This past weekend, a completely failed music festival in Himos, Finland, crossed the news threshold.

As far as we know, no one was physically injured at the event, but there was a shortage of security personnel, there were no proper toilets, bars ran out of water and energy drinks were sold instead. People who bought tickets to the VIP area for expensive money, who had nowhere to sit or see anything due to lack of electricity, were also disappointed. From the past, however, we know entertainment events with terrible consequences. The Woodstock Festival, which was held for the second time in 1999, is known as a major music event, but above all, what happened at this festival fits into the textbooks of cultural organizers as an example of how not to organize the festival. While this could have been a cultural highlight, there were no adequate security measures. A large crowd, limited resources and unforeseen weather conditions caused logistical chaos and catastrophic consequences. There were no clear evacuation plans, the number of first-aid kits was limited, and medical care was overwhelmed, leading to a number of overdoses, food poisoning, overheating and other damage to health. Three people died and at least five were raped. Another example that would fit into the same educational material is Fyre Fest in 2017, which promised a luxurious music and art festival but ended in complete ruin. Although it was touted as an unforgettable experience in the paradise islands of the Bahamas, participants discovered in reality that they were in dangerous and unsanitary conditions. Festival organizers ignored important security standards, depriving attendees of basic necessities such as adequate accommodation, food, and medical care. The situation became dangerous and chaotic, which led to mass evacuations and legal consequences. Who has not yet watched documentaries about these festivals, I highly recommend it. No kidding with Estonia But why should we talk about it? In fact, there is no clear guide or development plan for coordinating the safety and security of events in Estonia either, but the need for such is obvious. Our organisers use existing international examples and adapt them to the local context. Kudos to the exemplary organizers for this initiative, but in fact the feeling remains that the organizers have been left alone here. I would argue that the fact that there have not been any club fires in Estonia is pure coincidence, but a start-up cultural organizer or entertainment entrepreneur does not have one specific source from which to get information to create a safe environment. Under the leadership of the field, the working group has met a couple of times this spring with the aim of creating such a guide, which would include both mandatory and recommended tips for organizing your event safely and securely. The completion of such a guide would be an excellent example of cross-sectoral cooperation, where various ministries, local governments, the public sector, law enforcement agencies, service providers and other interest groups would work towards a common goal. In addition, it would be a good way to show internationally that security is a priority in Estonia and our goal is to prevent risks, not to respond to them. The two examples given earlier are by no means exhaustive, but they send a clear message: security must be a priority in the organisation of entertainment and cultural events, and the safety guide is an integral part of this. Only thoughtful and thorough security measures will ensure the well-being of the participants and create the basis for positive experiences that will allow our cultural landscape to receive international positive attention and give the visitor confidence that the organizer has done everything in their power to ensure their sense of security. Natalie Mets: the fact that there have been no club fires in Estonia is pure coincidence The post NATALIE METS: the fact that there have been no club fires in Estonia is pure coincidence appeared first on the Social Democrats.