Up-to-Date Internet World Stats here

czwartek, września 29, 2005

PolBloglet: Poland tops EU list

PolBloglet: Poland tops EU list

News Poland

Another PolBloglet


Statistics show that Poland has the highest percentage of university graduates as a share of the under 30 population...Poland scored the highest percentage of tertiary level graduates aged 20-29 in 2002 with 7.8%. It stole the top spot from the UK with 7.7% and France with 7.1%. For the same period, in the ‘engineering, manufacturing and construction’ study area, the countries with the highest share of total graduates were Finland (22.2%), followed by Sweden (21.9%) and, in third place, was Bulgaria with 21.1%.



Source: EUROPA - Research - Headlines


FAIR USE NOTICE This article contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in the efforts to advance understanding of Poland's economic, environmental, human rights, political, scientific, and social justice issues, among others. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this article is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes.

środa, września 28, 2005

PolBlogcast: Post Election Warsaw - Morning in Poland?

PolBlogcast: Post Election Warsaw - Morning in Poland?


Another PolBlogcast

In our latest PolBlogcast we seek out multiple views regarding the elections in Poland this past weekend. We listened as an impassioned young Pole from Łódż spoke of the quasi-religious duty she feels about her vote. Agata was very disappointed by the low voter turnout (about 40%) and characterized the activity of voting as a secular 'religious' duty for all. Ironically, Agata claimed that she wasn't religious, even though the account she gives of her election weekend travel had all the overtones of a pilgrimage.



"See no evil..."
SAMOOBRONA not a serious contender this round.

Our next interviewee, Peter, works as a diplomat at the Brazilian Embassy in Warsaw. His view was, well, rather diplomatic -- balanced, cool, calm, and collected. He proclaimed that with post-communist parties losing ground, it is a good day for democracy in Poland. As for the unemployed, Peter wasn't as triumphalistic, they still have tough times ahead, he is sympathetic to the more pro-business program of Civic Platform. As for relations with Russia, Peter predicts an emboldened voice reaching the Kremlim from Warsaw.




"Speak no evil..."
SLD did better than expected

Last but not least, the beatroot's Peter Gentle provides a concise and well informed picture of things to come. For example, he forsees some interesting times ahead for relations with Russia and Belarus. Additionally, the Kaczyński twins supply endless conjecture for pundits. For example, should Lech win the presidency next month (a long shot according to Peter), his brother would step down as Prime Minister (assuming he would be supported) -- paving the way for Jan Rokita. Gentle gave the MSM good marks with respect to its coverage of the elections and gave kudos to a fellow Poland blogger operating the Warsaw Station blog.



Will Lech's Party tear itself apart?


As usual, we invite your comments about the content and opinions expressed in this PolBlogcast. Don't be a stranger and we won't either.


PolBlogcast: Post Election Warsaw - Morning in Poland?
(17 minutes - 3 interviews)



Links mentioned in this PolBlogcast:
1) Brazilian Embassy (Warsaw, not found)

******************************************************
PolBlog - News Poland 24/7
Poland's first (almost) daily English-language news blog.
Read the news then share your views

FAIR USE NOTICE This article contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in the efforts to advance understanding of Poland's economic, environmental, human rights, political, scientific, and social justice issues, among others. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this article is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes.

wtorek, września 27, 2005

Gdzie to jest? / Where is it?

Gdzie to jest? / Where is it?

Does it look familiar to you? Play our guessing game!


What is it?


where is it?



Gdzie to jest?

Guess where - in Warsaw - were these photos taken, and what is on them...

Use the "comment" feature to publish your answer.

The first correct one will be displayed as a caption, together with author's e-name: glory to the winner! Please include the country/city/district you are writing from....

You have one week.

