PKP strike causes national havoc

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Get ready for changes! Polish News and Entertainment Friday 19th August 2011

Issue 33 (134)

PKP strike causes national havoc Thousands left high and dry as employees down tools over pay

NATIONAL

© Paweł Dąbrowski / SE / EastNews

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undreds of thousands of rail travellers across the country had to contend with the misery of disruption after a one-day strike brought Poland’s biggest railway company to a shuddering halt. Workers at PKP Przewozy Regionale downed tools on August 17 for 24 hours owing to a dispute with management over pay and conditions. Some 2,500 services were cancelled, affecting an estimated 300,000 passengers. Employing some 13,000 people, PKP Przewozy Regionale (PKP PR) transports thousands of customers everyday on short journeys, and forms a vital segment of the country’s transport infrastructure. The company laid on buses in a desperate attempt to provide some stranded passengers with transport, but most people had either to endure delays or attempt to find other ways of completing their journeys. The strike came as talks between the government, management and unions stalled over disagreements on salary increases and working conditions. Unions have requested a PLN 280 increase on monthly salaries this year, and dismissed a PLN 120 offer - rising to PLN 130 next year - from the company as “unacceptable”.

Disgruntled travellers were left seeking alternative means of transport causing bedlam in many stations

But the company reposted saying that PLN 280 would put too much strain on its finances. Trade union leaders accused management of neglecting the railways, adding that passengers were suffering from shabby services, and aging and dilapidated rolling stock. Leaders also warned of further strikes unless an agreement is reached. Adding fuel to the dispute were claims by Malgorzata Kuczewska-Laska, president of PKP PR, that the unions were playing at politics. “By striking the unions are trying to influence politicians ahead of the

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forthcoming elections,” she said. “After analyzing the negotiations I feel the unions are only using wages as an excuse.” Despite the government’s involvement in negotiations, it distanced itself from the dispute. “I always feel responsible for the rail sector, but this dispute does not really concern the government,” said Cezary Grabarczyk, the infrastructure minister. “This is a labour dispute between the company board and the unions.” He went on to add that the strike would cause huge financial losses for the company.

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Corpse left queuing

Drink doctoring

PGE opening boosts crowds

Residents in Wroclaw were left shocked and stunned this week after the body of a dead man was left by police officers at a local bus stop. According to daily newspaper Fakt, the 60-year-old had been standing waiting for a bus with his wife when he suddenly collapsed from what is thought to have been a heart attack.

A doctor and two nurses were caught drunk on duty in the Intensive Care Unit of the Walcz Military Hospital this week. “All the staff are shocked,” Janusz Napiorkowski, the hospital director, told TVN24. The three were caught after police received an anonymous tip-off. When officers arrived at the scene, the accusations were confirmed.

Nearly 35,000 fans turned out to watch Lechia Gdansk’s first game in the stunning new PGE Arena, boosting average attendances in the Ekstraklasa to over 10,000. The extra numbers at the Gdansk game caused average attendances in the Ekstraklasa to jump by 3,000 fans per game, taking the total to a record high.

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EDITORIAL

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Contents News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Regional news . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 What’s on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

From the editor

Quotes of the week

This week in history

“Civic Platform is trying to be holier than the Pope.” Law and Justice MP Mariusz Kaminski adding more fuel to the upcoming elections.

1920 - The Battle of Warsaw ends. Fought between August 12-25, the battle was part of the Polish-Soviet war which eventually put an end to hostilities between Russia and Poland.

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here’s been much made of this week’s train strike and the inconvenience it caused to thousands of people up and down the country. It boils my blood when I hear these workers getting slagged off for having the guts to actually take a stand against something they believe in. The fact is, the people doing the mud-slinging and slagging off are probably the kind of people who are themselves too afraid to take a similar course of action, but would never admit to jealousy being the source of their anger. Like most other people not employed by PKP Przewozy Regionale, I can only speculate over the issue, but, as is usually the case in situations like this, money seems to be the key factor here. Let’s face it, the transport industry is one of the most important industries in a country, without which the nation would be up a very smelly creek without even a hint of a paddle. It’s important that the staff employed here are made to feel worthy and kept content so they perform their jobs to the best of their ability (the health industry is another one which springs immediately to mind). Now I’ve never sat in a PKP PR staff room but I’ve spent manys a cold, wet day in train station waiting rooms (wondering how much longer I’m going to be tapping my feet) and if those at the top take as much care over their staff as they do their trains, then I’m fully behind them. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying employees should be pandered to or that unions have the right to hold a government to ransom. All I’m saying is that people should be treated with a bit of respect and dignity and get a decent wage for a decent day’s work.

“Personal appearance isn’t important to me. A politician doesn’t have to look nice.” Pis deputy press officer Ilona Klejnowska (who has been hailed as the new ‘face’ of the party) speaks out against statements that she is ‘petite’ and ‘beautiful’. “We are sorry there was a strike, but after three and a half years we haven’t reached an agreement with the board. We don’t want to be ashamed of being railway workers, but we just don’t earn enough.” Leszek Mietek, a spokesman from the strikers’ union.

1955 - Nowa Kultura magazine publishes ‘Poemat dla doroslych’ (‘Poem for Adults’). Written by essayist and writer Adam Wazyk, the poem was the first to openly criticise the system and despite government efforts was not censored.

Have Your say

The NPE weekend QUIZ

Re: Andrzej Lepper found dead in office Speaking from personal experience, other Poles I have talked to and have overheard in conversation view his passing with either amusement or indifference. Being a former ally of PiS, it is of no great wonder that a conspiracy theory has now surfaced. Anyone aware of any Russians entering the building at the time of his death? Hannah Arendt - Gdynia, Poland

We’ve got a great little prize to give away this week, so listen up - A double invitation for the Rawa Blues Festival taking place in Katowice’s Spodek on October 8.

May Lepper rest in peace but what a fiasco with Kaczynski, Giertych and him at the helm of the Polish government. Poland was the laughing stock of Europe with those three stooges running the store. tomasz - Pittsford, NY, USA Re: Poles arrested in London Riots It seems nobody is adverse to a bit of social outcry now and again when it comes to creating a name for themselves. However is the trashing and burning of shops and people’s homes really the right way to go about it? I think not. I suppose the other option is to boo and whistle your way through a so-called ‘respectful’ ceremony aimed at remembering those that fought during one of the country’s most daring and spirited struggles. H.P. - Poznan 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]

1939 - German battleship SchleswigHolstein arrives in Gdansk under the pretense a of courtesy visit. The ship is known for firing the first ever shots in the Second World War and was eventually destroyed by bombs in 1944.

