The Responsibilities of the Individual and Society

Report on the 7th ESCU Regional Conference “North” in the Estonian capital /motto: “Healthy Ageing” has remained relevant ever since.

Text and Photos by
Ulrich Winz

Tallinn. The European Senior Citizens’ Union set new emphasis with the 7th Regional Conference “North”; in responsibility of the united senior citizens’ association of the “Pro Patria / Res Publica” party the conference turned on 24th/25th September to the clearly senior citizen specific theme of “Healthy Ageing”. The speakers did not simply make pleas for individual behaviour, rather politicians, scientists, athletes and artists placed everyone’s aspired goal into political context, clarifying for example what positive and understanding grandparents can mean for children and the benefit of age-related experience for politics and society. Appeals for health-appropriate behaviour from youth onwards corresponded with such to politics.

7th European Senior Citizens’ Union Regional Conference “North”, Tallinn, Estonia, September 2009

Photo 1: Former Foreign Minister, Trivimi Velliste welcomes the participants

The European Senior Citizens’ Union President Dr. Worms (D) called from a Christian responsibility on governments to create and secure conditions for the free decisions of citizens. Everyone should be able “to seek and follow the right way for themselves and their body”, physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing belong, as stated by the WHO, together, including the ability to handle any stress, limitations and disabilities and cope with them appropriately. The continuously extending life expectancy is related to

• maintaining and increasing competence (prevention)
• geriatric rehabilitation
• quality assurance in care

The developing new public image of older people is according to Worms also due to the possibility to contribute to society in honorary positions, such as in senior citizens associations within the European Senior Citizens’ Union.

Vice President Leif Hallberg (S) related the joy of “gained healthy years” to a corresponding lifestyle. The present opportunities are to be used from very early on – at the same time he appealed to the governments to support their citizens in maintaining their health as long as possible and referred to the respective EU strategies and programmes to 2013.

From a medical viewpoint Dr. Elle Elberg (S) primarily advocated maintaining social contacts between generations within the family and in public.

For Dr. Anne Ekdahl, the President of the Swedish Geriatric Association (SGF), regular blood pressure checks, active and meaningful life as well as physical and mental fitness can be a preventive measure against senile dementia.

7th European Senior Citizens’ Union Regional Conference “North”, Tallinn, Estonia, September 2009

Photo 2: Former Premier Mart Laar (left) talking to Leif Hallberg (center) and Dr. B. Worms (right)

Sports & Art as Elixir of Life
Highly respected in Estonia the Olympia 2000 decathlon winner Erki Nool took up the theme of sporting activities corresponding with the constitution and needs of every individual. As a member of parliament and head of a sports school he is mostly concerned about overweight children in Tallinn – concern clearly supported by the President of the Parliament, Enne Ergma, in her friendly address to the Conference.

The discussion revealed a readiness to take on responsibility for the own lifestyle and the will to gain as many supporters and followers as possible. Deficits were also discussed, such as self-medication (pain killers!), the partly twilight role of the pharmaceutical industry, shortage of medical specialists and care in old age (danger of isolation).

Member of Parliament Ott Lumi (EST), had to admit, according to statistics, to his country’s deficits in social benefits including the pension system.

7th European Senior Citizens’ Union Regional Conference “North”, Tallinn, Estonia, September 2009

Photo 3: Estonian Parliamentary President Enne Ergma

Two artists opened a completely different view of this subject. One being Tonis Laanemaa (EST) the painter, drawer, and sculptor, etc., and the other being the musically associated Dr. Arne Mikk (EST). From early on the artist has been receptive to ideas from both in Estonia and abroad and has been successful in his pursuit of putting these into reality to the great pleasure of many citizens and his own satisfaction. His credo “Art – our love – our life” would also be true for the former director of the Estonian National Opera. No words were needed when he had Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Air from Suite No.3” played, and an aria sung by Anne Sophie von Otter. Even Michael Jackson – as a virtual “contrast programme” – did not fall short of effect in this context.

Our appreciation for this successful regional conference “North” in the building of the Estonian Parliament "Riikogu" on Tallinn's Cathedral Hill is owed to Ann Räämet (president of the unified senior citizens’ association), Leif Hallberg (Sweden, responsible vice president), Liis Klaar (former member of parliament and moderator), and a gaggle of volunteers from Tallinn.

The theme attracted over 80 people from eleven countries, far beyond the borders of the Northern region. The European Senior Citizens’ Union was also represented by vice president Dr. Flemming (A), General Secretary Uhlenbrock (D) and Treasurer Dr. Paul (A). U. Winz expressed regards from the region “East”. It is uplifting to have Europe focus on transnational discussions of everyday issues in place of concerns about war and peace.

7th European Senior Citizens’ Union Regional Conference “North”, Tallinn, Estonia, September 2009

Photo 4: Entry in the Visitors’ Book of the Museum of Occupation and Fight for Freedom

Impressive Exhibition
A memorable start of the conference was celebrated with the meeting in the new Museum of Occupation and Fight for Freedom. The audience was prepared for viewing the conclusive exhibits with a welcome by the well-known former oppositionist and later prime minister Mart Laar (head of the Unified Party “Pro Partia/Res Publica”) and speech by the former foreign minister and UNO ambassador Trivimi Velliste on the path to freedom taken by Estonia.

Just the sight of swastika and red star at the front of the exhibition alone deeply touched the visitors. Impressed by the witnessing exhibits of three periods of occupation in Estonia between 1940 and 1991 (the Soviet Union, Nazi-Germany, and the Soviet Union) Dr. Worms, president of the European Senior Citizens’ Union entered few words in the visitors’ book. In a moving speech L. Hallberg commemorated the innumerable victims and simultaneously praised courage and determination of the politically committed generation between 1986 and 1991 - since they served their country and the whole of Europe and remain a paradigm for the younger generations in the process of European integration.

Text and Photos: U. Winz