Poland`s prescription shame

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Polish News
and
Entertainment
Friday 6th January 2012
Issue 1 (152)
Poland’s prescription shame
New rules create havoc
for patients
NATIONAL
© Reporter
P
atients up and down the country
have been left without prescription
drugs after doctors launched a nationwide campaign in protest over new
regulations.
The new rules oblige doctors to write
out the financial reimbursement to which
patients are entitled to for the drugs
prescribed.
In a storm of protest against new
regulations, which came into force on
January 1, doctors refused to fill in
prescriptions in accordance with the
new edicts, an act that led to pharmacists
refusing to accept to them and the sick
going away empty handed.
On other occasions patients have had to
pay the full cost of the drugs rather than
the subsidised amount they would have
paid under normal circumstances.
Doctors have complained that the
regulations add to the already abundant
amounts of red tape they have to deal
with, and that they are now liable for any
miscalculation or mistakes they make
when calculating the total.
“We doctors have had enough,” wrote
one anguished doctor in an article for
Gazeta Wyborcza, who also explained that
even with the use of modern technology
the requirements eat into their time,
leading to longer queues at surgeries.
Opposition MPs have called for a vote of no confidence in Health Minister Bartosz Arlukowicz
The furore led the opposition to pile
the pressure on Bartosz Arlukowicz, the
embattled health minister.
Boleslaw Piecha, a Law and Justice (PiS)
MP, said that the chaos surrounding the
implementation of the new regulations
meant that the minister “had lost all
credibility” despite them being prepared
by his predecessor Ewa Kopacz.
“We believe the health minister has lost
all credibility as he is partly responsible for
the mess,” said Mr Piecha. Pushing home
its dissatisfaction with the minister’s work,
p.5 REGIONAL
p.8 BUSINESS
Death Camp LEGO set in Warsaw Crooked bookies
The Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw
has caused something of a stir by purchasing
the controversial ‘Lego Concentration Camp’
set designed by artist Zbigniew Libera.
Reports in Fakt state that the museum
bought the set from a private art collector
in Norway for EUR 55,000 and plans on
making it one of its main exhibits later in the
year.
PiS called for a vote of no confidence on Mr
Arlukowicz with Mr Piecha insisting the
minister “knew what he was getting into”.
Although the no-confidence vote has
little chance of success, the clash with the
doctors comes as an embarrassment to
the government, and further highlights
the underlying tensions that permeate
relations between Warsaw and the medical
establishment.
Both doctors and nurses complain that
attempts to reform the national health
service lead to more work for less pay.
A group of 18 Lodz bookmakers
operated in conjunction with a gang
dealing in illegal ethyl alcohol, issuing fake winning tickets in order
to launder the income from the operation. The charge files on the case
were sent to Lodz Regional Court this
week, meaning the trial will shortly go
ahead.
p.9
Preparing for take off
There were announcements this week
that 2012 will see the opening of two new
airports in Poland.
The first is former military airport
Modlin which it is believed is costing
approximately PLN 300 mln to modernise.
But while reports say that it will be
operating in time for Euro 2012, the
airport’s vice president has already stated
the terminal may not be completed.
2
EDITORIAL
The New Poland Express I Friday 6th January 2012 I www.nwe.pl
Contents
News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Regional news . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
What’s on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Fromtheeditor
Quotesoftheweek
Thisweekinhistory
“I am not a euro-enthusiast with my eyes
set on yellow stars on the blue background
- someone who has forgotten about the
red and white flag. I’m a common-sense
eurosceptic.” PM Donald Tusk surprises a
few people with his claims last weekend.
1654 (10.1) - Russia declares war on
Poland. The Russo-Polish War between
the Tsardom of Russia and the PolishLithuanian Commonwealth helped mark
Russia’s rise as a major power in Eastern
Europe.
W
ell after a two
week break
here at NPE
Towers it’s been no easy
feat deciding on what
to include in 2012’s first
edition.
But there were two particular stories
that made our lives easier in so much
that they had to be featured - I’m talking
about the two sets of protests that have
made waves up and down the country
over the last few days, albeit for very
different reasons.
As mentioned elsewhere in this week’s
paper, we’re constantly bombarded with
negative stories about youngsters so
reading about the protest that took place
over the proposed closure of a Bytom
school was very interesting indeed.
Yes (as was pointed out by the city’s
vice president), the protest did break
the law, but even the most stone-hearted
observer would have to agree that it
was carried out in a dignified manner
and with a great deal of pride. Luckily
common sense prevailed and authorities
were not called in to storm the building
and hopefully now the pupils’ message
will be taken on board.
However ‘dignified’ is not a word that
can be used to describe the on-going
prescription protest in which many
patients in need of medication have
been left wanting.
The health industry is often
undervalued and while the government
should be doing everything it can to allow
health workers to carry out their work as
effectively as possible the doctors’ selfish
refusal to issue prescriptions in protest
at new regulations is a shameful and
completely irresponsible act.
Those involved in the protest need to
seriously re-think their approach and
perhaps look down to Bytom to see how
to get a message across whilst at the
same time winning the sympathy of the
public.
“Doctors are fighting for their own interests
at the expense of their patients.” Civic
Platform’s Joanna Kluzik-Rostkowska on
the current prescription debacle.
“In Poland there is a certain consent
when it comes to drink-driving. We must
start understanding our responsibilities.”
Janusz Popiel, president of ‘Alter Ego’
(an association that helps victims of road
accidents) speaks after the Christmas
period.
1940 (11.1) - The lowest daily temperature in Poland is recorded in the north-east
town of Suwalki (- 41 °C).
The NPE weekend QUIZ
HaveYourSay
Re: PM pledges allegiance to EU
Political and fiscal union between EU
states, commanded from BERLIN sounds
like the fourth Reich to me, can’t believe
POLAND believes this bollox.
templar - England
Re: RP’s hard drug campaign ditched
What a load of old tosh! Does this party
really believe that the best way to endear
yourself to the voting public is by legalising
hard drugs? If it does then Palikot is more
insane than I thought he was! I don’t mind
people coming up with liberal ideas but
god help us all if he actually does get into
power. I’m in shock.
T.W. - Poland
Of course, RP was always going to get
slammed for suggesting that heroin should
be legalized but for other, perhaps softer
drugs, the idea has its merits.
If people are going to do them (and let’s
face it they are) then at least make them
safe and the best way to do this is to legalize
them. This way there will be less deaths and
it will cut down on crime. The government
will also make a killing on taxes.
Len - Krakow
Publisher: WIYP Sp. z o.o.
WIYP Sp. z o.o. • Ul. Paderewskiego 1 • 81-831 Sopot
tel. +48 58 555 9818 • tel/fax. +48 58 555 0831 • [email protected]
1795 (7.1) - Stanislaw August Poniatowski, the last King of Poland, is deported to Grodno. Born in the now-Belarusian town of Wolczyn, he was forced to
abdicate later in the year and his remains
can be found in Warsaw’s St. John’s Cathedral.
Editor-in-Chief: Steve Sibbald
([email protected])
Chief Writer: Steve Sibbald
Staff Writer: Matt Day
To kick off the new year, we’ve got
two double invitations to give away
for the Moskwa & Rejestracja concert
which takes place in Warsaw’s Hard
Rock Cafe on January 24.
As any fan of Polish rock music will tell
you, these are two of the country’s mustsee punk bands and despite their years
(Moskwa can lay claim to playing the
Jarocin festival back in 1984) they both still
know how to party and the energy they
give out has to be witnessed to be believed.
To be in with a chance to win, just tell
us the name of Moskwa’s first album...
As always, simply send your answers
to the following address: editor@
newpolandexpress.pl
Nationwide & Sports:
Graham Crawford
([email protected])
Events: Klaudia Mampe
([email protected]),
Vaughan Elliott, Łukasz Jankowski
Graphic Designer: Tomáš Haman
([email protected])
Sales Director: Malgorzata Drzaszcz
([email protected])
3
NEWS
Fire figures
rocket
P
oland’s firefighters were kept busy
over the New Year period with a total 551 reported fires up and down
the country.
