoidmine teistest pole võimalik. Neile inimestele, kes on saabunud tagasi Kanadasse välisriikidest, kehtestati eelmi sel nädalal kohustuslik 14-päe vane isolatsioon. Viirusesse nakatunute arv jätkab kahjuks riigis kasvutren di, kuigi olukord provintsiti on erinev. Lehe trükkimineku päe va seisuga oli Kanadas CTV News andmetel COVID-19 vii rusega nakatunuid registreeritud 10.132, sellesse surnuid 127 ja tervenenuid enam kui 1500. Ontarios oli registeeritud juhu seid üle 2700 ja Quebecis üle 4500. Need arvud muidugi muutuvad pidevalt. Kanada peaminister Justin Trudeau jätkab igapäevaste pressikonverentside andmist Rideau Cottage’i ees kl 11 pai ku hommikuti. Peaministri abi kaasa Sophie, kellel mõni nädal tagasi diagnoositi COVID-19 pärast Ühendkuningriigist naas mist, on nüüdseks arstide poolt terveks tunnistatud. Peaminister jätkab kodust töötamist ja iso latsioonis olemist. Trudeau edastatud kanadalasi toetavate meetmete hulgas on laiaulatuslikud föderaalsed abi paketid äridele ja üksikisikutele, aidates sel raskel ajal sissetule kut säilitada ja eluks vajalikuga toime tulla. Suured koondami sed on võtnud paljudelt ini mestelt töö, majanduslikult kan navad suuri kahjusid pea kõik sektorid. Restoranid-baarid on juba mõnda aega suletud, töötab toidu kaasavõtmise ja tellimise võimalus. Toronto linnapea John Tory teatas 1. aprillil uutest piiran gutest ja reeglitest, mis jäävad linnas jõusse järgnevaks 12 nädalaks. Nende hulgas on näiteks COVID-19-ga diagnoo
situd inimeste ja nendega lähi kontaktis olnud inimestel ko hustus jääda koju 14 päevaks. Kodust väljas käigud peaks ter vetel inimestel olema väga limi teeritud, ainult seoses arstiabi või ravimite saamisega ning toidupoes käike võiks teha kord nädalas ja vaid ühe pereliikme poolt. Väljas jalutada ja värskes õhus kehalist koormust saada tohib, järgides füüsilise distantsi reegleid, olles teistest inimestest vähemalt kahe meetri kaugusel. Nagu varem teatatud, on terves provintsis avatud vaid hädavaja likud teenused (essential ser vices). Seeniorid – inimesed vanuses üle 70 eluaasta – peaksid olema kodus nii palju kui võimalik. Esmaspäevases pöördumises oli ka Ontario peaminister Doug Fordi pearõhk seenioridel, kelle heaolusse ja abisse tehakse lisainvesteeringuid, soovides ta gada, et vanemaealistele oleks korraldatud ravimite, toidu jm. vajaliku kohaletoomine koju, ilma et nad peaksid välja mine ma. Kahjuks on viirus teinud vii masel ajal suurt laastamistööd mitmetes hooldekodudes. Bob caygeonis (Ont.) asuvas Pine cresti hooldekodus oli kolma päevaks surnud viiruse tõttu 14 elanikku. Hooldekodudes on võetud kasutusele väga ranged meetmed, tõkestamaks edasist viiruse levikut nii elanike kui töötajaskonna seas. Kuuleme pidevalt haiglate koormusest ja ettevalmistustest COVID-19 tõttu suurenevaks patsientide arvuks, intensiivravi kohtade täituvusest ja seal vaja like vahendite varude nappusest. Appi on tulnud paljud firmad – vabrikud on ümber suunanud oma tootmist, hakates valmista ma meditsiiniks tarvilikke va hendeid. Väga raske on olukord Quebeci provintsis, mille pea minister Francois Legault teatas teisipäeval, et meditsiiniliste va hendite varude tagavara on üli kriitiline. Provintsi elanikel on palutud mitte reisida regioonide vahel, kui see pole hädavajalik; mõnedesse regioonidesse paigu tatakse kontrollpunktid. Palju juttu on olnud isiklikest kaitsevahenditest ja nende vähe susest, samuti sellest, kas inimesed peaksid kodust välju des kandma kaitsemaski. Dr. Theresa Tam, Kanada kõrgeim rahvatervise ametnik ütles es (Järgneb lk. 11)
Olge kodus – pealinna Ottawa elanikud on seda kuulda võtnud; nagu pildilt näha, on tänavad tühjad. ©Ülle Baum
Arvo Pärt pälvis Hispaania kõrge auhinna Hispaania BBVA fond kuulutas teisipäeval välja auhinna Fron tiers of Knowledge muusika valdkonna laureaadi, preemia pälvis uue helikeele loomise eest helilooja Arvo Pärt. Auhinda antakse välja ka heksas kategoorias ning sellega tunnustatakse väljapaistvaid saavutusi loodusteaduste ja teh noloogia valdkonnas, humani taarteadustes ning muusikas. Auhinna nimi viitab sellele, et laureaatidel on läinud korda nihutada meie teadmiste piire maailmast. Arvo Pärt pälvis preemia muusika ja ooperi kategoorias, mille on varasematel aastatel saanud teiste seas heliloojad Steve Reich, Pierre Boulez, John Adams, György Kurtág, Helmut Lachenmann, Sofia
Gubaidulina ja Kaija Saariaho. Auhinna žüriisse kuuluvad rahvusvaheliselt tunnustatud eksperdid, kelle fond nimetab igal aastal koostöös Hispaania teadusuuringute nõukoguga (Consejo Superior de Inves ti gaciones Científicas (CSIC)). Muusika ja ooperi kategooria žürii koosseisu moodustasid sel aastal Paul Douglas Hillier (kollektiivi Theatre of Voices kunstiline juht, Taani), Mauro Bucarelli (Accademia Na zionale di Santa Cecilia, Itaalia), Pedro Halffter (heliloo ja ja orkestrijuht, Hispaania), Andrew McGregor (BBC Radio 3 saatejuht, Suurbritannia), prof. Robert Sholl (muusika professor, University of West London, Suurbritannia), Víctor García de Gomar (Gran Teatre
150-aastane Eesti Üliõpilaste Selts alustab oma juubeliaastat Eesti vanim üliõpilasorgani satsioon Eesti Üliõpilaste Selts (EÜS) avas möödunud nelja päevane oma juubeliaasta. Eestis väljakuulutatud eriolu korra tõttu lükkuvad paljud sündmused edasi, kuid ilmub juubelipostmark, album ning kõik huvilised saavad minna EÜSi majja virtuaaltuurile. „EÜSi ajalooline maja on keh tiva eriolukorra tõttu hetkel nii seltsivendadele kui külalis tele suletud ning samuti pidime ümber korraldama kogu juu belisündmuste kava. Täna kuu lutame EÜS 150 sündmused siiski avatuks ning juubeliaasta lõpeb balliga Eesti Rahva Muu seumis 9. aprillil täpselt aasta pärast,“ sõnas EÜSi esimees
Kerdo Kristjan Tamm. 26. märtsil 1870. aastal (vana kalendri järgi) kogunesid Jakob Hurt, Johann Voldemar Jannsen, Hugo ja Gustav Treffner, Hein rich Rosenthal, Martin Wühner, Andreas Kurrikof ning Vilhelm Eisenschmidt, et lugeda ja ühi selt „Kalevipoja“ üle arutleda. Seda kuupäeva peetakse EÜSi sünnikuupäevaks. Aprilli esimeseks nädalava hetuseks ja 7. aprilliks kavan datud EÜSi 150. sünnipäeva sündmused toimuvad interneti vahendusel, peatselt avalike sündmustena ja liikmeskonna üritustena läbi terve järgmise aasta. „EÜSi kuulub ligi 1000 lii get: erinevate erialade tudengid
del Liceu kunstiline juht, Hispaania). BBVA on Hispaania suurim pank, mille asutatud fond toetab laialdaselt ühiskonnas väärtusi loovaid valdkondi. Auhinda Frontiers of Knowledge antakse välja aastast 2008. (Allikas: Arvo Pärdi Keskus)
ja vilistlased. 150. aastapäeva tähistavad seltsivennad ja pere liikmed üle maailma, sest lisaks Eestis elavatele liikmetele on meil koondused ka Rootsis, Belgias, Ameerika Ühendrii kides, Kanadas ja Austraalias. Selle aasta juubelikoosolekust ning –sündmustest loobumine on raske, kuid siiski saame tähistada meie juubelit nii pere ringis kui peatselt erinevatel üritustel Eestis ja meie koon dustes läbi terve juubeliaasta,“ ütles EÜSi vilistlaskogu esi mees Erki Tamm. (Järgneb lk. 12)
8
EESTI ELU reedel, 3. aprillil 2020 — Friday, April 3, 2020
Nr. 13
Estonian House 60th Anniversary
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
Controlling the diaspora, Kremlin style (II) In 2018 it was startling to read British media reports that half of the Russian dias pora in the UK were infor mers for Russian intelligence agencies. This spectacular news was however a misinter pretation of a scholarly article of the scale of Russian espio nage. British intelligence sources have leaked a different statistic, a substantially lower number – some 500 agents with about 200 contact individuals. But this again is in sharp contrast with suggestions coming direct ly from the Russian community members, that every second expat could be at least a potential contact for Russian intelligence services. Recruitment of possible in formers/agents among ex-pats mostly occurs during their visits to Russia. Its very inevitable that the Russian FSB would eventually contact an individual visitor and use pressure to gain co-operation. It’s not likely that Russians from the diaspora would take the initiative and volunteer to work for the FSB, GRU or SVR. But deception and various forms of coercion are the common methods of recruitment, everywhere. We are reminded that all of the Russian spies that have been exposed in the Estonian military and security services were re cruited while visiting Russia. Now there are security restric tions on Estonian federal employees intending to visit Russia. Recruiting anybody while they are within the recruiter’s jurisdiction definitely has some advantages. For Western intelli gence it’s practically impossible to identify these contacts. The recruiters do not need unobtru sive methods to make contact and their work is undetected. The recruiters are not on offi cial government lists, like payrolls, so that defectors to the West usually cannot disclose their identities. In 2013 Russian diplomats with immunity from arrest and prosecution in the US were ex posed for attempting to recruit young Russian ex-pats through the Russian Cultural Centre as assets for Russian intelligence. The diplomats were promoting
