PBLA posthumously honors Arturs Cipulis with award

Andris Straumanis | 

The latest World Federation of Free Latvians award, an annual honor bestowed on an individual or individuals for their work in the Latvian community, has been posthumously awarded to Arturs Cipulis.

Cipulis, who died Oct. 10 after an operation, was a Latvian political and social activist in Germany, the federation (known in Latvian as Pasaules brīvo latviešu apvienība, or PBLA) said in announcing the award. The winner of this year’s honor as well as the names of those who won awards or recognition from federation’s Culture Fund were announced during Independence Day celebrations in various Latvian communities worldwide

“The laureate’s life was devoted to Latvian unity,” the federation said. “The people closest to him—his wife, son and daughter—sometimes took second place. His wife Rasma, who also was selfless in fulfilling her Latvian responsibilities, was her husband’s best helper.”

The Cipulis family fled from Latvia to Germany during World War II. Arturs Cipulis began working in the community already in 1945, helping to found a Latvian elementary school in the Displaced Persons camp in Braunschweig, as well as a choir, folk dance group and theatre troupe.

Because of his health, the family was unable to emigrate from Germany and in 1952 settled in Pinneberg, near Hamburg. Cipulis became involved with and eventually was elected to the Central Committee of the Latvian Central Council (Latviešu Centrālā padome).

In 1964, Cipulis led efforts to organize the first Latvian Song Festival in Western Europe and also was involved in organizing the second festival.

Germany’s central Latvian organization, renamed Latviešu Kopība Vācijā (Latvian Community in Germany) came under Cipulis’ leadership in 1972, a position he held until the mid-1990s and, after a few years’ away, resumed and continued in 2003.

For 30 years, Cipulis led the Hamburg Latvian Society, but for 40 years was director of the Hamburg Latvian choir. He served as the German Latvian community’s representative to the PBLA and to the Western European Latvian Association (Rietumeiropas Latviešu apvienība). In addtion, Cipulis helped publish Brīvā Latvija, the Western European weekly Latvian newspaper.

Cipulis also administered the Latvian high school in Münster, Minsteres latviešu ģimnāzija, continuing his association with the school even after its closure.

After Latvia regained its independence, Cipulis worked with the State Archive of Latvia to develop exhibits about Latvian society in exile.

He also organized the return to Latvia of the remains of Professor Jāzeps Vītols and writer Jāņis Jaunsudrabiņš.

In 1997, Cipulis was award the Order of the Three Stars, Latvia’s highest civilian honor, while in 1998 he was awarded Germany’s Bundesverdienstkreutz.

Arturs Cipulis

Arturs Cipulis has been honored posthumously by the World Federation of Free Latvians.

Andris Straumanis is a special correspondent for and a co-founder of Latvians Online. From 2000–2012 he was editor of the website.

Darāmā ir daudz un visiem pietiek vietas

Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga | 

Kā Valsts prezidente es priecājos Jūs sveikt Latvijas neatkarības proklamēšanas 88. gadadienā un daru to jau astoto reizi pēc kārtas.

Es priecājos, ka šobrīd Latvija jau ir kļuvusi par visātrāk augošo ekonomiski plaukstošo zemi Eiropas Savienībā un ka tas ceļš, ko esam uzsākuši pirms 15 gadiem, atjaunojot savas valsts neatkarību, ir pierādījis, ka mūsu centieni, mūsu sapņi var piepildīties un ka mums ir visas izredzes turpināt tālāk panākt visu to, kas pagātnē ir ticis aizkavēts un panākt to, ka mēs ne tikvien kļūsim gluži līdzīgi visām attīstītajām valstīm, bet, es ļoti ceru un esmu par to pārliecināta, ka daudzās jomās Latvija varēs būt citām valstīm par paraugu un piemēru. Tā tas īstenībā ir arī jau šobrīd. Esmu dzirdējusi no ļoti daudzu valstu pārstāvjiem, ka viņi ar zināmu draudzīgu skaudību noraugās uz to, kas Latvijā sasniegts. Daudziem no viņiem tas vēl ir tikai sapnis. Par daudzām lietām no tā, ko esam sasnieguši, ko uzskatām par pašu par sevi saprotamu un varbūt par zemu novērtējam, citas tautas vēl tikai sapņo, un citās zemēs paies vēl ilgi gadi, kamēr viņiem būs lemts nonākt tur, kur mēs esam jau šobrīd.

Protams, Latvijā ir daudz ko vēl darīt. Tādēļ es ceru, ka katrs, kam Latvija dārga, paturēs to savā sirdī, uzturēs kontaktus ar Latviju – ar savu dzimteni, ar tēvu vai vectēvu zemi, vienalga cik tālu sniedzas radniecības saites. Es ļoti aicinu visus domāt par Latviju, mīlēt Latviju un darīt to, ko katrs no Jums savā laukā, savā specialitātē ar savām spējām un iespējām var Latvijas labā darīt. Mēs esam maza zeme, maza tauta un ikviens mums ir īpaši dārgs un vērtīgs.

