On upcoming and ongoing events
### TODAY, 28 October, Forest Faculty reunion
### Until 1 November, voting for the European Tree of the Year in Latvia remains open
We invite and remind you of the opportunity to choose the tree with the most compelling story, cast your vote, and encourage your relatives, friends, and colleagues to take part!
### LMSP 7th International Conference “Sustainability of Land-Use Sectors – Under Conditions of European Environmental Policy Requirements and Geopolitical Reality” on 3 November at the Forest Faculty of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LLU)
On LMSP and sector support for colleagues in Ukraine
https://www.lmsp.lv/palidziba-un-atbalsts-turpinas
The 14th aid shipment has been delivered
On national current events
https://www.mfa.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/rigas-konference-2022-paustas-idejas-ierosme-nozimigam-parmainam?utm_source=https%3A%2F%2Fwebmail.garmtech.net%2F
The conference focused on Russia’s unprovoked aggression in Ukraine, resilience in strategic planning and responsible leadership, transatlantic cooperation, the economy during sanctions, global data and cybersecurity, the role of women in maintaining and restoring peace and security, as well as the role of the Baltic states and the region in efforts to stop the war in Ukraine, strengthen vigilance and resilience in Europe, and the region's role in restoring Ukraine’s integration into Europe.
The conference focused on Russia’s unprovoked aggression in Ukraine, resilience in strategic planning and responsible leadership, transatlantic cooperation, the economy during sanctions, global data and cybersecurity, the role of women in maintaining and restoring peace and security, as well as the role of the Baltic states and the region in efforts to stop the war in Ukraine, strengthen vigilance and resilience in Europe, and the region's role in restoring Ukraine’s integration into Europe.
On industry issues
The Supervisory Board of JSC “Latvijas valsts meži” (LVM) has received an assessment from an independent expert – the sworn advocate’s office EY LAW SIA, a member of Ernst & Young Global Limited, regarding the LVM board nomination process, confirming that it was carried out in accordance with the requirements of external regulatory acts.
Twenty-three years ago – on 28 October 1999 – in accordance with an order from the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia, JSC “Latvijas valsts meži” (LVM) was founded. Over these years, the company has grown, developed, and expanded its areas of operation, becoming one of the most significant state-owned enterprises in Latvia.
The aim of the RTU study was to evaluate the impact of horticultural peat substrate and the most frequently used alternatives – coconut fibre and mineral wool substrates – on human health, climate change, resources, and ecosystem quality.
The availability of timber resources in Latvia today and in the future will be influenced not only by decisions prepared and adopted by European Union institutions but also by those in Latvia.
Note: many who studied at the Forest Faculty fondly remember the trip to Moricsala.
4th-year students of the Forest Faculty’s Forestry study programme participated in a seminar organised by LVMI Silava, which took place in a unique location – the Moricsala Nature Reserve. During the seminar, students had the opportunity to view this unique natural site, as well as to become acquainted with and assess the history of forest stand formation and the composition of the species forming the stands on the island.
4th-year students of the Forest Faculty’s Forestry study programme participated in a seminar organised by LVMI Silava, which took place in a unique location – the Moricsala Nature Reserve. During the seminar, students had the opportunity to view this unique natural site, as well as to become acquainted with and assess the history of forest stand formation and the composition of the species forming the stands on the island.
The forestry company SIA “PK mežs”, by securing a loan from Citadele bank, will invest two million euros in the purchase of new forests and the renewal of machinery, the bank reports.
It is planned that the company will invest 1.5 million euros in the near future to expand its forest property portfolio in the Bauska, Aizkraukle, and Nereta regions, while the remaining 500,000 euros will be directed towards purchasing two pieces of tractor machinery intended for forest thinning.
On Wednesday, the public was shocked by the news of the felling of a century-old, nationally protected great oak tree. It grew in Mārupe, on Kantora Street, literally wedged between two new buildings with the ironic name “Dižozolu nami” (Great Oak Houses). Although the Mārupe Gymnasium, private houses, and multi-apartment buildings are located across the street, no one noticed the destructive work. Meanwhile, the State Police launched a criminal case on Thursday regarding the unauthorised felling of trees, while the involved institutions blame one another, using a maze of regulatory acts as a shield.
Following the instructions of the State Audit Office and the Competition Council, as well as the decisions of the Riga City Council and the company’s supervisory board, the result of the procurement procedure has been to select the executor to manage the exit of the SIA “Rīgas Meži” sawmill “Norupe” from the roundwood processing business. This will be done by the consultant SIA “KPMG Baltics”, which will analyse and determine the most appropriate methods for separating the sawmill owned by the company from “Rīgas Meži”.
On the economy
The European Parliament (EP) and European Union (EU) member states reached an agreement on Thursday stipulating that new cars with internal combustion engines will no longer be sold starting from 2035, announced the Czech Republic, which currently holds the bloc’s presidency.
Abandoning internal combustion engines is one of the measures to achieve the EU’s set goals for limiting climate change and reducing the amount of so-called greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, and achieving complete “climate neutrality” by 2050.
Interesting insights on the already known in politics
https://satori.lv/article/kurs-uzvareja-velesanas
Russia does not even need the election of specific parties or politicians, or subsequent legislative decisions. It is quite enough for some “talking heads” to “drip into the minds” of the public – and with good intentions, according to their own lights – that “one must, after all, reckon with reality,” that no one “chooses their neighbours,” and so on. Moreover, the most terrible thing is that, in principle, there is nothing wrong with this worldview. The only problem is that this time it is an unambiguously totalitarian and aggressive state (Russia) that skilfully exploits the entirely understandable human distaste for “unnecessary stress” felt by Westerners accustomed to a reasonably predictable and comfortable life. To put it differently: swallowing toads or, to put it politely, conceding to compromises, is also present, let’s say, in Latvia’s relations with its dear partners in the West. However, there is a difference between a situation where the one forcing a compromise wants to banally profit at your expense, take your market share, and engage in similar unpleasantness, and a situation where the goal is to destroy you as a nation.
In other words, Hungary is not pro-Russian, but at the same time, the Russian aggression in Ukraine has not made Hungary more pro-Ukrainian. Hungary pursues a very distinct national policy, which manifests itself in both its domestic and foreign policy, which often comes into conflict with the solidarity and unity of NATO and the European Union.
On events abroad
Untranslated, interesting material on the mega-projects of the Arabian Peninsula.