Editor's Note: LĪGO—IT’S IN MY DNA

The old Latvian “Jani” line goes, “Visu gadu dziesmas krāju, līgo, līgo…” (“All year long I gathered up songs, ligo, ligo…”)

This year, I’m not sure where to put them. Sometimes that happens. “Jani” resonates in my second-generation European veins, throbs in my arteries, is written into my DNA. But where to let my songs loose? Not sure. Miss “Jani” celebrations ? Never.

But I do know that during the first week of July I’ll be dancing the polka at the Latvian Song Festival in Indianapolis (www.latviansongfest.org). Years have passed since I participated in the big folk dance performance and, thanks to my daughters, I’ll go again this year. The first time I danced, I was six. Someone was dancing, took me by the hand, and said: “Let’s go dance!”

About 125 dancers from eight Latvian-Canadian folk dance groups recently turned out for the massive area rehearsal. (See the photo above by Andris Lagzdins.) The rehearsal was like the festival’s dance performance. What amazing energy!

The participating groups included
Ačkups (Montreal): 6 dancers
Daugava (Toronto): 12
Daugaviņa (Toronto): 25
Dižais dancis (Toronto): 20
Diždancis (Toronto): 18
Mazais vainadziņš (Hamilton): 4
Mēnestiņš (Toronto): 35
Vizvainadziņš (Hamilton): 6

What a group. And after all, the group is the most important thing—we, the people, together. “Jani,” folk dances, songs, words—we can’t do without them, but we have to be to keep them alive.

Enjoy the read and ligo, wherever you happen to be!

Mara Gulens, editor
e-mail

back to top  

			Events Calendar Submit an Event 17. - 18. May, 09:00, SPRING FEST WORKBEE Saulaine Spring Fest Workbee! Let's organize and price items for the garage sale! Let's clean up Saulaine! Bring your chainsaws. Free lodging, raffle, meals, work gloves. Bring your own bedding and towels. High school credits for students. Perks for volunteers! Sign-up: Elviga Sebris 705-424-1118, e-mail; info re Spring Fest: Kristine Stivrins 705-424-6226; e-mail Map: www.campsaulaine.com 24. May, 08:00 - 16:00, SIXTH SPRING FEST AT SAULAINE ! Saulaine Garage sale, sweet table, plant stand, book store, silent auction, vendors, raffles, kids' activities, pancake breakfast, BBQ lunch, entertainment! Perks for volunteers! High school credits for students! Info and sign-up: Kristine Stivrins, 705-424-6226, e-mail 13. - 26. Jul, JOIN THE CAMP SAULAINE MAGIC ! Saulaine Camper and leader info and sign-up: Elviga Sebris, 705-424-1118, e-mail or Amanda Sebris, 647-299-2042, e-mail. Saulaine is a fun place! www.campsaulaine.com

News Briefs

Ilze Vinklere

Summer has arrived. It can be felt in Riga, too. The weather is warm and sunny, people smile more and act friendlier, morning and evening traffic in Riga’s streets is slightly less congested, women are wearing shorter skirts, and supermarket shelves are full of “Jani” souvenirs. Another sign of summer is fewer news briefs because many people have left for well-deserved vacations. Yet there is some news.

V. ZATLERS REPLACES V. VĪĶE FREIBERGA

On July 8, 2007, Latvia will have a new president: Dr. Valdis Zatlers. Detailed information can be found in my colleague Gunta’s article, “The Latvian Political Scene Reaches a Boiling Point.”

WILL THERE BE A REFERENDUM?

Politicians and many Latvian citizens believe that the Constitution should be amended so that the people can elect the president. The first step in this direction has been made. Since June 13, Latvian citizens have had the opportunity to sign a petition for a popularly elected president. If the petition acquires 10,000 signatures, then the Central Elections Committee will start collecting more signatures to organize a referendum. If this subsequent campaign acquires the signatures of about 140,000 people, then a referendum must be held. The results of this campaign will be published in the next issue.

STATISTICS

• Here’s a hard-to-swallow fact. So far this year, 172 people have died on Latvia’s roads. That’s a 32% increase compared to the first five months of the previous two years.
• European citizen debates held in Latvia revealed what Latvian inhabitants really want. Latvians want to live in Europe where families are given priority, immigration and emigration are controlled, and people live closer to nature.
• A Eurostat study has revealed that Latvians have the third lowest monthly income in Europe. The only countries doing worse are Romania and Bulgaria.

