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
16-22 July
On current events
Sklandrausis festival in Dundaga is already tomorrow
11th International Conference on Biodiversity Research
If you haven't managed to ride the narrow-gauge train in Baloži yet...
In the spotlight
For 10 years, farmers have been actively using the opportunities offered by land acquisition credit programmes to purchase agricultural land for production at reduced loan interest rates. Since the launch of the land credit programme, farmers have used it to acquire more than 55,000 hectares of agricultural land for farming production.
What is green budgeting, and why is it worth practising? How are countries, including Latvia, faring with the application of green thinking in budget formation?
Let us recall that peat is a local Latvian resource that has been the basis of Latvia's social stability and survival during highly critical situations. During the Second World War, it was the main source of energy for the people of Riga and large cities. There was not enough firewood, so in March 1940, residents of Riga were allocated peat extraction plots where they could cut and dry peat to use for heating during the winter (“Brīvā Zeme”, 6 March 1940). During the Nazi occupation, from 1942, every working family in Riga was allocated a peat plot where non-working family members had to extract and dry peat during the summer, as there was not enough firewood for winter heating (“Tēvija”, 26.05.1942).
On significant matters
Since April, the State Education Development Agency (VIAA) has awarded scholarships to 20 Ukrainians for conducting research at Latvian higher education institutions or scientific institutions. One of them is Gaļina Siņicina, an assistant professor of economics, who found work at the Rezekne Academy of Technologies. After evaluating master's theses and attending scientific conferences in the spring, the scientist is currently writing two publications dedicated to the implementation of the “Green Deal” in food security.
The summary, however, is laconic: the West, including Latvia, must stop deluding itself by fantasising about some kind of Russian “democratic opposition” that needs to be helped (perhaps even financially) to settle in Riga (Vilnius, Prague, Berlin, Paris, etc.). We should not let people into our country who were not bothered by the atrocities of their “native” regime until they started affecting their own comfortable lives. They should not be granted any “statuses”, residence permits, etc., because their true place is in Russia.
ntz.lv · vai pesticidus sanemam no importa partikas petijumi jaturpin…
...we can say with fair certainty: since not everyone has the opportunity to grow vegetables themselves, which is of course the safest option, we must consider whether to buy onions and other vegetables, berries and fruit at the supermarket or the market, or whether it might be better to visit a farm at the weekend, where, for example, we can pick strawberries or other berries ourselves. This will provide both a form of entertainment and a break from city life, as well as a benefit in terms of food quality. As can be seen – and the initial results of the project confirm this – in any case, preference should be given to produce grown in Latvia.
In the name of ecological electricity generation, nearly half a century ago, one of Latvia's cultural sites was submerged in the depths of the Daugava, where up to 10,000 spectators could watch 1,200 singers perform. The dive to the legendary Staburags cliff and the historic Vīgante park stage, organised by the Latvian scuba diving club "Daivings", diving instructor Valters Preimanis and the club's most active divers, took place this summer when the water temperature in the Daugava reached its peak of +21 degrees.
Two topical cartoons
The second cartoon is in the header image. "It has been decided to spend almost a million euros on building a 30-metre-long and 5.5-metre-wide pedestrian bridge over the Kīleveins ditch between Jelgavas Street in Torņakalns and the Mūkusalas Business Centre. The City Development Committee has allocated 946,000 euros for this purpose from the Riga City Infrastructure Fund."