visits as part of an ostensible cultural program. However the program was meant to identify possible recruits willing and able to co-operate in Russia’s counter-intelligence capability. It’s known that their intelli gence agencies have infiltrated religious groups in Russia with operatives who were then sent abroad where the operative gained political asylum for be ing persecuted as a Russian re ligious dissident. They then are welcomed to join authentic reli gious dissidents in the US or are even able to establish such organizations themselves. Some members of such Russian heritage groups, who had received US education and had built a career at high-tech companies with defense con tracts, were unwittingly used to gain classified military infor mation. Classical espionage recruitment, much beyond win ning the co-operation of in formers. In Canada it’s apparent that many local organizations with Russian ex-pat membership seem to support policies held by the Kremlin. Some polls over the years have even shown that Putin’s popularity abroad among Russians is higher than in Russia. Members of Russian Ortho dox congregations in Toronto, for instance have indicated that different churches with their clergy tend to be Kremlin friendly, while others don’t take any position or are outright opposed to Putin’s ever-increas ing readiness to repress political opposition. While this is evident from web-sites, and Russianlanguage newspapers in Canada, it’s still difficult to determine how many Russians have been involved in co-operating with Russian intelligence services. Observers say that Russian secret services recognize the vulnerabilities in the diaspora communities. One of these ‘soft spots’ is the dependency Rus sian ex-pat groups have for cul tural sustenance. Independent educational and cultural organi zations, that do not rely on Moscow, its embassies and con sulates for support, are obvious ly not attractive penetration tar gets for Russia as those that have a relationship of support
On April 1, 2020, we will mark the 60th anniversary of the Estonian House in Toronto. We had hoped to celebrate this milestone with you, but we are now unable to come together because of the COVID-19 crisis. Right now, staying home is the best way to protect our community. Staying home runs counter to the very purpose of the Eesti Maja. For sixty years it has operated as place to sustain our community in Toronto. A home away from home. There is not a single person who has grown up in our community who has not spoken of their deep connection to this place. A connection built through community, service,
and education. While our doors opened on April 4, 1960, they will be closed on April 4, 2020. The next several months will test the strength of our community, our nation, and each of us. During this difficult time, it is important to remember that the deep commitment to the Estonian House over the years, to building a thriving communi ty by its founders, was forged in a time of crisis. Our founders knew what it was like to be isolated. They knew what it was like to be unsure of what the future held. They knew loss. They also knew hope. “Me kestame üle aja.” We will last through the ages. These were the words of hope,
written by Estonian poet Henrik Visnapuu, engraved into the Toronto Estonian House in 1963. We hope that if there is something positive that can come from this crisis, it will be that our community is renewed. That when it is safe to do so again, that we will come together again, to celebrate, to learn, and to share in each others com pany. We have plans for the 60th anniversary celebration and will share those with you when the time is right. We look forward to seeing you at the Estonian House. THE BOARD OF THE ESTONIAN HOUSE IN TORONTO
Seedrioru announcement
anniversary in consideration of everyone’s health.
