I am researching the position Latvia will take and the role they will play in the U.N. SOCHOM's effort of elemination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerence.
International Organizations
International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Organization for Migration, Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Nordic Investment Bank (NIB), Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Organization of American States (OAS), International Organization of the French-speaking World (OIF), Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), Schengen Convention (SCHENGEN CONVENTION), United Nations (UN), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Universal Postal Union (UPU), World Customs Organization (WCO), World Health Organization (WHO), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and World Trade Organization (WTO).
Ethnicity
61.8% of Latvia's population is made up of Latvians, the main ethnic group. The largest of the other ethnic groups are Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians, and Poles, while the more minor groups are Moldovans, Azeris, Chuvash, Georgians, and Livs- or Livonians. The most ethnically diverse regions of Latvia are Vidzeme, Kurzeme, Pieriga, and Zemgale.
When it comes to Latvia's religion the main religions are Lutheran Church, Roman Catholicism, Russian Orhtodox Christianity, Old Believers, Baptist Church, Judaism, and many others.
Latvia is a rather diverse country. Their main languages are Latvian (official), and Russian. Other smaller languages include Belarusian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Latgilian.
Economy
The money Latvia gets from its exports adds up to about $2,579,000,000. Sawn Wood gives them $699M, Broadcasting Equipment $659M, Packaged Medicaments $418M, Hard Liquor $501M, and Wheat adds in $423M.
The amount Latvia gets from each export destination adds up to $5,529,000,000. Lithuania gives them $2.03B, Russia $999M, Germany $903M, Estonia $855M, and the UK $532M.
Latvia's exports are Sawn Wood, Broadcasting Equipment, Hard Liquor, Wheat, and Packaged Medicaments. It’s export destinations are Lithuania, the United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, and Estonia.
Latvia's imports are Refined Petroleum, Cars, Packaged Medicaments, Broadcasting Equipment, and Petroleum Gas. It’s import countries are Sweden, Lithuania, Germany, Poland, Estonia, and Russia.
By the early 21st century most industries in Latvia were privatized. They often use the 1992 Harmonized System classification to export items.
The Harmonized System is a classification of products. The HS is used for products with a six- digit code system.
History
In 1710 the last external hegemony began. Control over Riga and parts of today’s Latvia switched from Sweden to Russia. This happened during the Great Northern War. Under Russian influence, Latvia was in the vanguard of industrialisation and the abolition of serfdom. By the end of the 19th century, it became one of the most developed parts of the Russian Empire. This brought increasing social problems meant Riga played an important role in the 1905 Russian Revolution.
In the early medieval times, the native people to this region resisted Christianisation and became an attackable subject in the Northern Crusades. By the 16th century, due to Latvia’s location and successful trading city Riga, it’s territories were frequently a big point of conflict between at least four major powers: the State of the Teutonic Order, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Sweden and Russian Empire.
After WWII Latvia was returned to the foreign domination of the Soviet Union and in 1991 their independence was officially declared. They joined the UN on September 19th, 1991, and in 2004 they joined NATO and the EU. The most recent international committee they joined was in 2014; the Eurozone.
Latvia gained inddependence in 1918, but it was not officially declared till 1991. The Latvian War of Independence went on from December 5th, 1918, till August 11th, 1920. That day they singned the Latvian-Soviet Riga Peace Treaty.
Latvia was inhabited by the Baltic tribes three millenia ago. During the ice age, Lavia was split into three sperate regions: The Moranic Western, Eastern Uplands, and The Middle Lowlands.
In 1201 Riga, the capital, was founded. This
was the same year they were under the German Teutonic Knights, there first foreign domination. They stayed under foreign domination for the next eight centuries.
Conclusion
Bibliography
"Latvia History Timeline." 20 September. 2019
Population
Riga is its most populous city, followed by Daugavpils and Liepaja. Still, Latvia had big problems with their population. Even by the beginning of the 21st century, Latvia had the lowest birth rate of all the Baltic states and the lowest life expectancies of all of Europe.
