Patriots\u2019 Month is a time to remind ourselves that Latvia\u2019s freedom is our greatest value, and that Latvia\u2019s security and resilience are our shared responsibility. True resilience requires not only the state\u2019s defence capabilities, institutions and infrastructure, but also the involvement of every citizen. Becoming a supporter of the National Guard, getting involved in voluntary work, learning first aid skills, preparing your family for emergencies, or simply being ready to help others \u2013 every such action is a significant contribution to strengthening Latvia\u2019s resilience.<\/p>\n
That is why the organisations that protect the country on a daily basis, save lives, provide electricity, communications and other essential services, and help their fellow citizens \u2013 the National Guard, the National Armed Forces, the State Fire and Rescue Service, the State Crisis Management Centre, the State Police, the Emergency Medical Service, and representatives of the State Innovative Capital Companies Initiative (VIKI) (\u201cLMT Group\u201d, \u201cLatvian State Forests\u201d, \u201cSadales t\u012bkls\u201d, \u201cAugstsprieguma t\u012bkls\u201d, \u201cLatvenergo\u201d), Latvian Public Media, Delfi.lv and the non-governmental organisations \u201cZiedot.lv\u201d and \u201cEntrepreneurs for Peace\u201d \u2013 have joined forces in the Latvian Resilience Initiative, which calls on every citizen to get involved.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, the question is not whether I have a place in national defence, but rather what my role is within it. Latvia needs people who are prepared to join the National Guard, acquire the necessary skills and play a practical role in national defence. At the same time, everyone can contribute to Latvia\u2019s security through their knowledge, skills and actions. We must not merely be consumers of security \u2013 we must also be its creators. A nation\u2019s strength lies not only in its armed forces, but also in the will, readiness and ability of its people to take action. That is why the slogan \u201eMy Latvia. My responsibility.\u201d is not just words \u2013 it is a call to each and every one of us to take responsibility and be ready to act,\u201d as General Aivars Krjukovs, Commander of the National Guard, points out.<\/strong><\/p>\n At the event, representatives of the initiative group presented the five principles of Latvia\u2019s resilience \u2013 individual responsibility, preparedness and knowledge, active participation, solidarity and cooperation, as well as long-term commitment and action. This relies on a combination of many different elements \u2013 the resilience of communication networks, national defence, crisis management, civil protection, health protection, public safety, support for citizens, community resilience, security of electricity supply, resilience of the electricity supply, energy generation, heating and shelter, reliable information, mutual assistance and speed.<\/p>\n \u201cOur day-to-day work involves identifying potential risks in good time, anticipating what might happen, and acting swiftly should complications arise. The Crisis Management Centre team works every day to ensure that Latvia is safe and prepared for various challenges. We are all doing everything we can to ensure our country remains strong and invincible,\u201d he said, calling on everyone to play their part in strengthening Latvia\u2019s resilience, emphasises Gints Reinsons, Deputy Head of the Crisis Management Centre.<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the key elements of resilience is public participation, as without it, a resilient society, strong communities and genuine care for one another are inconceivable.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are many ways and opportunities to get involved in building a safer Latvia \u2013 from serving in the National Guard to civic engagement and looking after those closest to you. However, the very first step must be taken, and the first decision \u2013 to take action rather than remain a passive bystander \u2013 must be made by each individual. And this decision also demonstrates a willingness and readiness to take responsibility for what we all have in common \u2013 for Latvia,\u201d says Valts Ern\u0161treits, the founder of the \u201cMy Latvia. My Responsibility.\u201d initiative.<\/strong><\/p>\n There are various opportunities for members of the public who wish to play a part in strengthening Latvia\u2019s resilience: joining the National Guard or the Youth Guard, completing basic military training for reservists, volunteer for national defence service, become a supporter of the National Guard, join civil defence volunteer teams, take part in searches for missing persons, join the State Fire and Rescue Service, undertake civil defence and first aid training, do voluntary work, become a blood donor, be active members of residents\u2019 organisations in their local authority, support civic initiatives, etc.<\/p>\n \u201cResilience is not just the ability to weather a crisis. It is the ability to take action whilst others are still searching for solutions. Having supported Ukraine since the very first day of full-scale war, we have seen just how crucial speed is \u2013 the ability to make decisions, bring people together and mobilise resources. A strong country is one where people know that, in times of difficulty, they will not be left on their own. And it is precisely the ability of entrepreneurs to act swiftly that is our contribution to Latvia\u2019s resilience,\u201d emphasises Laura Skrodele, director of the \u201cEntrepreneurs for Peace\u201d foundation.<\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Uz\u0146emties iniciat\u012bvu, nevis gaid\u012bt, ka visu atrisin\u0101s k\u0101ds cits; zin\u0101t, k\u0101 r\u012bkoties kr\u012bzes situ\u0101cij\u0101s; izmantot savas zin\u0101\u0161anas, prasmes un iesp\u0113jas kop\u0113jam labumam; pal\u012bdz\u0113t citiem; apzin\u0101ties, ka notur\u012bba nav vienreiz\u0113js pas\u0101kums, bet ikdienas darbs, \u2013 \u0161ie pieci principi atg\u0101dina, ka stipra Latvija s\u0101kas ar katra individu\u0101lo atbild\u012bbu, bet patiesais sp\u0113ks rodas visu kop\u012bg\u0101 r\u012bc\u012bb\u0101. 4. novembr\u012b domubiedru kopa \u2013 Zemessardze, operat\u012bvie dienesti, kapit\u0101lsabiedr\u012bbas un lielie Latvijas uz\u0146\u0113mumi, nevalstisk\u0101s organiz\u0101cijas un mediju p\u0101rst\u0101vji \u2013 \u012bpa\u0161\u0101 pas\u0101kum\u0101 atkl\u0101ja Latvijas notur\u012bbas iniciat\u012bvu, aicinot ikvienu iesaist\u012bties valsts dro\u0161\u012bbas stiprin\u0101\u0161an\u0101.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":1881,"template":"","stasta_tips":[],"palidzibas_veids":[],"partneris":[],"class_list":["post-1880","um_story","type-um_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/uznemejimieram.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/um_story\/1880","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/uznemejimieram.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/um_story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/uznemejimieram.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/um_story"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/uznemejimieram.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/um_story\/1880\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1943,"href":"https:\/\/uznemejimieram.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/um_story\/1880\/revisions\/1943"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uznemejimieram.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1881"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/uznemejimieram.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1880"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"stasta_tips","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uznemejimieram.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/stasta_tips?post=1880"},{"taxonomy":"palidzibas_veids","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uznemejimieram.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/palidzibas_veids?post=1880"},{"taxonomy":"partneris","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uznemejimieram.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/partneris?post=1880"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}