Editor-in-Chief: Steve Sibbald ([email protected]) Chief Writer: Steve Sibbald Staff Writer: Matt Day

It might be a few weeks away yet, but with acts including Marcia Ball, Shakin’ Dudi and CJ Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band you’re going to need a bit of time to get ready and prepare yourself for what looks set to be a storming event. To win, just tell us in which US state was singer and pianist Marcia Ball born? You know the drill folks, get your answers sent into: 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])

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NEWs

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Metal man Family massacre tragedy Nergal not guilty

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eath metal musician ‘Nergal’ has been cleared in court after tearing up a bible live on stage and calling it “a deceitful book”. Adam Darski, better known as the front man of metal band Behemoth, “did not insult religious feelings” said the court which backed up its decision by stating that his music was merely “a peculiar form of art”. “The court does not intend to, in spite of expectations, prosecute against the artistic freedom of expression against religion,” said Judge Krzysztof Wieckowski of Gdynia’s District Court. “However the court will examine whether or not this man is a danger to society or youth.” The case refers back to concert where Mr Darski ripped up a bible during a concert and scattered the pieces into the crowd while encouraging them to burn the paper. He then incited the audience further by stating it was a “mendacious book”. According to news site TVN24, the prosecution was based on reports by a number of Law and Justice (PiS) MPs, particularly President of the National Defence Committee Ryszard Nowak who had viewed the footage via the internet. Mr Darski was last year diagnosed with leukemia and recently underwent a bone marrow transplant. Reports on his current health however are varied.

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Polish man is being held under armed guard in a Channel Island hospital suspected of slaughtering his wife, his children and three others, before trying to kill himself. Jersey police said 30-year-old Damien Rzeszowski had been charged with murdering six people, including his 18-month-old son Kacper and his daughter Kinga, aged five. Rzeszowski’s father-inlaw, a best friend and her daughter were the other victims. In one of the bloodiest crimes to strike the peaceful and prosperous islands in the English Channel, all the dead were killed in a frenzied knife attack at a party. After the attack eyewitnesses said the Nowy Sacz man then stabbed himself a number of times in the chest, inflicting lifethreatening wounds. Four of the victims were found in a flat while two more were found outside. Witnesses said they heard one woman cry “Oh God help me” as she was attacked. Rzeszowski’s wife, Izabela, had written that “there is nothing more precious than life” on her Facebook page just days before she was killed. Police are still waiting to interview the heavily sedated suspect, who had lived in Jersey for about 10 years, working as a brick layer. “We are working closely with leaders from both the local St. Helier and Polish communities to support the investigation

and local people affected by the tragic incident,” said Detective Superintendent Stewart Gull of the Jersey State Police. Krzysztof Hajdas, a spokesman for the national police headquarters in Warsaw, said the Polish police were co-operating with the investigators from the Channel Islands in trying to work out just what drove a family man to slaughter his loved ones. The doomed family had left Bydgoszcz, the hometown of Izabela Rzeszowska, the day before the massacre, and local police have interviewed family members. Further interviews were conducted in Malopolska. Newspapers both in Britain and Poland have reported that Rzeszowski had suffered from depression, and that a few weeks before the attack had taken a drug overdose in a suicide attempt. The Nowy Sacz local had, allegedly, also faced financial ruin after losing his savings in a property deal in his home town. Papers also carried stories claiming that his wife had been unfaithful but the two had been trying to patch up their marriage. “He worked very hard to support his family and was a very reliable guy. I would often see him in the supermarket with his kids,” one acquaintance of the suspect said. “This has come as a huge shock to everyone.” The murders have stunned the local Polish community of about 5,000 people. A requiem mass, held in both English and Polish, took place recently in memory of the victims.

Ul. Chocimska 7, Warszawa, tel. 22 848 12 25, fax. 22 848 15 90 www.restauracjarozana.com.pl

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Doctored pics Corpse left queuing drive public crazy

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ar has broken out between drivers and the city guard after car owners accused them of using Photoshop to adjust photographs sent to drivers allegedly breaking the speed limit. Some drivers have refused to pay speeding fines arguing photographs of them apparently breaking the law have been doctored by guards eager to bring in the cash. The touched up pictures, they say, are inadmissible in court. Crime experts say that tampering with photographs is against the law. “Proof of an offence must come from the original picture, which must be unmodified,” said Professor Ewa Gruza, a criminologist from Warsaw University. “Any photograph where missing or fuzzy numbers [on registration plates] have been filled in or corrected cannot be accepted.” But city guard officials deny using the programme to adjust the pictures. Instead they claim that filters fitted to the cameras make the registration plates of offending drivers legible. Marek Sewerynski, from the firm Meron, which supplies local authorities with speed cameras, said the cameras come equipped with technology to diminish the effects of flash and sharpen the letters and numerals of registration plates. Stirring up the legal difficulties are other complaints from drivers, who say they have received pictures from the city guard which fail to show their car. “I was driving home one evening when I was caught by a speed camera,” said Gabriel Slowik, one driver who has refused to pay a fine. “When I got the photograph from the guard instead of the registration plate all you could see was the flash.” Ms Slowika argued that as there was no way to prove it was her car breaking the speed limit she should not have to pay. The latest spats will further damage the image of speed cameras in Poland. Growing in numbers, they have attracted scores of complaints from drivers, who have claimed in the past they have been set deliberately at the wrong angle in order to over-estimate the speed of an oncoming vehicle. Drivers were also unhappy with the cameras’ battleship-grey livery, which, they claimed, was to obscure them in order to rack up fines. They argue that a brighter colour would have made them obvious and make drivers reduce their speed.

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esidents in Wroclaw were left shocked and stunned this week after the body of a dead man was left by police officers at a local bus stop. According to daily newspaper Fakt, the 60-year-old had been standing waiting for a bus with his wife when he suddenly collapsed from what is thought to have been a heart attack. Worried members of the public called the emergency services and police promptly arrived and announced the man dead. However, after placing the man in a body bag, they left the scene, and with it the body. Reports claim that for approximately an hour passengers and passers-by were forced to either walk around the bag or step over it in order to get on and off the bus as officers had neglected to officially cordon off the area or even move the corpse to one side.

