On World Environment Day, June 5, an outdoor art installation “Up to the Neck” created by the World Wildlife Fund Latvia, also supported by BTA Baltic Insurance Company AAS (hereinafter - BTA), was placed at the Central Railway Station of Riga. It seeks to draw the attention of passers-by to stop and take a critical look at unwelcome daily habits and reckless consumption that contribute to the growing amount of waste in nature. 

With the start of the summer season, which is also time for eagerly going to enjoy the nature, every passer-by is welcome to take a photo behind the newly created installation and post it on social networks with a # Throat collar, encouraging them to think about the growing amount of waste and ways to reduce it. The environmental installation will be on view and available at Riga Central Railway Station until June 27. 

Elīna Pēkšēna, Head of the World Wildlife Fund Latvia Environmental Education and Public Engagement Programme: “Habit change is based on understanding, which would be best developed at an early age. Therefore, this year, together with the Latvian Environmental Protection Fund and the youth of the organization “Latvian Scouts and Guides”, we are implementing the project “Creating a youth community that protects biodiversity.” We hope that young people will be active participants and good practice ambassadors for other nature walkers. 

People prefer indulging in recreational activities in nature with increasing frequency recently, and the number of visitors on nature trails has quadrupled. The downside of this positive trend is that the volume of waste increases in proportion. This volume could be reduced by critical reassessment of one’s shopping habits and careful planning of purchases before going out in nature. Besides, waste in nature is just the peak of the iceberg, the most visible part of the problem, as other not less damaging effects trail along, such as making noise, trampling of habitats, intentional or unintentional damage to various natural objects, pollution of water bodies. 

“We at BTA are nature lovers. As supporters of the Good to Nature – I Do! (“Daru labu dabai”) initiative, each year we organize joint work sessions for biodiversity restoration also for our employees. We find it important not being a mere cash vendor to promoting this initiative to public, but also offering our employees a chance to learn more about natural processes and become more aware of their significance. A saddening revelation at each recurrent time is that you have to have to carry a bag with you to collect other people's waste. We sincerely hope that this activity will make the people in Latvia more insightful and self-conscious, and during their next hike they will remember to take their trash with them and leaving it in designated places, instead of just leaving it behind,” says Evija Matveja, BTA Management Board Member. 

Ieva Kārkliņa, Head of the External Communications Department of Latvian Railways (Latvijas dzelzceļš), emphasizes: “Railway transport is one of the most environmentally friendly means of travelling. While riding the train, one may observe the greatest treasure of Latvia – nature. Unfortunately, however, the amount and regularity of waste dumped along the railways, which is being constantly cleaned up by the Latvian Railways staff, gives a feeling that our common natural treasure is not appreciated enough. Therefore, Latvian Railways has engaged in the Up to the Neck campaign to alert the public to the growing waste problem. We encourage everyone to give this problem a thought and take care of the environment in which we all live in”. 

The landscape art object Up to the Neck is designed as a mobile, touring installation, therefore municipalities and companies willing to host this object are welcome to contact Ms. Elīna Pēkšēna, representative of the World Wildlife Fund Latvia. 

The installation was created by artist Aija Baumane-Līce, with financial support of the Latvian Environmental Protection Fund and BTA. Its placement at the railway station is supported by Latvian Railways.