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Home » June 2005

06/30/05

HEARD IN PASSING

From Warsaw Voice

"Our women-the most beautiful and best in the world-are leaving the country, taking with them our biggest value-our nation's genetic assets."
-Nikolai Kurianovich, a nationalist deputy in the Russian Duma, justifying the bill that proposes to forbid Russian women to marry foreigners

"If gays and people of that kind want to have a parade, they should build themselves a new Warsaw. This one was built by white people who have the right to it."
-Former President Lech Wałęsa on the Equality Parade organized in Warsaw by the gay and lesbian community

"We are warning all the investors planning to take over Polish companies as a part of privatization transactions signed with the current government, that these transactions will be questioned in the future."
-From an open letter published by the radical rightist Patriotic Movement supported by the Catholic Radio Maryja

"We know of such cases from history: for example, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The good message he spread was also disliked by many."
-Prof. Marek Kwiatkowski, director of the Royal Łazienki Park, on what he considers a witch hunt against Michael Jackson

"The perpetrators stole 11 volleyballs, six gas masks and two microscopes from the biology lab."
-A police officer from Marynopol in Gościeradów commune, on the break-in to a local school by a group of 10- and 14-year-old students

"The principles of mutual cooperation and partnership between our countries are only now being developed; I wouldn't call it a painless process."
-Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko, on her country's relations with Russia
Compiled from press reports

posted by: Oborski at 20:21 | link | comments |

Reconciliation

From Warsaw Voice

The renovated Eaglets' Cemetery in Lviv, the burial site of some 3,000 young Poles killed in the Polish-Ukrainian fights for control of the city in the years 1918-1920, was officially opened June 24 in the presence of the presidents of Poland and Ukraine. The ceremony put an end to the diplomatic dispute which had divided the two countries for over ten years. Over 4,000 people took part in the opening ceremony, including representatives of the Polish parliament, diplomats and generals representing a few countries as well as scouts. The clergy of different denominations prayed for lasting reconciliation between Poles and Ukrainians.

The two presidents, Aleksander Kwaśniewski and Viktor Yushchenko, also spoke of reconciliation. "Poles and Ukrainians are reaching out to each other above history," said Kwaśniewski. He added that "two desires and two patriotisms had clashed" in the battle for Lviv. Kwaśniewski expressed his hope that Ukraine would become an EU member and declared that Poland would support these aspirations. Yushchenko said ukrainians should respect all those who died in "the fratricidal Polish-Ukrainian war." He expressed hope that the memory of Ukrainian heroes who died for Ukraine would also be honored soon on Polish soil. Yushchenko also pointed to the contribution which the late Pope John Paul II made to reconciliation between the two nations.

Monuments to French infantrymen and american aviators were unveiled during the ceremony at the Eaglets' Cemetery.

The Eaglets' Cemetery, part of the Lychakovsky Cemetery, was destroyed after World War II when Lviv was incorporated into the Soviet Union. Work to rebuild the cemetery began after Ukraine gained independence in 1989, but soon gave way to conflict. The Ukrainian authorities did not agree, for example, to inscriptions placed on the graves concerning the heroism of the Polish soldiers. Negotiations continued until this year and the opening of the cemetery was the object of internal disputes within the Ukrainian parliament and the Lviv City Council until the very last days before the planned ceremony.

posted by: Oborski at 20:17 | link | comments |

06/29/05

Francja. Model - Piotr Adamski znany jako symbol poskiego hydraulika podczas konferencji prasowej w Paryżu. Plakat z jego wizerunkiem, reklamował we Francji, Polskę jako miejsce atrakcyjne turystycznie.

That Polish plumber - in real life Piotr Adamski - at a press conference in Paris. The Polish tourism stunt is attracting enormous interest!

posted by: Oborski at 21:32 | link | comments |

Cow Parade in Warsaw...

Krasna Polok - krowa pomalowana przez Edwarda Dwurnika.

posted by: Oborski at 19:50 | link | comments |

COW PARADE!

posted by: Oborski at 00:11 | link | comments |

Radio Polonia reports...
Polish plumber holds press conference in Paris

Polish tourism office in Paris, France, organised today a press
conference with the infamous Polish plumber who was one of the reasons
why the French rejected the European constitution. A poster with a
hunky blond plumber stating "I am still in Poland. Come and visit me"
first appeared on the Internet. The reaction, according to the
director of the office was overwhelming, numerous TV and radio station
wanted to interview the plumber. Their number was so huge that it was
necessary to organise the press conference.

posted by: Oborski at 00:09 | link | comments |

06/28/05

Sainthood bid opens for John Paul

The Catholic Church has launched the official process which may culminate in a sainthood for the late Pope John Paul II with a service in Rome.