According to daily Fakt, four people
were killed as a direct result of the fires and
a further 15 were left with injuries.
Pawel Fratczak, official spokesman for
Poland’s state fire service (PSP), told PAP
news agency that many of the fires were
caused by the bangers and fireworks that
people were using to help celebrate the
turn of the year.
“In total we were called out 1015
times over the course of the whole day.
Throughout the entire country, there were
551 fires - 240 of which occurred between
the hours of midnight and 6 AM,” he
stated.
He went on to add that a large percentage
of the call outs were due to people failing to
observe the basic safety rules when setting
off their fireworks.
“Most of the cases we dealt with were
just simple, small fires on balconies, in
garbage cans and on the roofs of buildings
and the majority of these we were able
to extinguish fairly quickly,” said the
spokesman. “However, in Warsaw alone,
our firefighters were required to put out
30 separate fires, the majority of which
occurred during the night.”
The New Poland Express I Friday 6th January 2012 I www.nwe.pl
Rapacki given marching orders
T
he interior minister responsible
for security at this year’s football
championship was been sacked by
the prime minister this week in mysterious
circumstances.
Adam Rapacki, a deputy minister at the
ministry, got his marching orders from
Donald Tusk as the government came back
to work after the Christmas and New Year
holiday, with the PM apparently making
the decision after a request from Rapacki’s
senior Jacek Cichocki.
“The interior minister submitted a
request to the prime minister for his
dismissal,” said Malgorzata Wozniak, an
interior ministry spokeswoman. “I can
only confirm that in the next few days he
will be leaving the ministry.”
The minister, who had been at the
interior ministry since 2007, also
confirmed that he would soon be leaving
office. Michal Deskur, an advisor at the
ministry will replace him, while Roman
Dmowski was also appointed as deputy
interior minister.
But details as for the reason of the
sacking remained scarce. The government
adopted a cagy response to questions
regarding its motives while Mr Rapacki
offered little other than saying “it takes
two to tango”.
His quip appears to provide substance to
rumours that he had suffered from a poor
working relationship with his minister,
who was appointed after last October’s
general election. A brief comment from Mr
Cichocki at a press conference following
the controversial sacking appeared to put
further flesh on the bones of such rumours.
“The ministry needs a new perspective
to carry out new tasks,” he said. “This is
why I decided to appoint new, competent
ministers. This is also the reason why, after
four years, I decided to let Mr Rapacki take
a rest.”
The press speculated that the minister
may also have taken the rap for the
Independence Day rioting on November
11. Many blamed inadequate policing
for the disorder, and with Euro 2012 fast
approaching it is possible the government
wanted to ensure that the person in charge
of security can handle the formidable task
of maintaining public order.
But whatever the reason for the sacking
Mr Rapacki’s removal caught many off
guard. Gazeta Wyborcza described him
as a “legend” in the police, and credited
him with helping to crack down on
police corruption and improving the
force’s efficiency. It also pointed out that
he had helped create the Central Bureau
of Investigation, a body that has taken a
leading role in fighting crime.
His departure also leaves his replacement
with little time to get up to speed before
hundreds of thousands of football
supporters descend on Poland, in what is
expected to be a massive challenge to the
police services.
After the closure of Restauracja Polska Tradycja on Belwederska St. we invite you to our other restaurant,
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on 7 Chocimska St. in Warsaw, tel.22 848 12 25, tel. / fax. 22 848 15 90
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4
NEWS
The New Poland Express I Friday 6th January 2012 I www.nwe.pl
Nigerian
Pupils refuse to go home
wedding ring A
A
s many as 31 people were implicated in a bogus wedding racket that
married Nigerian men to Polish
women for EUR 5,000.
Investigators said they suspected 20
fraudulent marriages had taken place
between 2005 and 2007 in Warsaw,
Pruszkow and Chorzow. One woman is
reported to have agreed to marry twice in
the scam.
“Four Nigerians and five Polish
citizens, including three women, were
the network’s main organisers,” Marta
Zawada-Dybek, spokeswoman for the
Katowice regional prosecutor, was
quoted as saying by the PAP news agency,
although she added 31 people were under
investigation.
“Eager to marry, the men handed over
about EUR 5,000,” continued Ms ZawadaDybek. “The money was divided between
the organisers and the women. The women
received half their fee up front and the
second half after the men had received
their residency papers.
The Nigerians in the gang had,
apparently, spread information in Nigeria
that they could arrange marriages in
Poland that would eventually allow the
men to stay in the EU. They also claimed
that they had managed to get residency
permits from marrying Poles.
One of the Nigerians under investigation
also faces accusations of counterfeiting
official Nigerian documents used in the
bogus marriages.
The Poles involved targeted women who
were ready to marry for money, with most
of the women seeing the scam as a good way
to escape difficult financial circumstances.
The case had come to light after border
guards discovered that in two of the
marriages the couples did not live together,
and, in fact, knew very little about each
other.
Prosecutors said that 22 of those
involved, including one of the Nigerian
ringleaders, have pleaded guilty and
submitted themselves for punishment.
News of the scam will increase pressure
on authorities to ensure that marriages
are not abused by people eager to profit
from those desperate to enter Poland
by any means possible. Poland’s EU
membership and strong economy means
that it is becoming an increasingly popular
destination for anybody wanting to escape
their home countries in the developing
world.
school in Bytom has witnessed
2012’s first ‘sit-in’ protest, after
over 100 students refused to leave
the premises over council plans to sell
the building and move classes to another
school.
According to reports by TVN24, the
act was supported by parents and local
residents who helped out by supplying
the children with various items such as
blankets and food.
The protest began on Monday and
continued on until Thursday, with teachers
coming in during the day to give lessons
before leaving again in the evening.
But despite all the support, Bytom’s
Vice President Halina Bieda was quick to
remind everybody involved that what they
were doing was in fact illegal.
“Students staying in school for that
length of time after classes have finished
is against the law,” she stated, adding that
regardless of the situation, teachers were to
continue lessons as per usual.
On Thursday the city council held
meetings to discuss the future of the
school, however as yet no final decision has
been made over the issue and parents and
pupils alike have been left waiting further
information.
Whether the sit-in protest will affect any
decisions made by the council is not yet
clear, but when asked about the meeting Ms
Bieda commented that there is a possibility
that the school may yet remain active.
“Until we decide either way, there is still
a chance,” she said.
If the original plans go ahead, a total
of 941 students from 35 different classes
will be forced to relocate to new schools
- a move which the council states will
save around PLN 2 mln in building
maintenance, repairs, modernisation and
teachers’ salaries.
5
NEWS
INBRIEF
Dog buried alive
Police in Lodz are offering a PLN 3,000 reward to
anyone who can help them catch the person who
buried a dog alive.
Reports in Gazeta Wyborcza state the German
Shepherd was found buried up to the neck in an
allotment and had to be put down shortly after it
was rescued.
“Unfortunately the dog had a tumour and we had
no choice,” says Jaroslaw Dziwisinski, the vet who
tended to the animal.
So far authorities have no idea who is responsible
for the cruel act as the dog has yet to be identified.
Bearly remembered war hero
Warsaw looks set to see its own statue of Wojtek
the Syrian bear - one of Poland’s unsung war
heroes.
The bear joined the Polish army during the
Second World War, eventually becoming a
symbol for the 22nd Artillery Supply Company.
Here he was treated almost like a brother by
the soldiers and stories are still told about how
he drank alcohol with troops and even carried
ammo for them.
According to Rzeczpospolita, Wojtek saw out his
final days at Edinburgh zoo, where a similar statue
is soon to be erected, before passing away in
1963.