In addition to this, bus drivers were not notified of the situation and continued to pull up at the stop. “The whole thing was horrific and of course extremely embarrassing,” one angry reader wrote to the paper. “Surely there must have been some way to avoid such a situation from happening.” However according to an official statement by the police, the officers had acted in the correct manner and no rules or procedures were broken as it was not their job to remove the body from the scene. “The officers involved in the situation were under no obligation whatsoever to either move or isolate the corpse,” said Wojciech Wybraniec, a spokesman for the regional police. “All the formalities were dealt with both correctly and accordingly.”

The most fashionable place to stay in Gdańsk w w w. d w o r o l i w s k i . p l

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IN BRIEF Crazed priest continues to preach There have been stories this week of a renegade priest who has continued to give mass and organise confessions despite having been suspended from duties. Known for his somewhat odd and erratic behaviour, one of Father Stanislaw Dziwisza’s alleged beliefs is that Poland should reinstate the monarchy with Jesus as King. But despite his suspension, a petition of 1,500 names has been sent to Pope Benedict XVI by his supporters who have continued to back him. Speaking to TVN, Father Tadeusz IsakowiczZaleski stated that the priest shows no sign of backing down and there is every chance he may soon be excommunicated or excluded from the church. “In my opinion the next phase will see him creating his own religious group or sect,” he added. Pregnant woman attacked A man faces up to two years behind bars for beating and kicking a pregnant woman in the northern town of Gizycko. According to reports in daily newspaper Fakt, 26-year-old Emil S. attacked the woman after she asked him to behave in an appropriate manner instead of blocking her path in the street. After knocking her to the floor, he then proceeded to kick the woman before witnesses called for an ambulance and the police. The assailant was soon arrested and doctors have reported that both the woman and her unborn child will be fine. Poisoned pickings A teenager was left fighting for his life this week after being poisoned by a plate of mushrooms. According to TVN24, 16-year-old Dawid was rushed to hospital where he eventually underwent a nine-hour liver transplant operation. Although doctors state it’s still too early to speak of any long-term effects, the operation is said to have gone smoothly. The news comes one year after the case of 6-year-old Tomek, who was forced to undergo a double liver transplant after a similar situation. “Once again we are urging people not to pick their own mushrooms,” says Pawel Trzcinski of the Children’s Health Centre. PM in prime shape There were reports this week of Prime Minister Donald Tusk out-running his bodyguard when the two were out for a morning jog. Website Namonciaku.pl published a series of photos of the 54-year old PM and his minder enjoying a run, with Mr Tusk leaving him lagging behind and out of breath - not bad considering he is 20 years his senior. The article described him as ‘fast’ and ‘nimble’ and stated that he clearly enjoyed watching his bodyguard trying to keep up with him.

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‘Wacky’ game to promote PO

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ith the general elections just two months away, ruling party Civic Platform has put out an interactive computer game aimed at stoking up interest come the big day. As reported on website students.pl, the game allows the player to take part as one of the main candidates to see who can cross the finish line first. Taking its inspiration from the famous children’s cartoon ‘Wacky Races’, contestants have the chance to play as either Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Law and Justice (PiS) MPs Jaroslaw Kaczynski or Antoni Macierewicz, Waldemar Pawlak of the Polish People’s Party (PSL) or Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) head Grzegorz Napieralski. Throughout the game contestants have to avoid a series of approaching obstacles such as piles of newspapers,

fallen branches and other dangerous drivers such as the controversial Father Rydzyk who sprays characters with doses of holy water in an attempt to slow them down. In addition to making pit stops and collecting gold stars along the way, each character comes with their own unique power. PM Tusk has the ability to kick footballs at opponents to hinder them while Mr Macierewicz has an attacking dog and Mr Kaczynski shoots out curled up cats from his tank. As well as poking fun at the opposition parties, it is hoped that the game will spark interest amongst the more computer-savvy and younger generation, which, as a general rule, are believed to be more liberal, thus more inclined to vote for leading party Civic Platform (PO). To play the game for yourself, visit www. platformula.pl

Gold makes me beautiful New collections add sparkle

Enjoy yourself this autumn – find beauty in new colours, textures and shapes. Taste relaxation during a break in one of the cafes or restaurants. The time which is left can be used for yourself in the cinema. Autumn brings so much which is new. Galeria Kazimierz Kraków, 34 Podgórska Street, near Kotlarski Bridge Opening hours: Mon.- Sat.: 10 am - 10 pm, Sun.: 10 am - 8 pm www.galeriakazimierz.pl

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REGIONAL NEWs

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Nationwide with Graham Crawford: Bringing you the best from across the regions.

If you have any news for Graham, send him an email at [email protected]

WITHOuT RHYmE OR REGION

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s Lady Bracknell put it, “To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune, to lose both looks like carelessness.” What, then, are we to make of the Polish police’s SWAT teams, who have sent gangs of antiterrorists in full combat gear, armed to the teeth smashing into private residences at dawn screaming, “Hit the floor!”, only to discover they are at the wrong address, three times in less than a year? [see Mazowieckie]

Yet they barely manage the merest sorry to the petrified residents, as they retreat with their tails between their legs. I realise there are some truly nasty criminals in Poland who require serious measures to combat them. Fighting such thugs is for the benefit of us all. But at what point are these uniformed goons going to start learning some lessons and make sure they have the right flipping address? It’d be annoying enough if it was the postman who couldn’t get it right, but here we have a small army bursting in on innocent members of the public, who have their privacy

mAzOWIECkIE

capital’s police told reporters they didn’t use force against the woman, but that she was required to obey the instructions of the officers. “Most importantly, the police didn’t break into her flat, the woman opened the door for them. Immediately the search was ended the leader of the operation apologised to the owner,” explained Mrozek. The woman is still in deep shock, though, and intends to lodge a complaint and will demand compensation. Other officers last Friday arrested several people in association with the shooting.

Hit the deck! Whoops!

