The television programme ‘Panda’, which was intended to highlight environmental issues, was launched on Estonian Television in October 1986. The host of the programme was Juhan Aare. On 25 February 1987, he disclosed secret plans to open phosphorite mines in Estonia. Although the first episode that addressed the issue was aired on 11 February, the episode two weeks later was a major trigger of mass protests against the planned phosphorite mining.