Death of President Kaczynski Stuns the Nation

(Text obtained from infoplease.com) 

President Kaczynski, his wife, and dozens of high-ranking government officials were killed on April 10, 2010, when their plane crashed in the Katyn Woods in Smolensk, Russia. The group was headed to a ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre, in which more than 20,000 elite Polish troops were killed by members of the Soviet secret police during World War II. A total of 96 people perished in the crash, including Poland's deputy foreign minister, 12 members of Parliament, the chiefs of the army and the navy, and the president of the national bank. Despite the shocking and devastating turn of events, the officials who stepped in to ease the transition were praised for their composure and professionalism in the face of crisis. Bronislaw Komorowski, the leader of the lower house of Parliament, assumed the role as acting president.

The symbolism of the timing and site of the catastrophe cannot be ignored. The Katyn massacre remains a contentious issue between Poland and Russia. Just days earlier, Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin became the first Russian leader to honor the Polish victims.

Kaczynski's twin brother and former prime minister, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, ran for president against Bronislaw Komorowski of the governing Civic Platform party. Komorowski took both the first and second rounds of the election and was sworn in as president in July.

Parliamentary elections in Oct. 2010 saw Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Civic Platform party win plurality over Jaroslaw Kaczynski and the Law and Justice party. The center-right Civic Platform took 39% of the vote, with 30% going to the conservative challenger, the Law and Justice Party. With the win, the Civic Platform became the first Polish party to win two consecutive terms since communism's fall in 1989.

Four consecutive days of protests in Warsaw beginning Sept. 11, 2013 put more pressure on the weakened government of Donald Tusk and his Civic Platform (PO) party. Organized by unions, the protests were one sympton of growing discontent with the center-right government in Poland over issues including the pension system, euro entry, and economic policy. The real necessity for a coalition government loomed large for the next parliamentary elections in 2015.

Poland - War in Eastern Ukraine

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine asked the NATO countries to assist in the training of non-commissioned officers and Poland responded positively. An adviser to the Defense Minister (General pacek) commented on Twitter: this type of training is much needed for the Ukrainian officers.

He adds that "the Polish Armed forces will take part in the reform of the system of training non-commissioned officers of Ukraine".

Poland for many months is involved in the reform of education of the officers in Ukraine. At least 5 Polish military academies and dozens of experts are heavily involved in the project. - General Pacek

As tvn24.pl reports, soldiers have to train leaders who communicate modern knowledge in the field of military command to other soldiers. Interestingly, the announcement made by General Pacek is 'one thing', but apparently MON (Polish Defence Ministry) is to take a final decision in March.

Poland is another country that will help Ukraine. Previously, the United Kingdom and the United States announced that they will help in the training of Ukrainian army.

Next week, the Pentagon will send at least 5 soldiers to Ukraine who will conduct medical training in the Ukrainian army fighting with the terrorists supported by Russia. The American soldiers will provide training in western Ukraine. - Said the representative of the US authorities, condition of anonymity.

The British authorities stated that they will be deploying their military personnel, including consultants to assist in the training of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This will take place in March.

Prime Minister David Cameron has ensured that the British soldiers and other staff will be far from the front lines and will not be involved in combat operations.

The Western countires are starting to react on the Ukrainian conflict. At least they are planning to.

The question is whether the Western countries will take the most urgent decision to provide weapons to Ukraine. Many experts points out that the Ukrainian army is unable to fight with the Russian army. However, there is still no decision on the supply of weapons to Kiev ...

What is your view on this matter? Should britain and other countries supply weapons to Kiev ?

Presidential Elections - current popularity levels

Presidential Elections 2015

7 per cent of people who want to take part in the presidential elections intends to vote for Bronislaw Komorowski. 17 per cent declared their support for Andrzej Duda - according to the February poll by TNS Poland.

In February, compared to the month before the survey, Bronislaw Komorowski lost 5 percentage points of support, and the Law and Justice party candidate (Andrzej Duda) gained 5 percentage points of support.

On the Democratic Left Alliance candidate Magdalena Ogórek can expects around 6 percent whereas the Polish Peasant Party candidate Adam Jarubas has around of 4 percent of support.


