On Lāčplēsis Day, which marked the beginning of the week, we reflected and continue to reflect on those who dreamt of the future and also won a country for us – their grandchildren and great-grandchildren (the next generations and the ones beyond). The dream became reality! It is pleasant and beautiful, but...

Do our state representatives, those in power, and decision-makers currently defend landowners? Or is this defence and care for the people merely words spoken from podiums and at monuments, while in reality, the owner is left alone against (not “together with”, but specifically “against”!) a cumbersome, not always knowledgeable or professional administrative machine, which we cannot always proudly call our “state administration”.

The Forest Owners and Managers Confederation of Latvia has always defended the rights of forest and landowners to work on their own land and, by tending and using it, to earn an income for themselves, their families, and, by paying taxes, for the state as well. Unfortunately, we increasingly see that the rights of forest and landowners are not respected or are subordinated to artificial actions without any economic or reasoned purpose, and compensation for invented and automatically imposed (because that is the custom, that is how it is “determined”, it is simpler!) restrictions is pathetic and absolutely inappropriate for the level of an European Union country. What is more important in our country – the person who is the owner and manager of their land, or the desire of a few people to “follow the trend” of speaking beautifully and ensuring their personal well-being at the expense of others, masking it with care for nature while effectively doing nothing?

To understand what is happening and how it is happening, and what might occur, we invite you to be sure to watch the film "State and Citizen. Property and Society", the link to which can be found below.