DO YOU KNOW HOW TO MAKE MONEY, Mr. Lewerenz?
2010-04-15 16:59:58
Arrival of the responsible for this web-site in Estonia on February 1st, 1992, as advisor for the, shortly ago, re-activated Estonian Central Bank (Eesti Pank). The following day, an introductory visit to the President of the Central Bank who had taken office just days ago, took place.
He had not been informed and learned about my task from the papers which the author had brought with him. He also saw his professional c.v. for the first time. Lucky enough that he understood English, at that time a rare exception in the ex-Soviet Republic of Estonia.
The formal job description found little interest. But attention was paid to the qualification in monetary affairs, mentioned in the the c.v.. At that time, the head of the Central Bank was still lacking experience in monetary matters, as he himself admitted.
The President posed the unexpected question which has been chosen as title of this section.
He declared that no more bank note shipments arrived from Russia since his country had become an independent. Therefore, an own national money was a pressing need.
After a moment of reflection, Juergen Lewerenz, proposed to choose the 1948 West German monetary reform as example and guidacne and to copy, word by word, its currency introduction modalities.
The advice was accepted. The full set of the Western German monetary reform laws - 1948 still under the governance of the Second World War Allies - was transformed into Estonian law.
Already against the middle of the same year, the money exchange took place. It was a successful and enabled all further economic reforms.
Two details merit to be highlighted. One has to do with the timing and the other with the conversion of small ruble savings.
The timing: The authorities - and also the advisor - were not sure if the new money would be a success. In the case of failure, a famine had to be prevented. Therefore, the new money had to pop up "together with the sprouts of the potato seedlings", as an observer - rightfully - remarked. In spite of the failure, the citizens could be fed with the potato crop. In case of success, the income from the sale of the crop would generate confidence in the money and, thus, its stability.
The ruble savings: Ahead of the money reform, all who could approached the counters of the Estonian subsidiary of the Russian Savings Bank to withdraw their ruble deposits. The Bank, very soon, went short of bank notes and preferred to attend persons who offered a tip. Old and ill - most of them holders of small savings - were unable to queue for long time and, additionally, could not pay the expected reward. With this in mind, it was decided to decree a modest conversion amount. From this, the poor and the discriminated by the old system, benfited. As an expression of confidence in the new money they kept their new currency savings what also contributed to the success of the reform.
Of course, tokens of esteem were given to the head of the Central Bank, not to anonymous advisor who had acted without authorisation from his principal.
Since those days, the author is involved in re-habilitating the civic attitudes and institutions which have died in the Baltic region during the war, especially the economic self-help bodies, ruled by civic society.
Such a task will produce tangible results, only after years and after many attempts, in spite of the urgent need for a counter-weight against the omnipotence of the individual enrichment economy and its possible safety gains, not only for the small new EU countries at the Eastern rim of the Baltic Sea, but also for the benefit all EU members, new and old.
Estonian farm from 1890 and Franconian wine growers farm (Rhine Land, future Livonia House at the Rhine)
2010-04-04 12:47:06
The attention is drawn upon the function DOWNLOAD. It contains historic (end of the 18th century, some even older) general and district maps of Livonia, old Estonia and the island of Oesel/Kurre Saar (now: Saaremaa) which may be used, exclusively, for purely private or non-commercial matters.
RELIABLE (non-profit and profitable) NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS (NGO)
2010-04-04 12:18:51
Certified NGO’s as Builders of Civic Society in the Baltic Sea region
This message intends to identify like-minded partners in the Baltic Sea region for installing a
Certification of NGO’s.
Improving the performance of these essential tools for reaching autonomous civic society structures is a world-wide urgent need.
It is prudent to connect the innovation with the reconstruction of civic life in the countries at the Eastern rim of the Baltic Sea and, at the same time, with the process of improving cohesion and convergence, on which the success of the enlarged EU and also EU neighbourhood relations vitally depend.
The peoples in the Baltic Sea region, since many centuries, practice co-operation and cultural exchange. This encourages to start the challenging certification task, right here. Messages of success in this region will soon spread around the world.
