Estonia topic (1)

Introduction
Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia (Estonian: Eesti or Eesti Vabariik) is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe . It is bordered to the north by Finland across the Gulf of Finland, to the west by Sweden across the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia (343 km), and to the east by the Russian Federation (338,6 km). The territory of Estonia covers 45,227 km² and is influenced by a temperate seasonal climate.
The Estonians are a Finnic people closely related to the Finns , with the Estonian language sharing many similarities to Finnish. The modern name of Estonia is thought to originate from the Roman historian Tacitus , who in his book Germania (ca. AD 98) described a people called the Aestii . Similarly, ancient Scandinavian sagas refer to a land called Eistland, close to the German term Estland for the country. Early Latin and other ancient versions of the name are Estia and Hestia . Until the late 1930s, the name was often written as Esthonia in most English speaking countries.
Estonia is a democratic parliamentary republic and is divided into fifteen counties. The capital and largest city is Tallinn. With a population of only 1.4 million, it is one of the least -populous members of the European Union. Estonia was a member of the League of Nations from 22 September 1921, has been a member of the United Nations since 17 September 1991, of the European Union since 1 May 2004 and of NATO since 29 March 2004 Estonia has also signed the Kyoto protocol.
Economy
Estonian economy was one of the fastest growing in the world until 2006 with growth rates even exceeding 10% annually. Despite some concerns both in and outside of the country, the Estonian economy and its currency remained highly resilient and solvent .
Until recent years the Estonian economy continued to grow with admirable rates. Estonian GDP grew by 6.4% in the year 2000 and with double speeds after accession to the EU in 2004. The GDP grew by 7.9% in 2007 alone . Increases in labor costs , rise of taxation on tobacco, alcohol, electricity, fuel, and gas, and also external pressures (growing prices of oil and food on the global market ) are expected to raise inflation just above the 10% mark in the first months of 2009.
In the first quarter 2008 GDP grew only 0,1%. The government made a supplementary negative budget , which was passed by Riigikogu. The revenue of the budget was decreased for 2008 by EEK 6.1 billion and the expenditure by EEK 3.2 billion.
Estonia joined the World Trade Organization in 1999. A sizable current account deficits remains, but started to shrink in the last months of 2008 and is expected to do so in the near future.
In the fourth quarter of 2008, the average monthly gross wage in Estonia was 13,117 kroons (€838, US$1,066.5).
Estonia is nearly energy independent supplying over 90% of its electricity needs with locally mined oil shale . Alternative energy sources such as wood, peat, and biomass make up approximately 9% of primary energy production . Estonia imports needed petroleum products from Western Europe and Russia . Oil shale energy, telecommunications, textiles, chemical products, banking , services, food and fishing , timber, shipbuilding, electronics, and transportation are key sectors of the economy. The ice-free port of Muuga , near Tallinn, is a modern facility featuring good transshipment capability, a high- capacity grain elevator, chill/ frozen storage, and brand -new oil tanker off-loading capabilities. The railroad serves as a conduit between the West , Russia, and other points to the East.
After a long period of very high growth of GDP, the GDP of Estonia decreased by a little over 3% on a yearly basis in the 3rd quarter of 2008. In the 4th quarter of 2008 the negative growth was already -9,4%. Some international experts and journalists, who like to view the three Baltic States as a single economic identity, have failed to notice that Estonia has constantly performed better than Lithuania and Latvia on many fundamental indicators. The current account deficit and inflation is lower than in Latvia, the GDP higher than in Latvia and Lithuania, Estonia's public debt is a very low 3.8% of GDP and government reserves are close to 10% of GDP. The difference is exemplified by the fact that in December 2008 Estonia became one of the donor countries to the IMF lead rescue package for Latvia.
The central bank uses a currency board system and has independent reserves, which are big enough to buy back all the currency in circulation.
Estonia today is mainly influenced by developments in Germany, Finland and Sweden - the three main trade partners. The government recently increased greatly its spending on innovation. The prime minister of Estonian Reform Party has stated its goal of bringing Estonian GDP per capita into the TOP 5 of EU by 2022 . Ireland is sometimes seen as a model for Estonian economic future. However, the GDP of Estonia decreased by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter of 2008, over 3% in the 3rd quarter of 2008, and over 9% in the 4rd quarter of 2008.
