Nice for those who can travel. But it would also be nice for this tradition to continue in North America on years inbetween song festivals, since not everyone is able to travel to Laulupidu.

Robert Kreem who gave birth to the concept of these ESTO global gatherings starting in 1972 in Toronto, decided that since Estonia regained its independence in 1991, that the last ESTO would be in 1996 from Stockholm to Tallinn. He even carried the ESTO event flag to Tallinn as a symbolic gesture of this termination of ESTOS. After 20 years, and declining attendance numbers at all of the subsequent ESTOS, the Estonian World Council (EWC) has determined that the final ESTO will be in Helsinki-Tallinn in 2019. Really? I know Helsinki is a beautiful city but Tallinn is our Estonian capital. Let's just go to Estonia every year and take our valuable foreign currency and invest in the Estonian hospitality market instead of the Finnish market. Germany has Oktoberfest every year, so maybe the EWC can work with the Estonian sponsors and build a stronger marketing program to attract Estonians living abroad to visit Estonia more frequently. Who knows how long Estonia will remain free with Putin at the border and clowns and criminals in the Oval office in Washington.

These councils have some wonderful ideas: for whom? The ex-pat community is spread far and wide and it seems that one has to have specific 'qualifications' to be updated about impending events and their timing. Mostly one hears about these when the die has been cast. Those remote from the bigger centres, be it by distance or other variables rapidly become irrelevant to the world of their youth.
Don't the 'ordinary Joes' as we say down-under count in the proposals, preparatory opinions, etc. Is it any wonder we grow away into worlds of our own.
I am quite perplexed by what you mean by 'moving forward': To my simple reasoning, doing this means integrating our past and present into one: It is the past which has shaped our identities.
Many of us have done little things which have generated an understanding of the notion that no one has the right to infringe the rights of others. At times this has been done sans flag waving: The latter being counterproductive in some environments. Regardless of how one does it 'the search for peace and harmony' means just that! And 'camaraderie' means just that- sadly I fear it is sadly lacking among our wider community.

I have just sent a long message thru. It was declined with several excuses such as time out. I suspect the reason lies elsewhere.
I really don't wish to waste time retyping my thoughts.