The core piece of the certification device is continuous, exhaustive and in-depth going audit. It examines the persons and the institutions within or behind each NGO (the “who”) and the quality of their activities (the “how”).
The participation will be voluntary because internal affairs are laid open to the controllers. The audit will be in the hands of trustworthy special independent service bodies of NGO associations.
Detected deficiencies will be solved, without delay, where necessary, with the help of the same or other association specialists.
A NGO which meets (at the time of the audit or after corrections) high quality and performance criteria can apply for a certificate which (if no unforeseeable or extra-ordinary events take place) will be valid until the subsequent control.
The proposed system would reduce, in a short time-span, the all too often negative consequences of the actually prevailing libertinage in the NGO world. At the same time, it would prevent or buffer official interventions, intromissions (e.g. Russian NGO licensing) and sanctions.
This would help to generate really sustainable social and civic society interest structures, especially in the new Baltic Sea region EU countries, from which this region, as a whole, West and East, the EU and neighbouring non-EU regions, would benefit
Ethically oriented practice and, additionally, permanent control of the performance of the practitioners have to work hand-ín-hand. Synenergy is vital to reach the aim: Solid communities which respect and live up to the European cultural heritage.
The modality provides more comprehensive, profound and detailed insights than ordinary commercial audit.
It comprises personal behaviour and professional performance of managers and line personnel of the NGO. There will be special procedures for NGO’s which use “other people’s money”, in the forms of donations, subsidies, honoraries for services or entrusted funds.
The best imaginable practice for such a thorough control would be the methodology of the so-called association audit (= group own but, nevertheless, independent, in-depth going self-controls, executed by entrusted service units, in combination with problems solution help) of the Continental Western European co-operatives and mutual societies.
The know-how holders should be consulted. The writer is willing to volunteer for reaching knowledge and experience sharing agreements. He possesses good connections with the coop’s world.
Certifying NGO’s would be a fundamental innovation, not only for the ex-Soviet Baltic Sea regions but for Europe, as a whole, and world-wide.
NGO’s, until to-day, operate widely un-controlled what, frequently, causes irregularities, failures, deceptions and, in first place, mistrust. This hampers self-help initiatives, especially in Eastern Europe. Efficient self-control would change the situation radically.
The proposed self-control based certification would alleviate the supervision burden of the respective public authorities, especially those of the small Baltic State administrations (e.g. NGO projects which use EU regional funds but also monitoring “credit unions”).
Certified NGO’s would be safe partners for official up-rise programmes because the new modality would be far more effective than controls executed by Governmental officials.
The Statal supervisory organs could restrict themselves to keeping a watching eye on the auditing and certifying units. Direct control of NGO’s, i.e. the core piece of the supervising duties, could be delegated. The supervisors could refer to the findings and reports of the NGO association auditors.
At the beginning, institutions, which by their nature and ruling principles, are defenders of ethics and morality – e.g. NGO’s of the churches or such led by them – should be addressed as pioneers because they will be willing to accept the new system without hesitation or protest.
It can be anticipated that competition within the NGO community will soon lead to a general practice of licensing. Dissidents would loose access to donations, to public funds, to official programmes, to money deposits and all other kinds of funding.
A cleansing within the NGO sector would take place. Trust of authorities, contributors, users and the public in general would be a solid building ground for autonomous and sustainable civic self-help and a more equitable society.
At an early stage, those who fear transparency, might protest. This would show that the objectives are at reach. NGO’s with good management and which produce social interest results, have nothing to fear. On the contrary, they will use the “certificate” as a guarantee brand for the institution and its work.
Durable institutional and personal West-East ties will increase when the peoples at the Eastern rim of the Baltic Sea demonstrate that they returned to their good pre-WWII habits. (Until WWII, cooperative “association audits” were common in the East, as well.)
Those who adopt the innovation first, will conquer a vanguard position. Especially countries with little weight in the international decision making processes, could profit. The Baltic countries should grasp this unique chance.
