Weekly review
Poll
Concern about gaps in the skills and knowledge of our pupils is voiced quite widely from time to time. Unfortunately, only when someone from outside Latvia has concluded as much. Why is that?
There is a political tendency to be busy, to invest, to make promises, but not to think about the results
If you have little knowledge yourself, you do not even know how or what you do not know...
A smart society is not always desirable or welcome
Many interests swirl around education. A "good result" is rarely mentioned among them
14-20 October
On current and upcoming events
### On 23 November at the LBTU Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences International conference Changes and solutions in environmental policy for sustainable, climate-neutral economic development
### 27 October in Aloja, at the SALA business centre, an LMSP Latvian Forest Programme seminar for hunters
zemeunvalsts.lv · latvijas meza programmas seminars medibu nozares starptautis…
zemeunvalsts.lv · latvijas meza programmas seminars medibu nozares starptautis…
### 27 October, a community work day at Jauķemeri beach. Combating the Japanese rose
daba.gov.lv · aicina pievienoties labo darbu pecpusdienai kopa ar gimeni k…
daba.gov.lv · aicina pievienoties labo darbu pecpusdienai kopa ar gimeni k…
### 2 November, scientific seminar Harvest Festival in Vecauce – 2023
lbtu.lv · razas svetkos vecauce atzimes lauksaimniecibas augstakas izg…
lbtu.lv · razas svetkos vecauce atzimes lauksaimniecibas augstakas izg…
### 30 November at the LBTU Aula Forest Industry Conference 2023
### September and October Līgatne Nature Trails' Acorn Gathering Campaign. ...we invite you to take part in the acorn collection campaign and provide winter treats for the residents of the Līgatne Nature Trails – wild boars, squirrels, roe deer, moose, and even bears. Acorns are considered forest sweets, and the animals find this bitter treat very tasty.
On state matters (official)
The Ministry of Agriculture disagrees with the European Commission, which plans a significant reduction in the fishing of several fish species for Baltic Sea countries, including Latvia, in 2024: the catch reduction for herring in the Baltic Sea is set at 60%, for herring in the Gulf of Riga at 20%, and for sprat at 23%, compared to 2023. Such a decision, if adopted, would have a devastating impact on Latvia's fishing and fish processing industry, which is to a very large extent dependent on these fish stocks.
The Minister of Agriculture, Armands Krauze, has sent a letter to municipalities where Latvia's small ports are located with a proposal to change the ministry-delegated representatives in several small ports (Engure, Salacgrīva, Mērsrags), offering specialists from the Ministry of Agriculture's Fisheries Department for the positions – professionals who are well-versed in the fisheries and fishing industry.
On 17 October, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the draft regulations developed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development regarding support for the development of public infrastructure necessary for business, promoting the transition to a climate-neutral economy in the regions most affected by socioeconomic consequences. Total support of 49 million euros is intended from the Just Transition Fund (JTF), which will be directed to projects through an open competition.
On 17 October, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the draft regulations developed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development for improving the skills of municipal and regional specialists, in order to ensure progress towards a climate-neutral economy and reduce risks related to climate change in the most affected regions, promoting the mitigation of socioeconomic consequences. The project selection competition will be funded by the Just Transition Fund, with an allocation of 1.53 million euros.
On industry issues
Due to the specific properties of birch, veneer from this wood and products manufactured from it were and will remain in demand in both European and global markets, which creates good development prospects for veneer manufacturers working in Latvia.
From 2010 to 2019, Latvia's income from the export of hardwood veneer was quite insignificant, but currently, it is a very rapidly growing export sector.
For a large proportion of Latvia's 6th-grade pupils, this September has been full of adventure as they started the new school year and set off on the annual "LVM Forest Expeditions" to learn about the story of forest regeneration. This time, 5,374 sixth-grade pupils and 423 teachers from 280 classes took part in the forest discovery events.
By purposefully expanding the geography of its export markets, one of Latvia's leading wood industry companies, “Stiga RM”, is starting exports to Australia. High-quality birch plywood produced in Latvia will be used in the manufacture of rock climbing walls, and the delivery of the first shipment is planned for this year.
On economic issues
The difficult times in Latvia's foreign trade continue. Data from the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that the value of goods exports in August fell by 24.5% compared to last year, and the drop in the value of goods imports was nearly identical – 24.8%.
