News
Voters slam Russian as state language; referendum turnout sets records
February 18, 2012
Preliminary results show voters in Latvia and abroad turned out in record numbers to resoundingly reject a Feb. 18 referendum that would have made Russian the country’s second official language.
With balloting results reported in all but 21 voting districts abroad, 74.8 percent of Latvian citizens were pret, or against, the constitutional amendments.
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Sadarbībā ar Pasaules brīvo latviešu apvienību, piedāvājam ziņas, resursus un pārdomas par latviešu izglītību ārzemēs.
Konkursa ‘Starp tevi un mani ir valoda’ uzvarētāji zināmi
Publicēts 2012.02.16
Eiropas Valodu dienā 2011 gada septembrī Latviešu valodas aģentūra (LVA) izsludināja konkursu skolu jaunatnei. Konkursa mērķis – popularizēt latviešu valodas lietojumu, sekmēt valodas kā personiskas un valstiskas vērtības apzināšanos.
- ALA bilingual tours set for July, August
- Saeimas komisija pārrunā plašākas sadarbības iespējas ar diasporas skolām
- Saeimas komisija diskutēs par latvisko izglītību ārzemēs
Latviešu skolas ārzemēs
Sameklējiet latviešu skolas ārzemēs ar interaktīvo karti.
News
February 18, 2012
Voters slam Russian as state language; referendum turnout sets records
Preliminary results show voters in Latvia and abroad turned out in record numbers to resoundingly reject a Feb. 18 referendum that would have made Russian the country’s second official language.
February 18, 2012
Polls open in language referendum amid predictions of high turnout
Around the world Latvian citizens are going to the polls Feb. 18 to cast a simple ballot in one of the most emotional issues in the country’s brief history as an independent state.
February 08, 2012
For upcoming language referendum, absentee ballot applications top 1,200
The hot-button language referendum scheduled Feb. 18 apparently has lots of voters abroad interested in letting their voice be heard, if figures from absentee ballot requests are any indication.
February 03, 2012
Latvian state TV plans Internet channel for diaspora audience
Latvian State Television (Latvijas Televīzija, or LTV) is testing a new channel aimed at Latvians abroad, the head of the service told a radio audience on Jan. 2.
January 26, 2012
U.S. securities officials charge Latvian in stock price manipulation scheme
Calling his actions “brazen,” the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has charged a man from Latvia in a stock price manipulation scheme that allegedly netted him more than USD 850,000 in illegal profits.
Latvian hockey, players face season of ups and downs
December 11, 2011
The ice hockey season started tragically for Latvia with the death of Kārlis Skrastiņš, one of 43 players and officials of the Kontinental Hockey League’s Jaroslavl Lokomotiv team who died in an airplane crash. Things did not bode well for Latvian hockey a month later. For the first time in years, no player from Latvia started the season in North America's National Hockey League.
Weather
Current conditions at Rīga, Latvia
4°C (39°F)
Humidity: 87%
Sky: overcast
Conditions: light rain
Wind: SSW at 6 m/s
Visibility: 10 km
Events
February 26
Queensland
Latvian fiber arts group to meet
All those interested in sewing, knitting and weaving traditional designs may meet with other like-minded people of the “Brisbanes rokdarbnieču kopa” at 1 p.m. Feb. 26 in the Brisbane Latvian House, 24 Church Ave., Buranda. Meetings are held on the last Sunday of each month.
February 26
Queensland
“Cepums” activities for children
The “Cepums” biweekly cooking and language activity for children is scheduled at 3 p.m. Feb. 26 in the Brisbane Latvian House, 24 Church Ave., Buranda. The activities teach children how to prepare simple Latvian foods as well as give them the opportunity to meet with other children, sing songs, play games and learn the basics of the Latvian language. Instruction takes place in both Latvian and English. Mothers and fathers are also welcome to join their children in the kitchen. For more information, contact Baiba Grīnberga at +61 0451 148 089 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
March 03
Queensland
Kalpaks commemoration
The Daugavas Vanagi of Brisbane will host a commemoration of Col. Oskars Kalpaks and the Latvian Legion at 3 p.m. March 3. Juris Merija will speak about the “Studentu rota.” Admission is by donation.