The following points, and also the subsequent project suggestions, should be read keeping in mind the above exposed basic aspects.
o The creation of the certification system requires a network of confidentially and closely co-operating local, regional, and – this is crucial – cross-border institutions.
Connections between the individual Eastern Baltic Sea rim countries and the West increase steadily. But cross-border exchanges, and still less, effective co-operation, even between the three tiny Baltic countries, unfortunately, remains rather under-developed. This must not continue, in the interest of the peoples of these countries. All Europe, EU and beyond, expects more cohesion among the Baltic neighbours.
o An interaction between modern profitable and equally common weal oriented, enterprises and non-profit institutions should be undertaken, whereever it is viable.
Upon request, the author could inform interested readers about long-term proven solutions of this kind, from his own professional experience. He would be willing to present, i.a., the work of a very successful church-led South American foundation which heads a series of social and civic support units, but also a powerful and competitive financial sector conglomerate with strong social and civic commitment. In the corrupt environment, where it operates, it is a “lighthouse” of correctness and respect for ethic values. This could become a useful model for Eastern Europe.
o Respect for and practice of the ethic values of European civilization have widely got lost in the regions which, for many decades, were Soviet governed.
Civic society bodies were a danger for the rulers. Therefore, they were radically eliminated. When Soviet times ended, a structural vacuum was left behind. Continuity had already been interrupted, at the beginning of the usurpation period. The once flourishing civic self-help systems in the Eastern Baltic Sea region have passed away.
There is one big exception: The established churches. They suffered but they survived. Now, they are the only who are in a position to close the gap between State and citizen.
In my opinion, the churches, in the East, but in the West, as well, are committed to accept a leading role for the return of structures which are in-line with the common cultural heritage of the Baltic Sea region.
The argument, that the churches in the East are not prepared to assume such a huge task, is not convincing. Sharing burdens with their “natural” partners at the Western shores of the Baltic Sea would enable them. Their Western counterparts should no longer hesitate or “hide behind charity”. Their physical and operational presence is much needed.
The challenge may be exceptional but it is also an uncommon chance for the Eastern churches. If they deny to accept the role as promoters of civic society, they will soon become obsolete.
As committed partners in the struggle for recovery of their nations, they will generate social competence. Their mission (Note: The term “mission” is used here in its double sense.) would become adjusted to the burning needs of our times.
Projects for a partnership based, actual basic aspirations addressing cross-border co-operation could be:
o The Baltic Sea region wide NGO certification system itself which should be offered to all non-profit and commercial self-help institutions, their donors and supporters, to forward looking auditors in the Eastern Baltic Sea region and to the supervision authorities.
It is advisable to lay the foundations for this system, without delay. The writer of the text is willing to volunteer but like-minded collaborators are required. The best would be to create a task force, right away. The call for co-operation addresses, above all, experienced Western (volunteering) seniors (with safe income).
(Pensioned) Experts from the audit associations of the church-close co-operative banks would be very welcome.
As already said above, the new system could foster the acceptance of the small Baltic countries. Therefore, first, local partners should be sought there. It would be advantageous to have partners in several of these countries, from the very beginning on. A project of this kind is very suitable for a joint West-East-West cross-border activity.
o As soon as the proposed self-control units operate, practical services for the “grass-root” clientèle of economic self-help bodies – low and middle income earners – could be envisaged.
Professional assistance in handling financial affairs would be an option. To meet the needs of finance seekers, it is not necessary, perhaps not even advisable, to found a bank. (Note: This, perhaps, might come later.) Monitoring negotiations with financial market players could complement the advice.
FOCUS - NEW EU COUNTRIES AT THE EASTERN RIM OF THE BALTIC SEA
2010-04-03 17:42:03
The foundations of the small countries at the Eastern side of the Baltic Sea, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, since a couple of years members of the EU, are severely hit by the financial and economic crisis.
In spite of this fact, their needs are of little or no interest for the information media. Internationally, they are of too little weight to generate attention. An additional reason: No big scandals or disasters can reported from them.