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police antiterrorist unit terrorised an innocent woman when they burst into her flat looking for a dangerous criminal, only to discover they had the wrong address. The police SWAT team was following leads in the recent shooting of a Georgian man and were directed to an address by an informant. Officers staked out the corridor approaching the flat and were preparing to smash their way in, when the terrified owner opened the doors to see what was going on. “A group of policemen burst into my flat, pushed me up against a wall. I was ordered to ‘hit the deck’ and ‘stay calm, we’re the police,’ the woman told reporters from TVN24. “I cowered away, crouched down and started screaming, ‘My God, what’s going on,” the woman explained, crying. “I don’t know what they were looking for. They wouldn’t let me get up. I told them I didn’t have any clothes on. Eventually somebody said they’d explain it all to me. They let me go into the small room, but I didn’t have any clothing in there. They said I could cover myself up with a net curtain. I wrapped myself up in it, but I felt violated,” she added. The police, though, insist there was no mistake and have nothing to reproach themselves for. Mariusz Mrozek for the

Pigeon prison

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uilding administrators could face up to two years in prison after they caged in dozens of pigeons in an attempt to deal with with the problematic birds. Workers placed metal cages over windows to the lofts in a building on ul. Dynasy, but many of the birds were still inside and as a result faced death by starvation. “Over 100 pigeons lived up there, and some of them are trapped inside, including nesting birds. Doing such a thing during the nesting season is barbaric!” one resident wrote to Gazeta Stolecznej, as well as informing the City Guard. Guard officers went to the building administration on Wednesday to order the immediate removal of the cages and that the birds be released. Pigeons are protected from February to September, their nesting period. The removal of nests or attempts to chase them away require official approval from the Ministry of the Environment.

violated, their sense of security in their own home shattered. Even more galling is the callous disregard for these poor people displayed by the forces of law and order. Their pathetic excuses for an apology, frequently delivered only when pressed to do so by reporters are nothing short of a disgrace. These anti-terrorist teams might think they’re the SAS or Mossad, in their combat gear and masks, but frankly, they seem more like a bunch of third-rate clowns who should have their toys taken away from them before they kill somebody innocent.

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REGIONAL NEWs

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zACHODNIOpOmORskIE

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Drink doctoring

Dinner alarm!

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doctor and two nurses were caught drunk on duty in the Intensive Care Unit of the Walcz Military Hospital this week. “All the staff are shocked,” Janusz Napiorkowski, the hospital director, told TVN24. The three were caught after police received an anonymous tip-off. When officers arrived at the scene, the accusations were confirmed. The doctor had 0.14 percent alcohol in his blood, one nurse had 0.1 percent and her colleague 0.026 percent. Police officers also seized medical documents in order to ascertain precisely what procedures the three had been involved in. If it turns out that they were treating patients while drunk, they could face up to three years in jail. “The doctor and nurses appeared in the hospital this morning. I informed them that they had been relieved of their duties. They will all most likely be disciplinarily dismissed from work,” Napiorkowski told reporters. “It’s really difficult for me to comprehend, because we’ve not had an incident like this for almost 20 years,” he continued.

CTV cameras in Leba caught a policeman driving through crowds on a pedestrian precinct with lights on and sirens blaring - all to deliver lunch to his mother last Monday afternoon. In the crowd of passers-by who took exception to the incident happened to be a reporter from Dziennik Baltycki, who took the matter up immediately. He approached the woman who received the delivery, later established to be the officer’s mother, asking what was going on, and if the policeman was worried the food might get cold. She immediately hid, shouting, “Why don’t you worry about more important things!” Other angry passers-by suggested they had seen the same vehicle delivering bread earlier in the day. Leba’s Mayor, Andrzej Strzechminski, was outraged. “It’s a disgrace if the police are busying themselves delivering food around Leba,” he told reporters. Similarly, Jan Kosciuk, press officer for Regional Police Headquartes in Gdansk, commented, “If investigations show this officer broke regulations then he will be severely punished.”

Get your knickers down!

Taxi cheats

olobrzeg authorities are waging war on the illegal traders that are blocking up the city’s coastal promenades with stalls full of everything from nick-nacks to knickers. City guard have so far issued hundreds of tickets for trading without a license, but so far with little effect. “I’m not telling you what I earn, but if it wasn’t worth it, I wouldn’t be stood here,” one illegal trader told reporters anonymously. “We’ve issued only ten licenses for traders on the promenades, the rest are all fly-pitches,” Grzegorz Pytloch, head of the Division of Property Management in Kolobrzeg City Hall. City Guard, though, are doing everything to counter the plague of tawdry traders. “A spot fine is PLN 500. Usually nobody wants to pay. Then we send the case to court where it rises to PLN 700. Some traders have received several tickets a day every day since July 7. It’s easy to work out how much they’ll have to pay,” Pytloch explained. So far, though, despite 90 court judgments fining illegal traders, not a penny has been paid. “People keep appealing, but we’ll wait and see. The verdicts are certain to be upheld and then we’ll see how keen they are to set up a fly pitch here next summer,” said a confident Pytloch.

oreign visitors to the Tricity area are being regularly ripped off by unscrupulous taxi drivers, a young reporter from Radio

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Warsawinyoourpocket_120x98_Febr2010.indd 2

Invites you to experience a panoramic tour of tourist attractions of the capital of Poland, Warsaw, in a relaxing and comfortable way. Traveling over the course of approximately two hours, a doubledecker bus will take you past many beautiful and interesting places of Warsaw, such as its interesting districts, palaces and churches, monuments and museums, parks and historical cemeteries, as well as the Jewish historical sites. A GPS 12 language audio system, will give explanations and accompany you to make your ride a more adventurous, exciting and an unforgettable one.

Details on: www.city-tour.com.pl, tel: +48 500 033 414

Gdansk discovered this week. Posing as a foreigner, the reporter was charged PLN 50 for a PLN 30 trip. The experience was confirmed by Karol, a Gdansk hostel worker who told of an Australian tourist charged PLN 240 for a one minute cab ride. The driver had screamed at the man and threatened him with the police, so the young traveller paid up. The Gdansk Tourism Organisation, though, claim they haven’t received any complaints about unfair taxi drivers.