Latvia's overall population rate decreased after WWII, but it steadily increased and by 2000's more than two-thirds of the countries population had returned and lived in urban areas.
“Latvia.” Infoplease, Infoplease, www.infoplease.com/world/countries/latvia.
Back in the 1930's Latvia had a numerous amount of Jews- around 90,000. During WWII tens of thousands of Jews either fled the country, got deported to concentration camps, or slaughtered. Nazi forces were responsible for around 65,000 to 75,000 of the Jews death. By the end of WWII, only a couple thousand of the population was Jewish.
Government
Latvia is a Parliamentary Republic. Their full name is the Republic of Latvia. Their prime minister is Krisjanis Karins and their president is Reimonds Vejonis. The highest legislative body acts as something similar to a parliament, and one of the latvian leaders is Egils Levits.
Latvia's consitution was adopted in 1922 and reintroduced 1990. It sets out a foundation for the structures of it's three branches of government: Executive, Judicial, and Legislative.
“Latvia: Government.” >> GlobalEDGE: Your Source for Global Business Knowledge, globaledge.msu.edu/countries/latvia/government
The capital of Latvia is Riga. Riga was founded in 1201 and made the official capital in 1282. Riga quickly became a strategic base of the area by the Livonian Brothers of the Sword. It was the first major city of the southern Baltic and, after 1812, a trading centre in the Hanseatic League.
"Latvia Government 2019", CIA World Factbook, 8 Feb.2019
theodora.com/wfbcurrent/latvia/latvia_government.html.
Social/enviornmental issues
Almost half of Latvia's water has bacteria levels are far beyond the safety limits. As for endangerment, one hundred-twelve plant species, twenty types of Lichen, thirty-two mushroom species, four mammal species, and six bird species are close to extinction.
Seventy percent of Latvia's air pollution is caused by cars and other vehicles. The Gulf of Riga and Daugava River are the two most polluted bodies of water in Latvia. Most of their sewege does not recieve the proper treatment.
Latvia is slightly struggling when it comes to it's enviornment. A few issues they are dealing with are water pollution, air pollution, lack of treatment facilities, and endangerment and extinction of species. In 1996 industrial carbon dioxide emissions totaled to 9.2 million metric tons.
Thirt percent of Latvia's population is unemployed, while others deal with things like health care or social care systems. Forty-two percent deals with these two issues.
One social issue Latvia unfortunately suffers with is Migration. In 2000, Latvia's population was 2.38 million, but in 2019 it was 1.95 million, meaning 18.2% percent migrateed. Another is terrorism, and a third is unemployment.
Bibliography: Lemarchand, René, and Daniel Clay. “Rwanda.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 22 Aug. 2019, www.britannica.com/place/Rwanda.
Geography
Latvia mostly consists of lfertile low-lying plains with some hills in the east. Latvia's highest point is Gaiziņkalns (The Gaising), a mountain 1,022 feet (311,94) above sea level.
In Latvia, agricultural land use is 29.2%, while which arable land use is 18.6%, pernament crops use 0.1%, pernament asture use is 10.5% forests use 54.1%, and other use is 16.7%.
"Latvia- Enviornment." Encyclopedia of Nations, www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Europe/Latvia-ENVIORNMENT.html.
Latvia's neighbouring countries are Russia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Belarus, along with the Baltic Sea Bordering it's western side.
Latvia's exact coordinates are 57°00′N 25°00′E.
It's area is 64,559 km2 (24,926 sq mi). It's land use is
96.38%.
"Latvias country briefing- The euroan enviornment- state and outlook 2015." European Enviornment Agency. 20 September. 2019
Latvia is a country in Northeastern Europe.
It's in the middle of the three Batic States.
The three Baltic States are
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuanina.
Spekke, Arnold, et al. “Latvia.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 19 Sept. 2019, www.britannica.com/place/Latvia.
Introduction
The Republic of Latvia supports the U.N.'s effort towards the elimination of racial discrimination, racism, xenophobia, and other intolerances by getting rid of racism in their own country and wroking to get rid of it in others.