LATVIANS LIKE TO COMPLAIN

Within nine years, the European Court of Human Rights in France received more than 2,000 cases from Latvian inhabitants. The greater number of cases were about the Criminal Process Codex. Latvians objected to the excessive length of imprisonment before trial and protracted legal proceedings. The Criminal Process Codex is no longer enforced.

(Sources: BNS, Diena, Delfi, Latvijas Avize, LETA, NRA, PBLA Zinas, TZ readers.)

back to top  

SUPPORT TZ!

My donation of $50___ , $100___, $250___, $ ______
supports the continued success of Toronto Zinas.

Every donation over $50 will receive a tax receipt from the Toronto Latvian Centre.

Write cheques to: “LCCC (Toronto Zinas)”.
Mail to: Toronto Latvian Centre, 4 Credit Union Drive, Toronto, ON, M4A 2N8.

Please note your name, address and e-mail address, and specify that your donation is in support of Toronto Zinas. You will receive your tax receipt in the mail. Please let us know if you do not wish your donation to be publicly acknowledged.

back to top  

VOTING ABROAD

Notice from the Latvian Embassy in Canada

On Saturday, July 7, 2007, voting will be held on laws suspended by the Latvian President: Amendments to the National Security Law and Amendments to the State Security Authorities Law. Latvian citizens who have reached the age of 18 by that date and who have valid Latvian passports will be eligible to vote. Voting stations will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Canadian polling stations have been set up. Please visit one of the two following locations:

The Latvian Embassy
350 Sparks Street
Suite 1200
Ottawa, Ontario
K1R 7S8

The Latvian Centre
4 Credit Union Drive
Toronto, Ontario
M4A 2N8

Questions may be referred to embassy personnel. Please phone 613-238-6868 or e-mail e-mail.

Latvia’s Central Election Commission has confirmed that a polling station will open in Indianapolis, too. Details are available from the Latvian Embassy in the United States. Please phone 202-328-2840 or e-mail e-mail.

More information about voting may be found on the Central Election Commission’s home page at www.cvk.lv.

back to top  

LATVIAN POLITICAL SCENE REACHES BOILING POINT

GUNTA PAAVOLA, HELSINKI
Translated by Inese Poga-Smith

Latvian political events are unfolding at a dizzying pace. Last autumn’s election of the Saeima slipped by under the sign of “positivism,” an international scandal over amendments to the security laws prompted the intervention of the president, and the public has started collecting signatures to convoke a national referendum on those amendments.

On May 31, the deputies elected physician Valdis Zatlers as the new Latvian president. Zatlers, formerly a manager of a state authority with a taxpayer-funded salary, has admitted publicly that he has accepted “gratitude”— in other words, bribes—from his patients.

Zatlers neither reported this income nor paid taxes on it. Now the Saeima, the government and other competent institutions are trying to reconcile the requirement for a president with a spotless reputation and the fact that the new president violated Latvian law.

I feel disgraced. I am a Latvian citizen and ashamed for the newly elected president of my country—Valdis Zatlers. He became a candidate within a week of the presidential election date, thus making the other candidates and their campaigns look foolish.

Til the very end, I was unwilling to believe that so-called “servants of folk” would so openly disregard the opinion of society and that the required 51 votes would be cast in the Saeima. But there were even 58 votes. Now the same deputies and ministers want to give the new president a chance to prove himself. They are asking society to acknowledge Zatlers as president. My friend Maira said to me: “I don’t want that, and I am not acknowledging him!”

The attitude of the ruling coalition was best expressed by the rude gesture that Janis Lagzdins, a Folk Party’s deputy, displayed to people who had gathered at the Saeima building to support candidate Endzins.

The new president will take office on July 8 when Vaira Vike-Freiberga gives up her power. I feel uncomfortable thinking about what real attitudes will be hidden in diplomatic congratulations from other countries. I fear the new president will not have the understanding and strength to take a strict position on issues of importance to Latvia.

back to top  

BITS AND BITES

ANETE IVSINA, TORONTO
Translated by Inara Cedrins

A great thank you to the Latvian folklore radio station Oira! While we’re compiling this column, Oira helps us prepare our voices for Jani (St. John’s Eve). Which will be followed by Peter’s Day, Anna’s Day, Michaelmas… Visit
http://www.radiooira.lv or http://www.folkradio.lv.

