She described how “This existential, expanding, global scourge is manifesting in tyrants and strongmen who commit crimes against humanity, suppress fundamental freedoms, subvert democracies, and murder the truth with lies…”
This reminder, and the latest parliament’s theme of “Defending Freedom & Human Rights”, is always relevant to “people of conscience” as Rev. Curott phrases it; it’s especially pertinent in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Estonians, of course, have generations of first-hand knowledge about authoritarian forces, despots, and what it takes to restore and protect freedom and human rights. Thus, an Estonian presenter at the 2023 PoWR event was an appropriate choice.
Partaking in the parliament from August 14th to 18th is Rev. Reet Mae, who is known, along with her brother Tom, for creating the documentary Vabaduse mustrid ( Patterns of Freedom).
Beyond producing, directing, and researching in the context of Mae Productions Inc., between 2011 and 2020, Reet studied with the Chaplaincy Institute. At the conclusion of her studies, she became ordained as an Interfaith/Metaphysical minister and licensed as a marriage officiant in the Province of Ontario.
This is Mae Productions’ connection to this major interfaith gathering. As Reet and Tom state, PoWR “features impact makers in faith-based activism, scholarship, and community and the successful organizations they support – worldwide.” The most recent iterations of the parliament, going back to 1993, are directly inspired by a historic event of the same name that took place in Chicago in 1893. That first parliament brought Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Jews, Christians, Muslims, Bahá'ís, Unitarians, and Spiritualists (to name just some of the faiths represented) together during the World's Columbian Exposition.
At the last parliament, which took place online in 2021, Vabaduse mustrid was screened. This film “brought attention to the countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and the struggle of refugee families who fled Soviet occupation to preserve their culture and history in exile.”
This time around, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Tom and Reet Mae’s 2018 film Lipu heiskamine (Raising the Flag) will be screened, emphasizing the parallels between Estonia’s struggle to regain independence and Ukraine’s present-day fight against Russia to preserve theirs. As discussed previously in Eesti Elu, this film focuses on cultural, linguistic, and political self-determination through men’s stories—namely the raising of the Estonian flag from Pikk Herman as the Russians and Germans fought over Tallinn in 1941.
Their film was considered alongside 2,500 other applicants whose programming spanned themes of Climate Action, Peace & Justice, Indigenous Peoples, Women & Girls, Next Generation, the Global Ethic, and Faith & Democracy. PoWR is a special event for its contemplations of faith in a non-compartmentalized way, in a way that considers its implications in many situations. Moreover, it showcases the work of artists as much as speakers. In fact, in addition to the screening of Lipu heiskamine, artwork associated with the film was selected for the PoWR art exhibit, as above.
It’s still possible to secure a spot to attend the parliament at 2023PoWR.org, to witness how Estonians are taking an active role in advocating for freedom and human rights in new ways.
And as Reet and Tom Mae expand their filmmaking to include Ukrainian points of view, you can also support their work directly at eestilood.com.
