2008

The idea of the Lielā talka is to clean up all of Latvia.

"A clean and green country - present to Latvia on her ninetieth anniversary" is the slogan for this cleaning day- campaign, which will take place on September 13, 2008 in 352 municipalities all around Latvia.  The initiator of this campaign is writer Anna Zigure (Anna Žīgure) who was inspired by Estonian example.

Anna Zigure has found supporters from different groups of society - NGOs, governmental institutions, private companies. The patron of this cleaning day is the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers. The main idea of this campaign is not only the cleaning. It also aims to change the attitude of people and to encourage responsibility in different society members towards problems related to environment.  

Invitation says: „ if all participants band together we can clean out Latvia's forests, woodlands, meadows and fields. We can clear out the carelessly and illegally dumped garbage from our towns and cities, as well as from our sea and our lakes and from the shores of our rivers and streams. It is important that everyone participate who has the land and its present and future well-being at heart.  Lielā talka will embrace all of Latvia, every county and every town and city, from east to west and from north to south.”

It is planned that more than 40000 people will participate in this big cleaning on September 13, 2008.  In all parts of Latvia the cleaning will start at 10 am and will continue till 3 pm. All municipalities involved will be competing; and this competition will be broadcasted in Latvian Independent Television.