People Power
May 2, 2009
In many European countries on Friday's May Day public holiday, people from all sides of the political spectrum took to the streets to protest government handling of the economic crisis, and to place the blame squarely at the feet of the banking industry. Protestors in some cities turned violent, and several hundred were arrested.
Estonians approached the day a little differently.
On Friday, Estonians from all works of life joined together in a one day brainstorming extravaganza called "My Estonia". The idea? That normal citizens should contribute to the problem-solving process.
Organisers set up 410 sites across Estonia for citizens to share ideas. Another 17 sites were set up in 11 other countries, such as Germany or the United States, for Estonians abroad. An online "virtual think tank" allowed those unable to attend physically to join in the process as well.
Rainer Noelvak, one of the event's organizers, told Deutsche Welle that getting people together was necessary.
"We see the key is to empower people who really want to get things done," Noelvak said.
From little things, big things grow
Last May nearly 50,000 volunteers turned up to help clean up Estonia - they managed to clean up garbage-littered areas in the entire country in just five hours.
That successful effort prompted organizers to apply the same technique to an even bigger issue: problems facing Estonians in their daily lives, including the current economic downturn.
Friday's brainstorming effort was by all accounts a success, although results from the sessions are still being tallied and evaluated electronically.
Ott Umelas, who ran one of the brainstorming centers in the capital Tallinn, said even children turned up to offer solutions.
"It was great to see people who care about the same things as I do and my family does," Umelas said in an interview with Deutsche Welle. "It was great to see that we agree on a lot of things and that's what this whole initiative is trying to do."
A new democratic model
The brainstorming effort would not have been possible without Estonia's web sophistication: its citizens have widespread Internet access and Estonia was one of the first countries in the world to engage in online voting.
Rainer Noelvak says that if citizens are willing, and tools such as the internet are available, then participation in society can develop in a much more sophisticated way, beyond just voting.
"We're actually experimenting with the new democratic model here," he says.
So, the next time you feel that your government is not paying attention to you, maybe you should take your cue from Estonia.
It remains to be seen whether those in positions of power will listen to what you have to say.
Author: Andy Valvur / Clare Atkinson
Editor: Ian P. Johnson