“Talks have already begun,” says Aileen Orr, the
British politician who helped with the statue’s
campaign. “Poland is now a free country and it’s
possible to celebrate this by building a statue in
the capital.”
The New Poland Express I Friday 6th January 2012 I www.nwe.pl
Death Camp LEGO set in Warsaw
T
he Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw has caused something of a stir
by purchasing the controversial
‘Lego Concentration Camp’ set designed
by artist Zbigniew Libera.
Reports in Fakt state that the museum
bought the set from a private art collector in
Norway for EUR 55,000 and plans on making
it one of its main exhibits later in the year.
The set features a number of objects
associated with death camps such as
watchtowers, electric fencing and even a
mock ‘shower block’ - which the Nazis
famously used to disguise their gas
chambers.
Adding to the controversy is the
inclusion of the LEGO logo on the boxes
which feature the statement “This work of
Zbigniew Libera has been sponsored by
LEGO SYSTEM”.
However the toy manufacturer has
denied all links with the set, despite
reportedly sending the pieces to the artist
for free.
“I understand that Lego must defend its
good name, but this is not a product being
offered in a store,” said Libera at the time,
regarding the manufacturer position. “This
is censorship all over again, I created this
work to inspire discussion, not to suppress
it.”
But despite the delicate nature of the
piece, the Museum of Modern Art claims
that the set is “one of the most important
works of contemporary Polish art” and in
2002, it was also featured as part of New
York’s Jewish Museum’s exhibition entitled
Mirroring Evil: Nazi Imagery/Recent Art.
Born in Pabiance in 1959, Libera is no
stranger to criticism. Pieces such as his
1984 ‘Mystical Rituals’ film - in which
he documented his ill and bed-ridden 90
year-old grandmother - have made him a
talking point in the past.
President’s speech
In his New Year address, President Bronislaw
Komorowski told the nation that Poles should feel
proud of their country.
His speech focused on a number of issues, one
of which being the country’s economic situation
which he said has played a large part in boosting
Poland’s profile around the world.
He also looked back at John Paul II’s beatification,
claiming it was one of his personal highlights of
the year.
“We should all be proud that as well as our
tradition of courage and passion for freedom, the
rest of the globe can see that our hard work and
professional organisation is the reason behind our
prosperity,” he said.
New nursing laws
A new law came into force at the beginning of the
year meaning Poland’s nurses and midwives are
now recognised as public servants.
According to Gazeta Wyborcza, the change
means that under the Criminal Code, people
could now potentially face a prison sentence
if they are caught offending or acting in a
threatening way towards them.
However the new law has not been met with great
enthusiasm.
“The act mentions nothing about pensions,
less working hours or other privileges. Beside,
aggressive patient cases are a rarity,” says Alicja
Hryniewicka, a spokeswoman for the Union of
Nurses and Midwives
Monday to Friday 12:00-16:00,
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6
REGIONALNEWS
The New Poland Express I Friday 6th January 2012 I www.nwe.pl
NationwidewithGrahamCrawford:
Bringing you the best from across the regions.
If you have any news for Graham, send him an email at [email protected]
WITHOUTRHYmEORREGION
T
his
Sunday will see
thousands of
youngsters traipsing
the streets of Poland
accosting members
of the public, spending hours risking illness in the freezing
midwinter - yes, it’s time, once again, for
the over-syllabled Wielka Orkiestra Swiatecznej Pomocy. This will be the twentieth
edition of the annual telethon, rendered
into English as the Grand Orchestra of
Christmas Help, that raises money to assist
hospitals, providing life-saving equipment.
“So what?”, some might ask, raising a
world-weary eyebrow and thinking, “It’s
just a telethon.” But there is one thing that
makes WOSP (as it is sensibly shortened
to) stand out against its counterparts. Most
of these big charity drives are led by major
organisations, providing the necessary
support structures. WOSP has always been
based largely on the work of enthusiastic
kids led by a manic DJ in Trevor Horn
glasses (30 years later). Certainly, all the
people out shaking their collecting boxes
and offering a heart-shaped sticker in
return are adolescents, and I think that’s
pretty amazing.
Young people only tend to get in the
papers if they’re the perpetrators, or
victims, of crime. But it’s a lazy stereotype
to only notice the thugs and hooligans,
while ignoring all the thousands of
nice, friendly, studious types - empty
vessels make the most noise, I suppose.
Except, not this Sunday, because when a
spotty adolescent shakes a noisy, rattling
collection box in my face this Sunday, I
shall do my best to fill it. I hope you’ll do
the same. Happy New Year!
mAzOWIECkIE
her eyes and not reacting to the blows.
Convinced she was dead, her assailant
then covered her with branches and rode
home on his bicycle. The girl waited a while
before getting up and running to the nearest
buildings, where she told people what had
happened. Sebastian K. was arrested the same
day. He faces a life sentence if found guilty.
knife, a metal bar and a broken bottle.
Eventually, one of the officers tried to stop
him and, after firing warning shots, which
the man ignored, took aim at his legs, but hit
him in the abdomen. The officers say they
didn’t know he was mentally ill, that they
weren’t trained to deal with such cases.
Man charged with rape of child
A
man was formally charged
this week with brutally raping and attempting to murder
an 11-year-old girl in
March last year. The
girl only survived to
tell the tale by pretending she was dead. The
files have been sent to the court in Radom
where the trial will shortly begin.
The awful incident took place in Grojec,
when Sebastian K., 21, is alleged to have grabbed
the girl and, threatening to kill her, led her into
woods where he raped her. He is then alleged to
have beaten her, tried to strangle her and taken
the small amount of money she had on her.
The girl fought back, but lost
consciousness. Every time she came to, her
assailant started hitting her again. In fear
for her life, she decided to play dead, closing
Shooting trial begins
T
he trial of two policemen who shot
and killed a mentally ill man began in
a Praga court this week. The officers claim
they handled the incident as best they
could, but as a result of a misdirected shot
at the man’s legs that actually hit him in the
stomach, Grzegorz P. died in hospital.
The incident occurred in 2009, when
Grzegorz P.’s sister called police to assist
in taking her brother to hospital, as he was
suffering from schizophrenia and she feared
he would resist. Shortly after the officers
arrived at the scene Grzegorz P. ran amok,
attacking the officers variously with a large
Dragon, chariot and camel
T
his Friday saw a colourful parade marking Twelfth Night, now a national holiday,
wending its way through the streets of Warsaw. The parade was led by the Three Kings,
or Wise Men, representing the continents of
Europe, Asia and Africa. The King of Europe
was on his chariot, the King of Africa astride a
camel and the King of Asia onboard a dragon.
The parade set off at noon from under
another King’s column - Zygmunt, and
eventually arrived at a manger located in
Plac Pilsudskiego. Around a thousand
children from Warsaw schools and scout
troops took part, as well as about two
hundred actors in colourful costumes.
7
REGIONALNEWS
The New Poland Express I Friday 6th January 2012 I www.nwe.pl
DOLNOSLASkIE
AROUNDPOLAND
M-way blocked by toilet paper
Winter finally bites
H
ighway number
8 near Dusznik
Zdroj was blocked
this Thursday by a
combination of snow
and an HGV carrying a load of toilet
paper that caught
fire. The lorry came to a halt in the middle
of the road, completely blocking it while fire
officers fought the blazing toilet rolls. Even
after the fire had been doused, it was a long
time before the trailer could be moved.
In addition to that, 20cm of snow was
making life difficult for those heading in the
direction of the Czech Republic with HGVs
unable to make it up the steeper sections of the
road. “Cars are being detoured away from the
area,” Grzegorz Orlowski from Klodzko police
headquarters told TVN24. He was unable to
say how long the detour would be in force.
New Year Bash
T
en people are facing up to three years in
prison following a fight which broke out
on New Year’s Eve in Dzierzoniow. Like a classic bar room brawl from a Western movie, the
restaurant was left with broken chairs and
tables, smashed bottles, windows and candelabras. Police have seized CCTV footage of the
incident to assist with their investigations.