The shadow economy in Latvia has for years accounted for up to a quarter of all money circulation, but the fight against it is not progressing. In words and on paper, combating the shadow economy has always been a priority, but to date, it has not been possible to significantly reduce it.
For 10 years, laws that would allow breaking the tax evasion trend have not been passed. A new shadow economy combat plan is being developed at the Ministry of Finance (FM). It provides for annual income declaration for everyone and a significant restriction on cash circulation. Experts say these instruments could work.
Global companies are increasingly appreciating the opportunities to develop their business in Latvia because, from a technology perspective, the business environment in Latvia is one of the most competitive in Europe...
Latvia's gross domestic product (GDP) at current prices in 2022 was 39.08 billion euros. This characterizes the size of Latvia's economy. Meanwhile, the size of Latvia's shadow economy, according to the Shadow Economy Index study by the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, was 26.5% of GDP last year.
The Head of the Transport Logistics Division of the Ministry of Transport, Andris Maldups, stated that 29.3 million tonnes of cargo were handled in Latvian ports during the first nine months of this year. Given that the industry has been fundamentally changed by geopolitical conditions, in his view, this result is not bad.
We are very much lacking a norm that exists in Estonia. There, such types of laws would not be allowed to come into force earlier than half a year after their adoption, and the changes would need to be sufficiently widely discussed with the relevant social partners. In this case, the major partners are the Employers' Confederation of Latvia, the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the opinion of the Latvian Association of Tax Consultants would also be important. At the moment, it is difficult for me to comment on how extensive the discussions have been, because so far this has not been voiced publicly anywhere.
Bauska municipality has always had active entrepreneurs – as far back as the Middle Ages, traders and craftsmen from all over were active here. Today, business activity is constantly increasing, and soon, thanks to “Rail Baltica” and the Bauska Industrial and Logistics Park, both business opportunities and the scale of implemented projects will expand.
The association Latvijas ceļu būvētājs believes that the amendments to the Natural Resources Tax Law supported at the extraordinary Cabinet of Ministers meeting on 9 October, which will increase the natural resources tax rate for mineral materials by 21%, are unfounded and should be rejected...
...the idea of manufacturing tram carriages at the company was born about 20 years ago, and now it has finally been realized. It did not come easily. Up until now, the company had participated in municipal tenders several times, but competitors always gained the upper hand.
On a significant anniversary
2023 marks 160 years since farmers in the territory of Latvia have had the opportunity to obtain higher education. This anniversary is also considered to be the beginnings of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU, formerly LLU), which carried the name of agriculture in its title for many decades.
The origins of the seminar can be traced back to the time when, from 1957 until the mid-1960s, students of the Faculties of Agronomy and Zootechnics studied and practiced for a year at the Vecauce teaching and research farm.
On ...
In a ruling adopted in September, the ECHR has unequivocally pointed out that in order to confiscate property from a person as criminally acquired, it is not sufficient that the person cannot prove that the property was acquired legally. Additionally, national courts must substantiate that a criminal offence has occurred, as a result of which the property subject to confiscation was acquired, and must indicate the link between the property to be confiscated and the respective criminal offence. Even though the specific ruling does not fully answer the question of to what degree the fact of committing the criminal offence must be substantiated...
In a press release, the EPPO explained that the investigation is related to several projects that were reviewed by the Rural Support Service. Investigators suspect that several traders artificially inflated prices and were also linked to the companies that won the tenders.
The Latvian State Police carried out searches on Tuesday and detained four persons in the Zemgale region in a case investigated by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) regarding the fraud of one million euros related to agricultural funds, according to an EPPO statement on the institution's website.
How and what to research
Is 300,000 euros for such an idea a waste of money? Were there not more important things to research? Does the public have the right to understand what researchers are doing, and has science been discredited? Watching this drama from the sidelines, I have become convinced that it is not the social media users who, along with their criticism of this project, would have discredited science and scientists. It is the universities themselves – both public and private. But everything in order.
On environmental issues
Through the cooperation of specialists from state institutions, municipalities, and non-governmental organizations, the Latvian Nature Tourist Code of Ethics has been prepared – a practical and easy-to-understand set of recommendations that will help to enjoy nature carefully and responsibly.
Two years after the conclusion of the nature census, various nature protection plans have been developed, but the identified territories have still not been included in the list of protected areas, and now discussions on this matter are starting up again.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development has already developed and approved five species protection plans. Field work in habitat survey has also been completed, and 16 plans for specially protected nature territories have been developed.