History
The Estonians, an ancient people, originally came from a region just west of the Ural Mountains . Historical references to Estonia begin in the 1100's. At that time the region was divided into small pagan states. Beginning in 1202, an order of German crusading knights from Livonia (Latvia) joined with the Danes to conquer and Christianize the Estonians. By 1227 the Danes controlled northern Estonia; the Livonian Knights, southern Estonia. The Teutonic Knights, another German crusading order, gained control of southern Estonia in 1237 and later conquered all of Estonia.
The Teutonic Knights withdrew from Estonia in 1560. Sweden and Poland then fought for control of Estonia; in 1629, Sweden won and annexed the region. Peter I of Russia conquered Estonia in 1710, and in 1721 Sweden formally recognized Russian possession of the region.
Russia remained in control of Estonia until shortly after the Bolshevik revolution of 1917. At the treaty of Brest-Litovsk the following year, which brought an end to Russian involvement in World War I, Estonia was ceded. The new Soviet government at first refused to recognize Estonian independence but gave way in February 1920. The new state – along with its Baltic neighbors, Lithuania and Latvia – enjoyed just two decades of independent statehood before the Soviet Union took control under the 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact. Soviet ownership lasted barely 12 months before Estonia was conquered in the German invasion of the Soviet Union. It was retaken by the Red Army in 1944, after which Estonia was constituted as one of the 15 Soviet Socialist Republics. Four decades passed until Mikhail Gorbachev who, as Communist Party General Secretary, offered the prospect of change for the Baltic States. A key part of the perestroika (economic reform) program was the devolution of power to the republics. Estonia led the way among the Baltic States, assisted by the collaboration between nationalist groups and the Communist Party, who joined together in a People’s Front (analogous bodies emerged in Latvia and Lithuania) to orchestrate change.
Having asserted the right to make their own legislation , measures to establish an Estonian currency – preparatory to full economic autonomy – and to restore Estonian as the official language quickly followed. In March 1990, the Estonian Communist Party voted in favor of full independence from the Soviet Union but allowed for a six- month transitional period before making the final decision. President Gorbachev was powerless to prevent Estonia to become independent. Rapid international recognition of Estonia as a sovereign state, followed by admission to the United Nations. In June 1992, Estonia got its own currency, the Kroon, and a new post-Soviet constitution. The constitution was first put to the test in September 1992. The legislative elections produced an inconclusive result . Isamaa (Fatherland Alliance) formed a coalition government with two other parties; party leader Mart Laar became premier. Laar is acknowledged as probably the most successful Politian in Estonia, taking much credit for guiding Estonia through major political and economic changes.
Culture
The culture of Estonia incorporates indigenous heritage , as represented by the country's rare Finno -Ugric national language Estonian and the sauna, with mainstream Nordic and European cultural aspects. Due to its history and geography , Estonia's culture has been influenced by the traditions of the adjacent area's various Finnic, Baltic and Germanic peoples as well as the cultural developments in the former dominant powers Sweden and Russia.
Estonian holidays are mostly based on the Western Christian calendar and Protestant traditions.
Notable among these is Jaanipäev, the Estonian Midsummer which involves seeking one's way to non- urban environments and burning large bonfires and drunken revelry of Jaaniõhtu. The midsummer traditions also include different versions of pairing magic, such as collecting a number of different kinds of flowers and putting them under one's pillow , after which one is meant to see the future spouse in one's dreams.
The Estonian Christmas , Jõulud, is generally in line with the North and Middle European traditions of Christmas trees and Advent calendars and traditional meals, involving a number of dishes which are typically only eaten on Christmas. Christmas is the most extensive and appreciated and commercialized holiday in Estonia. Holidays start from the 23rd December and continue through Christmas Eve (24th), Christmas Day (25th). In schools and in many workplaces, the vacation continues until the New Year.
The Estonian independence day is the 24th of February and a national holiday.