Mēs šobrīd esam situācijā, kur izmantojot ES sniegtās brīvības, daudzi aizceļo, meklē laimi un iespējas citās zemēs, kas ir normāla parādība. Uz to jau mēs bijām arī tiekušies un cerējuši, iestājoties Eiropas Savienībā. Te ir izaicinājums Latvijā mums nodrošināt, lai dzīve izveidotos tāda, ka katram gribētos Latvijā palikt, Latvijā ierasties, Latvijā strādāt. Es dzirdu no daudziem sveštautiešiem tiešām sajūsmu par to, kāda ir Latvija, kādi ir Latvijas cilvēki, ko viņi spēj un var izdarīt. Man pašai savas prezidentūras laikā ir bijusi iespēja tikties gan ar Jums daudzās tālās pasaules malās, ko vienmēr esmu darījusi ar īpašu prieku, gan arī ar latviešiem šeit pat Latvijā no vienas robežas līdz otrai – no ziemeļiem līdz dienvidiem un no austrumiem līdz rietumiem. Visur esmu satikusi nopietnus un arī priecīgus cilvēkus, tādus, kuri mīl savu valsti un savu zemi, kam ir talanti, domas un idejas, kuri daudz ko spēj un ir jau paguvuši izdarīt un kam ir daudz ieceru nākotnei.

Es aicinu katru, kam Latvija ir mīļa, nākt talkā ar savām idejām, ar saviem projektiem un priekšlikumiem. Darāmā ir daudz un visiem pietiek vietas. Es novēlu Jums visiem šajos svētkos, lai Jūs būtu lepni par savu Latviju!

Es pateicos visiem tiem, kuri atbalstīja visu triju Baltijas valstu izvirzīto manu kandidatūru Apvienoto Nāciju ģenerālsekretāra amatam. Tā bija izdevība pasaulei atgādināt par demokrātiskām vērtībām, par to, ka vesela Eiropas daļa ilgu laiku nevarēja piedalīties ANO procesos un, protams, arī par dzimumu vienlīdzību. Paldies visiem par atbalstu un, šķiet, tā bija atkal izdevība nostādīt Latviju pasaules uzmanības centrā. Tādas iespējas mums būs atkal un atkal, un mums visiem kopā par tām jārūpējas un jāgādā.

Paldies visiem par Jūsu atbalstu un sadarbību! Lai Jums ir skaisti un priecīgi Latvijas valsts svētki!

VVF runā

Latvijas Valsts prezidente Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga uzrunā latviešus ārzemēs. (Kadrs no videoklipa)

Lawmakers in Baltic caucuses fare well in election

Andris Straumanis | 

For the U.S. congressional representatives who lost their seats during the Nov. 7 midterm election, here’s a bit of advice: Join the House Baltic Caucus and your political career might just be ensured.

Of the 70 U.S. representatives who are members of the House Baltic Caucus, only three were not re-elected. Rep. Rob Simmons of Connecticut, Rep. Curt Weldon of Pennsylvania and Rep. Sue Kelly of New York, all Republicans, lost their seats in the election that returned the House to Democratic control. Simmons held on through a recount of a close race, but conceded Nov. 15.

One other caucus member, Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe of Arizona, has announced his retirement and did not run in the election. Another, Democratic Rep. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, ran for the U.S. Senate and was elected.

Both chairs of the House caucus were returned. Republican Rep. John Shimkus of Illinois and Democrat Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio easily won re-election.

“For any election, it is always a relief when Baltic Caucus leaders, especially the co-chairmen, win their races,” Karl Altau, executive director of the Joint Baltic American National Committee, said in an e-mail. “It really helps with the continuity.”

However, JBANC suffered one setback. Republican Sen. George Allen of Virginia, whose hopes for re-election evaporated after he used the word “macaca” to describe a worker for his Democratic opponent, is one of the 13 members of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus.

Back in 2000, Altau said, the Baltic lobby was shocked to lose a friend when Republican Sen. Slade Gorton of Washington lost re-election.

Other Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus members fared better, including Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who failed to get the Democratic Party’s endorsement for re-election, but ran as an independent and won.

Altau said he hopes Brown, now that he has been elected to the Senate, will join the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus. He also mentioned Democrat Ben Cardin of Maryland, who also moved from the House to the Senate and has been “a real friend over the years” to Baltic causes.

The general success of lawmakers who serve in the Baltic caucuses should help JBANC in its lobbying efforts.

“I feel that we have established some good continuity, and will continue to deepen these bonds, and exchange of information and ideas,” Altau said. “JBANC, for instance, makes it a habit to regularly visit all Baltic Caucus offices in the House and Senate three to four times a year to exchange information. Of course, there will be more attention depending on need and issue.”

JBANC now is focusing on getting word out about the NATO summit in Rīga later this month.

Andris Straumanis is a special correspondent for and a co-founder of Latvians Online. From 2000–2012 he was editor of the website.