Latvia

Friends of the Earth Latvia / latvijas zemes draugi was established in 1987. Since Latvia declared independence, latvijas zemes draugi has been the largest non-governmental organization in Latvia. It has more than 3200 individual supporters and 64 local branches at the moment.

Latvijas zemes draugi is a typical grassroots organization, working mainly on supporting the local environmental initiatives, but national and international activities are also carried out. Current campaigns are on forests, the sea coast, dune protection, alternative energy, organic agriculture, and cultural and international contact programmes. Each year, latvijas zemes draugi organizes a "Sea Week" which culminates in a "Green Singing Festival".

Latvijas zemes draugi also organizes protest campaigns, on issues including hazardous waste problems in Latvia, EU accession transparency, regional planning and insufficient EIA procedure cases. Our largest campaign is against the construction of a new offshore oil terminal in the Baltic Sea, near the coast of Latvia.