“They fought using anything possible
- arms, legs, bottles, the fixtures and
fittings. The brawl was broken up by police,
who quickly restored order. Damage is
estimated at around PLN 1,000,” a police
spokesperson told reporters. The 10 people
arrested are all local residents, nine men
aged from 21-36 and a woman. None of
those involved were seriously injured,
suffering only superficial wounds that
didn’t require medical intervention.
H
eavy
winds
and snow hit
large areas of Poland
this week leading to
damaged buildings
and chaos on the
roads. Due to heavy
snowfall, two border
crossings with the Czech Republic were
closed.
In Lututow (in Lodzkie) a historic
church was damaged on Thursday
morning, with large parts of the front
falling into the street below. The
rubble was checked by fire officers
with thermal imaging cameras,
revealing that nobody lay beneath it.
On Wednesday, though, in Dolny Slask
a wall collapsed on a building site,
killing one worker.
In Bieszczady winds of up to
100km/h were recorded, with gusts
up to 150km/h expected on Thursday
night. The mountain valleys are still,
but there is a thin layer of snow on
roads in the area. Thick snow did close
the international highway E65 between
Desno and Harrachov in the Czech
Republic, with road clearers unable
to keep on top of the conditions. As a
result police decided to close the border
at Harrachov as the roads are mostly
ice covered in a layer of fresh snow.
Meanwhile, international highway E67
and the border crossing at NachodKudowa-Zdroj was open only to private
vehicles.
Meanwhile the Regional Crisis
Management Centre in Szczecin
was
forecasting
severe
storms
with hurricane force winds in the
South Baltic. Flood warnings have
been issued along the entire coast.
The storms are expected to recede
somewhat on Friday.
biStro • reStaurant
New flood protection
W
roclaw is set for a massive PLN 3 bln
investment to protect the city from a
repeat of the disastrous floods that caused
so much destruction back in 1997. The city’s
flood defences failed to cope then with a deluge that saw a massive 3.5 mln litres of water per second flowing through the system.
The new system is, puzzlingly, being
designed to cope with only 3.1 mln litres
per second. “There’s no cause for alarm,
the Wroclaw improvements are only one
part of three projects which will greatly
reduce the risk,” Witold Sumislawski of the
Regional Water Management Authority
reassured reporters. The other projects
include a dry reservoir in Raciborz and
work on the Odra’s embankments.
8 Szpitalna Str. (entry from GórSkieGo Str.) | contact number: (0-22) 828 42 85
www.GaStronomiarozrywkowa.pl
8
REGIONALNEWS
The New Poland Express I Friday 6th January 2012 I www.nwe.pl
POmORSkIE
LODzkIE
Iwona case goes cold
Crooked bookies
G
dansk prosecutors have shelved
their
investigation
into the disappearance of Iwona Wieczorek 18 months ago,
having been unable
to establish anything concrete about the
teenager’s fate. Despite interviewing 380
separate witnesses prosecutors have hit a
brick wall. “We haven’t even been able to
establish what crime has been committed,”
Grazyna Wawryniuk, from the Gdansk
Regional Prosecutors told a reporter.
Iwona disappeared without trace on
16 July 2010 after leaving a Sopot disco
following an argument with friends.
CCTV footage showed her walking along
the promenade, but prosecutors were
unable to trace a man with a towel over
his shoulder seen following her and media
appeals failed to help.
Although prosecutors are shelving
investigations, a police unit will continue
working on the case and follow any leads
that may come up. Around 15,000 people
go missing in Poland every year.
A
group of 18
Lodz bookmakers operated in conjunction with a gang
dealing in illegal
ethyl alcohol, issuing
fake winning tickets
in order to launder the income from the
operation. The charge files on the case
were sent to Lodz Regional Court this
week, meaning the trial will shortly go
ahead.
The story came to light back in early
2009 when the illicit alcohol gang was
busted. Investigations revealed that the
gang’s bosses were using the bookies to
launder their cash. Initially, investigators
uncovered two bookmakers who issued
fake winnings tickets to the tune of PLN
2.2 mln, but it soon became clear this was
only the tip of the iceberg.
A whole host of stooges were employed
to collect the bogus winnings. Fourteen
people, mostly with small businesses,
including a dog breeder, a blueberry
farmer, coin dealer and a chemical trader,
have been charged with making false
declarations.
The
entire
procedure
was
coordinated by 31-year-old Joanna
P. and her husband. She coerced 17
other bookmakers to issue the fake
tickets, for which she took a 6 percent
cut and that was then divided between
the bookies. Investigators have so far
uncovered fake tickets to a value of
PLN 6.8 mln.
Piotrkowska is fine
U
lica Piotrkowska in Lodz has been
fitted with a sophisticated system involving 14 CCTV cameras to catch anyone
who tries driving along the pedestrian precinct. Anyone who tries taking a shortcut
now faces a PLN 500 fine and five penalty
points.
Calendar capers
A
risqué calendar featuring senior citizens
in flimsy clothing has caused a rumpus
in Ustka. The calendar, like a similar one famously produced by a Women’s Institute in
the UK, was intended to raise funds for the
dialysis unit of Slupsk Hospital.
The models were recruited from the
Ustka Open University and it features the
mature beauties posing on the beach and by
a swimming pool. As well as the charitable
goal, the calendar had an educational
purpose, with an appeal to women to
regularly check for breast cancer as each
page bore the message, “I’m sure, I check.”
However, after initially supporting the
initiative, the Town Hall suddenly removed
all information about the calendar from its
website. Rumour has it that the Town Hall’s
change of heart followed the intervention
of Fr. Jan Turkiel, the town’s parish priest.
Road deaths up
P
omorskie roads saw an increase across the
board in road accident statistics last year:
there were 2,889 accidents in total, in which
217 people died and 3,620 were injured. According to police, the most frequent causes
were excessive speed and failing to give way.
Then there’s alcohol; 2011 saw 9,535
people caught driving over the legal limit that’s more than 26 drunk drivers stopped
every day.
Offers Polish Cooking Classes and Weekly Culinary Tours in various
regions and cities of Poland.
In Warsaw join us on:
"A Three-Day Culinary Adventure Around Warsaw"
or
"A Taste of Poland in Mazovia and Warsaw"
Find out more and register online:
www.PolandCulinaryVacations.com
Email: [email protected]
We accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover
9
BUSINESS
The New Poland Express I Friday 6th January 2012 I www.nwe.pl
Preparing for take off
T
here were announcements this week
that 2012 will see the opening of
two new airports in Poland.
The first is former military airport
Modlin - based just outside Warsaw - which
it is believed is costing approximately PLN
300 mln to modernise and renovate.
But while reports state that it will be up
and operating in time for the Euro 2012
football tournament, the airport’s vice
president Marcin Danil has already stated
the terminal may not be completed.
“We might find that the terminal will not
be ready until nearer the end,” he said in
Gazeta Wyborcza. “In this case, passengers
will use a tent as a temporary measure.”
A second airport known as ‘Swidnik’
near the eastern city of Lublin is also
scheduled to open, albeit not until autumn.
The first airport in Poland to be built
from scratch in almost 70 years, Swidnik
plans to accommodate 300,000 passengers
in its first year, a figure which it hopes
will eventually rise to 1 million - half the
amount that Modlin hopes to serve.
Reports claim that both airports plan to
provide both low cost and chartered flights.
Despite the general recession, the paper
states that experts predict the air transport
market will continue to develop with
Gdynia and Bialystok next in line to open
passenger airports.
What’s going on
in Poland?
Moving?
Worldwide Activity Local Exper tise
Corstjens Warsaw
Telephone: +48 22 7377200, 7036200
e-mail: [email protected]
www.corstjens.com
Polish News
and
Entertainment
Friday 16th April 2010
T
he Polish zloty is currently one of
the most undervalued currencies
against the dollar in Europe, new
reports claim.
