Eesti in brief - 2011-05-12

Tallinn City Council approved an agreement on wide-ranging cooperation between Estonia’s capital Tallinn and St. Petersburg, reports Postimees Online. The agreement between the city governments covers trade and economic issues, science and technical items, culture and humanitarian spheres. Mayor of Tallinn Edgar Savisaar said that the agreement is an updated version of the cooperation protocols between the two cities that dates back to the 1990s and that covers almost all spheres of the city’s life. “It is important for both sides that the cooperation supports developing economic and cultural relations and exceeds narrow institutional boundaries,” said Savisaar. St. Petersburg’s governor, Valentina Matviyenko, and Savisaar will sign the cooperation agreement on May 15 in Tallinn.

The Estonian government approved at its May 5 session the sale of Estonia’s unused emission permits, or AAUs (Assigned Amount Units), to the Kingdom of Spain; the revenues of the deal will be spent on new trams for the capital Tallinn, reports LETA. The sale of the AAUs is taking place as part of the green investment scheme, which requires the revenue raised to be reinvested in environmentally friendly projects designed to reduce CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions. Forty-five million euros of AAU sales revenue will be invested in procuring new trams that use the most up-to-date technology for achieving energy efficiency, such as regenerative brake systems, on-board energy saving systems, better insulation materials, etc. As a result of the planned project, Tallinn public transport will see significant improvement. The improvement of the quality of public transport will in turn help increase its use and reduce the number of cars in Tallinn. The new trams are expected to arrive in 2014.

A master of storytelling, Jack Lynch, will take part in a series of storytelling events dedicated to Tallinn, the European Culture Capital in 2011, reports LETA. Lynch tells a wide range of stories that draw on Ireland’s rich oral tradition combining elements from folklore with ancient Irish myths and Wonder Tales. Dublin-born Jack is rooted in the seanchai tradition, as explored by Eamon Kelly and John Campbell, having shared a stage with both. His great humor and charm combine to deliver his engaging stories in the most entertaining, hilarious manner. As a storyteller, he has spoken often for the Dublin Yarnspinners, Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC, in Belgium, England, Scotland, and Illinois festivals. From March to November, stories from Indians, Arabs, Jamaicans, Irish, Swedes and other nations will be heard in Tallinn. Guests will perform on one story-night each and meet enthusiasts in a workshop.