***********************************************************************************
The photo in the third edition of our contest was Gruba Kaska at Plac Bankowy. First person to give the answer was rina papadopulu


The top of "Gruba Kaska" and the wall of the Blue Skyscraper in the background


Taken at Plac Bankowy, towards Solidarności ave. (at the tram stop)


******************************************************
PolBlog - News Poland 24/7
Poland's first (almost) daily English-language news blog. Read the news then share your views

FAIR USE NOTICE This article contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in the efforts to advance understanding of Poland's economic, environmental, human rights, political, scientific, and social justice issues, among others. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this article is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes.

niedziela, września 25, 2005

PolBlogcast: Poland Votes - A Local View

PolBlogcast: Poland Votes - A Local View


Another PolBlogcast

In this special Election Day PolBlogcast, we hear how a day at the Polls went for a local Pole, our very own Maria. She managed to snap some photos to give a sense of place and crowd. This is a short report.


Local Polling Station in Warsaw
Sunday After 5pm.

Looked like a moderate turnout, quite a few older folk. It's important to keep in mind that the bulk of voters would have probably come after Sunday Mass earlier in the day.


Quite a few 'silver heads' voting




An important civic duty:
A little divine intervention doesn't hurt -
A nun votes.


As always, we invite your comments about the Election in Poland today. Did you vote? Why or why not? Earlier this week we interviewed a London journalist based in Warsaw. He gave us a sense of what's at stake for Poland in this election. It seems that the biggest issue for many is voting out corruption. We welcome feedback.

PolBlogcast: Poland Votes - A Local View
(5 Minutes)



Who did you vote for?

Listen to our previous PolBlogcast Interview
Special Election Edition: Polish Political Beat (Interview)
(11 minutes)

Links mentioned in this PolBlogcast:

1) the beatroot

2) Official German election results (German Embassy in London)




******************************************************
PolBlog - News Poland 24/7
Poland's first (almost) daily English-language news blog.
Read the news then share your views

FAIR USE NOTICE This article contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in the efforts to advance understanding of Poland's economic, environmental, human rights, political, scientific, and social justice issues, among others. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this article is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes.

PolBlogcast: Is Virtual Solidarity Enough?

PolBlogcast: Is Virtual Solidarity Enough?


Another PolBlogcast


In our current PolBlogcast we look at the latest public initiative of former Polish President, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and Solidarity Icon, Lech Wałęsa. Interestingly, this is a cyber-initiative called "E-Solidarity." E-solidarity promotes itself as:


[A] place of dialogue between different cultures.

We want to get to know each other in order to work together effectively.
We want to have a say in the future of ourselves and the world.
We want to use our joint wisdom, various experiences, different points of view and different ideas in order to eliminate threats to civilisation.

The future of humankind is not only the concern of politicians, businesspeople and scientists.
The future of humankind is our common challenge.


Sounds idyllic doesn't it? In our PolBlogcast we take a closer look at the project. Where is the founder to be seen on the site? Why is the contact e-mail addressed to the marketing department?

Below are the initial questions and answers from the site:

Source: GLOS WIELKOPOLSKI
1. Do you think that there are places on Earth where civilization is at such a high level of development that it is possible only to refine it and not qualitatively change it for the better?
A. Yes, there are countries/societies which have reached the ultimate stage of development. Others will sooner or later reach the same stage.
B. Yes, there are such places on Earth but others will never catch up to them (although they would very much want to), because they will never have the means and the capabilities that developed countries have.
C. No, civilization will never reach such a stage of ultimate perfection as it is a dynamic phenomenon and, although we do not know now what awaits us in the future, given the history of the world so far we can expect changes to take place.
D. No, because there is no one civilizational solution and different world regions can develop in different directions according to different principles, arriving at increasingly better (i.e. more effective) forms of society.


Most believe that we haven't reached the end of history.


Source: DZIENNIK BALTYCKI
2. The community of free people. When will such a epithet of the world be more than a concept?
A. already in our generation
B. towards the end of the 21st century
C. in the indeterminable future
D. never



Respondents were a bit pessimistic.