The mass to nominate John Paul for beatification marks the penultimate step on the path to becoming a saint.

Members of a special commission - including a latter-day "Devil's Advocate" whose job is to challenge any claim - swore secrecy and probity.

The commission will sift possible evidence of a miracle by the late Pope.

Fast-track

During the mass at the cathedral of St John Lateran, the words of Cardinal Camillo Ruini were interrupted by applause and chants from the gathered worshippers.

"Any words that I can now add [...] seem superfluous, so great and universal is the knowledge of him and so profound and unanimous the conviction of his saintliness," Cardinal Ruini said.

His case is being fast-tracked after Pope Benedict made a special ruling.

Normally, the procedure does not start until five years after death. Pope John Paul died less than three months ago.

John Paul himself had made an exception for Mother Teresa, two years after she died.

In the past, the BBC's Jeremy Bowen says, the process could take centuries.

Emails pour in

To canonise the late pontiff, the Vatican must find evidence of at least two miracles since his death - miraculous acts proven to have happened after a direct appeal to John Paul through prayer.

Hundreds of letters and e-mails in praise of John Paul's holiness have already arrived, the Vatican said.

The Rev Giuseppe D'Alonzo, promoter of justice for the Diocese of Rome, will have the task of questioning such evidence.

Although he performs the duties of the Devil's Advocate, that actual post was done away with by John Paul in 1983 when he moved to simplify the process of canonisation.

Asked what he thought about making John Paul II a saint, the Rev D'Alonzo replied that it was not for him to decide, only to "verify the truth".

Monsignor Slawomir Oder, the main advocate for the late Pope's case, said last week he had received statements from across the world, with about 100 e-mails filling his inbox every day.

If a miracle is established, John Paul may be beatified, while a second miracle must then be proved for full canonisation.

As well as reading statements from believers, the commission will investigate John Paul's words and deeds to establish that he led a holy life.

posted by: Oborski at 23:50 | link | comments |

06/27/05

Mayor's Sunday...

posted by: Oborski at 21:45 | link | comments |

posted by: Oborski at 23:53 | link | comments |

Young Eagles Cemetery...

The Presidents of Poland and Ukraine this morning opened the restored Young Eagles' Cemetery in Lviv - now in Ukraine but before the wr the then Polish city of Lwow. The magnificent and elaborate Cemetery is where the bodies of young Polish defenders - many of them only children - of Lwow were laid at the time of Polish - Ukrainian fighting in 1919-1920. The cemetery has long been a bone of contention between the two nations. Perhaps that too can now be laid to rest.

posted by: Oborski at 14:48 | link | comments |

The Polish Treatment...

From Warsaw Voice

British citizens frequently undergo hip replacement
procedures in Germany since the waiting list is much shorter. Similarly, foreign patients should become interested in Polish medical services in light of the lower treatment costs and shorter waiting lists for surgical procedures in some areas.

posted by: Oborski at 13:55 | link | comments |

HEARD IN PASSING...

From Warsaw Voice

"We put them in the zoo but it turned out there was no money to feed them. So what could we do? We chipped in for salad."
-A customs officer from a border crossing in southern Poland where 340 rare Horsfield's tortoises were confiscated during a smuggling attempt

"He probably thinks everyone's an agent except for him and a few people he trusts; it's a particular mindset."
-President Aleksander Kwaśniewski on Antoni Macierewicz, leader of the Catholic-National Movement (RKN), who is known for publicly accusing numerous politicians of collaboration with communist Poland's special services

"He is very sensitive. He has very thin skin and is a little afraid of fights and brutality."
-Krzysztof Janik, former head of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) caucus, on why Sejm Speaker Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz refuses to run in the presidential elections

"Forget the United States. Now, Poland is the greatest enemy of Belarus."
-Andzhelika Borys, new head of the Union of Poles in Belarus, whose appointment is considered illegal by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's administration

posted by: Oborski at 13:51 | link | comments |

What Next?

From Warsaw Voice

The European Union's Brussels summit on June 16-17 ended in a spectacular fiasco. European leaders are now pondering ways to overcome the crisis and approve a common budget. Meanwhile, the issue of the European constitution remains open.

posted by: Oborski at 13:46 | link | comments |

With  the threat of Polish plumbers upsetting the French - the Polish National Tourism Office in Paris has retaliated - with a poster of a Polish plumber:

 

posted by: Oborski at 21:01 | link | comments |

posted by: Oborski at 23:32 | link | comments |

60th anniversary...

Wyre Forest's Polish Community will be marking the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War with a series of events on Sunday 10th July.

July 10th is the date of the national commemoration of both VE (Victory in Europe) Day and VJ (Victory over Japan) Day across the U.K..

Events in Kidderminster will start with the celebration of Holy Mass by Father Edward Stachurski at 10.00am the Polish Catholic Church of Our Lady of Ostra Brama in Kidderminster's Pitt Street.