Dear Families,
It is with a sad heart that our Juhatus has decided that we should conservatively cancel our Talgud events this spring and summer due to restrictions that will still be in effect from the COVID-19 pandemic. It is our hope that we can still complete some small projects involving smaller groups of people and families on a volun tary basis.
We remain optimis tic about a summer season unaffected by COVID-19, and continue to accept registrations, fill our few remaining staff positions, and get ready for camp! However, we also want to make sure that you and your family have a good back-up plan – just in case. That’s why we’re amend ing our policy, effective imme diately, and for all existing registrations. If any 2020 camp week is unable to proceed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as the result of a directive or advice from Health Canada, Ontario Ministry of Health or the
from Moscow. Vulnerability is not the only consequence, it’s also the ‘we lead, you follow’ alliance that likely results. Even though major Cana dian-Russian organizations in sist that their May 9th Victory Day celebrations are financed independently, all indications point to substantial support from the Russian foreign ser vice itself. Without this need for outside assistance, perhaps the Victory Day organizers could empha size the true meaning of May 9th – a time for remembering their fallen veterans and mil lions of other victims of WWI, and of course the victory over Nazi Germany. But Moscow is intent on pro moting the day as one of ‘Liberation’ for Central and Eastern Europe. This is the message with which dependent diaspora groups are complicit. They are partners in rejecting the truth – that for these coun tries, the Nazi totalitarian re gime was replaced with a re pressive Soviet power, whose brutality, by sheer volume of atrocities alone, surpassed the Nazis. LAAS LEIVAT
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health – or if your child is potentially ill with the virus, you will have the following options to either: • Receive a complete refund of any deposit paid. • Transfer your registration to another week in 2020 – as space allows. • Defer your registration to the summer 2021 season at this year’s rates. We have also decided to waive the Talgu obligations for camp this year. Our camp committee is con tinually monitoring the situation and will also be reviewing all of our health and safety policies with the advice of local, pro vincial and national health authorities. We will continue to keep you updated of any changes affecting summer 2020. We’re hopeful that camp will not be affected by COVID-19! Due to the COVID-19 pan demic, we are postponing the celebration of Seedrioru’s 65th
Seedrioru juhatus has also decided to cancel our annual Suvihari festival. It is important that we prioritize the health and safety of all. We would like to extend an invitation to this years celebra tion “Sügishari” BBQ roast on September 26th, 2020 when hopefully the world has re turned back to normal, and to a great event in 2021 to com memorate Seedrioru’s 65th an niversary then. Still looking forward to the summer!