The erosion in the economies, in the societies, at the social level and in governmental matters happens without noise. Tjhe poor, espeically those who were supported - modestly but safely - by the collective institutions of the Soviet system, are dying silently and early.
Self-sufficiency, on the basis of own rural activities - all three countries have strong rural back-grounds and many, especially those who did not belong the favourites of the Soviet empire, may possess a town flat - continues to play a far more important role than in the Western European industrial countries.
Those whose survival is protected by the self-sufficiency economy feel decreasing or even missing money income but - in contrast to those who formerly were protected by the system, do not perish.
The self-sufficient have no eyes for the precarious situation of the poor old in the townships. There is little solidarity with the poor. One reason is that they are considered as an unwanted heritage from the now gone occupants.
Each of those who can be counted among the better-off is struggling, form the morning to the night, for the needs of to-day and to-morrow, for himself and for those who are closest to him. The crisis has increased the efforts to earn income.
Civic spirit and acting for the common weal are still considered as habits from an unknown, far away world.
The convergence between the neu EU countries in the East with those which are called the old EU is difficult, especially because the citizens of the countries which, only a short period ago, joined the EU, have not yet understood that they have to re-habilitate the civic society supporting virtues and institutions which were lost during the Second World War.
This situation, among other deficiencies, causes immense difficulties to materialize EU support programmes because they are under the assumption that truly native non-governmental bodies (NGO) in the fields of social welfare, community or regional economy development are in place. Budgets are not the problem but appropriate projects.
In view of all this, the Baltic Sea Foundation draws the attention on Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
THE FINANCIAL CRISIS - THE SMALL NEW EU COUNTRIES AT THE EASTERN RIM OF THE BALTIC SEA IN RUINS - POSSIBLITIES FOR A FRESH START ON THE BASIS OF THE HERITAGE OF THEIR ECONOMIC CULTURE - THE SPECIFIC AIMS OF THIS FOUNDATION DEPEND ON SEIZABLE SOLUTIONS - THEREFORE THE FINANCIAL CRISIS IS FOCUSSED
2010-03-29 19:00:25
UNDERTAKINGS OF THE FOUNDATION SINCE THE BEGIN OF THE FINANCIAL CRISIS
2010-03-29 13:35:27
There is a rich documentation, most of it in German language, to be found in the German language part of this web-site. A complete translation into English is actually beyond the possibilities of Baltic Sea Foundation.
Only one, the first, document is in English. It was adressed (in July, last year) to Haapsalu (Estonia) College, a branch of Tallinn University, containing a proposal for a discussion forum on possible ways out of the crisis. The College committed the mistake, to address exclusively financial sector specialists. These did not react positively because their sole aim is to win new funds to be able to continue – right or wrong – as before, Alternative approaches, especially such which aim at supporting society or civic communities, is far beyond what they can imagine or what they intend.
Nevertheless, the foundation has applied the lesson learned from this frustrated first step. It saw that back-ward looking has to organised before solutions for the needs of our days and for the future can be envisaged.
The writer of these lines interviewed university historians in Estonia, Lativa and Germany (all of them listet in the German version of the web-site) and wrote a sketch for using the written heritage of the most prominent scholarly society in the Baltic region for drawing from it orientations for the solutions of the problems of to-day and to-morrow.
It is the LIVONIAN COMMON WEAL AND ECONOMIC SOCIETY (German original name: LIVLAENDISCHE GEMEINNUETZIGE UND OEKONOMISCHE SOZIETAET) which was erected in the times of the French Revolution (1792). It was re-habilated after sufferings during the Napoleonic wars and transferred at the end of the first decade of the 19th century to the Livonian university town of Tartu (Dorpat), from where it operated – through good and bad times – until 1940.
The historians, unanimously, welcomed the proposal. But at the same time, they argued that among them, no economic history specialist can be found. Nevertheless, they would like to co-operate with a group of practicians and searchers with the necessary back-ground.