At 11.30am local Polish Community leaders will lay flowers at both the War Memorial and at the Holocaust Memorial outside Kidderminster's Parish Church of St. Mary and All Saints.

Later in the afternoon at 5.00pm Cllr Mike Oborski, Consul of the Republic of Poland for the West MIdlands will be speaking about Poland's contribution in World War II at the Polish Ex-Servicemen's Club in Kidderminster's St.George's Terrace.

The talk will be followed by a film about Polish wartime General Wladyslaw Anders and his soldiers. After putting up a heroic fight in the defence of Poland in 1939 General Anders was imprisoned and tortured by the Soviets in Moscow's notorious Lubianka Prison. Released when Germany invaded Russia he formed a Polish Army on Soviet soil made up of Poles who had been forcibly deported from the old east of Poland to forced labour camps in Siberia. Realising that the Soviets could not be trusted General Anders led his soldiers out of the Soviet Union and into Persia - modern Iran. Many died along the way. His troops trained, reorganised and subsequently fought alongside British forces in North Africa. It was General Ander's legendary Second Division which then took the German mountain stronghold of Monte Cassino during the Italian Campaign.

Most of the Poles who settled in Kidderminster after World War II came via Siberia and then Persia, North Africa and Italy with General Anders and his army.

Cllr Oborski said "Poles were not allowed to take part in VE Day celebrations in London in 1945 in case it upset the Soviet Russian Government. Poland remained oppressed by the Soviets until 1989 when freedom was restored under the leadership of the Polish workers Solidarity movement - 'Solidarnosc'. Today, once again, we have a free Poland, an independent Poland, a self governing Poland - now a member of both NATO and EU and a major force for freedom and democracy in Central Europe.""

"Having suffered so badly and for so long - both during and after World War II - Poles have much to remember and much to commemorate. July 10th will be a very special day for the Polish community in Kidderminster."

posted by: Oborski at 20:46 | link | comments (1) |

HEARD IN PASSING

From Warsaw Voice

"The reprimand followed the inadequate application of the procedure of the seizure of evidence. The goods should have been sold and the money secured."
-A representative of a court in Katowice, about punishment for a judge who seized 30,000 eggs; during the trial, they spoiled, which required the sanitary services' intervention

"Obtaining such services on the open market is too expensive and risky. I knew that I would receive reliable and objective information from him."
-Zyta Gilowska, a deputy from the Civic Platform (PO), when accused that she used taxpayers' money to obtain legal advice from her own son-eventually, after heavy criticism, Gilowska left the party

"In nature, only animals of the same species that are in the same ecological niche fight each other. In political parties it's the same story."
-Joanna Senyszyn, a deputy from the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), on conflicts within her party

"I'd be less surprised if a muskrat won a blue ribbon at a pedigree dog show."
-Satirist Marcin Wolski on awarding Danuta Hübner, Polish commissioner in the European Union, the Wiktor award in the Political Personality of the Year category

"I was passing by an abandoned tenement and suddenly I heard screaming, shouting and banging against the brick wall."
-Andrzej Ostrowski, a resident of Warsaw, who called the City Patrol Force and saved a homeless person trapped in a bricked-up building

"I knew it would happen one day. The Americans dug all the way from the other side and stole it."
-A resident of the Russian town of Bolotnikovo, where a small local pond disappeared, probably due to tectonic movements

posted by: Oborski at 11:03 | link | comments |

On Your Marks...

From Warsaw Voice...

The presidential election campaign has begun. Seven candidates have officially "thrown their hat in the ring" so far, but more are sure to come.

The presidential elections will start Oct. 9, the possible second round-almost certain in the light of opinion polls-will be held Oct. 23. Candidates may only be put forward by electoral committees. Through Aug. 15, the committees have to apply to the State Election Commission (PKW) for registration. After registration, each committee will have until Aug. 25 to submit a candidacy, complete with 100,000 signatures of support for the candidate.

posted by: Oborski at 10:59 | link | comments |

Direct flights to Poland...

Ryanair:

London (Stanstead)  - Wroclaw, Rzeszow, Szczecin, Bydgoszcz, Gdansk

SkyEurope:

London (Stanstead) - Warszawa, Krakow

Manchester - Krakow

Wizz Air:

London (Luton) - Gdansk, Warszawa, Katowice, Poznan

Liverpool - Katowice, Warszawa

Centralwings:

London (Gatwick) - Warszawa, Krakow

EasyJet:

London (Luton) - Warszawa

LOT:

London (Heathrow) - Warszawa

British Airways:

London (Heathrow) - Warszawa

London (Gatwick) - Krakow

posted by: Oborski at 19:53 | link | comments |