According to TVN24, The Economist’s
‘Big Mac index’ - a yearly system which
compares the price of the world-famous
burger in over 100 different countries to
measure different market values - shows
that the zloty is undervalued by the US
currency by 43 percent.
The price of a Big Mac currently sits at
around PLN 8.80 (USD 2.55) in Poland
meaning that the cost is approximately 43
NBP OFFICIAL CURRENCY RATES 05/01/2012
Currency
Canadian Dollar
Czech Koruna
Danish Krone
Euro
Hungarian Forint
Japanese Yen
Norwegian Krone
Pound Sterling
Russian Ruble
Swedish Krona
Swiss Franc
US Dollar
Symbol
1 CAD
1 CZK
1 DKK
1 EUR
100 HUF
100 JPY
1 NOK
1 GBP
1 RUB
1 SEK
1 CHF
1 USD
Mid-rate
3,4449
0,1742
0,6070
4,5135
1,4020
4,5679
0,5874
5,4616
0,1099
0,5098
3,7037
3,5081
percent less than customers can expect to
pay in the US.
This result is one of the worst results in
Europe - second only to the Russian rouble.
However, experts claim that the zloty
has “great potential” to increase in value
this year, with the nation’s economy
faring well in comparison to its European
neighbours.
“Poland’s economy is performing
better than others in the region and this
should be reflected in the currency’s
value,” says Juraj Kotian, an economist
for Erste Bank.
INNUmBERS
10-15%
The price airline tickets are expected to rise by
this year according to Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.
PLN 6,000
The monthly wage for coal miners (compared to
PLN 2,000 for supermarket cashiers), according to
figures from the Central Statistical Office (GUS).
Country comes together
to mourn victims
I
t took five seconds to transform Poland from a country bustling with
confidence into one wracked with
grief on a scale not seen since the Second
World War.
At some point on a nondescript Saturday
morning on April 10, the aircraft carrying
the president, his wife and 94 others
clipped a tree with its left wing as it
approached Smolensk airport in western
Russia. Five seconds later, now devoid of
one wing, it barrel rolled anti-clockwise,
before slamming roof first into the ground.
As news of the accident broke in Poland,
and one by one television channels
interrupted their regular services, news
readers struggled to contain their emotions
as they realised the devastating blow the
Smolensk disaster had dealt the country.
Along with President Kaczynski, and
Maria his wife, the casualty list read like a
who’s who of the Polish elite.
The head of the national bank, the
chief of the armed forces, the heads of the
navy and air force, two ministers, leading
politicians and dozens of others. Many
household names in Poland; now all dead.
The irony that the Tupolev Tu-154
crashed at it was carrying a delegation
to mark the 70th-anniversary of the
Katyn massacre, when Stalin’s henchman
slaughtered Poland’s best, was not lost.
NATIONAL
© www.prezydent.pl
Zloty undervalued by dollar
Issue 15 (66)
Poland hit by second Katyn tragedy
Warsaw’s Presidential Palace has become the focal point of the nation’s grief
“The Soviets killed Polish elites in Katyn
70 years ago. Today, the Polish elite died
there while getting ready to pay homage to
the Poles killed there,” said Lech Walesa.
Aleksander
Kwasniewski,
another
former president, described Katyn as a
“cursed place, and of horrible symbolism”.
As Poles absorbed what Donald Tusk
called the “most tragic event in Poland’s
post-war history” thousands began to
make their way to the presidential palace
in central Warsaw, which was to become
the focal point of national mourning.
p.4 REGIONAL
A small patch of flowers and candles
left by mourners expanded and grew,
carpeting the pavement and the road in
a tribute to those who had died. Political
differences vanquished by grief, thousands
upon thousands of people made their way
to the palace to pay their respects in quiet
dignity.
The outpouring of sympathy for the
victims spoke volumes for the shock
and sadness that had touched Poles; it
also spoke volumes for the decency of
Poland.
p.7 BUSINESS
p.9
Don’t blame pilot
Two frozen minutes
NBP in turmoil
The parents of the pilot in charge of flying
the presidential plane have begged the world
not to blame their son for the crash.
Captain Arkadiusz Protasiuka was the
man responsible for landing the Polish
Air Force Tu-154M safely in Russia on
Saturday 10th April, but, for reason still
unknown, he was unable to successfully
carry out his task.
At noon on Sunday across the nation two
minutes silence was observed in memory
of the people that died in the air crash in
Smolensk. The silence was then pierced by
the claxons and sirens of local authority
warning systems and police vehicles. To
this mournful orchestra of wails, the Polish nation stood to attention and reflected
on their loss in the forests near Katyn.
The tragic death of the head of the
National Bank of Poland Slawomir
Skrzypek in Saturday’s plane crash leaves
questions open about who will replace
him, and how his loss will affect monetary
policy and other issues.
The succession issue is a major one, since
both the parliament and the president
must make the choice jointly.
Get a round-up of the
major Polish news,
business, entertainment
and sports in English
each week by
subscribing free to our
PDF. Visit us at
www.newpolandexpress.pl
BUSINESSINBRIEF
VAT rise on crisps
The government has announced that there
may soon be a VAT increase on crisps and
other similar snacks.
According to Dziennik Gazeta Prawna,
basic foodstuffs such as bread, meat,
grain products and juices are taxed at 5
percent, with most other products slightly
higher at 8 percent. However, the move
would bring the snacks into the 23 percent
VAT bracket - the figure for items which
can have negative effects of health such
as coffee, alcohol, chocolate, sweets and
pastries.
Biedronka goes Dutch
Portuguese-based Jeronimo Martins, the
largest shareholder of Biedronka, has handed
all its shares for the supermarket over to its
Dutch subsidiary JM Holland.
Reports by TVN24 state that the firm, a subsidiary
of Sociedade Manuel dos Santos, own 56.1
percent of the shares and that the handover was
completed on December 30 2011.
In an official statement, the company said that
the reason behind the move was Holland’s
improved economic climate.
10
ENTERTAINmENT
The New Poland Express I Friday 6th January 2012 I www.nwe.pl
10.01.2012
Chaz Del Paolo (USA) - g.voc.
Łukasz Gorczyca - bass.
Tomek Dominik - dr.
TAKE IT EASY!
Swing super group
15zł (club card), 20zł (pre-sale),
30zł (on concert day)
24.01.2012
Tickets in Versalka club and at
JANUARY, 20.00
Przemek Dyakowski - sax.
Wojciech Staroniewicz – sax.
Joanna Knitter - voc.
Dominik Bukowski - vib.
Janusz Mackiewicz - bass.
Tomasz Sowiński - dr.
CHAZ DEL PAOLO BAND
www.bilety.versalka.pl
info/booking: +48585553020
Sopot, ul. Bohaterów Monte Cassino 63
One of the biggest Electric Blues
talents of XXI century with the
band
SOmETHINGFORTHEWEEkENDfromInYourPocket
A
s this is the first
edition of the
new year, we feel
obliged to offer a
hearty ‘Szczęśliwego
nowego roku’ to loyal
NPE readers. 2012 is
the year that Poland
has been anticipating since the country
won a joint bid with Ukraine to host the
Euro 2012 football championships five
years ago. Though here in Kraków we took
a pass on actually hosting any matches
(plenty of tourist mayhem already, thank
you), the city has been developing right
along the same schedule as the rest of the
country with 2012 set to be a big showcase year for Kraków also. In addition to
the excitement of watching the national
team attempt to advance out of its seemingly favourable Euro 2012 group draw,
we offer you a few other things that we’ll
be keeping our eye on in Kraków in the
coming year:
Gdansk
07 .01 Saturday - 17.01 Tuesday - Cinderella
State Baltic Opera, Al. Zwycięstwa 15, tel.