The new school year is just around the corner too. Oh, Latvian children and their long Friday evenings and early Saturday mornings! Oh, the teachers’ and parents’ never-ending concerns: how to strengthen language abilities that will allow our children to read age-appropriate books in their teens? Since spring, Latvians Online has offered a new, valuable sub-section at www.latviansonline.com/izglitiba. The Web site is a forum for exchanging ideas, resources, and worksheets. It’s also a place to learn about new developments. The section is supported by PBLA and coordinated by Amanda Jatniece.

After St. John’s has been heartily sung out, I will be wondering how to get to Munster (Minstere). Perkons (the rock group) will be performing! The show—part of the Munster Latvian High School reunion—is scheduled for June 30 at 20:00. For information, phone (0251) 217017 or e-mail e-mail.

Find legally available music at http://www.grupa.lv. The music is provided in cooperation with the authors’ rights agency AKKA/LAA, music producers, and DEAC (Digital Economic Rights Center). Legal, easy, and cheap: better than buying pirated discs! The site also features news and discussions about music. Various genres of Latvian music are available and, in the future, the selection will be expanded with rock from other countries, jazz, popular music, classics, etc. E-mail e-mail.

Find maps of Latvia at http://dailytangents.com/LatV3-3/.

BBB is the Baldone Baseball Group. Information about it and baseball in Latvia can be found on the BBB Web page: http://www.beisbolabaroni.lv

Göteborg’s Organ Art Center has published a valuable, well-researched book called Nordic Baltic Organ Book: Organs in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania. The text is in English and in the languages of all represented countries: http://www.goart.gu.se/cgi-bin/hpslev1/g…

back to top  

SUMMER ROCK MUSIC FESTIVALS IN LATVIA 2007

RAITIS FREIMANIS in Stockholm
Translated by Inara Cedrins

This summer will feature intense rock music festivals. Some of the more important ones are

Imantdienas – July 7 and 8, Cesu City Stage
After a lapse of two years, Imantdienas will take place again. This year, the festival celebrates its 30th anniversary.
http://www.tvnet.lv/izklaide/fun/news/ar…

Baltic Beach Party – July 20 and 21, Liepaja
This is the biggest music festival in Latvia. Since 2001, brothers Raivo and Mareks Mednis have directed the festival, which takes place on the pier right by the Baltic Sea. In 2006, the festival drew 45,000 guests!
http://www.beachparty.lv

Saldus Sun – July 28, Saldus
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the festival. It will take place on the Saldu city festival grounds. Many familiar Latvian rock groups will participate including Remix, and Skandals from Toronto.
http://www.draugiem.lv/events/event.php?…

Borderrock – August 4, Valka
This unique festival gathers groups and respected musicians from Latvia and Estonia. The festival features a competition, giving new groups the opportunity to show their talents. After the competition, the festival concert continues with other invited guests.
http://www.borderrock.lv/

Sigulda 800 – August 9 to 12, Sigulda
The show will be held in 800-year-old Sigulda. On Friday, August 10, at 23:00 the group Brainstorm will perform. This will be the group’s only outdoor concert this year in Latvia.
http://www.sigulda.lv/public/lat/sigulda…

back to top  

WORLD PERSPECTIVES

THE BALTIC SEA'S RENAISSANCE
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/articl…,9171,1626745,00.html

BENEATH THE BEAUTY LURKED AN ANTI-GAY UNDERBELLY
http://planetout.com/content/slideshow/?…

LATVIA STILL TOP PROPERTY INVESTMENT LOCATION
http://www.aboutproperty.co.uk/news/over…$474578.htm

THE BALTIC LURES CRUISERS
http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life…

back to top  

Letters to the editor

THANK YOU!

To the editors:
I receive Toronto Ziņas regularly. Thank you for your great endeavour on our behalf. I wish you continued success in the future.
BORIS KAPPA, Toronto

WHERE'S KURSA?

Greetings!
Latvians also live in the west! Please, don’t forget to mention the West Coast Latvian Education Center.
Thank you,
ENA RUDOVICA

We wouldn’t dare forget Kursa! (Ed).
The West Coast High School “Kursa”
This year’s high school will take place from July 8 to August 11. Detailed information, application forms, a retrospective of last year’s Kursa as well as information about the West Coast Latvian Education Center may be obtained at www.kursa.org. For other summer camp offerings worldwide, see TZ 107!

back to top