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
29 October - 4 November
On industry policy issues
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan 2023-2027 for Latvia, developed by the Ministry of Agriculture, provides for balanced rural development and fair support, as well as increased funding for Latvia's small and medium-sized farmers.
The Ministry of Agriculture has never been one of the 'easy' ministries. Responsibility for the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors is simultaneously a responsibility for the well-being of the Latvian countryside. What has been achieved over these years, what foundation has been laid for the future, and what state support can farmers count on during these difficult times?
On 2 November, new Cabinet of Ministers regulations were approved, titled 'Sustainability and Greenhouse Gas Emission Savings Criteria, Criteria for Electricity Produced from Biomass Fuel, and Procedures for Justifying, Certifying and Monitoring Compliance with the Aforementioned Criteria', which set out sustainability and emission savings criteria for biofuels and biomass fuel and determine the procedure for justifying compliance with the said criteria.
The requirements included in the Cabinet regulations apply to approximately 30 large heat energy producers in Latvia. The draft regulation does not set penalty sanctions for commercial operators if they use biomass fuel that does not meet the specified criteria.
On industry issues
A Cabinet of Ministers Certificate of Appreciation has been awarded to Dr. Andis Lazdiņš, a leading researcher at the Latvian State Forest Research Institute 'Silava' and a corresponding member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, for his significant contribution to the development of forest science.
There are things we can influence when presenting the results of our research. The Forest Research Institute is increasingly participating in processes established by the European Union that concern the mitigation of climate change. The institute's researcher, Daiga Zute, is an ambassador for the European Union Climate Pact; she participates in discussions with young people in Latvia and works in various international working groups in Europe.
At the end of October, with the support of leading 'Silava' researcher Āris Jansons, we organised Forest Science Day on the role of ageing forests in carbon sequestration, gathering more than 140 interested participants. This story has a significant meaning – people who think in the short term, of course, notice that when a forest stand is clear-felled, carbon sequestration in that area is lower for some time compared to the old, even if ageing, stand. But in the long term, it will be the other way around! Maintaining its long-term line of thinking could be a significant challenge for the forest industry.
Undeniably, the drying up of the 'rivers' of timber imports from Russia and Belarus will affect demand, not only in Latvia but also in other countries. 'If something decreases, then the industry wants to purchase the missing volume elsewhere, and this applies to all countries. As a result, the availability of timber resources from the timber industry's perspective is increasingly mentioned as a factor affecting development throughout Europe...'
Farmers have many uncertainties about the requirements of the European Union's (EU) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) from next year. In October, the Ministry of Agriculture (ZM) submitted Latvia's CAP Strategic Plan for the next five years to the European Commission (EC) for final approval. Some farmers estimate that their current farm payments will decrease, while others are already planning which voluntary 'greener' farming measures they can implement to increase them. However, all the farmers questioned pointed out that the information about Latvia's final common agricultural plan was late.
The name of Kristaps Klauss, Executive Director of the Latvian Forest Industry Federation, has been linked to the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences since its inception; therefore, as the university celebrates its 25th anniversary, we invited him for a conversation to outline future perspectives by looking back into the past with understanding, yet distant objectivity.
For those prepared to go into the forest for their own firewood, we recommend contacting the forestry department closest to where they live.
This year, scientists highlighted topics regarding the centenary events of the Stende Research Centre, the peculiarities of the soil cover in Platone Parish, the selection of tomato fruits, the productivity and egg quality of laying hens, and soil layering for weed control. The winners of the trial field and laboratory inspections and the PhD student competition were also awarded.
About hunting and related matters
The Estonian government has supported amendments to the Weapons Act developed by the Ministry of the Interior, which provide for the cancellation of gun licenses for citizens of third countries within a year—that is, foreigners who are not citizens of European Union or NATO member states.
The amendments, which still need to be passed by parliament, will affect more than 1,300 third-country nationals permanently residing in Estonia who hold a gun license. Among them are many citizens of Russia and Belarus.
Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets has stated that the amendments provide an additional solution for ensuring security and public order in the country.
Two predators first inspected the cattle pasture. The cows were said to have become agitated and run back and forth across the paddock. Later, the wolves left the paddock and headed further along the small-town street.
At the driveway of a house courtyard, one of the wolves stopped and began sniffing the grass where the family dog might have marked its territory. The dog, a Caucasian Shepherd and German Shepherd crossbreed, ran out of the yard and attacked the wolves. The largest of the predators fled, but the smaller one stayed to fight.
On environmental issues
From a legal perspective, the path to creating a new ministry is as follows: first, it is necessary to amend the Law on the Structure of the Cabinet of Ministers, then the bylaws of the new ministry will need to be adopted, which will be followed by the transfer of functions from the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (VARAM) and the Ministry of Economy. The existing ministries' bylaws will also be amended. At the same time, there is a possibility that changes may also need to be made to other Cabinet of Ministers regulations or laws that specify the functions of the ministries.