Update on the IEC and the COVID-19 pandemic Amid the current COVID-19 pandemic, the International Estonian Centre (IEC) project team is continuing its work while closely monitoring and adhering to all regulatory health and business requirements. It is anticipated that some processes, such as interactions with municipal governments, businesses and other partners will be impacted as we all adapt to a new temporary work environment. We will keep you updated – please follow our social media links and check our website for project news. In light of the uncertainty and instability resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Capital Campaign Com mittee has decided to put the active campaign for pledges for the International Estonian Centre on hold. Our first concern must be for every-
one’s health, and that includes physical, emotional and financial health. Thus, until circumstances return to some level of normalcy, we want everyone to focus on their well-be ing without distraction. When the time is right, we’ll resume the campaign, and our community will celebrate together as we achieve our goal to create an International Estonian Centre of which we will all be proud! STEERING COMMITTEE, INTERNATIONAL ESTONIAN CENTRE
Keep in touch with project news • Visit our website www.estoniancentre.ca for regular updates • Sign up for our monthly email newsletter at www.estoniancentre.ca • Follow us on Facebook: @ EestiKeskus
Nr. 13
EESTI ELU reedel, 3. aprillil 2020 — Friday, April 3, 2020
ESTONIAN CULTURE LINKS by Vincent Teetsov
“Time Machine: Georg Ots and the growth of post-war opera in Estonia and Canada” Georg Ots was born 100 years ago, on the 21st of March 1920. In his life, he projected his powerful baritone voice into the cultural space of millions of listeners across Europe and beyond. The apex of his career coincided in terestingly with the growth of institutionally-supported opera in Canada. Georg Ots was primarily an opera singer, with a career stretching from 1944 to his death in 1975. Over 31 years, he captured the spirit of a wide range of operas and musical numbers, representing the cul ture of many nations. Georg was a polyglot, who spoke Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Italian, and Russian. He sung in all of those lan guages, and more. He put his heart into the singing of Estonian folk songs. One notable example is his famous rendition of Raimond Valgre’s “Saaremaa Valss” (“Saaremaa Waltz”, lyrics writ
ten by Debora Vaarandi). He cast up the spirit of Estonian island life in summer, and of country folk, in a way that dis tilled that moment in time. Long summer nights, bonfires, dancing, and partying. Timeless human experiences if you think about it. At the same time as Ots’ rise to fame, the popularity of opera surged here in Canada. In 1946, the Royal Conservatory’s Opera School was founded, to train the post-war generation of Canadian opera talent. In 1950, the Royal Conservatory Opera Company was created (later renamed as the Canadian Opera Company). These institutions provided education and profes sional opportunities to perfor mers in a way that was foun dational to the continuation of opera as an art form. This talent was supported by public broadcasting and taping of performances by the CBC Opera Company. Broadcasting expanded audiences across
Canada’s provinces and promo ted each provincial opera com pany in between production seasons. Canadian audiences would be increasingly supple mented by European im migrants who were eager to continue attending the opera as they had before emigrating. After the end of the Second World War, increased stability and prosperity provided a fertile ground for the growth of opera in Canada. But the performan ces themselves were a way for Canadians to mentally and emo tionally process the events of the war. Likewise, Georg Ots’ singing and acting provided entertaining narratives and relief to people across Europe, and even further afield such as when he per formed in Egypt. With Georg Ots’ music, opera seems to have offered fantasy and drama in a time of
Government of the Republic of Estonia
The Science Council made recommendations to the Government Emergency Committee to contain COVID-19 Tallinn, Stenbock House, March 24, 2020 – The COVID-19 Science Council finds that human behaviour is the most critical factor in pre venting the spread of the virus. The team of virologists and physicians consider the restrictions imposed in Esto nia to be timely and adequate. Professor Irja Lutsar of the Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine at the University of Tartu told the Emergency Committee about the assessment by the Science Council. “Since the introduction of the restrictions, the epidemic has been relatively stable, with out exponential growth,” she said. “This shows that restric tions in Estonia slowed down the spread of the virus, but we need to be aware that prevent ing the spread of COVID-19 is a long process that requires patience from everyone. It is inevitable that social isolation measures need to be strength ened to prevent the spread of the virus.” Consequently, the Science Council recommends that in order to prevent further spread of the virus, it is necessary to strengthen the isolation rules and the functioning of the home regime and to reduce unneces
sary presence of people in pub lic spaces and outside the home. “Given the intensive care resource in Estonia, it is very important to prevent a sudden overload of the health care sys tem,” said Irja Lutsar. “This is despite the fact that Estonian hospitals and family doctors have made thorough prepara tions for dealing with COVID patients.” “In this health crisis, every person’s own contribution to preventing the spread of the virus is crucial,” said Irja Lutsar. “Anyone who has come in contact with or suspects that he or she has been exposed to the virus must definitely avoid contact to anyone outside the home. Strict isolation rules must be followed and the per son has to stay indoors for 14 days. The sick person must stay at home until healing is as sessed by the family doctor. Only this way will we be able to contain the spread of the virus.” In their recommendations to the government committee, the researchers stressed the need to systematically inform at-risk groups, especially the elderly. There is a need to improve the monitoring of people in home care and isolation and to dis
