The Popular Front of Latvia (Latvijas Tautas Fronte in Latvian) was a political organization in Latvia in late 1980s and early 1990s which lead Latvia to its independence from the Soviet Union. It was similar to the Popular Front of Estonia and the Sajudis movement in Lithuania.
Latvia, together with Estonia and Lithuania, was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940. While there was relatively little resistance to the occupation, many Latvians remained unhappy with it and waited for a chance to regain independence. Such a chance came in 1980s when Gorbachev attempted to reform the Soviet Union. In particular, Gorbachev's glasnost policy allowed more freedom of speech in the Soviet Union than ever before.
Latvia's independence movement started with small demonstrations for independence and human rights in 1986. The first demonstrations, organized by Helsinki-86, were, however, suppressed by the government of Latvian SSR. The breaking point came in summer 1988. Many prominent Latvians publicly announced their support for increased autonomy for Latvia. Latvian newspapers started writing about aspects of Latvian history which had been banned during the Soviet period (for example, how Latvia had been occupied in 1940). The flag of Latvia which had been banned during the Soviet period was brought back. To summarize, a strong resurgence of Latvian national identity had started.
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Wherever you look in Old Riga, there are architectural delights for the eyes.
During its first independence (1918-1939):
- Latvia had the most women per men in Eastern and Western Europe? (1,139 per 1,000)
- Latvia had the second-best life expectancy in Europe? (France led with 14.0% over the age of 60, Latvia in second with 13.9%)
- Latvia had the highest number of university students per 10,000 inhabitants? (Latvia led with 30.1, Great Britain, for example, was well down the list with 11.5)
- Latvia was second in printed books per 10,000 inhabitants? (at 82, Denmark led with 86)
- Latvia had one of the best teacher to student ratios for elementary school? (Sweden first at 28.7, Holland second at 28.4, Latvia third at 27.1)
- Latvia had the highest per-capita milk and milk products consumption? (566 litres per year per inhabitant)
- Latvia led the U.S. and Great Britain in per-capita meat consumption? (85 kilos per person per year, Great Britain in second at 64 kilos, the U.S. trailing at 62 kilos)
- Latvia had one of the highest literacy rates in Europe (does someone have that number handy?)
During its second independence:
- add accomplishments here!
The Latvian Chamber of Commerce, the Bureau of Statistics, and the various Latvian legations in exile after World War II regularly published comparative statistics about where Latvia stood with respect to its international brethren during its first two decades of independence.
Statistics, decisions, projects related to Latvia's life in the European Union.
- By official data, more than 50,000 citizens emigrated since Latvia joined EU in 2004. However, recent polls (2006) suggest the actual number may be double that.
- A SKDS* poll, January, 2006 shows 39% of Latvia's population consider emigrating.
- Latvian attitude toward the EU: 37% neutral, 30% positive, and 25% negative, in a SKDS December, 2005 poll. [1]
Rīga water supply and sewer project (25,262,369 euros, 70% financed by the EU)
* SKDS is a major Latvian marketing and public opinion research center (independent firm).
Contribute to Latvia-related articles!
- Many major subjects (even Valdemārs, Kalpaks, Vītols and Akuraters!) don't even have stubs. See the Latvia Category or List of Latvians and start or edit a needed article.
- The Baltic States notice board has lists of new articles, articles in need of attention, and current discussions about important articles related to the Baltic States.
- The category and list are badly in need of additions and editing, too -- add people and subjects you think are important and start an article (search to see if there is one first -- Gustavs Klucis, for example, is known as Gustav Klutsis; also, many Latvian names are still appearing without diacritics, and not all bear redirects [add them!]).
- Many articles have no illustrations -- find photos and maps that are in the public domain and add them.
- Translate articles from the Latvian Vikipēdija (which could also use contributions!) or other sources that are not protected by copyrights.
Help keep our portal up to date!
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- Race for U.N. Chief Said Still Open — The Indian candidate for U.N. secretary-general said that the race to succeed Kofi Annan 'could well be all over' if the current front-runner again does well in the next informal poll of the U.N. Security ... (Wed, 27 Sep 2006)
- Out of town: Craftsmen Fair in Sigulda — Craft fairs have a way of bringing out the five-year-old kindergartener in all of us. (Wed, 27 Sep 2006)
- Iraqi filmmaker's dreams come to Riga — In 2003, only a few short months after the Americans took Baghdad, Mohamed Al-Daradji returned to Iraq for the first time in eight years. (Wed, 27 Sep 2006)
- Latvian boy tests cell phone by making a bomb threat call — An 11 year-old boy made a call claiming that he placed a bomb at the local State Fire and Rescue Service in Liepaja on Tuesday. (Wed, 27 Sep 2006)
- Tallink replaces Estonian crew of Regina Baltica with Latvians — The Estonian shipping company Tallink has announced that it is replacing the approximately 250 Estonian members of the crew of the Regina Baltica passenger ship with Latvians. (Tue, 26 Sep 2006)
- Finnish president doesn't support Vike-Freiberga's UN bid — Finnish President Tarja Halonen does not support Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga's candidacy for UN secretary-general, according to the Finnish daily Helsinging Sanomat. (Tue, 26 Sep 2006)
- Latvian lawmakers ban gay workplace bias — Discrimination in the workplace against gay men and lesbians has been banned by lawmakers in Latvia, reversing an earlier decision that earned them sharp criticism at home and abroad, Agence France-Presse ... (Thu, 21 Sep 2006)
- Repse kills man in auto accident — Einars Repse, leader of Latvia's center-right New Era party, hit and killed a pedestrian late on Sept. (Wed, 20 Sep 2006)
- Baltics nominate Vike-Freiberga for U.N. secretary-general — President Vaira Vike-Freiberga announced on Sept. 16 that she would join the competition to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations in a long-shot attempt to break up what she dubbed the "all ... (Wed, 20 Sep 2006)
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Calendars
Events
Dziesmu un Deju Svētki
- 12th U.S. Latvian Song and Dance Festival, July 4-8, 2007, Indianapolis, Indiana (Song festival site)
- Next Song and Dance Festival in Latvia will happen in 2008
Modern Dates
Historical Dates
(through Latvia's first independence)
Please add yourself to the list if you are contributing to articles about Latvia. Please also add your area of expertise or interests and relations to Latvia.
- User:Untifler: Hallo! I'm interested in Russian Civil War and the involvement of Red Latvian Riflemen. As the most source I find are published in Russian I have a major problem, how to spell the Latvian names correctly. So, the first will be Janis Judensh (Russian Янис Юденьш). I'm waiting for your help!
- Pēters Jānis Vecrumba - Native Brooklynite. My father graduated from the Latvian Academy of Art; my mother was assistant postmaster in Talsi when the occupation and war came. My parents happened to be away from the family homestead when the Baigais Gads mass deportations came [2]. When not fiddling with Wikipedia--a recent affliction--I tend to our Latvian travelogue, heritage, and reference site latvians.com.
- Pēteris Cedriņš - I'm one of the translators of the controversial history of Latvia in the 20th Century published in Latvian and Russian by Jumava last year (the English version will be out soon). At Wiki I've mostly written and edited articles on history and culture (the ones I've contributed the most to are listed on my user page, which also covers my interests, experience and "Web presence.")
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