#baltic chain

[rodpower78]

2 Million Latvians, Estonians, and Lithuanians came together in one of the largest protests against the USSR known as the Baltic Way or Baltic Chain. August 23rd, 1989

[un-ionizetheradlab]

Every village, town, and state has risen again from the ashes of the Second World War -  except for the three Baltic States, former member states of the League of Nations. Have you not noticed our absence? Today, nearly half a century later, we are calling out to our friends, in the North and South, East and West: the Baltic states are standing on the threshold of Europe again. Europe greets us today as its long lost sons. As for ourselves, we have never considered ourselves lost. Let us, then, extend hands to one another and walk together along our common way: the BALTIC WAY is the way of Europe; the BALTIC WAY is the way of abolishing the last colonial possessions in Europe; the BALTIC WAY is the way to our common home.

Brothers and sisters in East and West, we are prepared to forget about your double standards, if you will find in yourselves courage to demand the application of the principles of international law not only in Africa and Asia but also in Europe. Let us unite our voices and demand that Hitler-Stalin pacts together with their secret protocols be declared null and void from the very moment of their signing! Let us declare the annexation of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania unlawful!

We are ready, we are arriving.

[lookninjas]

[panicinthestudio]

Protesters call for pro-democracy 'human chain' across Hong Kong on 30th anniversary of the Baltic Way | Hong Kong Free Press HKFP

Hong Kong protesters are calling for fresh action on Friday in the form of a human chain across the city in support of democracy, on the 30th anniversary of the Baltic Way. A user on the -like LIHKG forum, often used by protesters to discuss ideas, came up with a plan called “The Hong Kong Way” on …

[artykyn]

Guys if you’ve never heard of The Singing Revolution or the Baltic Way I strongly suggest you look into it because that’s some incredibly powerful history.

My seminar professor is from Estonia and since we’re about to start student presentations for the rest of the semester, today was our last real class, and she decided to ramble about her experience with The Singing Revolution and she even showed us a map and pointed to WHERE SHE ACTUALLY STOOD IN THE BALTIC WAY.

And we watched part of a documentary and at one point she went “Yup haha there’s the bus I was on! I was one of the people that had to take that ferry ride...” and it blows my mind to be able to put someone that I personally know into the context of an important historical event. Just... wow.

[dougalmcguires]

yesterday in history we were talking about the baltic chain that happened in 1989 and wow wow it just sounded so amazing and inspiring…..here’s a brief (ha) summary.

the baltic states (latvia, lithuania + estonia) wanted to become independent from the soviet union. to do this, they held hands.

2 million people, from these 3 countries held hands, creating a human chain that was about 600km long, connecting the capitals of all 3 countries and stretching across the borders. it was an entirely peaceful protest, and gorbachev didn’t send in the armed forces or anything. they were allowed to continue their protest.

this was different to other countries that had wanted independence, like romania and east germany, where there had been violent uprisings.

the people from the baltic states waved their national flags and sang songs in order to assert their identity- the soviet union was not just russia! in fact, the number of russians in the soviet union was almost equal to all the other different ethnic groups in the union added together.

they became independent in 1990. here’s a video of the baltic chain, because you’ve really gotta see this for yourself, it’s so inspiring http://youtu.be/Ba_-jZ_VyAk

almost forgot to mention! the protest was organised on the anniversary of the nazi-soviet pact (molotov-ribbentrop), which was made in 1939. this pact had basically given away the baltic states to the soviet union without their permission, but stalin made it seem like they’d joined the union out of choice.

sorry i rambled a bit but i just really love history and thought this was interesting

[went-looking]

Baltic Chain, Remembered, or History Lingers

found on the street in vilnius, lithuania.

[still-intrepid]

As for ourselves, we have never considered ourselves lost

reading again the actual text of the joint declaration that went with the Baltic Chain demonstration and wow.