After this, a concise, frank and sharp paper was prepared, after pre-liminary exchanges, for the German-Baltic Parlamentarians Groups of the German Federal Parliament and that of the Land of North Rhine-Westalia which intends to mobilize, with the help of one or the other of the members of these groupings, intellectual collaboration from appropriate bodies in the Rhenanian or the Westphalian region. Nothing has happened so far. The major impediment – certainly – is the actual electoral campaign for the new Parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia. In spite of this, the paper was useful for other contacts.
Finally, the President of the Republic of Estonia was addressed with a (well documented) request to open the access to public or private authorities of his country and of neighboring Latvia. The President’s office answered, some weeks ago, that the President would abstain from interfering with governmental and non-governmental bodies; he proposed that the foundation should address the government of his country; this has been done (with full documentation); an answer has not yet arrived.
FINDING TOGETHER OF THE SMALL BALTIC COUNTRIES
2010-03-28 15:15:45
After the end of the Sowjet dominance, the Baltic countries rather moved away from each other than finding together.
Although all the three countries are severely hit by the on-going financial and economic crisis - it is useless to discuss which of the countries has caused which negative development - no efforts can be observed to open the path for a common, or at least co-ordinated, approach to win a more prosperous future.
Even if Estonia should succeed to join soon the Euro-community, the repercussion of unsatisfactory developments in Latvia or Lithuania on Estonia cannot be neutralised. Regional stability will not be reached, unless confidential collaboration wins room.
The EU institutions welcome cross-border cooperation and support it. But except occasional highly official meetings of dignitaries of two, less frequently of the three, Baltic countries, little happens.
Business profits from the open frontiers but the communication between the citiztens lags behind.
With the objective of using the common heritage of Latvia and Estonia - among which Livonia was divided up after the First World War, the Baltic Sea Foundation endorses the working up of the huge legacy of the LIVONIAN COMMON WEAL AND ECONOMIC SOCIETY (original name in German: LIVLAENDISCHE GEMEINNUETZIGE UND OEKONOMISCHE SOZIETAET), a prominent scholarly society which was founded in the so-called period of enlightenment and wich operated until WWII. Its documentations contain many orientation helps for the needs of to-day and to-morrow.
This institution plays a high-ranking role in many chapters of this web-site
VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT UNION - CRYSTALLIZATION SPOTS FOR REGION DEVELOPMENTS
2010-03-28 15:14:58
For a long time, Baltic Sea Foundation had to search for connection points for sustainable regional develoöment (and for the other development activities within the scope of the foundation) in the small new EU countries at the Baltic Sea.
In the beginning, only such projects could be identified which turned around external support - private or official or a combination of both.
Such untertakings are generally short-lived because, sooner or later, the support budgets run out and because the process of autoctonous development requires a much longer time-span than a project cycle.
This kind of highly subventioned projects and programmes suffer from the lack of self-governance and own efforts to improve the human community which they are addressing.
In recent years several remarkable exceptions from the unsatisfactory development emerged, at least in Estonia. How far similar examples for improvement also exist in the two other Baltic countries, still remains to be looked after.
There are village development unions, based on proven neighbourhoods (in Estonia known under the term MTÜ) which, without the stimulation by external support, have generated small - but nevertheless remarkable - projects of local, regional and nation-wide interest.
Baltic Sea Foundation keeps friendly relations with KIIDEVA MTÜ (located at the - in Estonian: Matsalu laht - Matsalu Bay, in German: Einwiek - see Oesel Province map on the download of this web-site) and the neighouring MTÜ at PUISE and HAESKA which co-operate with the latter.
These MTÜ received limited financial support from the EU LEADER Programme which complemented the own efforts.
Kiideva MTÜ and its leader have been chosen by the Baltic Sea Foundation, because of its reliabiltity, as docking station for initiatives, aiming at surmounting the financial crisis (see under the menue point "News around the Baltic Sea": Tjhe letter to the President of Estonia and his recommendation to address the Government authoritie)s
The high-lighted EU support is accessible for all initiatives, in each of the EU countries, focusing improvements in local areas - as a complement, not a substitute, for seizable own efforts - a condition which has to be stressed.