04.02.2010 15:20:07 Uhr

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REGIONAL NEWs

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Nurse rape charge

Tatras top records

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49-year-old ambulanceman has been charged in a sex scandal in the Czestochowa Ambulance Service following a long investigation by prosecutors. The story broke early this year, when union members in the service, among others, raised the alarm regarding the nurse’s inappropriate behaviour. “Witold N. was charged with the attempted rape of one of the female staff in the ambulance service. Using force, in the form of restraining her arms and legs as well as covering her mouth, he attempted to force the woman to have sexual intercourse with him. He failed to achieve his goal due to the resistance put up by the victim,” prosecutors stated. According to press reports, the man is suspected of inappropriate sexual behaviour as long as seven or eight years ago. There are rumours he molested not only female co-workers, but also unconscious women being carried by ambulance. One case reportedly involved a young girl who had attempted suicide. The matter was dropped when the girl later succeeded in taking her own life. Another worrying aspect of the case was the acceptance of the man’s behaviour by colleagues. Older nurses, who had their bottoms pinched and breasts fondled by the man, explained it away saying, “Witek’s like that”. Leszek Lyko, director of the Czestochowa Ambulance Service has no regrets over his handling of the matter. “I have nothing to reproach myself for. Perhaps if I’d known it would become so publicised...,” Lyko told reporters. Despite the serious nature of the allegations, Lyko merely moved Witold N. to another ambulance unit.

Bringing up baby

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n Czestochowa this Wednesday, four men returning from work came across a woman sprawled on the grass with a nine-month-old baby crawling unattended nearby. They took care of the child, giving him some fruit juice to drink, and called police to the scene. “The drunk woman was lying of the grass, crying, the muddied child was crawling alongside, not far from a busy road,” a policewoman told reporters. The child was taken to hospital where initial tests indicate he came to no harm, although he was kept in overnight as a precaution. The mother had 0.2 percent of alcohol in her blood and was arrested.

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massive 40,000 people visited the Tatras last Sunday, setting an all-time record for the number of visitors in a single day. Morskie Oko alone dealt with 13,000 tourists in one day. “The long August weekend has long been the peak for tourist numbers in the Tatras. We expected crowds, but the record surprised us,” Pawel Skawinski, director of the Tatra National Park told reporters. Meanwhile, Friday sees the 110th anniversary of the cross placed on the summit of Giewont. One of Poland’s major symbols and a massive tourist attraction, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, the cross stands 15m proud of the summit has a 5.5m span and consists of 400 pieces weighing 1819kg.

In less pleasant news from the Tatras, two tourists were struck by lightning this Monday when they decided to set off in poor weather. The lightning struck around 15.20, leaving both unconscious. Witnesses to the incident called in the TOPR mountain rescue team who oversaw the transport of the pair by helicopter to hospital in Zakopane. Both are said to be suffering from shock. “The man is in a serious condition, but is breathing unaided. He’s got severe burns to the back. He’s currently undergoing cardiological tests,” the TOPR duty doctor, Janusz Jasinski, told TVN24. The woman, who regained consciousness first, is said to be in a good, stable condition. In another dangerous incident park wardens were forced to shoot a plastic bullet at a bear that approached a tourist route leading to Giewont. The smallish animal was probably there looking for berries. When it didn’t flee at the sight of people but approached closer to the path a park worker raised the alarm. A single shot was enough to put the creature to flight.

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BusINEss

The New Poland Express I Friday 19th August 2011 I www.nwe.pl

Time to take stock

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his week has been one filled with nerves and doubts for investors as Poland’s stocks dropped more than any others around the globe. According to reports on news site TVN24, the situation could even have been a lot worse; even so it has been the poorest since June two years ago. Thursday saw the WIG20 (Warsaw’s main index) drop by a staggering 5.8 percent, raising more doubts amongst many over the supposed recovery of the world’s economy. Official figures state that it continued its poor form this morning with trading at

-1.85 around midday. This has caused great concern regarding the banking crisis as share prices decline, bond yields fall and the price of gold rises to record levels. According to analysts at Morgan Stanley, global growth this year will sit at 3.9 percent - a figure significantly lower than previous estimates of 4.2. Next year, this is expected to be 3.8 percent, as oppose to earlier predictions of 4.5 percent. Defending these new estimates, Morgan Stanley cites the “inappropriate” actions of politicians in both Europe and the US as a key factor.

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

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new report put out by the Central Statistics Office (GUS) states that Polish salaries are on the increase. According to TVN, the average Polish salary in July stood at PLN 3,600 - an increase of 5.2 percent year or year. “This data is consistent with our forecasts but it appears that the increase in wages each month are primarily due to one-off factors,” said Karolina Sedzimir, a economist from Bank PKO. “We’ve had to deal with additional payments, annual awards and the continuation of distribution. The latter were significantly higher than in previous months and also

much higher than last year.” She continued, “Wage growth in the second half should sit at around 5-6 percent. This is not a particularly dangerous level in terms of inflation. Entrepreneurs will continue to keep costs in check and employees, due to the labour market situation and a high unemployment rate, do not expect too much increase.”

IN NumBERs

Currency Canadian Dollar Czech Koruna Danish Krone Euro Hungarian Forint Japanese Yen Norwegian Krone Pound Sterling Russian Ruble Swedish Krona Swiss Franc US Dollar

58% The number of Poles who feel pessimistic

Mid-rate 2,9618 0,1715 0,5626 4,1913 1,5313 3,8324 0,5334 4,8354 0,1000 0,4537 3,6972 2,9270

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

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.

Send comments and letters to [email protected]

NBP OFFICIAL CURRENCY RATES 19/08/2011 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

Country comes together to mourn victims

© www.prezydent.pl

Wages on the way up

Issue 15 (66)

Poland hit by second Katyn tragedy

regarding their country’s economy according to a report by Puls Biznesu.

PLN 23 .9 bln Total figure lent by banks for mortgages or the building of homes during the first half of 2011 - 49 percent less than the first half of 2010 according to Puls Biznesu.

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

BusINEss IN BRIEF Exports up New statistics show that Poland’s exports to neighbouring countries in eastern Europe have risen during the first half of the year. The report by the Central Statistics Office (GUS) states that all in all, figures were up 36 percent on last year, which bodes well for Polish businesses. Despite the recent E. coli scare which saw Russia ban the import of Polish vegetables, trade

between the two nations has grown, with dairy products and fruit at the forefront. Last year witnessed EUR 752 mln worth exported to Russia, while this year the figure is expected to reach EUR 1 bln. iPad top choice Reports this week claim that the iPad has become the number one choice when

it comes to surfing the net on the go in Poland. Rzeczpospolita states that Apple’s recent device sits ahead of other similar devices such as the iPhone (18 percent compared to just over 15 percent). The trend also looks set to grow, what with mobile giant Orange planning to offer the latest version of the hand-held tablet on a new contract, allowing customers a much more flexible deal.

