The documentary “happiness economy” also in Rezekne municipality

From 19 March to 25 April, more than 100 Latvian provinces will show the documentary “happiness economy”. The film throughout Latvia will show social campaigns for responsible food consumption “stop playing food circus!” and the entry in these impressions is free. As one of the target groups, representatives of local governments and non-governmental organisations are invited to impressions, as well as any interested party who cares and is interested in the world, including Latvia, in relation to global development, environment, economy and society. In certain locations (in Latgale they are Daugavpils, Preiļi, Balvi, Kraslava and Rezekne), the “Latvian Farmers Federation” will be invited to the discussion on developments in food production and consumption after viewing the film.

Impressions in Rēzekne municipality and Rezekne:

• In Rezekne, the Eastern Latvian creative service centre “Zeimulis”, on April 9, at 14:00. After a session, “Latvian Farmers Federation” is invited to a discussion
• Dricānu in a cultural house, 8 April, at 16:30
• Ozolaines in the People's House, 9 April, at 14:00
• Bērzgales in a cultural house, 8 April, at 13:00

The film marks the contemporary global crises – climate change, terrorism, financial crack, twisting them with very personal stories about people who feel depressive and empty consumer society. The reason? A world created by global corporations, where there is always a profit and consumption increase in the first place, not a man. “Lonely people are never happy, and globalisation makes a very lonely planet,” says the activist and the film director Vanda Shiva. The solution to this problem is the localisation – a return to the community of the Communities where people know how the neighbour and food are purchased by a farmer who is living in the vicinity rather than a supermarket.

The campaign is organised by the Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation (PAGES) together with its members “Homo ecos:“ and “Latvian Farmers Federation”. Information about impressions in other parishes and cities can be found on the www.kinopunkts.lv page, under “where and when.”

More about the campaign:

The people of Latvia will be informed of the impact of local action on global development, the environment, the economy and society in Latvia and the world through a responsible example of food consumption during the campaign “stop playing food circus!”. “Responsible food consumption” is a smart and smart food choice. In the framework of the campaign, we will explain why it is essential to choose healthy, seasonal local food, preferring to raw products; reduce meat consumption in food; buy food directly from farmers, choosing family farms; do not discard food in waste; support fair trade, “Homo ecos:” leader Santa Krastina.

Food consumption is closely linked to the impact of individual action on global development, creating a link between people in different countries. “In the globalised world, we are all connected. Even if we don't see it every step, there's a link. We buy a garment produced in Bangladesh, eat bananas from Costa Rica and drink coffee in Ethiopia, but how often do we ask the question of how it all came and came to us?" adds THE PAGE manager Inese Vaivare.

From 19 March to the end of May, the largest cities in Latvia – Riga, Liepaja, Ventspils, Jelgava, Valmiera, Rezekne and Daugavpils – will be able to see a photographic exhibition of “National Geographic” reflecting the production of food products in developing countries.

More information about the campaign can be found on the Homo ecos: website www.homoecos.lv.

The campaign takes place in the “glossary of the project – a local key for global development. European Year for Development 2015 and THE EU Presidency project under the Latvian Presidency of the COUNCIL 2015. Project 90% is financed by the European Union, implemented by the Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation (PAGES), together with three member organisations –“ Homo ecos: ”, the Latvian Farmers Federation and the Latvian Rural Forum. The project envisages a series of measures to raise citizens' awareness of development cooperation issues and, in particular, the impact of individual action on global processes. More information - www.lapas.lv.

Project implementer: PAGES. The project is co-financed by: European Commission, ministry of Foreign Affairs, Society Integration Fund and Latvian Environment Protection Fund. Project activity implementers: Homo ecos:, Latvian Farmers Federation, Latvian Rural Forum.