1 percent. respondents said they will vote for for Janusz Palikot (Your Movement) (a decrease of 1 percentage point.), Janusz Korwin-Mikke (Korwin) (a decrease of 2 percentage points.), Anna Grodzka (Green Party) and Paul Kukiz (nonpartisan).

22 percent of people do not know who they will vote in the May presidential elections. 'That's 20% of Poles that I am going to fight for and win' - said Duda.

Nearly 60 percent of Polish declared to take part in the elections. definitely go for elections

The 12 percent declared that they are unlikely to go, and 10 per cent reported certainly not going to the polls. 7 per cent respondents are not too sure whether they will take part in the vote.

Polish TNS survey conducted on 13-18 February 2015 nationwide. Representative sample of 966 Polish residents aged 18 years and older.

The candidates: from top left Janusz Korwin - Mikke (KORWIN), Adam Jarubas (PSL - People's Peasant Party), Marian Kowalski (RUCH NARODOWY - National Movement), Andrzej Duda (PiS - Law and Justice), Magdalena Ogórek (SLD - Left Democratic Alliance), Anna Grodzka (ZIELONI - Green), Janusz Palikot (Twój Ruch - Your Movement), Bronisław Komorowski (PO - Civic Platform).

Who do you think is going to win the 'battle' to the Presidential Palace ?

Poland's 'Ida' wins best foreign language film Oscar

(Reuters) - Black-and-white Polish drama "Ida" won the Oscar for best foreign language film on Sunday, capping a successful awards season run in which the austere tale of identity in post-World War Two Poland won top awards in Europe and the United States.

Director Pawel Pawlikowski's film, about a novitiate nun who learns she is a Jewish orphan, earned the country its first Academy Award in 10 total nominations in the category.

“To my Polish friends who are in front of the TV, the crew who were in the trenches with us and who are totally drunk now and you were fantastic, you were brilliant, you carried me through this film and you are what I love about Poland, your resilient courage is brave and funny," the filmmaker said.

Pawlikowski, 57, drew laughter and applause from the audience for continuing his speech after the play-off music had started.

"Ida" has won Britain's BAFTA for best foreign film, and top film, director, screenplay, cinematography and audience honors at the European Film Awards.

Cinematographers, Lukasz Zal and Ryszard Lenczewski, have also earned Oscar nominations for best cinematography.

The film set in 1962 follows novice nun Anna, played by 23-year-old amateur actress Agata Trzebuchowska, as she travels with her aunt Wanda, a fallen Stalin-era prosecutor, to the countryside where Anna was born as a Jew named Ida.

The widely praised film that touches on personal history and individual culpability has been criticized by Polish nationalists who believe it unfairly depicts Poles during the war and for its lack of focus on the German occupation.

Pawlikowski said ahead of the Oscars that he did not want to make a film that explained Polish history but one that explored the characters' "psychological situation and paradoxes of the human soul."

Pawel Pawlikowski IDA Wins Best Foreign Language Film Oscar 2015 Acceptance Speech

                             IDA Movie Trailer (2014)

Stanisław Lesisz

Bardzo wzruszający wiersz ułożony przez pana Stanisława Lesisza. 

Wiersz człowieka, który walczył o niepodległość naszego kraju. 78 letni kombatant. Nie może przeżyć tego co się dzieje w naszym kraju. Chce, żeby jego wnuki i prawnuki miały godny byt. 

Dlaczego takich w Polsce jest coraz mniej?

The symbols of Poland

According to the Polish Constitution, the symbols of Poland are: The coat of arms (left), the Polish flag (white on top and red on bottom), and the national anthem of Poland (Mazurek Dąbrowskiego).

According to legend, the view extending wings of an eagle against a red sky of the sunset had lead founder of the state Polan, Lech, to settle in Gniezno (the first Polish settlement). Since then, the eagle has been used on coins, stamps, flags and shields by all Polish monarchs and leaders. There was a change, however, to the coat of arms after the war when the communists where in power in Poland. The golden crown was removed for over 40 years to remove the 'symbol of monarchy'. The crown was restored in 1989 as a result of political transformation in Poland that was led by Lech Wałęsa, the Solidarity leader. 