Successful regional development, essentially depends on financial institutions which are oriented towards the well-being of the community and the citizens living in it. The formal structure of these bodies (co-opeerative, communal or regional banks or specialized financial market institutions depending from them etc.) is less important than their action modalities and the governance of the target groups over them.
Profit maximizing financial institutions may operate besides the afore-mentioned bodies. But they are not essential for regional progress. This has been demonstrated by the Coninental European economic history, of which the Baltic region was an integral part, until Second Worl War.
Taking Estonia as a demonstration example for the Baltic region, it can be stated that in this country existed, at the end of the second decade of the past century, one Statal Savings Bank (under the roof of the Central Bank), one - agricultural activities centred - Mortgage Loan Bank (which had emerged from the rural nobility, joint liability Mortgage Loan Associiation - founded in 1802 - which was adjusted to the changed circumstances in 1932), several Municipal Banks, as well as - this is really remarkable - 173 Co-operative Banks, 45 Mutual Savings and Loan Associations, two Co-operative Central Banks, two Mutual Insurers and one Central Institution of these insurers. (Source: Estland - 20 Jahre Selbständigkeit/Estonia - 20 years of independence. Editor/Herausgeber Albert Pullerits. Tallinn. 1938)
This proives the validity of the argument that it is worth-while to follow the traces of these institutions, as well as to utilize their examples as models for the re-construction of civic society focusing financial bodies.
Similar sturctures - which met the highest European standards of their time - also existed in Latvia and Lithuania.
Thus, the Baltic region, as a whole, possesses valuable connecdtion points for the re-building of community oriented financial institutions, under the governance of civic society.
SHEEP-KEEPING CLOSE TO THE BALTIC SEA
2010-03-28 15:12:28
One start-up action has taken place. Perhaps, it has not been altogether a big success. But it has taught important lessons.
The point of departure have been informations by the Estonian nature protection authority (Looduskaitse, regional branch for Läänemaa/Western Estonia/ Die Wiek, the latter the German language name - one of the important European bird regions) concerning the progressive wandering away of birds, especially migrating species, from the Baltic Sea close plains, because of the massive progress of reed and juniper into their resting and nesting habitats.
The animals need spaces without high growing vegetation where they are safe from predators.
Ahead of Second World War there was no problem because the plains were used as agricultural land and thus kept free. The peasant settlements became parts of the Soviet kolhos system and died out.
The Kolhos units were not interested in the unfertil and partly swampy plains and, therefore, neglected them. The sea-close regions, for military reasons, were only accessible with special permits, another reason for the abandonment.
After the political changes tries to resume agriculture there could be observed. But the tests were soon given up, due to the low out-puts.
The coastal plains, until to-day, are kept open - as far as possible - by mowing and shrubs cutting which is paid by the environmental protection authority. Rural people who own tractors and mowers gain an extra income from this modality.
In the longer run, it will become impossible to maintain this system because of budgetary shortages but also because the pays are insufficient to finance the replacement of the out-dated Soviet times tools.
The situation led to a connection with the sheep-breeders section (Vereinigung Deutscher Landesschafzuchtverbände e.V.) of the the German Peasants Association (Deutscher Bauernverband), which, in the beginning, demonstrated vivid interest because many German sheep-keepers have to give up because of difficulties with the many necessary road crossings.
Several sheep-keepers reacted on an internet presentation and started to think about a change to the East - a reaction contrary to the typical behaviour of this trade which is characterised by adherence to the place of origin. Nevertheless, almost all gave up emigration plans.
Ony two brothers - one married with a big number of small children, the other a bachelor without adherents - settled in Estonia (Virtsu/Werder - in German - close to ferry connecting the main-land with the island of Saaremaa/Oesel - see the Province Oesel map in the maps collection contained in the download) with the (modest) help of the above mentioned authority.
This settling has a very specific precedent. The brothers, originating from the Siegen (North Rhine-Westphalia) had worked as sheep-keepers in the German Land Hessen. After the re-unification of Germany they moved to the Land Brandenburg where they used a former military territory for grazing.