(+48) 58 763 49 13, www.opera-baltycka.
plQTickets 25-100zł. Available at State
Baltic Opera’s box office (open 12:00 - 19:00.
Sat 14:00 - 19:00. Sun two hours before
performance. Closed Mon).
06 .01 Friday - Vadim Brodski
Fryderyk Chopin’s Baltic Philharmonic Hall,
ul. Ołowianka 1, tel. (+48) 58 320 62 62,
1. Dworzec Główny (Pl. Jana
Nowaka-Jeziorańskiego 3). The object of
a 63 million PLN investment, Kraków’s
main train station has been in the midst
of a major overhaul, the completion of
which is scheduled for the spring. The
new station will combine the current
train and bus stations with an enormous
12,000m2 underground ticket hall,
waiting areas, a café, restaurant
and information points. What the
modernised station is even more likely
to do is further blur the boundaries
between the transportation centre and
Galeria Krakowska – the shopping mall
maze many travellers are likely to be
forced to traverse in order to find the
platforms, or the exit. How locals react
to the changes will be interesting to
gauge. Also of interest will be the fate of
the beautiful mid-19th century former
ticket hall; a proposal to turn it into an
art gallery has been put forth, but has
yet to be finalised.
2. Home Army Museum (ul. Wita
Stwosza 12). Speaking of old railway stations,
Kraków’s Home Army Museum has found
a beautiful new home in a restored 3-storey
red brick station building that includes
a gorgeous glass atrium. Though already
open to visitors, the primary permanent
collection will not be installed until July,
after which we fully expect this new exhibit
– which focuses on PL’s underground
military resistance to outside rule - to be
one of the city’s most fascinating museums.
www.filharmonia.gda.plQConcert
at 19:00. Tickets 40-120zł. Available at
Philharmonic’s box office (Open 10:30 Tue 09:30 - 16:00. Mon, Sat, Sun four
before performance).
starts
Baltic
18:00,
hours
Warsaw
10 .01 Tuesday - Delhy Seed
Hard Rock Cafe, ul. Złota 59 (Złote Tarasy), tel.
(+48) 22 222 07 00, www.pepsirocks.pl
QConcert starts at 21:00. Admission free.
Sopot
10 .01 Tuesday - Jazz Travel - Take It Easy
Versalka, ul. Bohaterów Monte Casino 63, tel.
(+48) 602 63 66 37, www.versalka.plQConcert
starts at 20:00. Tickets 20/30zł. Available at Versalka
(Open 09:00 - 24:00) and before the concert.
10 .01 Tuesday - 14.01 Saturday - Optimystic
Some Place Else, ul. Prusa 2 (Sheraton
Warsaw Hotel), tel. (+48) 22 450 67 10, www.
someplace-else.plQConcert starts at 21:30.
Admission free.
3. Plac Nowy. Right before the holidays
the merchant stalls on the square adjacent
to Plac Nowy had been removed. We can
only infer from this that more changes are
coming with the city set to finally execute
the controversial plan it approved years
ago for the ‘revitalisation’ of a square
which is perhaps the most happening in
Kraków as is. Don’t be surprised if you
see the markets suspended and Plac Nowy
under construction in 2012.
MAMY TWÓJ BILET.
E S S E N T I A L C I TY G U I D E S
W W W . F A B R Y K A Z E S P O L O W . P L
Pepsi_Rock_2011_prasa_03.01-31.01-182x47.indd 1
In cooperation with In Your Pocket city guides
2011-12-28 15:23:59
11
ENTERTAINmENT
The New Poland Express I Friday 6th January 2012 I www.nwe.pl
The Great Orchestra Of Christas Charity
Sunday 8th of January
see the 20th edition of
The Great Orchestra
of Christmas Charity.
No, Charlie Brown, this
isn’t the name of your
next film; the Great
Orchestra of Christmas Charity (known in PL as
‘Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy’) is one of
Poland’s biggest non-profit charity organisations
which has raised millions of zloty buying medical
equipment for the dilapidated Polish health
system since it began in 1993.
Founded by a man who can best be described
as a force of nature, Jerzy Owsiak, GOCC is
essentially a huge one day telethon aimed
at raising awareness and lots of money for
children’s health care. Initially organised to
provide “health care for children by supplying
medical equipment to public hospitals,” GOCC
changes its beneficiary cause each year and
has since raised money for child victims of
motor accidents and children with serious vision
problems. In its first year, GOCC raised 1.5 million
USD but since these early days it has become the
biggest event of its kind in Poland with over 138
million USD raised to date.
Once a year the Great Orchestra’s final event is
organised by volunteers in virtually every town in
Poland, with hundreds of bands playing for free
the various festival sites. The event traditionally
takes place on the second Sunday of the Year
– January 8th this year. You’ll see volunteers
everywhere you go and wherever you are expect
the finale to be a huge fireworks display at
20:00 which is called ‘Light to Heaven’. A truly
virtuous and remarkably successful project, this
year’s aim is to raise money to buy equipment
that will help save the lives of prematurely born
children and insulin pumps for pregnant women
with diabetes. Those who have enough heart to
contribute will receive one as well: the iconic red
sticker which you will see on everyone in town
this day. And you can have a heart too, Scrooge.
Go on. ‘It’s for the kids.’
Here are the major events planned for some of
the country’s major cities.
Gdansk
Warsaw
Pl. Defilad is set to be the centre of events in
Warsaw with concerts from 14:00 featuring artists
such as Chassis, Carrantuohill & Reelandia, Arka
Noego and Ania Świątczak. After the fireworks at
20:00 Elektryczne Gitary, Dżem, Mech and Gooral
(Polish mountain folk music mixed with dubstep)
will perform. There will be ecological food fair
taking place and you’ll have the chance to taste
meals prepared by chefs from the city’s top hotels
Gdańsk
The party starts at 14:00 in Targ Węglowy and feature
music from performers such as Big Cyc, Blue Café,
Michał Szpak, Carno Czarni and Rei Ceballo & Calle
Sol. The host of the show will be Brit Kevin Aniston,
the Polish fireman and TV celebrity. Up in Gdynia
there will be a motocross competition, paragliding
show and military beach assault display from 11:00
to 15:00 on the Śródmieście Beach.
Kraków
On Sunday from 10:00 at Rynek Główny there will
be an auction of items including England football
team shirts signed by Fabio Capello and some of
the players. Also expect first aid lessons, military
shows and from 16:00 concert by Mats Meguenni,
Via Rei, CF98, DMTA and The Car Is On Fire before
the ‘Light To Heaven’ firework finale at 20:00.
Poznań
The main stage will be located next to the
Castle Cultural Centre, (ul. Św. Marcin 80/82)
and concerts start at 15:20. Winners of the Polsat
‘Must be the Music’ talent show, Enej, will perform
before the Light To Heaven fireworks display while
Donguralesko are on at 21:00. Look out for events
in Brogan’s Pub, Tanner’s and Cuba Libre while the
Austrian band Kontrust play the Blue Note Club,
(ul. Kościuszki 76/78) at 20:00. Admission is 20zł
which all goes to the Orchestra.
Wrocław
The main attraction here will be the veteran
rock band, Lady Pank, who will perform in Rynek
Główny before the fireworks show on Sunday. On
both Saturday and Sunday take a stroll over to Pl.
Solny to see owners of quads, motocross bikes
and 4x4 cars competing between 10:00 to 16:00.
12 .01 Thursday - 15 .01 Sunday
Days of New Music
Gdańsk, Klub Żak, Al. Grunwaldzka 195/197,
tel. (+48) 58 344 05 73, www.klubzak.com.pl
The aim of this festival is to present how
electronic music can be combined with
traditional and more modern musical styles,
as well as classical instruments, and the artists
performing will certainly be able to show off
their virtuosity. Inspiration comes from the
Avant Art Festival in Wrocław which became
a huge success. The festival programme will
be open on Thursday, Janaury 12th with the
Silesian Quartet. On 13th Icelandic musician
Johann Johannsson will present his modern
classical music which includes electronica.
