Worth knowing! On upcoming and current events
Until 15 December we invite you to choose Latvia's European Tree of the Year
From 18 May, the exhibition “From the birch seed to betulin” at the Pharmacy Museum
27–29 March 2025, the 12th Baltic Theriological Conference “Baltic mammals in the turbulence of anthropogenic tensions”
On industry matters
On 11 December, at a ceremony attended by the President of Latvia and the Speaker of the Saeima, the laureates of the forestry sector's annual award “Golden Cone 2024” were honoured in the Kokari Hall of the Song Festival Amphitheatre. The award was presented in five categories: “For lifetime achievement”, “For innovative entrepreneurship”, “For the contribution of science to the development of the sector”, “For contribution to the development of the sector” and “For sustainable management”.
We always know that a stick has two ends, but we must most certainly do everything we can to ensure that forestry and wood processing remain an essential part of our economy. And here I am fully convinced that scientists can make their contribution – in finding the right approach to this rather complicated discussion as well.
Not a single millimetre may be taken away from those companies and fields that are working!
In Latvia's bioeconomy the forest sector plays the most important role, as it has enormous potential to apply scientific advances in creating new products and technologies in demand on the market.
The amendments are wide-ranging, and there do not seem to be many objections to a large part of them. The explanatory note to the amendments states that they have been drafted to reduce bureaucracy and to make it simpler to obtain felling certificates.
A note by way of introduction: the programme uncritically and carelessly voices (or deliberately quotes) an idea that MPs and activists ignorant of economics and contemptuous of national security were already expressing in the spring, during the sector's protests. More than half a year would seem long enough for a professional journalist to establish what the forest sector's representatives were protesting against. It turns out – it is not...
Politicians and the forest sector take pride in Latvia being one of the most forest-rich countries in Europe.
On official matters
https://www.varam.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/varam-no-2025-gada-pasvaldibam-pakapeniski-bus-jaievies-lidzdalibas-budzeti
https://www.varam.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/varam-no-2025-gada-pasvaldibam-pakapeniski-bus-jaievies-lidzdalibas-budzeti
With the Saeima approving next year's state budget, the Minister for Smart Administration and Regional Development, Inga Bērziņa, draws attention to the introduction of participatory budgeting in all local authorities from 2025.
https://www.diena.lv/raksts/latvija/zinas/ierobezo-amatpersonu-tiesibas-savienot-amatus-tostarp-valsts-un-pasvaldibas-kapitalsabiedribas-14328407
https://www.diena.lv/raksts/latvija/zinas/ierobezo-amatpersonu-tiesibas-savienot-amatus-tostarp-valsts-un-pasvaldibas-kapitalsabiedribas-14328407
On Thursday, in its final reading, the Saeima supported amendments to the law “On the Prevention of Conflict of Interest in the Activities of Public Officials”, which provide for substantial restrictions on holding multiple offices, including with regard to positions in state and municipal capital companies and in enterprises controlled by public persons.
The amendments have been drawn up with the aim of ensuring a better balanced organisation of work, reducing the risk of conflicts of interest and ensuring the fair application of the remuneration system, while at the same time strengthening the professionalism of public administration and fostering public trust in the public sector.
On development
The Ministry of Climate and Energy has drawn up a state aid programme which, through a competition, will provide support for the reconstruction or renovation of buildings used by national security services (for example, the State Police, the State Border Guard, the State Fire and Rescue Service) and the municipal police.
And that is what the environment is like. But in any case, I currently have my dream job, because I really am extremely pleased to be able to work on all the financial sector regulation matters I have been working on for almost the past 30 years.
The opposition accuses the coalition of excessive generosity towards the public administration. I would say, though, that the bigger problem is not the number of people working in the administration and their pay (after all, the money stays in the economy), but rather the efficiency of their work. If that is low while pay is relatively good, other groups in society understandably develop a sense of injustice.
The new plant will produce pea protein isolate, starch, protein concentrate and fibre. All the products will initially be exported to Western Europe and America, where demand for plant-based products is growing.
On hunting
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7691-lvm-medibu-tiesibu-nomas-ligumus-turpmak-slegs-ar-piecu-gadu-terminu
The new procedure for leasing hunting rights will come into force on 1 January 2025. Six per cent of all the hunting rights contracts concluded, or 54 of them, expire at the end of 2024 and, under the new procedure, will be renewed for a new term of five years.
On environmental matters
On 10 December the Cabinet of Ministers approved a draft order prepared by the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development on the allocation of some 840 thousand euros from the state budget programme “Funds for unforeseen events” to Jelgava city local authority and Saldus municipality, to cover expenditure related to repairing the damage caused during the storm in July 2024 and to partially compensate those costs.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive--stils/vide-un-dzivnieki/12.12.2024-nejausais-tornakalna-mitrajs-islaiciga-dabas-oaze-sarga-pilsetu-no-pludiem.a579651/
The area, where allotment gardens once stretched, was flooded as a result of beaver activity and building construction, creating an unusual meeting place of water and land in the urban environment. Although the greatest natural splendour of the boggy Torņakalns wetland can be seen in summer and spring, winter too is a time when nature there offers pleasure to those seeking peace and quiet.
Although scientists confirm that, over its full life cycle, peat is the most environmentally and climate-friendly substrate compared with rock wool and coconut fibre substrates, several myths about peat extraction remain widespread in Latvia.
The State Plant Protection Service publishes an analysis of data on the agrochemical properties of soil.
On roads and transport
The Latvian, Estonian and Lithuanian passenger rail operators “Vivi”, “Elron” and “LTG Link” have begun coordinating their train timetables with one another so that, from the start of next year, passengers can travel fully by train between the Baltic states. The coordinated train route linking the Baltic capitals is planned to be available from 6 January.
As the active phase of construction work on the Rail Baltica main line begins in Bauska municipality near Iecava, information days were held over two days – 12 and 13 December – at the Iecava culture centre, during which residents of Bauska municipality could put their questions to the Rail Baltica project team and look through informational materials.
One of the oldest bridges in Riga and indeed in Latvia has reached the end of its life – for almost a week now the Altonavas Street overpass across the Riga–Tukums railway line in Torņakalns has been closed to drivers. The reason: there are cracks in the bridge.
On this and that
On Monday, 16 December, Latvijas Banka will issue a silver collector coin “Cabbage”, revealing the deep symbolism of cabbages, the Latvijas Banka Press Service reported.
...in this era, when drones fly in of their own accord; when culture budgets are being cut but the Saeima does not disclose its own budgets; when on the radio I increasingly hear it said that people are afraid to tell the truth because they will be dismissed from their jobs, it seems to me that the stage, just as in the years before the Awakening, has returned to its true value, and that value is the truth.
From 6 December 2024 to 28 February 2025, the exhibition “Buildings of the Century” can be seen at the Latvian Museum of Architecture.
The news in cartoons