Did you know?
Tiger man Sasha Siemel
During the 1950s, stories about Sasha Siemel’s adventures in the Brazilian jungle were a thrill for many readers. Siemel was a Latvian who immigrated to South America and became a well-known jaguar hunter.
Reviews
Aggressive tempo of ethnic trance marks third album by Auļi
February 12, 2012
Drum and bagpipe ensemble Auļi occupies a particular niche not just in Latvian music, but in world music in general. Combining drums and bagpipes might not have been the most logical decision, but Auļi has found success and fame for its style and performances.
Commentary
Feb. 18 referendum is very dangerous
February 14, 2012
The Feb. 18 referendum has raised considerable emotion, and its outcome will continue to be fervently and diversely interpreted long after the event.
Multimedia
In language referendum, Latvians abroad vote in record numbers
February 20, 2012
In the homeland and around the world, Latvian citizens on Feb. 18 voted in a referendum that, if successful, would have established Russian as the second official language. The measure was soundly defeated in turnout that set records. Outside the homeland, the busiest voting districts were mostly in the United Kingdom and Ireland, the two countries that have seen the greatest amount of immigration from Latvia in the past decade.
In the forum
- XXV Vispārējie latviešu dziesmu un XV Deju svētki datumi RIGA?? posted by jjanavs 3 hours, 15 minutes ago
- Referendums.Sviests.Ka mes tik talu nonacam? posted by Irena 9 hours, 44 minutes ago
- "What's my language" plus 1189 comments (economist.com/blogs) posted by ambersun 2 days, 21 hours, 47 minutes ago
- Or really, what faith do Latvians Have? posted by Ikabods Ozols 3 days, 17 hours, 52 minutes ago
- Not a lot of discussion on faith is there? posted by Ikabods Ozols 3 days, 18 hours, 26 minutes ago
Blogs
Central bank issues coin with granite
Dažādi | February 16, 2012
In continuing with a series of unusual commemorative coins celebrating non-metal elements and concepts, the Bank of Latvia has issued the Coin of Stone (Akmens monēta), which has a granite center.
What's new
Multimedia
20 Feb 2012
In language referendum, Latvians abroad vote in record numbers
In the homeland and around the world, Latvian citizens on Feb. 18 voted in a referendum that, if successful, would have established Russian as the second official language. The measure was soundly defeated in turnout that set records. Outside the homeland, the busiest voting districts were mostly in the United Kingdom and Ireland, the two countries that have seen the greatest amount of immigration from Latvia in the past decade.
News
18 Feb 2012
Voters slam Russian as state language; referendum turnout sets records
Preliminary results show voters in Latvia and abroad turned out in record numbers to resoundingly reject a Feb. 18 referendum that would have made Russian the country’s second official language.
News
18 Feb 2012
Polls open in language referendum amid predictions of high turnout
Around the world Latvian citizens are going to the polls Feb. 18 to cast a simple ballot in one of the most emotional issues in the country’s brief history as an independent state.
Links to news about Latvia and Latvians, plus other items found while surfing the Web.
Atskaņas no referenduma Gērnsijā. Portāls Latviešiem.co.uk ziņo par 18. februāra notikumiem vienā no iecirkņiem Anglijas karalistē.
The Daily Fix: Saturday. Among other news, Irish website TheJournal.ie makes note of the Latvian referendum.
Russian language vote shows ethnic split in Latvia. Aleks Tapinsh reports on the language referendum for Reuters from Rīga.
Language referendum in Latvia widens rift with Russian-speaking minority. The Washington Post carries an Associated Press story about the Feb. 18 vote.
Der Kampf der Russen um ihre Sprache in Lettland. German newspaper Die Welt covers the coming language referendum in Latvia.
Explore Iz kolōnijām, our growing guide to Latvian communities abroad. The project received support from the Latvian government's former Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration.