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ENTERTAINmENT

The New Poland Express I Friday 19th August 2011 I www.nwe.pl

sOmETHING FOR THE WEEkEND from In Your pocket

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ast week my mother f lew to Warsaw from the U.S. for her first visit since I joined In Your Pocket. She gleefully exited customs at Chopin airport and announced that her tiny carryon contained her personal items for her stay, while the heftier suitcase she was wheeling was filled with stuff for me. At my apartment she unpacked brand new tubes of toothpaste, bottles of shampoo, socks, a watch, even a pair of winter boots – I was frankly surprised she didn’t pull out a pack of toilet paper. Having last visited Poland in 1968, my mother’s haul sort of made sense. But now? No way. After all, this is country that created Manufactura.

Opened in 2006, Lodz’s Manufactura is, in my opinion, the mall to end all malls. Before coming to Poland I was living in Minneapolis, home to the largest mall in the United States, and I dreaded any occasion that meant I had to enter its soulless, sterile square footage. Not so with Manufactura. I knew any mall that inspired David Lynch to film part of Inland Empire on the property had to be stunning, and it is.

Katowice 25 .08 Thursday - 28 .08 Sunday Tauron New Music Festival KWK Katowice, ul. Kopalniana 6, tel. (+48) 32 730 32 20, www.festiwalnowamuzyka.plQTickets 5080zł. Pass 130-160zł. Available at EMPiK, ul. Piotra Skargi 6 (Open 08:00 - 20:00, Sun 10:00 - 16:00) and www.ticketpro.pl. Full schedule available at www. festiwalnowamuzyka.pl.

Klub Studio, ul. Budryka 4, tel. (+48) 32 730 32 20, www. klubstudio.plQConcert starts at 19:30. Tickets 119/99zł. Available at Klub Studio and ebola Store, ul. Floriańska 13 (Open 11:00 - 18:00, Saturday 11:00 - 16:00).

Krakow 20 .08 Saturday - Dir En Grey

What was once a giant textile factory employing most of industrial Lodz was taken over in 2000 by a French developer intent on transforming the crumbling brick buildings into retail space. A mix of new structures like the shopping mall and restored brickwork (45,000m2 in fact) make up a complex that includes everything from the

15 .08 Monday - 31 .08 Wednesday Music In Old Kraków tel. (+48) 32 730 32 20, www.mwsk.plQFull schedule available at mwsk.pl. Tickets 20-60zł. Available at Kraków Philharmonic’s box office, B-4, ul. Zwierzyniecka 1 (Open 11:00 - 14:00, 15:00 - 19:00, Sat, Sun one hour before performance. Closed Mon).

hands-on Experymentarium museum to outdoor beer gardens and a luxury hotel. Need a break from shopping? Check out the cinema, or take down a few spares at the bowling alley. Maybe brush up on your French at Alliance Francaise or tour the History of Lodz museum. But lets be honest: it’s the shopping that’s the main draw, and with good reason. The 300+ stores are laid out by a system of easy-to-navigate themes, and shoppers haul fresh purchases on 9,000m2 of wood flooring, a huge improvement over the industrial carpeting I’m used to. I have to admit that I didn’t make any purchases on my visit – and I probably won’t for the foreseeable future considering the haul my mother unloaded on me last week – but fortunately you don’t really need a retail reason to visit Manufactura. Sopot 21 .08 Sunday - 27 .08 Saturday School for Improvisational Music in Zatoka Sztuki Arts and Culture Centre Zatoka Sztuki, tel. (+48) 785 88 04 02, www.mcka.plQWorkshops 900zł 1000€. Register at www.mcka.pl. Warsaw 23 .08 Tuesday - 05 .09 Monday - Smykofonia Mazovia Region Centre of Culture and Arts, ul. Elektoralna 12, tel. (+48) 22 620 39 62, www.mckis. waw.plQTickets 15zł. Available before the concert.

In cooperation with In Your Pocket city guides

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ENTERTAINmENT

The New Poland Express I Friday 19th August 2011 I www.nwe.pl

CIAŁO/UMYSŁ

ORGANIZER

10. INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY DANCE FESTIVAL 17.9—2.10 / 2011 / WARSAW

FINANCING

DANCE LIFELINES…

Krakow

19 .08 Friday - 20 .08 Saturday Coke Live Music Festival Airfield - Aviation Museum, al. Jana Pawła II 39 (Czyżyny), tel. (+48) 32 730 32 20 One of Poland’s biggest summer bashes is finally upon us. The organisers, Alter Art, have divided proceedings between three stages: the Main Stage, Coke Stage and Burn Stage. If that wasn’t enough, there’s also the Coke Clinic where fans will be able to get a massage and chill out, but who gets stressed out at a festival? Coke Live has a fine tradition, last year saw performances by Muse, 30 Seconds to Mars, N.E.R.D and The Chemical Brothers, Panic! At The Disco and The Big Pink. This year the headliners are the slightly downbeat Interpol and White Lies, but to cheer us up there are The Kooks, pop-punkers You Me at Six, Editors as well as hip-hopper Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest. QTickets 125zł. Pass 200-225zł. Available at City Information Point, ul. Św. Jana 2, C-3 (Open 10:00 - 18:00) and www.eventim.pl.

Sopot 27 .08 Saturday - S.f.i.n.k.s. 700 Grand Opening - Pets Recordings Showcase Sfinks700, Al. Mamuszki 1, tel. (+48) 785 88 04 02, www.sfinks700.com Never a place to do things by half, the Sfinks is about to be re-opened for the second, hopefully permanent, time this year. For the first evening the club will be taken over by the animals from the Pets Recordings Showcase promoting the medley Friends Will Carry You Home. On three music stages we will see Catz n Dogz, SLG, Pol_On, Chmara Winter, Daniel Zachodni and their special guest.QEvent starts at 22:00. Admission 10/15zł.