Cinema in Estonia started in 1896 when the first "moving pictures" were screened in Tallinn. The first movie theater was opened in 1908. First local documentary was made in 1908 with the production of a newsreel about Swedish King Gustav V’s visit to Tallinn. The first Estonian documentary was created by Johannes Pääsuke in 1912 that was followed by a short film Karujaht Pärnumaal ( Bear Hunt in Pärnumaa) in 1914.
The first full length feature film was made in 1924 Shadow of the Past directed by Konstantin Märska. Theodor Luts Noored kotkad (Young Eagles) (1927) is generally regarded as the cornerstone of Estonian cinema.
In 1960's a story of Prince Gabriel by Estonian writer Eduard Bornhöhe was turned into a movie script by Arvo Valton. Grigori Kromanov was named to be the director of Viimne reliikvia (The Last Relic) , released in 1969 by Tallinnfilm.
Estonian Television Eesti Televisioon or ETV is the national public television station of Estonia. Its first broadcast was on July 19, 1955, and it celebrated the 50th anniversary on July 19, 2005.
Despite its relatively short history of art music, Estonia today is well respected for its musicianship, with a quality education of classical musicians having produced a high proportion of world- class conductors and singers. Estonian art music came to the forefront as a part of the national romantic movement .
Modern Estonian popular music has received attention also in foreign countries, especially on the rock and metal scenes, with such bands as Vanilla Ninja , Metsatöll and Arvo Pärt gaining international acclaim.
Climate
As in other northern countries, seasons vary widely in Estonia. The length of the longest day in summer is over 19 hours , while the shortest winter day lasts only six hours. It is not completely dark at night from the beginning of May until the end of July. Estonia, on the coast of the Baltic Sea, is at the same latitude in Europe as central Sweden and the northern tip of Scotland . The temperature in the summer months (June–September) is typically 15…18ºC; in winter, –4…–5ºC. Estonian weather offers many surprises. Temperatures may fluctuate by 20º C; in the early morning the thermometer might read –12ºC and by afternoon it may already be 10ºC. Although it doesn't always snow in winter, there tends to be about 10 cm of snow on the ground consistently from late December through to the beginning of March.  
The sky over Estonia is cloudy for about half the year, and the hilly southeast region experiences up to 750 mm of precipitation due to Estonia's maritime climate.
Nature
While seven thousand rivers and streams carry rainwater to the sea, bogs and wooded swamplands of different types cover over one fifth of the country — a world index topped only by the northern neighbour, Finland. Various kinds of forests comprise slightly under half of Estonia's territory. Wetlands, together with primeval forests, represent preserved communities which have for the most part been destroyed in Europe. More than 1000 lakes (5 per cent of the Estonian territory) dot the countryside , which is relatively flat — almost two thirds of the territory lies less than 50 m above sea level. The highest point is Suur Munamägi, 317 m above sea level, in the southeast of the country.
Estonia is the home of several mammals as well as plant species that are extinct or very rare in other parts of Europe. The most numerous species of the large mammals are the roe deer, elk, and wild boar. Beaver , lynx, wolf , brown bear, grey seal, and ringed seal are relatively common as well. Of the 333 recorded bird species, 222 breed in Estonia, including the capercaillie, black stork, and all together at least 400 pairs of eagles. At least 10 per cent of the Estonian territory is subject to the environment protection . The most important protection areas are resting and recreation areas for migratory birds, mainly seashore wetlands, and chaste woodland and wetland areas. The preservation of traditional cultural landscapes is important as well.
Political structure
With the proclamation of Estonia's national independence in 1918, a parliamentary republic was formed. The constitution of 1920 was clearly one of the most democratic for that time. The Parliament elected a Riigivanem (president) who acted as the leader of the government and head of state. In 1991 the Republic of Estonia was restored on the basis of continuity with the constitution prior to 1938.
The contemporary Estonian government follows the principles of separation of power and its people elect a 101-member parliament every four years. Only Estonian citizens may participate in parliamentary elections. The Parliament chooses a president, who can be in office for a five year period for a maximum of two terms . The President is the Supreme Commander of the National Defense of Estonia. A party must gather 5% of the votes in order to become part of the Parliament. As a rule, the President asks the party leader who has collected the most votes to form the new government.
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