Latvian interpreters working for Europe. More are needed for an exciting career at the heart of European politics. In Latvian with English subtitles.
Duration : 0:4:40
Tulkojam Eiropai - Latvian Interpreters for Europe
December 4th, 2008 — Latvian
Latvia struggling amid economic crisis
November 3rd, 2008 — Latvia
As global recession looms, Eastern Europe is looking increasingly vulnerable.
Ukraine and Hungary have asked for economic support from global institutions and the European Union.
And further north, the often praised Baltic economy is coming to a halt.
From the Latvian capital Riga, Neave Barker reports.
Duration : 0:2:52
Riga, Latvia (October 2006)
October 19th, 2008 — Latvia
My trip to Riga, LatviaEurovision 2008 Latvia Pirates of the Sea Wolves of the sea
October 17th, 2008 — Latvia
Eurovision Song Contest Europe Music 2008
Live performance Final May 25 Belgrade Serbia Actuacion en vivo
Latvia Letonia Pirates of the Sea Wolves of the sea
Duration : 0:3:51
Latvia In Hitler’s Footsteps? NEW LATVIAN DETAIL
October 13th, 2008 — Latvia
Latvia is fascist? Latvia is democratic? Latvia is a dictatorship? Latvia is only for stag nights? Latvia was occupied? Latvia should be occupied? Latvia loves the Nazi SS? Latvians get free translators in the UK. Latvia is…?
You decide.
LATVIANS, ESTONIANS AND ALL - IMPORTANT NOTE: when responding to a comment, on this investigation into Latvia, please begin by repeating the first few words of that comment, to clarify what you are commenting on. Thanks.
Latvia as Latvians follow in Hitler’s intended footsteps.
LATVIA SAYS THIS: http://www.am.gov.lv/en/news/speeches/2003/mar/3787/
This is a trailer for our independent investigative documentary on Latvia today, as the holiday brochures will never tell it. Inspired by our personal encounters, as a returning Latvian citizen and first-time British visitor; who ended up on the front page of the national press after writing an open letter to Latvia’s president in 2005.
Corrections: The subtitle ‘The fight for Latvia goes on.’ should read ‘…went on.’ The figures for those no longer able to vote is now 20% not 30% - many of those unable to vote emmigrated from Latvia.
February 2008: Viewers for/against this trailer on Latvia: which 5 points/arguements would you most like presented in the full documentary ‘Latvia in Hitler’s Footsteps?’ and what evidence do you offer to verify them? The full documentary will be broadcast in 2008.
Think Latvia is fair and democratic or that it is a discriminatory nightmare or something else? Here is your chance.
Duration : 0:4:19
Baltica 2006 (Latvia)
October 12th, 2008 — Latvia
This is footage from Day 3 of this year’s Baltica Festival in Latvia. The Baltica Festival takes place each summer in one of the Baltic States, so every third year it is in Latvia, as it was this year. The Baltica Festivals, I believe, started in 1986 and were a major part of the movement that led to the Baltic States’ independence from the Soviet Union.
The festival always takes place in a variety of locations in each of the host countries. This year it opened on a Th near the town of Sigulda; Fri it was in Riga; Sat it took place in different locations throughout the Latvian countrside, and Su it closed with a concert and ceremony in the very picturesque town of Kuldiga.
This is footage from Sat in the village of Kolka, which is located on the coast at the point where the Baltic Sea and the Bay of Riga meet in the Kurzeme or Courland region of Latvia.
More specifically, this is footage of two groups from Latgale. Latgale is a region of Latvia that has long fascinated me; it is considered by many to be the most rural part of Latvia, and it shares a long border to the east with Russia. The Latgallian dialect is quite distinct from the rest of Latvian, and Latgallians are considered a distinct group within the Latvian nation, though there is a small, small minority who consider the Latgallians a distinct Baltic ethnicity seperate from both Latvians and Lithuanians. I have heard many people–i.e., other Latvians–claim that one of the major points that makes the Latgallians distinct is the Slavic influence they have inherited in their borderland with Russia. Whatever is the case, there is a degree of similarity between, say, some Latgallian dance styles to those of their eastern neighbor, which is represented here at the end of the clip. I have seen/heard other Latvian groups play this tune while dancing in a different manner to the music.
One of the perfomers gives an explanation of his group’s next song in the middle of the clip, which I have not subtitled. He explains, while speaking in more standard Latvian, that North Latgallians also differ from South Latgallians, which I presume he mentioned because of this stereotype in Latvia concerning how different Latgallians are from the rest of the Latvian bunch–well, he seems to be saying, Latgallians even differ from themselves, too! He goes on to say that the next song is an “apdziedasanas” (which I write here without the diacritical marks, as I don’t have Latvian fonts on my laptop)–a song in which people sing about one another, often humorously. He says the singing of such songs is still part of wedding traditions in his, I think he meant to say, native North Latgale, and warns the audience that they might not understand the words as they are sung in the Latgallian dialect.
In short, Latgallians are to Latvians what Hutsuls are to Ukrainians.
In general, I have gathered from native speakers of Latvian that they can catch on to Latgallian if they listen carefully enough.
For readers of my blog, this is a perfect example of what I mean by “real” folk music/dance performance–no Sovietski Bullshitski, nor overly arranging and/or ornamenting the music, but rather the presentation of music and dance with an authentic village-based sensibility.
I absolutely adored the orchestra of the 4 older musicians that appears at the beginning of the clip.
In the middle and at the end of the footage appears my daughter with her mama and one of Julija’s buddies–they are all dressed in Livonian costumes.
For family and friends: I was part of the festival, performing with the folk ensemble Skandinieki with Zinta; Julija was with us throughout and in the footage you will see her charging to the performers on stage. Julija was a frequent and quite welcomed cameo in a variety of acts during the course of the festival, and was on stage when Skandinieki performed. Listen for the crowd’s laughter in this clip as Julija takes the stage.
Duration : 0:4:41
Lithuania Estonia Latvia - Baltic road
October 10th, 2008 — Latvia
lithuanians-lietuviai
vaikai gyvenkim draugiskai…. nekreipkit demesio i tuos ruskius komentuotojus :)nenusileiskim iki ju zemo lygio…
mes geresni 100 kartu 
Duration : 0:3:52
Sampolit Film - The Latvian Legion
September 11th, 2008 — Latvian
Two divisions were to be formed on the Latvian soil during the Second World War. They were to form the core of the Latvian Legion which was created in order to prevent a new Soviet occupation. The 15th — Latvian 1st Division and 19th — Latvian 2nd Division along with the other Latvian military units it had a combat strength up to 165,000 men at its peak.
The Latvian Legion was an unique battlegroup what was built on what stood on patriotism and high fighting moral. The legionaries continued the fight till the bitter end — some dedicated their entire life fighting against the Soviet occupation.
The Western countries yielded to the pressure of the Soviet Union and did not object to Latvia and other Baltic States remaining part of the Soviet Union. Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia found themselves the only occupied states, whose independence was not restored after the Second World War. Only in 1991 it became possible to eliminate this historical injustice and the Baltic States regained their national independence.
In the end, the Latvians were vindicated - they were cleared of any war crimes in 1950 by the US Congress statement which recognized the difference of the Baltic SS Legions from the German SS. Not many surviving members of the Latvian Legion are left today in Latvia. But each year the veterans, meet to remember their suffering and sacrifices. They see themselves as Latvian patriots who believed that they were fighting for the restoration of a free Latvia. For this reason, March 16th, the anniversary of a major Latvian Legion battle in Russia, was chosen as a day of solemn remembrance.
This video is about the soldiers and legionaries who gave everything to save their own country. It also describes a nation whose independence and youth was violently taken away. It is about a country who suffered after the war 50 more years. A country to whom the Second World War did not end on the 8th of May 1945.
The matter of the Latvian SS is still hotly debated. In Latvia and Estonia they are officially recognized as freedom fighters.
Duration : 0:5:6