...waste generated during watercourse restoration work was not collected in specifically designated areas, and management was not carried out in accordance with the Waste Management Act. The organic pollution that entered the river as a result of the operator's activities did not leave a lasting impact on the river and the living organisms within it; however, it is essential to understand that if the organic pollution were left in the river for a long time or had entered during the hot period of the year, the consequences of the violation of technical regulations would have been lasting, including damage to the fish resources in the river.
As a result of the actions of the Mārupe Municipality and its construction board, which failed to observe the clearly defined protection of 'dižkoki' (notable trees) in regulatory acts and ignored the views expressed by the ministry, nature conservation institutions, as well as the courts and the prosecutor's office, one of Latvia's natural monuments was illegally and irreversibly destroyed. A notable tree should be considered an independent ecosystem and is a habitat for many rare and endangered groups of mammals, birds, insects, and other organisms. Notable trees are an inseparable value of the Latvian landscape and nature, and protecting them is an obligation. The ministry is repeatedly requesting explanations from the municipal council, including regarding the decisions it made on the basis of which construction work was allowed to continue.
It will be difficult to find another neighbourhood in Riga and its surrounding area that can rival Mangaļsala in its richness of natural and historical heritage. Unfortunately, this territory was not accessible to the public for a long time and disappeared from mental maps. To give interested parties the opportunity to discover the unique coastal defence fortification area in Mangaļsala, the Riga Planning Region created the 'Mangaļsala Fortifications' audio guide as part of the 'Military Heritage' project.
In mid-October, nature photography enthusiast Leons Stiprais reported to 'Delfi': 'Unfortunately, the Weymouth pine in the Durbe Palace park is dying. You can see it by the withered foliage. The people of Tukums are rushing to say goodbye to this notable tree.' The Nature Conservation Agency (DAP) also concludes after inspecting the site that the most majestic Weymouth pine in Latvia has died.
The Weymouth pine in Durbe Palace park was recognised as the thickest representative of its species in Latvia and is included in the Nature Conservation Agency's register of notable trees, Durbe Palace manager Ilze Strautmane told the 'Delfi' portal.
On lifelong independent 'friends'
delfi.lv · latvijas radio petnieciskas zurnalistikas dalu vadis gederts…
Ģederts has extensive experience in both Latvian and foreign media; he perfectly knows and feels radio formats, and therefore has all the prerequisites to maintain the high standard in investigative journalism achieved by Latvian Radio in previous years...
'Diena' has information that there have been other cases involving commissioned work at the State Revenue Service (VID) previously, which entrepreneurs have also reported to the VID leadership. However, unlike the case made public so far against entrepreneur Ramoliņš, the VID has not taken active steps regarding the investigation of other commissioned cases for several years. 'Diena' is investigating two cases that the affected entrepreneurs call 'commissioned cases'—in both, there are too many similarities to consider them simple coincidences.
On interesting matters
A significant topic of interest to the public is political interference in the judiciary. Last year, the University of Latvia conducted a study in which 70% of surveyed judges admitted that political interference occurs in the judicial system and that this interference primarily comes from the Ministry of Justice (TM). How would you comment on that?
It is necessary to clearly define what is meant by that interference. It is by no means interference in the day-to-day work of the courts, in the administration of justice. I have not heard of any case where a politician has tried to influence any judge. Perhaps some individual conversations have taken place; I do not know. But here [in the study], the talk is about systemic influence. And that systemic influence primarily manifests in two directions.
'Mudia' is wholly owned by Latvian entrepreneur Līva Jaunozola, who owns a total of 12 different companies. The better-known ones are 'Andele Mandele' and the event organiser 'Pērļu medības', but Līva Jaunozola is most active in the real estate business. The entrepreneur's family has experience managing the Ziemupe manor in Pāvilosta. The people of Lielauce are most interested in what the entrepreneur's plans are regarding the manor house. The company's representative was not authorised to reveal them, so we will provide more information after contacting the entrepreneur herself. It is only known that the company's next step will be the purchase of the manor grounds and park, and then an assessment of the manor house to create a list of works to be done.
Kurzeme got its name from the Curonians, but historically both Livonians and Scandinavians have lived there. Kurzeme has always been divided between the northern part of the Curonians and the southern part of the Finno-Ugric peoples—Kurzeme has not felt like a unified space, assessed Armands Vijups, Deputy Director for Scientific Work at the Ventspils Museum and Associate Professor at the University of Latvia, on the Latvian Radio programme 'Stūru stūriem'.
My experience as an avid reader has taught me that sometimes one can read interesting material on a topic in a book dedicated to a completely different topic. In this context, Professor Andrejs Veisbergs' monograph published in October, 'Translations into the Latvian Language. A Landscape of the 16th-20th Centuries', is not only an event in Latvian philology but can also be useful for political analysts. Namely, the researcher shows what one cannot do with the original text in the name of certain ideological interests.
Sometimes the manipulation is so blatant that it resembles the techniques of Kremlin propaganda (which, however, is not surprising, keeping in mind the neighbouring country's nostalgia for the USSR and even specifically Stalin's times). For example, in the 'Voltaire's Selected Works' published in 1945, it is calmly claimed that this 18th-century thinker was a 'caller to the fight against the Hitlerites'.
Some current caricatures