Saturday, January 14th, is an experimental
evening to be sure with two bands: Małe
Instrumenty (Little Instruments) make music
not only with their eponymous minature
instruemnts, but also with toys and strange
musical inventions. The second performer that
evening is the California duo Lucky Dragos
whose performances combine live music,
video projection and audience participation.
The stars of the final day are the stars of the
whole festival: The Kronos Quartet. Founded in
1973 by David Harrington, the line up is largely
unchanged as is their open attitude to their
repertoire.QConcerts start at 20:00. Ticket 25100zł. Available at Żak’s box office (Open 15:00
- 21:00, Sat, Sun 16:00-21:00).
Warsaw
12 .01 Thursday - Amazonia
Theatre On Wola, ul. Kasprzaka 22 (Wola),
tel. (+48) 22 632 24 78, www.teatrnawoli.pl
This is a comedy dealing with the clash
between aspirations and reality in an artistic
environment. What to choose? Money or
Art? “Amazonia” suggests one more solution
- humour as the correct attitude towards the
world, not a way to escape from it. It’s all a
reflection on lack of fulfilment and frustration a common phenomena in Europe, immersed
as it is in crisis.QEvents start at 19:30. Tickets
40/60zł. Available at Theatre On Wola’s box
office (12:00 - 19:00) and before the event.
In cooperation with In Your Pocket city guides
12 SPORT
The New Poland Express I Friday 6th January 2012 I www.nwe.pl
Poles fly in Dakar
P
oland’s drivers are enjoying the early
stages of the gruelling Dakar Rally,
which is somewhat confusingly being held in South America this year, with
Krzysztof Holowczyc even leading for one
day - the first time a Pole has ever topped
the leaderboard in the prestigious event before a puncture on Wednesday’s stage
saw him drop to fourth. Thursday’s stage
saw the Pole record another win, lifting
him into second place overall.
Much of the reason for slowing down the
pace a little was down to Holek’s decision
not to change the damaged tyre, but merely
try to “top it up” a bit. “Maybe it would
have been better to change the tyre then try
to make the time up. As it was, the tyre was
always there in the back of my mind, so I
drove more cautiously. But I don’t think
that was the real cause of my poorer result.
I just found it hard to concentrate properly
and couldn’t find my rhythm,” the driver
confessed.
Before the stage the Pole had softened
the suspension on his Mini, hoping to
get better traction. “It turned out the new
configuration didn’t suit the specifics of the
stage,” Holowczyc admitted immediately
after. Thursday’s stage, though, saw him
take another victory and make up two
places overall. He is currently 4 minutes
and 18 seconds behind the overall leader
Stephane Peterhansel of France.
Down the order, Adam Malysz had an
eventful stage. He was hit by an opponent
in a Toyota, who slightly damaged the left
front wing of Malysz’s Mitsubishi, and then
a motorcyclist emerged from some bushes
to hit the side of the car. But despite these
incidents, Malysz still managed to finish
38th in the stage. He now lies 38th overall,
having been 50th only three days earlier.
Meanwhile, there is controversy in the
quadbikes, with Pole Rafal Sonik among
seven competitors excluded from the
official classification for having bikes
which didn’t meet the guidelines. Some
of the seven, including the Czech Jozek
Machaczak, have abandoned the rally, but
Sonik is riding on.
“I’m going to continue, to prove that the
judges’ decision isn’t going to take away my
fighting spirit and desire to compete. They
can’t take away my desire to complete the
Dakar. By carrying on, I’m sending out a
clear signal that they can’t get rid of me
from the rally by underhand means,” Sonik
told reporters.
Kowalczyk and Bjoergen united?
A
rch-rivals Justyna Kowalczyk and
Norway’s Marit Bjoergen joined
forces in the seventh race of the
Tour de Ski in order to distance themselves from the current third placed skier,
Therese Johaug.
“I’m concerned about Johaug and I want
to gain as big an advantage over her as I
possibly can. I hope that Kowalczyk will be
interested in setting a fast time and together
we can leave Therese a safe distance behind
us,” Bjoergen told reporters.
Kowalczyk has had numerous run-ins with
Bjoergen over her use of asthma medicine,
purportedly to gain an unfair advantage.
Asked about the prospect of cooperating with
her Nemesis ahead of the next race, Kowalczyk
grinned and said, “It’ll be strange...”.
Thursday’s race went as Kowalczyk
predicted, with Bjoergen winning and the
Pole second, both in the race and in the
overall Tour de Ski classification.
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The place to spend
the weekend
Friday Night - DJ Fullsize…
Saturday 07.01.2012
Birmingham V Wolves KO 13:30
Bristol Rovers V Aston Villa KO 18:30
Cardiff V Leinster KO 19:15
(Rugby Union Pro 12)
Sunday 08.01.2012
Man City V Man Utd KO 14:00
Peterborough V Sunderland KO 16:30
Warsaw
Tortilla Factory
ul. Wilcza 46
tel. 022 621-8622
www.warsawtortillafactory.pl
[email protected]
[email protected]
SPORTSBRIEFS
Speedway pays
If you want to earn big bucks in Polish sport,
better look to speedway, rather than football, a
report in Przeglad Sportowy revealed this week.
Despite the financial crisis, Polish speedway
Ekstraliga teams spent PLN 60 mln on new rider
contracts this year.
Naturally enough, the highest wages will go to
current world champion Greg Hancock, who can
expect to pocket a tidy PLN 2.5 mln for his efforts
for Unia Tarnow in the upcoming season. Four more
riders will join Hancock in earning over PLN 2 mln
and a whole raft of other riders will break the million
zloty barrier. What’s more, these figures only cover
earnings on the track - and top riders can expect a
whole range of sponsorship deals.
In terms of organisation, budgets, stadiums and
support, the Polish league is streets ahead of
the other major leagues in England, Sweden or
Denmark.
I’ll get Adamek!
Heavyweight boxer Chris Arreola has sworn to take
revenge on Tomasz Adamek as he aims to end the
year as world champion. “I’m a lot slimmer now, I’m
training three times a day. In the form I’m in, I’ll tear
him apart, smash him into the ground and beat him
to a pulp. I really want this rematch, but this time
it won’t go past the sixth round. Tomasz is a good
man, but he doesn’t stand a chance against me,”
the American stated confidently.
13
CLASSIFIEDS
The New Poland Express I Friday 6th January 2012 I www.nwe.pl
Classifieds:Placeyourfreeadsandcommunity
newshere.Email [email protected]
GUITAR LESSONS
Short term rent
House to RENT
I am teaching classical guitar in Krakow.
Please call me or send me mail for price.
512 198 068
[email protected]
I have 2-bedroom apartment for rent from 21/12
for 4-5 weeks in Wilanow (Sarmacka 22).
2500 pln plus deposit.
If you are interested please call owner:
609-016-596.
House to RENT, by metro-Sluzew
Warsaw house (350 meters) to rent for 15 000
PLN/month by metro close to French, German,
British Schools. 3 bathrooms + 3 bedrooms +
extra rooms. Separate apart for housekeeper and
utility place.
+48 604.28.96.18, [email protected]
Senior Web Engineer (PHP) ASAP
Physiotherapist
Polish language lessons
Seeking a Senior Web Engineer (PHP) to help
design and develop a complex, large, scalable
web site using the latest Web 2.0 standards.
Relocation costs covered.
Please email [email protected]
I am recently graduated from the Free University
of Brussels, Belgium. I m searching for a job as
physio in Warsaw. Polish: basic, French: mother
lang., English: very good, Dutch and Italian:
good.
Contact: [email protected]
I am an American looking for inexpensive Polish
language lessons. Speak words but cannot speak
in sentences. Maybe trade for English lessons.