tance people in public space. However, it should not be for gotten that younger people and children are also infected with coronavirus. The researchers also provid ed an overview of what Estonia can do to support the develop ment of the vaccine. The Emergency Committee also re ceived an overview of treatment options available in other countries. In addition to Professor Irja Lutsar, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Health Development Kristi Rüütel, Chief Medical Officer of the North Estonian Regional Hos pital and Professor of Surgical Diseases at the University of Tartu Peep Talving, doctor of Infectious Diseases at the Uni versity of Tartu Pilleriin Soodor and Professor of Research of practical virology at the Uni versity of Tartu Andres Merits are members of the Science Council. The strategy bureau of the Government Office organizes the work of the Science Coun cil. Additional Information: Government communication unit press@riik.ee valitsus.ee
9
rebuilding. Opera communi cated heavy human experiences and emotions that audiences were trying to process them selves. Arguably Georg Ots’ most famous operatic role was the character of the Demon in Anton Rubinstein’s Demon. In this role, Ots played a tortured soul who must balance his desire to destroy divinely-created beauty and his infatuation with Tamara, the daughter of a Georgian prince. Ots’ impas sioned arias teetered on the edge between longing and tor ment. He would find even greater fame through his lead role in the 1958 Russian film Mister X. Georg was Estonia’s representa tive in what was allowed to be explored culturally in his situa tion. That is, songs and theatre productions were filtered and censored. While generally limit ed to the circulation and ap proved touring destinations in side the Soviet Union, Georg Ots toured extensively and pro moted his voice and body of work as much as he could. Financial backing and orga nizations dedicated to opera grew at a similar time and in a similar manner between Canada and Estonia. In 1865, a song and dramatic society called “Estonia” was created, which after the turn of the 20th cen tury developed more and more
theatre productions. In 1913, these productions found a dedi cated home with the construc tion of the Estonia Theatre in Tallinn. 31 years after this, in 1944, Ots made his solo opera debut.
Government of the Republic of Estonia
chatbot service circulated even before the crisis, but the hacka thon enabled us to quickly put the idea into action, and hope fully, it will reduce the burden on hotlines,” said Michaela Snopková, one of the creators of Suve. As a consultant to foreign specialists, she has no ticed that people often have questions that do not require personal consultation, but rather they need to be directed to the right information. “There is no need to call the family doctor hotline to ask if it is possible to travel to Finland or to get infor mation about the certificate for incapacity to work. Suve will find answers to these questions. This will ensure that those who have symptoms of the corona virus or some other illness and need prompt and personal coun selling could quickly reach a doctor,” said Snopková. Suve the chatbot has already been added to many websites. Through active use, the chatbot can learn and answer questions more accurately. Thanks to the work contributed by volunteers, the chatbot can soon speak in Russian as well. In addition, Suve collects and transmits unanswered user questions to editors, which helps to develop the chatbot. All volunteers are welcome to contribute to the development of the chatbot. If you are a data entry clerk, translator, or editor and wish to contribute, please visit https://eebot.ee/en/. The website also provides additional information for institutions and companies that wish to embed
A chatbot will help you find answers to your questions about the crisis Tallinn, Stenbock House, 23 March 2020 – The websites of several government agencies now have Suve, an automated chatbot which provides answers to frequently asked questions about the emergen cy situation and the corona virus. The chatbot provides answers to questions in Esto nian and English and uses information from the official sources of government agen cies. According to Marten Kae vats, Adviser of the Strategy Unit of the Government Office, correct and up-to-date informa tion is of critical importance in the current emergency situation. “The chatbot offers a new way to get information on changes that affect us all in terms of life-planning and also helps to relieve the burden on different hotlines. Suve the chatbot can still be compared to a young puppy who is yet to learn all the tricks, but dozens of volun teers are working to improve it,” said Kaevats. The idea to create Suve came about thanks to Hack the Crisis, a hackathon organised by the Estonian startup community, Garage 48, and Accelerate Esto nia. “The idea of a nationwide
Perhaps the peak of Cana dian opera after the Second World War was the 1967 Montreal World Exposition, where five international opera companies (the Hamburg State Opera, Milan’s La Scala, Moscow’s Bolshoi Opera, the Royal Swedish Opera, and the Vienna State Opera) all made their North American debut. Here, to international au diences, the Canadian Opera Company (COC) presented Offenbach’s Tales of Hoffmann and Harry Somers’ Louis Riel, the latter of which was written for the Canadian centennial and has become one of Canada’s most famous operas. While Esto nian opera performers delved largely into the creations of the past, Canadian operas had started to introduce more recent Canadian history and characters. 100 years after Georg Ot’s birth, we still look to the arts – including music, poetry, and opera – for a voice that speaks to our experiences, even across cultural boundaries.
