As we have concluded several times in discussions with our colleagues, it seems that there is currently a war in Latvia – an information war. Nobody denies this anymore. And the most absurd thing about this situation is that this war is actually pointless, because it has and cannot have any positive outcome useful for Latvia's prosperity. It is always easier for people when they do not have to lie, invent various 'fairy tales' or 'nightmares', and do not have to be afraid. That is why it is certainly easier for us, representatives of the forestry sector, because we do not lie, we do not invent 'horror stories' about 'operational plans for the destruction of Latvia' and other nonsense that has been flooding social networks and mass media for a long time now. It looks like a special institution could even be established: 'Association for the Publicity Stupidity of Slandering Latvia'. It is pathetic, but it is reality…

It is clear that the best way to influence the public nowadays is to use slogans with the most sensational, loudest, and harshest content possible… Although such methods were already used before the Second World War in the rhetoric of regimes well known to us. And we know how that all ended. The question is not about the methods, which for the relevant group of hysteria-mongers are highly questionable and border on criminal offenses, but about what these 'stokers' actually want to achieve. Exactly what? In Latvia's information space, every third piece of news is about the lack of money, its necessity for the most basic things, ensuring the minimum welfare of the population, and preventing threats to Latvia's sustainability. Seeing how the state budget is formed, understanding that we in Latvia must strengthen our own economy's independence from external factors as much as possible (although in conditions of globalization, no country will ever be able to ensure complete self-sufficiency), the desire of some Latvian citizens to portray Latvia as a failed state, where nature is being destroyed, forests are maliciously logged, biodiversity is catastrophically decreasing, 'there will soon be a desert', 'thousands of birds are dying', etc., is unjustifiable. It all sounds like a desperate cry for attention and a demand for recognition – 'We are here! Save us! Fight against the nature-destroying regime existing in the country and its servants!'.

Latvia is not and, hopefully, will never be a backward country in distant tropical rainforest regions, where massive forest destruction really does take place, and brutal regimes reign, ruthlessly exploiting the natural resources of their respective countries. And here, indeed, is the answer – these shouters of 'Latvian logging' slogans sincerely want everything in Latvia to be bad, so they can feed on these negative, mendacious messages, while at the same time spreading them throughout the international environment. Because there is a competition taking place: 'They are destroying, logging, shooting, and digging everything up here too'. 'This is an unsustainable country', etc., etc.

We, unlike the 'forest destruction' screamers, rely on science-based facts, reality, and the fact that Latvia must use its natural resources, including, of course, the forest. And it must be used responsibly and with the attitude of an owner. An owner for whom Latvia is and will remain their own home.
This hysteria and deception of the public are specifically appearing now – while awaiting Latvia's Centenary. It cannot be accidental; it is a fact to which attention should also be paid from the point of view of our country's security. It is to be expected that law enforcement agencies will pay attention to the campaigns of slander and disinformation… Because how long can the stream of lies against the state continue?
We, of course, must increase our mutual education and knowledge in order to withstand this stream of lies.
It is necessary to talk to employees of public organizations, organizers of cultural and sports life, artists, and athletes, and to tell them about the existing problems in the Latvian forestry sector and the lack of respect that industry representatives encounter in discussions. It is necessary to talk about the 'attacks' and slanders in the media environment and the deliberate deception of our public.

Incredibly, many of them have not thought about this. By listening to and discussing these topics, people's perspectives change. One must hope that in the future they will increasingly less become 'amplifiers' of destructive and ruinous slogans. They will not make mistakes that result in the humiliation of a large part of Latvian society.

At first, it seems like tilting at windmills, but on the other hand, if we shake hands with everyone and smile, nothing will change in our Latvia. Things must be called by their proper names, then our discussion partners cannot avoid reflection. The British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said: 'You have enemies? Good. That means you have stood up for something!'
For us, this 'something' is our Latvia!