Warsaw area
[email protected]
Proof-reading/editing
Warsaw Flat for rent
APARTMENT CENTRAL WARSAW
Proof-reading and editing services offered by
English language teacher. References available.
Able to work to deadlines and at short notice!
City centre flat located between Chmielna and Nowy
Swiat. 43m2 - light, airy and quiet, on top floor of 5, in
excellent decorative order.
Double bedroom, sitting room, large kitchen, bathroom
and hall - furnished or unfurnished.
1,950 zl per month.
Minimum 6 months rental.
Available from 1st November. Photos available.
0507 018 843 or [email protected]
One of the best pre-war buildings in Warsaw.
80m2 apartment for sale or rent.
2 rooms plus kitchen and bathroom.
Fully furnished and newly decorated.
Exceptional price.
Contact: 0044 (0)7971 923 737
[email protected]
Warsaw Apartment to let
ENGLISH TEACHER WANTED
Warsaw Apartment for rent
APARTMENT TO LET CENTRAL WARSAW - CORNER
OF SWIETOKRZYSKA STREET / MAZOWIECKA STREET.
TWO MINUTE WALK TO PAPARAZZI BAR & METRO
SWIETOKRZYSKA.
45M2 STUDIO FULLY FURNISHED. LIVING ROOM,
KITCHEN, BATHROOM WITH SHOWER.
2300 PLN PER MONTH.
ENGLISH OWNER RETURNING TO UK.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL 601818170.
Mature student (upper-intermediate level)
seeking lessons 2x weekly. Central Warsaw
(Konwiktorska). Tuesday 3pm - 4 and Friday 3.30
- 4.30 pm (negotiable). Focus on conversation/
pronunciation. Current teacher is leaving - need
replacement.
[email protected] or 7217 13 656
40.sq m apartment with balcony, garage and
Vistula river view for long term rental at Menolly
Park (Powisle, Leszczynska 4)
+48 604 87 89 82, [email protected]
English Lessons on Skype
APARTMENT FOR RENT
HOME RENOVATIONS
Learn English from the comfort of your home
or office with a qualified, experienced, native
teacher. MA Applied Linguistics. 16 years
teaching English in several countries.
[email protected]
80 SQ METER APARTMENT FOR RENT IN WLOCHY
WAWA,3 MIN FROM BLUE CITY. BEAUTIFUL AREA,
3 FAMILY HOUSE WITH 700SQ M YARD WHICH IS
PRIVATELY CLOSED IN.
Contact: CELL # 519-446-595
Looking to renovate your Flat or Home?
Experienced Contractor from the States with
high qualifications in the construction business
can help you fulfil your dreams!
Contact: CELL # 519-446-595
Contact:
[email protected]
mob. 505 525 883
14
COmmUNITYNEWS
The New Poland Express I Friday 6th January 2012 I www.nwe.pl
CommunityGroups:Placefreelistingsfor
yourcommunitygroupshere.Email [email protected]
Free conversation lessons
Church of England in Poland
The Sikh Community
Free conversation lessons take place at KLUB
DIALOGU, Krakowskie Przedmieście 13/156
(entrance from Tokarzewskiego) every Saturday at
11:00 am and 12:10 pm.
Please call: 22-498-1010
or email us: [email protected] if you are interested
We welcome Anglicans, Episcopalians and all others
interested, to celebrate the Eucharist every Sunday
morning at 10.30 am. Join us for light refreshments
after the service to learn more about the activities
of our church.
Place: Res Sacra Miser Chapel, ul. Krakowskie
Przedmiescie 62, Warsaw.
The Sikh Community of Warsaw meets each Sunday
at the Sikh Gurudwara in Rashyn, Ul Na Skraju
56. All are welcome. Kirtan starts at midday and
langar is served after the Bhog at about 1400. For
more information contact 22 868 4541. The Sikh
faith is about equality, honesty and standing up
to oppression. Anyone visiting the Guru’s house is
welcome, in return for due respect and consideration
of the Sikh faith.
Role Playing Game in Warsaw
Poland Tartan Army
HASH HOUSE HARRIERS
International English-speaking group in Warsaw,
mostly foreign professionals, play tabletop
Dungeons & Dragons fortnightly. No experience
necessary but fluent English proficiency is
required. Have a good time. Play some games.
Meet new friends. Open your imagination. More
info: Facebook group: http://tiny.cc/zaffa or
CreativeCowboy[at]yahoo[dot]com
A new Poland Tartan Army Facebook group
has been created. If you are a fan of Scottish
football and our national team please
join the group by visiting Facebook and
conducting a search for Poland Tartan Army.
If anyone, who is not a part of Facebook,
is interested in this idea then please email
[email protected] to register your interest.
We are a Polish and Expat social group who organise a
walk/run in a forest, park or around the city, followed by
a few beers (or whatever takes your fancy!). We meet at
the Marriott hotel on alternate Saturdays at 2pm. “Hash
House Harriers” is an international group, which was
originally established in Malaysia 70 years ago.
All are welcome. For details, call Martin at 502-052-958.
Email [email protected] or www.warsawhash.pl
International Women’s Group
International Rotary Club
Gospel Baptist Church
Meetings are held twice a month on the SECOND
Monday at 10.30 (for location see our newsletter
or website) and on the FOURTH Monday of the
month at Restauracja Tapa y Toro located in the
Zlote Tarasy Shopping Mall (ul. Zlota 59) from
10:00 - 11:00.
For more information see www.iwgwarsaw.eu or
contact us at [email protected]
International Rotary Club - Warszawa Wilanow is
the only English speaking Rotary Club in Warsaw.
Visiting Rotarians are warmly welcomed
to join the weekly meetings held at the
Polonia Palace Hotel, Al. Jerozolimskie 45.
Tuesday’s at 12:00, except the last Tuesday
of each month when the meeting is at 19:00.
For more information: +48 601 897 731
Services are held in Polish and English
languages: Sun. 11:00, Thurs. 19:00. For more
information contact: Pastor Paul Sock, mob.
0500-270-990, e-mail: [email protected]
www.gbc-ekb.com.
GAA in Warsaw
Expat meetings
Toastmasters club
Cumann Warszawa.Poland’s first and only GAA
club is up and running and is looking for players
of all levels, all nationalities and both sexes. We
offer weekly training, competitive games and
regular social events as well as fresh oranges at
half time.
Contact Eoin at 0518-425-587 or
[email protected]
Meeting English speakers in Warsaw just got a
whole load easier. We don’t teach you Salsa,
we make you pay for your own drinks, but
we do promise to give you the premier multicultural event of the week at Warsaw’s very own
Professional Wednesday Meetup.
Toastmasters club (Polska) invites all to master
Public Speaking. Weekly meetings are held
every Wednesday at 19.00 in the Warsaw Stock
Exchange building (1st floor, Catalyst room), ul.
Książęca 4. Guests are most welcome with no
obligation apart from a short introduction.
For details check www.toastmasters.org.pl
or call Etan 696-292-451
Poznan International Church
CFM (Christian Fellowship Ministries)
Every Sunday at 10:00
Contact details: www.international.pl. It’s simple at P.I.C..
Come and experience God through current music and
relevant teaching. Grow in your relationship with God
and others by making friends and joining a small group.
Serve God and people by being generous with the gifts
God has given you. Go and make a difference in the
world by sharing the love of Christ.
Kościół Chrześcijański (evangelical/Pentecostal)
Location: Aleja Prymasa Tysiąclecia 74B (Wola, Warsaw)
Services in Polish and English:
Wednesday 19.30 hrs and Sunday 11.00 & 18.30 hrs
Every Saturday evening at 20.00 hrs: Film, Concert &
Drama or other activities
Website: www.thedoor.pl
Phone: 784 653 666 (Pastor Jan-Willem van Dam)
Email: [email protected]
Contact - [email protected] or 691535566
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classified ad
here