(Continued on page 10)
16
EESTI ELU reedel, 3. aprillil 2020 — Friday, April 3, 2020
Nr. 13
Tellige EESTI ELU! Eesti Maja 60. aastapäev 1. aprill 2020 märgib Toronto Eesti Maja 60. aastapäeva. Loot si me, et saame seda vers ta posti ühiselt tähistada, kuid COVID-19 kriisi tõttu pole meil võimalik kokku tulla. Kodus püsimine on praegusel hetkel parim viis kaitsta meie kogukonda. Koju jäämine on samas vas tuolus Eesti Maja põhimõtetega. Kuuekümne aasta jooksul on majas toimunud tegevused toe tanud meie kogukonda Toron tos. See on olnud koduks isegi siis, kui viibime kodust eemal. Meie hulgas pole ühtegi ini mest, kes poleks rääkinud oma tihedatest sidemetest selle meile südamelähedase paigaga. Side metest, mis on loodud kogukon na, teenuste ja hariduse kaudu. Kui 4. aprillil 1960 avati esmakordselt meie uksed, siis 4. aprillil 2020 on need uksed aju tiselt suletud. Järgmised kuud panevad proovile meie kogu konna, meie rahva ja iga üksikisiku tugevuse. Sellel keerulisel ajal on tähtis
meeles pidada, et maja asutajad tegutsesid samuti omamoodi kriisi ajal, luues Eesti Maja, mis sai aluseks tugeva ja aktiivse kogukonna rajamisel. Nad tead sid, mis tunne oli olla teistest äralõigatud. Nad teadsid, mida tähendas ebakindlus tuleviku osas. Nende jaoks polnud kao tus võõras. Kuid neil oli olemas ka loo tus. ,,Me kestame üle aja.“ See olid Eesti luuletaja Henrik Visnapuu poolt kirja pandud lootust täis sõnum, mis gravee riti Toronto Eesti Majja 1963. aastal. Loodame, et selles kriisis võib siiski leiduda terake positiivset, kui lõpuks saame jälle tugevamana kokku tulla. Kui kord jälle on turvaline, siis koguneme taas, et pidutseda, õppida ja lihtsalt üksteise seltsis olla. Meil on olemas plaanid 60. aastapäeva tähistamiseks ning me jagame neid niipea, kui saabub õige aeg. Ootame juba, millal taas kord Eesti Majas üksteist tervitada saame. TORONTO EESTI MAJA JUHATUS
Markus Rosenberg kutsub kodutreeninguid tegema Markus Rosen berg, personaal treeningustuudio Fit Cul ture Inc. omanik, julgustab inimesi oma tree ningurütmi jät kama ka praeguse kriisi ajal. Kuigi stuudiod on suletud, saab trenni teha kodust. Alljärgnevalt Markuse pöör dumine. Nagu mõned teavad, alusta sin sel nädalal üks-ühele vir tuaalsessioone FaceTime, Zoom ja Instagram Video kanalite kaudu ning jätkan seega kõikide klientide toetamist kõige pare mal viisil nende endi kodudes. Et aidata kõiki huvilisi, alus tan järgmisel nädalal igal teisi päeval ja neljapäeval kell 12
päeval tasuta 30-minutiliste treeningute pakkumist. Igaüks on teretulnud ühinema Zoom, Instagram Live ja/või Facebooki kaudu, võite kaasa kutsuda ka pere ja sõpru. Osalemiseks va jate väikest treeninguruumi ja veebi- või telefonikaamerat. Facebooki grupi ,,Fit Culture Inner Circle“ vahendusel saab hoida end kursis rohkemate ta suta treeningutega ja nõuannete ga parema tervise ja treeningu osas. See on avatud kõigile info jagamiseks, küsimuste esitami seks ja nõuannete pakkumiseks. Kõik küsimused teretunud! Sinu tõeline rikkus on sinu tervises. MARKUS ROSENBERG, www.fitculture.ca
Tartu College’i teade Seoses vajadusega piirata COVID-19 viiruse levikut otsustas Tartu College’i nõukogu, et Tartu College’i G-korrus (seal asu vad saal, korporatsioonide toad ning raamatukogu) on publiku le suletud alates 14. märtsist kuni vähemalt 1. maini 2020. Sel ajavahemikul seal toimuma pidanud üritused on tühistatud või edasi lükatud.