The Polish flag colours were always white and red. White on top and red on the bottom. Although, the flag was being used for centuries, the current flag colours and sizes were established in 1918, after Poland regained its independence from Prussia, Russian and Austria. Since then, the falg of Poland was used by all leaders even during the communist era (1945 - 1989). May 2nd is has been established as the official day of the Polish Flag. Poles around the world hung their flags outside the windows as a sign of respect to Poland. 

There are many states and countires with a similar flag to the Polish flag. These include: Czech Republic (Bohemia) as the land, Czechoslovakia, Upper Austria, Cantabria, Thuringia, Tyrol, Monaco, Indonesia and Vienna.

The Polish National Anthem of Poland, Mazurek Dąbrowskiego (named after Jan Henryk Dąbrowski), was written by a politician and a soldier Józef Wybicki. Mazurek Dąbrowskiego has been written for the Polish Legions in Italy (7 thousand military formation created after the Third Partition of Poland). The legions were created by Jan Henryk Dąbrowski, a Polish general who led the soldiers to the Polish Independence. For the first time, Mazurek Dąbrowskiego has been song on 20 July 1797. The Mazurek Dąbrowskiego was officially adopted in 1926 as the official Anthem of Poland.

Here is the Anthem is full.

Current official lyrics

English translation

Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła, Kiedy my żyjemy. Co nam obca przemoc wzięła, Szablą odbierzemy. Marsz, marsz, Dąbrowski, Z ziemi włoskiej do Polski. Za twoim przewodem Złączym się z narodem. Przejdziem Wisłę, przejdziem Wartę, Będziem Polakami. Dał nam przykład Bonaparte, Jak zwyciężać mamy. Marsz, marsz... Jak Czarniecki do Poznania Po szwedzkim zaborze, Dla ojczyzny ratowania Wrócim się przez morze. Marsz, marsz... Już tam ojciec do swej Basi Mówi zapłakany — Słuchaj jeno, pono nasi Biją w tarabany. Marsz, marsz...

Poland has not yet perished, So long as we still live.What the alien force has taken from us, We shall retrieve with a sabre. March, march, Dąbrowski, From the Italian land to Poland. Under your command We shall rejoin the nation. We'll cross the Vistula and the Warta, We shall be Polish.Bonaparte has given us the example Of how we should prevail. March, march... Like Czarniecki to Poznań After the Swedish occupation, To save our homeland, We shall return across the sea. March, march... A father, in tears, Says to his Basia Listen, our boys are said To be beating the tarabans. March, march...

Józef Wybicki

The National Anthem

General Jan Henryk Dąbrowski 

Thanks for your verbal feedback

Since I have been asked by few people to provide some information on the symbols of Poland, I am going to produce a wee post on the 3 symbols: the coat of arm, the flag and the national anthem...

Ash Wednesday in Poland - the start of lent.

Polish Catholics are getting ready to attend Ash Wednesday masses at their parishes as the lent commences. In Poland, Ash Wednesday is a first day of a 40 day lent that finishes on the Easter Sunday. On Ash Wednesday Poles are not allowed to consume meat and drink alcohol. Those who are over the years of 14 and below 60 are restricted to 3 meals on that day. Every Catholic is oblidged to attend a mass on that day as it is a holiday of obligation.





A short video shows how Ash Wednesday looks like in Poland. Its quite different from the Catholic Church in Scotland. In Poland, the Ash is being situated on the top of the head whereas in Scotland the Ash is dispersed with Holy water and is applied to the forehead.

As well as fasting on Ash Wedensday, every friday of Lent and the Paschal Triduum, Polish Catholics are being encouraged by the Church to pray more, attend masses regularly, be more generous to the poor, and to give up something that they like e.g. chocolates, alcohol, smoking, etc. What I have realised from living in Scotland is that, although in Poland the Catholics are being encouraged to donate money to the poor majority are reluctant to do so ... whereas in Scotland the church is encouraging the Catholics to be more generous AND provides the "wee boxes', which I personally found really good. By giving up on chocolates and kebabs I am saving money which are going into the 'wee box'. In that way I can collect as much as 5 pounds in a week.

I would like to know your Lent 'good deeds' maybe I could learn borrow some new ones as the one I am doing are a bit obsolete in a way ... Please use the comment box below and fill me in with ur own good deeds.