At that place they got into contact with a Latvian, an influential person in his country, who convinced them of the advantage to make a fresh try in the Latvian Gauja National Park region. The move of humans and animals took place at a not very suitable time of the year with precarious transportation means.
They suffered considerable losses. The envisaged settling place lacked minimal commodities and was unhealthy. Additionally, the advisor withdrew because he learned that he could not profit from the settlers, and, additionally, that they did not increase his social reputation.
By good fortune, the brothers had contacted the Baltic Sea Foundation, shortly before they went to Latvia. The Foundaiton, as a precaitonary measure, had arranged with the mentioned Estonian natural protection authority a settling of these sheep-keepers in Estonia, in case of failure of the Latvia experiment.
This, finally, became the sheet-anchor. About one year ago, the shepherds moved to Estonia. In spite of a series of new disadvantages they have been able to keep up-right and it can be anticipated that they will advance, not in the short but in the long run.
The start in Estonia was difficult, not only because of their specific history. The local and human environment was - and still is - not very inviting for the new comers who inteded to undertake a better start but, at the same time, the difficulties, in principle, did not differ very much from the situation on new-comers to any rural region in Germany.
Landowners, who had benefitted from the restitution of their real estate, used their strong position to exploit, as far as possible, the weak position of the new-comers. They did not take into account their weaknesses. They were rather selfish, ruthless than having pity with them and their precarious situtation.
Although vast extensions of good qualtiy land are now State property - this is mostly due to to missing restitution requests of pre-WWII-owners - it was not possible for these new settlers to make use of un-used State land.
Until shortly, State owned rural real estate was daministered and put at the disposal of the municipalities where old friends co-operated, aiming at avoiding competition from out-siders or at exploiting them.
The two shepherds rented land, of course trying to avoid high lease rent and to obtain EU subsidies.
More than one of the owners kept the EU support for the maintenance of rural production spaces for himself. This did not only deprived the shepherds of the fruits of their labour, it caused severe damage to them because the rentability of animal-keepers work is composed by the profit derived from the animals, plus State subsidies.
There is still another stumble stone on the way to success. In the Baltic region, lamb meat for commercial users mostly is imported, or from Australia or from New Zealand because of good quality and comparably low prices.
Indeed, there are several EU licensed slaughter houses. But their processing methods - according to the observations of the experiended shepherds - are far from meeting the normal hygienic and quality standards.
Even high quality animals - as far as age and living on the best possible natural pastures are concerned, are converted by the deficiencies of the slaughter houses into low value products.
The brothers will have no other choice than, step-by-step, developing a slaughtering line by themselves what, of course, requires the respective license with which they will have more difficulties than those who already operate.
Additionally they will have to find co-operation willing reliable business partners with the necessary investment capital.
The process goes ahead. This, what is reported here, is the beginning of 2010 status.
HIGHEST QUALITY STANDARDS FOR GOODS AND SERVICES - THIS IS THE ONLY WAY HOW THE SMALL BALTIC COUNTRIES CAN MEET INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
2010-03-23 12:39:29
test
test
2010-03-22 12:26:50
test
Baltic Sea Foundation - Tangible
2010-03-22 12:21:57
To demonstrate, "who-is-who" two fotos are inserted. One shows the Estonian farm from 1890 where the author of this web-site resides during the summer months (Noaorootsi municipality, district of Läänemaa, close to the district capital Haapsalu). The other shows his winter residence, a so-called Frankonian Wine Estate from 1670 (completely re-built from 1980 to 1983) in Unkelbach village, part of Remagen municipality, Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler district, Land Rheinland-Pfalz - where the "Romantic Rhine Valley" begins.
test
2010-03-21 18:50:30
hossa a landscape
test
2010-03-17 10:57:28
test
Test
2010-03-16 11:46:02
Test
Test without Pictures
2010-03-07 22:42:24
test
test for 2 pictures
2010-03-07 17:51:28
One is right and one is left. times look as it looks.
COMMON HERITAGE OF ECONOMIC CULTURE - UNDIGGING THE TREASURE
2010-03-07 13:18:49
This is a test for English and German