Latvia is rich in both forests and waters: more than 12,000 rivers meander through our country, and more than 2,000 lakes nestle in the folds of forests and fields. Clean water is one of the most essential prerequisites for a healthy environment; therefore, when managing nature, it is essential to protect the quality of water.
On behalf of the Nature Conservation Agency (the Agency), arborists have tidied up approximately 3,600 trees in 22 sections of 13 protected avenues over two years. The majority of the tidied-up avenues are located in Zemgale (Bēne, Blankenfelde, Bukaiši, Lielplatone, Lielauce, Iecava, and Eleja avenues), Raiskums and Lubāna-Meirāni avenues have been tidied in Vidzeme, and Pope, Kalēti, Jaunmoku, and Vecmoku avenues in Kurzeme. The works took a total of more than 13,000 working hours and cost 400,000 euros.
It is no secret that reaching a consensus on various issues in the European Union (EU) is often a great challenge. This is also the case regarding the use of glyphosate. The use of the widely used, but controversially viewed, weed killer is permitted in the bloc's territory until 15 December, therefore discussions are ongoing about whether its use should be permitted in the future as well, or whether it should be banned. Member states are divided on the issue. If they do not reach a unified position, the decision could be taken by the European Commission.
...the branches of thuja and its species of trees or shrubs decompose in nature much more slowly because they are resistant to moisture, and, furthermore, thujas contain various essential oils that negatively affect the composting process.
On hunting
At the Munchausen festival, you have surely noticed him as the moderator who leads the festival's educational section. And this is no surprise, because Mārtiņš, together with his brother Kārlis, works at the Taurs hunter school – one of the, possibly, best hunter schools in Latvia.
On many things
How well do we realize the manipulative nature of media? I think that at least mainstream media, such as the BBC, believe that they exercise journalistic objectivity by showing both sides. That is correct, isn't it? It is, but the problem is that, in the end, in my opinion, it becomes a – forgive me if what is said offends anyone – competition between terrible footage. If those killed and the devastation in Israel are shown, then inevitably scenes with those killed and the devastation in the Gaza Strip follow. The media consumer is, in fact, confronted with the need to choose, which in my view is disgusting: which video or photo footage shocks them more?
nvo.lv · jau desmito gadu ir pasniegtas balvas cilveka izaugsmei
In the category for outstanding contribution to health and well-being, the award was received by the Lyme Disease Patients' Association and the association's founder, Elīna Prikule. The goal and mission of the “Lyme Disease Patients' Association” is to unite and defend the interests of Lyme disease patients, educate the public, provide support to Lyme disease patients and their relatives, and build cooperation with medical specialists to work together to reduce as much as possible the number of patients for whom the disease is discovered late or not discovered at all. Since March 2019, when the association was founded, information and its quality regarding Lyme disease in the public space have significantly improved, including specifically regarding preventive measures.
In Scandinavia, it was not Vikings who lived there, but Svear, Gauts, Danes, Norwegians, etc., tribes/small nations, part of whom were Vikings – they followed a lifestyle characteristic of Vikings. In a way, the Curonians and the Estonians from the island of Saaremaa also went vikinging, but in order to count them as true Vikings in the Scandinavian understanding of Viking culture, there is a lack of information both regarding literature characteristic of Vikings (skalds, sagas) and attempts to colonize other lands.
On 14 October, the final excursion of 2023 took place with the Baloži peat train – a narrow-gauge railway, which is being restored and maintained by volunteer enthusiasts. Both to show solidarity with Ukraine and to draw attention to the collection of donations for the donation of a locomotive, the train ran decorated with Latvian and Ukrainian flags. Like a red rag to a bull – that's what Ukraine is to trolls... A giant wave of negativity began to pour over the train's Facebook post about the excursion.
The Smiltene municipality property “Mēru muiža” (Mēri Manor), which is located in Mēri, Bilska parish, will not be sold at auction. The local government will cooperate with the local community, looking for solutions on how to successfully manage this property, and is already thinking about an auction for the lease rights to the vacant spaces of Mēri Manor.
We are seed growers, and our main task is to get that seed potato. It doesn't need to be very big – 35 to 55 millimetres is the seed size. If one were to water that potato until the end, of course, the harvest would be much larger, but in principle, it is still about 30-40 tonnes per hectare. If one were to water some varieties until the end, I think that you could get all of 50 there...
Current affairs in cartoons
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