Other events in Baltic States

This Saturday, on 30th August Pasaules Dabas Fonds (World Nature Fund) invites everyone to a very special film night on the Majori beach in Jurmala to celebrate the Ancient Fire Night. We will have a chance to watch four documentaries about the Baltic Sea – “Ghosts of the Baltic Sea”, “Salty Life”, "Requiem – prayer for the Baltic Sea" and "Planet Ocean". All the films will provide an in-depth knowledge about the issues of Baltic Sea in an exciting and simple way that everyone can understand; the films will also reveal the secrets of the deep waters.

We will have a unique opportunity to enjoy the premiere of "Requiem – prayer for the Baltic Sea", where Mozart's Requiem would intertwine with the wonderful documentary shots of the Baltic Sea. In turn, “Ghosts in the Baltic Sea” will show us all about the damage brought by the torn off and lost fishing nets. The documentary “Salty Life” will introduce the inhabitants of Kurzeme, who are back to ancient ancestral trade – fishing after the collapse of Soviet Union. “Planet Ocean” will provide an opportunity to plunge into the largest mystery of the planet Earth – the ocean, revealing a breath-taking connection between humanity and the inconceivable waters.

Film demonstration will start immediately after sunset (8:45pm) and end at 2am, but everyone is more than welcome to attend environmental education workshops organised by Pasaules Dabas Fonds, Association "Pēdas LV" and "Ūdensaina" starting at 7pm.

The program for the Film Night:

• 8.45pm Ghosts in the Baltic Sea

(Sweden, directed by Joakim Odelberg, 42min)

• 9.40pm Salty Life

(Latvia, directed by Ivars Selcekis, 39min)

• 10.30pm Requiem – prayer for the Baltic Sea

(Latvia, directed by Sandijs Semjonovs, 90min)

• 00.10am Planet Ocean

(United Kingdom, directed by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Michael Pitiot, 90min)

Film night is free; it will take place in the territory of a volleyball area on Majori beach between the Ērgļu and the Kaiju streets. Visitors are invited to take rugs to sit on. In case of rain the Film night will be held in the tent next to the café nearby.

The event is organized with support of the Latvian Environmental Protection Fund, and aims to educate the public about the ecological status of the Baltic Sea. As previously reported, the Baltic Sea is still one of the most polluted areas in the world. Pasaules Dabas Fonds and Boston Consulting Group in the recent study indicated that the state of the Baltic Sea in the future might have a significant impact on the region's social welfare and economic growth. If the ecological situation would not improve, the environmental conditions would deteriorate significantly, resulting in economic recession and the loss of opportunity to create new jobs.