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A colossal human chain, stretching 430 miles, spanned across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on 23rd August, 1989 - the anniversary of the Molotov Ribbentrop Pact that covertly carved up the region fifty years earlier.\nAround two million people held hands for 15 minutes, synchronised at 7pm and photographed from helicopters above. Organised by Rahvarinne of Estonia, the Tautas fronte of Latvia, and S\u0105j\u016bdis of Lithuania, the event drew global attention to the three nations\u2019 desire for independence.\xa0\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider the Soviet authorities\u2019 response to this pacifist protest; explain how the participants were placed across the route; and reveal just how to make your own miracle in Vilnius' Cathedral Square Plaza\u2026\nFurther Reading:\n\u2022 \u201830 Years Ago: How A Photographer Captured The 'Baltic Chain' From Above\u2019 (Radio Free Europe, 2019): https://www.rferl.org/a/how-a-photographer-captured-the-1989-baltic-way-protest-from-above/30119472.html\n\u2022 \u2018BALTIC STATES LINK IN PROTEST 'SO OUR CHILDREN CAN BE FREE'\u2019 (The Washington Post, 1989): https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1989/08/24/baltic-states-link-in-protest-so-our-children-can-be-free/5a016f3d-35d0-4a7e-ab75-916c8c05eb0d/\n\u2022 \u2018Baltic Way: 30 years since the 600-km human chain that helped trigger the collapse of communism\u2019 (EuroNews, 2019): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVg6S6KEHDE\n#80s #Protest #Russia #Politics #WW2\nLove the show? Join\xa0\U0001f334CLUB RETROSPECTORS\xa0\U0001f334 to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode every SUNDAY!\nPlus, get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast.\nJoin now via\xa0Apple Podcasts\xa0or\xa0Patreon.\xa0Thanks!\npodfollow.com/Retrospectors\n\xa0\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Sophie King.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2023.\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices