Latvian Green Movement (LaGM)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

LaGM is a membership based environmental non-governmental organization that was founded in June 2004. Main aims of the organization are stated in the
Articles of association and among others include:
- Protect environment and public rights;
- Promote and ensure participation in decision-making process related to environmental issues;
- Increase environmental awareness of the public;
- Promote the use of environment friendly alternatives.
Currently LaGM unites 63 individual members.

STRUCTURE

LaGM as umbrella unites four regional groups:
- North Kurzeme group;
- South Kurzeme group;
- Middle Kurzeme group;
- Environmental group "Ozols" in Daugavpils.
In addition LaGM involves two thematic (issue) groups:
- "Ekoprojekts" group;
- Nordic Information Centre
For detailed information about decision-making bodies and procedures, please look in the Articles of LaGM.
Four Board members and Chair were elected for two-year period in June 2004 by AGM.

ACTIVITIES IN 2004 AND 2005

Main activities can be described in several areas:
— Campaigning
These type of activities where mostly focused on illegal activities that cause damage to environment. LaGM also provided support to some local organizations in solving specific problems. Most significant activities were about stopping illegal open-air incineration of hazardous waste, stopping illegal dumping of waste from slaughtery and supporting efforts of local people in protesting against building of new highway near specially protected nature area.
LaGM had joint activities with Belorussian environmental NGO Foundation for realization of ideas and organized camp in Belorus near Polock city in summer of 2005. Also representatives from other environmental NGOs from Latvia took part in this camp.
— Monitoring
Monitoring activities were mostly related to participation in programming of EU funds (Structural and Cohesion funds). LaGM also took a role of coordinating other environmental NGO efforts in commenting and discussing National development plan and National strategic reference framework document. LaGM also cooperated with transparency NGO and environmental groups (WWF Latvia and Environmental Protection Club) in bringing attention of decision makers to illegal construction activities in the dunes.
— Environmental education
South Kurzeme group (Liepaja Green Center) organized car-free day where many people participated. As part of that also exhibition of drawings made by kids was organized. Another significant part of environmental education activities in 2005 was connected to education of land-owners about biodiversity issues and their rights. Each year during summer period an open-air camp for school-children is organized near the cost, when children learn about environment and explore nature. In the summer camp held in August 2005, about 30 people participated.
LaGM also coordinated joint activities of three other environmental NGOs in raising awareness of local NGOs about implementation aspects of EU Water framework directive and issued booklet explaining implementation aspects of WFD in Daugava river basin.
Before elections of local councils in March 2005, LaGM published posters "Nature can't be bought" that was spread in coastal municipalities aiming to remind people before elections that they should vote for those politicians that respect environment. Later on in 2005 LaGM has issued a booklet "Know your rights!" that explains to ordinary citizens how to use their legal rights when violations against nature should be stopped.
— Clean-up actions
North Kurzeme group and Middle Kurzeme group organized several clean-ups. During these actions local people were involved and stronger cooperation with local entrepreneurs developed i.e. entrepreneurs provided woods for footbridges, bags for rubbish, sandwiches for participants etc.

Latvian Green Movement is represented and actively participates in the work of Environmental Advisory Board that unites 19 national environmental NGOs and is re-elected every year.

Additional information about our activities is available in the homepage of LaGM (www.zalie.lv).