Gdansk

Warsaw

19 .08 Friday - 20 .08 Saturday 8th Flounder Pop Festival Gdańsk, Brzeźno Beach - entrance #40 Last year this festival disappeared from the beach, taking place in Sopot’s club Sfinks instead, but now it’s back where it belongs on the sand, this time in Brzeźno, head for entrance number 40 through Haffner park and follow the noise. Despite the ungainly name, the festival reminds us that Gdańsk and Pomerania are the cradle of Polish alternative bands and this year organisers have invited 15 bands, 7 performing on first day, including A’Freak-an Project, Wojtek Mazolewski Quintet, Deriglasoff Band and Bulbulators. QConcerts start at 18:00. Admission free. 20 .08 Saturday 20:30 - Marcus+/ Solidarity of Arts Baltic Philharmonic Hall’s open-air stage, ul. Ołowianka 1 A similar project was organised during last year’s edition and it was called Możdżer+ in which Leszek Możdżer invited top jazz musicians for a great show. This year Możdżer will be the host of a show prepared by the musical director and Możdzer will again play piano while Marcus Miller will display his musical talents on a range of instruments, mainly bass guitar. Other guests are Trilok Gurtu, Angélique Kidjo, Tomasz Stańko, Edmar Castaneda and Gil Goldstein. Admission free.

Katowice 19 .08 Friday - Art Naif Final Wilson Shaft Gallery, ul. Oswobodzenia 1 (Janów-Nikiszowiec), tel. (+48) 32 730 32 20, www.szybwilson.org After two months the festival of self-taught artists comes to an end and to celebrate there is a chance to see work by Erwin Sówka, who will be enjoying her 75th birthday. This retired miner became the most famous naive-artist and is the last living member of Janowska Group. To conclude there will be concerts by KWK Wieczorek and the Piskarski Trio.QEvent starts at 18:30. Admission free.

19 .08 Friday - 28 .08 Sunday Mime Art Festival Theatre On Wola, ul. Kasprzaka 22 (Wola), tel. (+48) 22 632 24 78, www.mime.pl Organised by the Theatre On Wola and Warsaw Pantomime Centre for the 11th time, this is a review of mime theatres from all over the world. For 2011 the acts are straight out of the top drawer and include the Derevo Theatre, the Licedei Theatre, the Bodecker&Neander Company and Gregg Goldston. Over ten days we have the chance to see mime in all its various forms - from classical to contemporary, sometimes experimental, from solo performances and duo and group creations. Organised annually the festival has become one of the most important festivals of its type in Europe and is the only mime festival that presents exclusively non-verbal plays. We will also be able to see new versions of plays that were staged during previous festivals as well as interesting productions by groups that will come to the Mime Art Festival for the first time. Beside the stars there will be plenty of new talent on display with groups from France, Germany, Russia, USA, Switzerland, Czech Rep and Poland. One special feature will be the Evening of Contemporary Mime, which includes pieces and studies performed by artists from Europe and USA, the School of Contemporary Mime and the Mime Studio from the Theatre On Wola. Traditionally during the festival there will be open mime art workshops lead by artists presenting different schools of mime aimed to all those who want to see what they can do. Since 2005 the festival’s artistic director has been Bartłomiej Ostapczuk, actor, mime, teacher, theatre director, mime choreographer in drama theatres.QTickets 1860zł. Available at Theatre On Wola box office (Open 12:00 - 19:00).

In cooperation with In Your Pocket city guides

12 spORT

The New Poland Express I Friday 19th August 2011 I www.nwe.pl

European nerves jangling

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wo of Poland’s three representatives in Europe are 90 minutes away from qualification for the group stages of the Champions and Europa League, with Wisla leading the way, taking a 1-0 lead into next Tuesday’s match with Apoel Nicosia in Cyprus. However, Legia will have to play well in Moscow to qualify after conceding two away goals against Spartak, while Slask need a major miracle after losing 3-1 at home to Rapid Bucharest. Wisla’s match on Wednesday was a cagey affair, where the guests did much to stifle the raucous support from the stands, pressing Wisla onto the defensive. The main aim for both teams was to keep a clean sheet, which meant few genuine chances were created. Both teams committed few men forward in attack and doubled-up in defence. It was an inspired finish by Malecki in the 71 minute gave the Krakow side a slender advantage going into the second leg next Tuesday. Beating the offside trap on the right, Malecki raced into the penalty area and faked a shot with his right foot, dumping the Apoel defender William Boaventura on his backside in the process. Malecki then cut inside onto his left and rifled the ball past the Cypriot keeper into the far corner of the net. Apoel, though, showed enough to

suggest the tie is far from over, and Wisla’s players are well aware of what faces them in four days time. “The result is good, but it’s not over. One move could change everything,” Wisla’s Costa Rican defender told the website Sport.pl. Wojciech Kowalczyk, retired Polish international and a player who played for Apoel towards the end of his career, outlined the task facing Robert Maaskant’s men. “The return leg in Cyprus will be a massive challenge. Weather conditions are certain to favour the home side. The Cypriot champions have six clear days to prepare for the match because their league hasn’t started yet, whereas Wisla have to play Korona on Saturday. So tiredness and the high temperatures in Cyprus right now can influence the result.” Legia Warszawa face a much more difficult task after they drew 2-2 at home with Spartak Moscow. Despite twice taking the lead through Radovic, the second goal coming after great solo work by Daniel Ljuboja, Legia were unable to hold on, both times succumbing to incisive work from the Moscow attackers. Slask played a decent enough game against their Romanian opponents, but were unable to impose themselves against a visibly superior team. Lenczyk’s men face a torrid time next week in Romania.

PGE opening boosts crowds

N

early 35,000 fans turned out to watch Lechia Gdansk’s first game in the stunning new PGE Arena, boosting average attendances in the Ekstraklasa to over 10,000. The extra numbers at the Gdansk game caused average attendances in the Ekstraklasa to jump by 3,000 fans per game, taking the total to a record high. In the match itself Lechia played out a 1-1 draw with Cracovia, but despite the inauguration the stadium is still not entirely

finished and there are still plenty of problems to deal with. “It’s true that the investment isn’t fully completed. The stadium’s basic management systems are still not fully functional. The lighting still isn’t controlled from a single point, you have to walk around from sector to sector switching off the current manually, which takes about two hours,” Blazej Jenek, head of the stadium operator told Przeglad Sportowy. The stadium will only be fully completed by the end of the year.

