Op-Ed

In these challenging times, with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine spanning over 1.5 years, the repercussions have reverberated across  Europe, particularly affecting the Baltic States,  Finland, and the United States. By now we have accepted that this war will go on probably for a long  time. The economy is shaken...

The Estonian Society of Los Angeles is proud to present the winning essays of "The Importance of Community" contest for Middle and High School students by Allison Vilms There have been times in my life that I have felt very alone. Times where everything seemed to fall out of place....

The Estonian Society of Los Angeles is proud to present the winning essays of "The Importance of Community" contest for Middle and High School students by Miina Anvelt Growing up as an Estonian-American initially separated my communal identity into two. There was the Estonian version of me: someone who went...

Karl Altau, JBANC As we near Christmas and the New Year, it is glaringly apparent that those of us who support Ukraine’s path to victory against the Russian onslaught will be left with a big chunk of coal in our stockings. Victory will have to wait.The Grinch rejoices today, but...

Karl Altau, JBANC Three focal points have dominated in the United States Congress over the past two months:1) The emergence of new House Speaker Mike Johnson.2) Keeping Congress funded.3) Passing the Ukraine supplemental. Congressman Mike Johnson from Louisiana seemed to have come out of nowhere to assume the Speakership after...

Laas Leivat, Eesti Elu Approximately 18,000 foreign students studied at Russian post-secondary institutions in 2021. This rose to 23,000 in 2022 and jumped to 30,000 in 2023. Why such a sizable increase now? Russia quickly needs to refill the intelligence vacancies due to hundreds of its spies being exposed and...

Renee Meriste, President of the Estonian Society of Los Angeles The strongest guarantee of freedom and a free country lies in the unwavering commitment of its population to uphold and protect the fundamental principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. To safeguard this freedom, it is imperative...

Jaak Treiman, the Honoray Consul in LA The Foreign Ministry’s decision to close the New York and San Francisco consulates has generated explanations and commentary. I want to add my commentary to the mix, offering what is perhaps a different perspective. My connection to Estonia’s foreign ministry predates the reacquisition...

Back in the day, when young folks grew up, they had a sense of adventure and wanted to see the world. They signed up to work on a cargo ship and set sail for where the winds would take them. Why not try a modified version of that today, and...

There is an expression: turning swords into ploughshares, restoring despair to hope, war to peace, and putting an end to the chaos that has now taken over our major cities, where thousands are cowering behind closed curtains, while mobs are massing in the streets, looting, trashing, and burning what we...