Eesti Elu teade Eesti Elu kontor Tartu College’i hoones ei ole praegu külasta jatele avatud. Palun kasutage lehe kontoriga suhtlemiseks tele foni: 416-733-4550 või emaili: eetalitus@eestielu.ca Lehe kontor on suletud ülestõusmispühadel reedel, 10. ja esmaspäeval, 13. aprillil. Pakume praegusel keerulisel ajal kõigile soovijaile Eesti Elu digilehte üheks kuuks tasuta. Selleks saatke e-kiri eetalitus@ eestielu.ca või digi@eestielu.ca, et korraldada Teil lehele juurdepääs. EESTI ELU TOIMETUS
EELK kirikupäev ja vaimulik laulupidu „Rõõm üle maa“ peetakse tuleval aastal EELK konsistoorium ning EELK Kirikupäeva ja Laulu peo Sihtasutus teatavad, et EELK kirikupäev ja vaimulik laulupidu „Rõõm üle maa“ lükatakse aasta võrra edasi ning see toimub 2.-4. juulil 2021 Viljandis. Pöördumisele laulupeo ja kirikupäeva korraldajate ja osa liste poole kirjutasid alla EELK peapiiskop Urmas Viilma, EELK jumalateenistuselu, kiri kumuusika ja hariduse assessor Marko Tiitus, EELK Kiriku päeva ja Laulupeo Sihtasutuse nõukogu esimees Jüri Ehasalu, EELK Kirikupäeva ja Laulupeo Sihtasutuse juhatuse esimees Piret Aidulo ja vaimuliku laulu peo „Rõõm üle maa“ kunstiline juht Heli Jürgenson. 3.-5. juulil 2020 Viljandis toimuma pidanud kirikupäeva ja vaimuliku laulupeo edasilükka mine otsustati neljapäeval, 26.03.2020 toimunud EELK konsistooriumi ning EELK Kirikupäeva ja Laulupeo Sihta sutuse esindajate ühisel nõupi damisel. Peapiiskop Urmas Viilma avaldas lootust, et kogu see aeg ja armastus, mis laulupeo kor raldamisse tänaseks on pa nus tatud, leiab ilusa ja rõõmustava väljundi tuleva aasta suvel. „Vaimulik laulupidu ja kiri kupäev on traditsiooniliselt meie kiriku kõige rahvarohkem ja esinduslikum suursündmus, mis hõlmab kõiki EELK praost kondi, kogudusi, muusikakol lektiive ja asutusi, samuti meie sõpru ja partnereid väljaspool Eestit. Kriis on puudutanud omal moel meid kõiki. Seda arvestades ei ole laulupeo ja kirikupäeva üldine moto ja sõ num „Rõõm üle maa“ praeguses olukorras ega isegi vahetult peale kriisi leevenemist kõige asjakohasem,“ põhjendas otsust EELK jumalateenistuselu, kiri kumuusika ja hariduse assessor Marko Tiitus. (Allikas: EELK Konsistoorium)
Putiniga kätelnud arst haigestus koroonaviirusse
New Yorki saabus USA mereväe haiglalaev
Moskva Kommunarka piir konna nakkushaigla peaarst dr Deniss Protsenko haigestus koroonaviirusse. Uudis jõudis rahvusvahelisse meediasse, kuna dr Protsenko kohtus möödunud nädalal Venemaa presidendi Vladimir Putiniga ja kätles temaga, kui presi dent käis haiglas ametlikul visiidil, vahendab TvRain.ru. Vene meediakanali andmetel
Esmaspäeva hommikul saabus New Yorki Manhattani kai juurde USA mereväe haigla on 44-aastane dr Protsenko nüüd patsiendina omaenda haiglas, tema seisund on rahul dav. President Putinile on tehtud koroonaviiruse teste, seni on testide tulemused olnud nega tiivsed. (D/EE)
laev, edastas The New York Times. Kuigi New York on muutu nud USA koroonaviiruse epi tsentriks, siis laeval ei ravita ko roonaviirusesse haigestunuid. Laev aitab vähendada ülerah vastatud haiglate koormust. Mereväe ametnike sõnul on väga raske tagada, et keegi ko roonaviirusega ei saaks laeva pardale. Laeva meeskond ei pääse aluselt maha, personali tervist kontrollitakse regulaar selt. Lisaks püütakse leida uusi viise patsientide testimiseks, kes laevale ravida võetakse. (D/EE)