The place to spend the weekend Saturday 20.08.2011 Arsenal V Liverpool KO 13:45 (English Premier League) Wales V Argentina KO 15:30 Ireland V France KO 18:00 (Rugby Union Friendlies) Chelsea V West Brom KO 18:30 (English Premier League) Sunday 21.08.2011 West Ham V Leeds KO 14:15 Motherwell V Rangers KO 15:15 Bolton V Man City KO 17:00

Warsaw Tortilla Factory ul. Wilcza 46 tel. 022 621-8622

www.warsawtortillafactory.pl [email protected]

spORTs BRIEFs Death on the track A 17-year-old speedway rider for Start Gniezno was killed during training this Wednesday evening. The young rider died when he fell from his bike and was hit by a colleague riding behind him. “Despite immediate medical assistance and being rushed to hospital, he died as a result of his injuries. He was a novice at the sport, he didn’t yet hold a full license,” Start’s press officer Grzegorz Buczkowski told reporters. Neither

police nor the club were prepared to release the victim’s name. He loves me, he loves me not Slask Wroclaw’s Argentinian striker Christian Diaz landed in hot water for an interview with Przeglad Sportowy where he accused Slask manager Orest Lenczyk of bias. “Lenczyk keeps saying he doesn’t have a problem, but you can see he doesn’t like foreigners,” Diaz told the

paper, and was promptly fined EUR 2,000. He quickly recanted, telling reporters, “I was speaking impulsively and the words don’t reflect my relationship with Mr Lenczyk.” He then went on to score the winner in last weekend’s 1-0 win over Ruch Chorzow. Told after the game that his was the 100th goal for Slask under manager Lenczyk, the Argentinian stated, “Well, I wouldn’t dedicate it to him. I score goals for the club, myself, family and friends, not for the manager.”

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CLAssIFIEDs

The New Poland Express I Friday 19th August 2011 I www.nwe.pl

Classifieds: place your free ads and community

news here. Email [email protected] Flat needed

Plot for sale

French teacher sought

Urgently seeking long let furnished flat in Srodmiescie Warsaw with at least two rooms +modern decor+standards, must have lift, not on parter/ground floor + good access from street to enable carrying things in+out, internet+cable a plus as well- flats up to 2500 zl a month considered contact Steve at [email protected] or call 503 100 704

Kielpin, Lomianki. Plot of 1300m2 on ul. Ogrodowa in Kielpin bordering Lomianki north of Warsaw, with house 220 m2 plus garage 40 m2 in roofed raw wall state. No façade, windows, doors or internal works done. Septic tank and drill hole for own water on plot, gas and electricity in the street. Price: 550 000 PLN. Call Mikael: 662 164 987 or e-mail: [email protected]

I’m an experienced Polish native teacher looking for a French native to exchange conversation classes with. One class in Polish, for one class in French. For more details, please contact: Edyta [email protected]

WOMEN’S FASTPITCH SOFTBALL

Searching for flat or room

Krakow apartment for sale

The Warsaw Diamonds train 2-3 times per week yearround in Mokotow and play in league games across Poland on weekends from Apr-Jun and Sept-Oct. The team is currently in 2nd place in the league and is planning a week-long tour through CZ or HU to play club teams in spring 2012. Contact Coach Christopher at 601317432 or coach@ softball.pl for details.

Looking for small flat or room to rent for the summer. Will consider house sitting situation. Must have internet. Please call: 692.931.278.

Walk straight in! Krakow apartment 373000zl* 59 m2 Two rooms – kitchen, dining, living area, one double bedroom, bathroom. Also secure cellar storage and small garden. Available for sale completely furnished and well equipped. Close to public transport (buses, trains and trams), 15 minutes from centre of Krakow. *includes furniture, white goods and kitchen equipment. Email Chris: [email protected] for more information.

Looking for room to rent

Recreational lot

Apartment for rent

I am looking for an apartment or room to rent from June 20th for one month in the centre of Warsaw or not too far from it. Please email me [email protected] or call me after 5pm: 609-016-596

1/2 hour drive from Warsaw, in Pomiechowek, Brody Parcele, Serocka Street 3 , 3720m2, Old trees. Has acess to all media: water, sewer, electricity. Close to train station and shops. 3km from the Modlin Airport. Can be used for semiindustrial purpose or subdivided into 4 single family lots. Call: 660384 603 or mail: [email protected]

Warsaw, City Center, Wiejska Street near Sheraton and parks, sunny 60m2, 3 rooms, huge loggia, fully furnished and equipped, 2200zl.

APARTMENT FOR LEASE

Telemarketing Position

Warsaw Apartment for rent

New (11 years old) apartment, 126 sq. metres, Mokotów district. Fully furnished to luxury standards. Located in 24-hour manned security complex. Two bedrooms (master bedroom with en-suite bathroom). Fully equipped kitchen. Guest bathroom. Spacious terrace + bedroom balcony. Fitness centre, including gymnasium, swimming pool and sauna. Underground garage space and secure storage cellar. TPSA telephone line. Cable TV, satellite dish + sat. TV. Hi-speed permanent Internet access. Conveniently located for airport, metro (Wilanowska station) and other public transport. Stunning views (9th floor) over city and one of the most beautiful parks in the neighbourhood.

This is an exciting opportunity for the right candidates to join a select financial services group who lead the international marketplace in financial services. We are expanding rapidly as a company, and are currently looking to build on this success by recruiting business development staff. For more information, please e-mail [email protected]

Fully furnished apartment for rent on Wiejska 20 (next to Sheraton). 60 sq. m, 3 rooms: 2 bedrooms and living room. Large balcony/ loggia, attached to kitchen. Separate bathroom and WC. Located on the second floor with an elevator. Award wining building with beautiful inside yard. Rent: 2500 PLN / month Contact: [email protected] or [email protected]

Place your classified ad here

Send us 360 characters (including spaces) with a heading of no more than 30 characters

Entry available early April 2011 For further information, please contact: Donald Blair: [email protected] +44 7930 164 013

Call: 660 384 603 or email: [email protected]

14

COmmuNITY NEWs

The New Poland Express I Friday 19th August 2011 I www.nwe.pl

Community Groups: place free listings for

your community groups here. 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 its weekly meetings. Toastmasters is the international organization for learning the art of public speaking and enhancing leadership skills. Meetings every Wednesday at 19.00 at the Palace of Culture 12th floor (premises of Collegium Civitas) - entrance from ul. Marszałkowska side. For more details visit www.toastmasters.org.pl or call Etan at 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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