An interview with Mārtiņš Gaigals, VMF Latvia

I would like to compare or look at current events in society as a situation after a rugby match. A lot has happened during the game – displays of strength, roughness, agility and more; the teams have 'given their all', perhaps even fought and traded insults... As the game ends, opponents shake hands and leave the field. If you want to do something bad, you can pout and stay angry about an incident that happened during the game... Throughout life, I have heard classic stories and life tales where a person doesn't even remember, for instance, 'who exactly that girl was who he took from me', yet the hatred 'towards him' has remained for a lifetime!

To what extent do such things affect us – the rest of us?

In a small society like the one we live in – Latvia – any misunderstanding is a hindrance! Definitely! More or less – but a hindrance nonetheless! The ability to educate yourself and not hold a grudge is something that can be cultivated! Of course, everyone has their interests and a reasonable awareness of the situation. If there is also a language (communication) barrier in a small society... We can communicate in Russian, English, or German, but we will succeed best when speaking in our mother tongue. That is – in Latvian! Even if we do happen to fight with one another, let it have a purpose or an intention. After the battle, peace returns, and there is no need to cultivate the skill of holding a grudge; one must think about how to resolve things further in a calm spirit. But – people's expressions differ.

There is also a lack of objectivity. For example, the two of us, while talking, discovered a series of mutual acquaintances and friends. No matter how objective we may be, in our attitude towards certain people, everyone will encounter situations where they cannot be completely impartial in assessing a person they know (a friend, schoolmate, study peer, training partner) or otherwise. In such cases, various 'side effects' appear, which is why we hear: 'Foreign experts or specialists are needed.' In turn, they, not knowing and not really understanding the local situation, can make a mess of things (let's call it – 'a soap opera')... One way to make life better is to think and act in such a way that we make each other smile with our actions, not feel sad. Regardless of any circumstances, one must look for an opportunity to cooperate! Our group of people (Latvians) is small; if we want to live and continue for centuries, we must be able to help one another! Let's forget about putting spokes in wheels, because such a small group cannot afford it!

Recent moods in society, in the sector...

The incentive for life is (!!!!): how to make my life, my family's life, my friends' life, and my country's life better. If we look at it in a global sense – we in Latvia are – like it or not – like one big family. I have observed that over time, conditions and trends have arisen that are worth thinking about! We must start – as always – with ourselves! A loss of a sense of reality can be observed in society! What does that mean? The 'stroking syndrome' – touchscreens, virtual environments, games with many lives. The trouble is that technological development is sometimes followed by suicides... People start driving cars the way they see it on a screen – you know you have five lives! You already feel that way... But – in life, that is not the case! The loss of a sense of reality, caused by 3D cinema, supermarkets, and excessive prosperity for which we are not truly prepared. And this lack of preparation somehow 'pays us back', starting with each individual and ending with certain processes in society as a whole! That would be the crux of the observed correlations! If I see that a decision (no matter in what group – a company, politics, or elsewhere...) has made life better for all of us, it is clear that these people (the decision-makers, the judges) have not lost their sense of reality. How can one cultivate this sense? By starting with oneself! In everyday life, a person is 'hit' by many things! It sounds a bit pathetic – but I ask myself – what is my spiritual practice? (This has absolutely nothing to do with religion!) If there is no spiritual practice, I or someone else will have difficulty concentrating and seeing the truth (reality) both close to home, in my own actions, and when looking at broader events in society. When (if) the sense of reality is lost, projects and decisions arise that do not make life better – quite the contrary! Old people tend to say – keep your feet on the ground! The land is what gives you a sense of reality! Vija Artmane once, when asked what her favourite scent was, replied: 'When I am weeding the garden and I feel – the weeds lack their roots, that is my favourite scent.'

By the way – life in the countryside is excellent for reality! It was recently – within the last year – that my daughter told me: 'Thank you!' that she had the opportunity to live and grow up in the countryside! Excellent!

Speaking with colleagues in the forest industry, one can feel that they are proud of their work, of the industry as a whole, and believe that it is good and strong. How do we look from the outside?

We look respectable! Of course, there are nuances added to the situation by clever marketing, as our northern neighbours often manage to do, or the 'grey mouse' syndrome that we ourselves occasionally suffer from. It is pathetic if a person loses their self-respect, because only by losing it yourself can the situation be ruined, not otherwise! This happens if you start telling people that something in the country, or the sector, or life is not in order. You don't have to look far for proof; recent events in Latvian politics are a testament to that. In my opinion, problems should not be swept under the carpet, but dirty laundry should not be aired outside the house in daily life! You, your family, or society must deal with the problem yourselves! Unless the situation requires an SOS signal, taking dirty laundry outside is cowardice, incapacity, and whining. Others don't need to know our problems, but – we are strong and powerful because of this and that, and more... And in truth, that is exactly how it is! From a professional point of view, we are global leaders in boreal forest management! Why? We live in a geographical and climatic zone where forestry has a major impact not only on the economy but also in other areas, such as climate change. Europe as a leader, Northern Europe – also a leader. We are 'at the top', there is nothing to worry about! We have good traditions in both growing forests and using land for forestry, as well as in the forest-using industry. Let's look at how the Swedes talk about themselves: for example, in that region, a small factory was founded a hundred and fifty or a hundred years ago, and today we are continuing the work. It is exactly the same in Latvia! Knowledge and understanding are necessary; it is not worth saving funds or time to acquire or pass them on – younger generations must know, and we must tell them where the first match and plywood factories were located, that these are ancient traditions, and that we have had raftsmen. We are the best in forestry!

