On the eve prior to the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, in October 2017, we wanted to express our gratitude to journalists around the world, to those men and women whose work helped Estonia gain independence, influencing world politics and keeping up the spirits of our locals.
Our gratitude embodied itself in a Word Forest. We dedicated a noble pine tree to each and every journalist, in our biggest and oldest National Park in Lahemaa. Those pine trees still stand tall, as tall, resolute and sturdy as those journalists stood in 1991 helping Estonia in the pursuit of freedom.
There are other symbolic ties between a Forest and a Word – both have a significant role in Estonian history and culture, one should see thought behind words and forest for the trees; trees often limit visibility and in order to understand the surroundings one must listen and perceive it, similarly to words. In the silent bosom of a forest we start hearing thoughts characterising good journalism as opposed to fake news and media noise.
The 100th birthday of Estonia has passed, but as people with faith in words and belief in the forest, we keep appreciating the power of the words vested in all journalists, also of those who have influenced us after our break through and will do so continuously. More and more journalists still help us to recreate our independence on a daily basis, unveiling us, giving depth to what Estonia is to them, what it represents and stands for.
This ever-moving, and ever-seeking spirit cannot be exhausted by a certain list of names in a physical space so limited. Free speech, free word, is as alive and changing, as alive and changing is our forest. If we keep understanding the importance of a Forest and of a Word – we shall thrive in equilibrium.
We announce, that as celebrating the 100th anniversary has indeed passed, the plates with names on them have been removed from Lahemaa woods and a symbolic Word Forest - a Forest of Words - is now omnipresent in Estonia. You are welcomed to roam, walk, hike and ponder, gather new ideas in our beautiful forests!