Source: RADIO KAOS
3. Do you consider human rights, economic progress and fight against terros to be mutually exclusive?
A. Yes. Each of the above can be achieved only with full use of country's resources, but there aren't enough resources for all three
B. No. Despite difficulties we must strive to achieve all three
C. Each of the above can only be achieved through the other two (i.e.: fight agains terror can only be won by pursuing human rights and economic progress



Most believed that the problems are connected.


Source: LBC RADIO & HEART 106.2
4. How can the dual issues of poverty and lack of education be tackled for the majority of the world's people?
A. by the tax for these purposes
B. by the goodwill people individual help
C. by the determined promotion of the global education
D. by the expansion of the high- developed countries’ help missions



The burden falls upon the richer countires.


E-Solidarity is available in 5 European languages -- nice gesture, but what about the other 90+% of humanity (perhaps Asian and Middle Eastern languages, and no Russian, ooops!?). AS always we invite your comments, and ideas for future PolBlogcasts. What would you like to hear?

Listen to the PolBlogcast: Is Virtual Solidarity Enough?
(About 11 minutes)

Links:

1) To answer the survey
2) To join the Forum

******************************************************
PolBlog - News Poland 24/7
Poland's first (almost) daily English-language news blog.
Read the news then share your views

FAIR USE NOTICE This article contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in the efforts to advance understanding of Poland's economic, environmental, human rights, political, scientific, and social justice issues, among others. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this article is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes.

PolBloglet: Polish coder takes top Google Jam honours

PolBloglet: Polish coder takes top Google Jam honours

News Poland

Another PolBloglet


Marek Cygan, a student at Poland's Warsaw University, is the grand prize winner of the 2005 Google Code Jam, Google's third annual computer programming competition.


Source: National Business Review (NBR)


Developing: In related, but unconfirmed, news, Google is planning to set up offices in Poland. Hiring has begun. If you here more on this, post a comment with update below.

FAIR USE NOTICE This article contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in the efforts to advance understanding of Poland's economic, environmental, human rights, political, scientific, and social justice issues, among others. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this article is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes.

piątek, września 23, 2005

Only in Poland

Only in Poland


Another Only in Poland Blogbyte

A Norwegian man won EUR 22,000 in compensation from an international court after Polish courts took four years to return his children to him when his ex-wife broke their Norwegian custody agreement and returned with the kids to Poland.

Events kicked off in 1998 after a separation that followed a period of mental illness for the man’s wife. He was given custody,but on their first visit, the woman took their six-year-old boy and four-year-old girl and returned to her family in Poland.

Under European law, in such circumstances Poland is obliged to return kids to the parent who has custody within months, and if necessary, take steps to put the kids in care until the parent can pick them up. A series of foul-ups by courts and investigators, either accidental or deliberate, meant this case dragged on until April 2003

Source: New Warsaw Express


FAIR USE NOTICE This article contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in the efforts to advance understanding of Poland's economic, environmental, human rights, political, scientific, and social justice issues, among others. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this article is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes.

Jaded For Free: Kaczyñski for Polish Neocons?

Jaded For Free: Kaczyñski for Polish Neocons?


Jaded for free
By Jordan Seidel



For the past 2-3 weeks we have run a Poll asking our PolBloggers "If a presidential election were held today, would you vote for Lech Kaczyñski?" A decisive majority of participants (over 60%) indicated that they would not vote for Kaczyñski, while 16% voted 'yes.' Interestingly, another 21% indicated that they would not vote for Kaczyñski but he "does have some good ideas." Based on my private conversations with people on this issue, which is rather pressing since this is an election year in Poland, the result was predictable. Living in Warsaw, and unable to speak with most Poles (language barrier), I can say that most of the Poles I do speak with (in English) are fairly liberal-leaning. Most of them were disgusted by Mayor Kaczyñski's banning of the Gay Pride Parade 2 months ago -- in defiance, it took place anyway (even though none of these liberal folks actually attended the parade themselves). I read a recent interview [subscription link, sorry] with the Major and he didn't sound half bad. He is against a flat tax, he wants a stronger Poland when it comes to Russia, he rejects the EU Constitution as currently written (so did France and Netherlands), he supports a more independent Poland within the EU integration plan, and he says he will stop corruption (which every Pole I meet complains about). So, why all the *extra-long faces?



