“Brussels miniature park commemorates Baltic Way of 1989 with large-scale event on 23/08”
Exactly twenty years ago, in 1989, two million Balts held hands, forming a 600 km-long human chain from Tallinn via Riga to Vilnius - the longest-ever. This unprecedented gesture of solidarity arose out of protest against the Soviet occupation. With this action, the Balts called in a peaceful way for more democracy and the independence in their states.
Two years later, the so-called "Baltic Way" would actually lead to the independence of the three Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and is symbolic of the end of the Cold War, culminating in the fall of the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989. Moreover, it was the first peaceful demonstration that was not broken up by Moscow, which had an enormous impact on the rest of the former Eastern bloc.
Today, twenty years later, Mini-Europe wants to commemorate this important symbolic action as part of its own twentieth anniversary celebrations. On 23 August, the park is organising a large-scale event, calling on everyone to come to the park and form a human chain of 600 people connecting the north to the south of Mini-Europe.
Participants can register for this via www.mini-europe.eu. Anyone who registers will receive a confirmation by e-mail and will be able to enter the park free of charge on 23 August. Participants must be available between 14.30 and 15.30; the chain will be formed at 15.00.
Besides forming a human chain, there is a second aspect to the event. The cities of Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn have provided 200 miniature dolls which will link together those cities in Mini-Europe. The inauguration of this miniature Baltic Way will take place at 14.00, in the presence of Mr. Savisaar, Mayor of Tallinn and one of the organisers of the Baltic Way in 1989.
The Atomium is also cooperating in the event: furthermore, the flags of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will be flown, and the press will have the opportunity to take photos of the human chain from the different platforms of the Atomium.
For further information about the Baltic Way:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltic_Way
About Mini-Europe
In the heart of Brussels, located at the foot of the Atomium, MINI-EUROPE is the only park where you can have a whistle stop tour around Europe in a few short hours. A truly unique voyage! Stroll amid the typical ambiance of the most beautiful towns of the Old Continent. The incomparable chimes of Big Ben welcome you to the heart of London. The gondolas and mandolins will invite you to discover the charms of Venice. Follow the T.G.V. from Paris to the other end of France. You can make the models work yourself: the eruption of Vesuvius, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the bullfight in Seville and many more… In total there are 300 models and sites in a quite unequalled craftsmanship.
MINI-EUROPE… an absolute must!