Today, in many places, people are thirsty for authenticity. Many are little interested in fine presentations and smoothly polished sentences, or well-arranged figures. I think this is also the reason why various activities are flourishing – in tourism, in orienteering. People ride bicycles, sleep in the forest or in the snow and do all sorts of things 'so that it is real'. Here, we foresters are doing a great job! Even if it is the raftsmen, who are also connected to the forest! The Gauja raftsmen are members of the International Association of Timber Raftsmen – it unites raftsmen from 50–60 rivers (not countries, but specific rivers). Foresters often meet each other at European biathlon or orienteering competitions. The thread that binds everything I have described is authenticity – a person is ready to spend and use their time and energy if the events are real. 'My house is clean enough to live in healthily, and dirty enough to live in happily.' Authenticity is when you take off your bowtie, untie your tie, if necessary – tell someone off..., enjoy what it is like to be freezing cold, to be hungry... These are important things and understanding in life! Those who have eaten do not understand those who have not! On raft expeditions, everything happens just like that. I experienced an incident: a young man didn't know how to behave; he was warned – here on the rafts, that is not done, if you don't understand, you will get off! He didn't understand; he thought he had these five lives. I saw that his 'getting off' happened in the middle of the Gauja! For real!

Excursions that have both forestry and cultural aspects are gaining greater importance in various events in Europe. When the last Europe-wide event took place in Latvia, the highest demand was for a walk in the mire: 'Animal tracks in the mire' under the guidance of an excellent guide. The same happens elsewhere – for example – in the Alps – take a backpack and go! If you have a knowledgeable guide with you who helps you perceive what is happening, everything is fine, you feel and sense everything.

If something – in competitions, excursions, or at work – does not happen for real, decisions are made about subsidised businesses, about using land for inadequate purposes. I do not believe that a person is a villain to themselves, but fake things affect society! If we talk about the future strategy of an organisation or company – how to live on? Live in such a way that events are not artificially constructed or blown out of proportion!

What would be an inadequate form of land use?

We do not have so much land that we can afford not to get what we can from it. In my opinion, those who think that prosperity can be built in the long term on imaginary values – good marketing, speculation, or legal nuances – are mistaken. You might win the battle, but prosperity is a sufficiently material concept! I will repeat, whoever has not been hungry and cold does not understand! The land must produce! With all reasonable things, the land should not only have rapeseed or forests; houses must be built, transport vehicles must move, there are many objective things that secure our lives. Natural values must be respected, but we obtain natural values (even imaginary ones) by working.

Riga – then and now. Can it be compared?

For twenty years I was a Riga boy, for ten years I lived in many places, and now for twenty years I have lived in Strenči. Feelings are important to me – often, –5° in Riga is harder to bear than –25° in Strenči. I must be a true northern person!

It is hard for me to judge today's Riga because I do not spend every day in the capital. I can say that the grass was greener in my childhood and youth. What can one ask about Riga from a guy from the 80s who lived on what was then Lenin Street by the VEF bridge and went to the 6th secondary school near Ziedoņdārzs? I remember a fantastic place to wait for sunrise with a girl – Bastejkalns!

The borders of Riga have expanded. In my memories – my father, from our apartment (as I said, by the VEF bridge), always used to say when heading to the centre: 'I'm going to the city.' I think today the territory at the end of K. Barona Street is also called the city, and nothing else. The second thing that worries me – two communities. There is a lot of danger hidden here! My mother was forced to speak Russian with the neighbours in our five-storey building, but we knew every resident by face and name! Perhaps I am only speaking from my own experience, but we trusted each other back then regardless of nationality and the language spoken at home. I know that there was only one Russian-speaking family in the building that lived in Latvia before WWII. The others arrived afterwards! Nothing has changed significantly in Riga, but two communities have effectively formed. This is the answer as to what has changed. It would be presumptuous on my part to express thoughts on any solutions. This is not the first time such a situation has occurred in Latvia. We have managed to eradicate the Livonian community and the Livonian language – over the course of centuries! We have shown character and backbone to the Baltic Germans. Those are not ancient events! My mother's family originated from the Zemgalians. The proportion of 'true' – through generations – Zemgalians in Zemgale has decreased. There are reasons for this; the land is rich – the kulaks must be deported, different times, different politics...
It seems that 'proper Rigans' will also not be easy to find. Roots of lineage and tribe have meaning!