21% say he has some good ideas


I have no idea. I don't have the added input of reading how the local press presents Mayor Kaczyñski, but my impression is that in their heart of hearts most Poles would vote for him. These liberal Poles are actually quite the closet neo-cons -- they aren't so very liberal to the end, afterall, how many sincerely support a legal abortion law? How many of them can actually point to a family member who listens to Radio Maria? Or reflexively think that Pope John Paul II is beyond reproach (-- from non-Poles)? Accuracy aside, I think many of them would share Kaczyñski's pragmatism when it comes to integrating into the EU -- and at the very least most are highly ambivalent.

I was discussing this issue awhile ago with a young Polish man who works at a gonzo multi-national bank here. His supposedly killer 'argument' against the Mayor was summed up in two words - 'homosexualists parade.' I suggested that if the Mayor would simply fix the walk-over bridge (which is hideous) in my neck of the Warsaw woods, near Promenada, I would enthusiasitically vote for him. "But what about his mentality?" bickered the young Pole. Just then I imagined a gay Pole and a straight Pole walking past each other as they were crossing the newly renovated Promenada bridge. This practical and shared concern unites people across divides. It seems that many of these younger, closet neo-cons have retained their grand-parent's social policy genes, and their parent's patriotism. That is, they don't necessarily despise government as an actor in pubic life, and most don't want to live permanently abroad (though many want to work or travel abroad). But they also picked up something new -- they are the ones who scoff at McDonalds. What really counts to Poles is what people do for you, and not what they say they will do for you. Everything that Mayor Kaczyñski says he will do is consistent with what Poles would like to see happen. So, why, in their public hearts do they contradict themselves? We have an idiom in English "Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater." Are Poles voting for the baby or the bathwater?

*I say 'extra'-long because most of the time the faces are already long - Foreigner observation.
******************************************************
PolBlog - News Poland 24/7
Poland's first (almost) daily English-language news blog.
Read the news then share your views

FAIR USE NOTICE This article contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in the efforts to advance understanding of Poland's economic, environmental, human rights, political, scientific, and social justice issues, among others. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this article is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes.

środa, września 21, 2005

PolBlogcast (Special Election Edition): Polish Political Beat

PolBlogcast (Special Election Edition): Polish Political Beat


Another PolBlogcast

With Polish election season in full swing, we decided to get the inside scoop from a Warsaw-based journalist from London. Peter Gentle is also a blog-journalist and creator of 'the beatroot' - a blog with a decidely political focus. IN this current PolBlogcast, we ask Peter about the stakes for the average Pole in this election. Why should most Poles care who wins? Why should the EU care?



"Family, Fairness, Future"

Political billboards are everywhere, usually employing the "Do you trust this face?" portrait style image. Peter also talks about the dangerously high unemployment rate among young Poles (>25%) as well as the flat tax issue so popular today in the new EU states and central/eastern Europe.



A bolierplate political portrait poster -
It says "With Hope into the Future"



Focus on Economy
Tusk is a polyglot, but can he speak to the "everyday Pole?"




"Bridging Differences?"
One politician decided to be a bit literal
with the bridge metaphor, but obviously
didn't notice the actual sorry-state of the
bridge itself!
Or is it self-parody?


We invite your comments about the topics discussed in the interview. Do you agree that Polish women aren't expected to have an opinion on politics? How important is the German election uncertainty to you?

Special Election Edition: Polish Political Beat (Interview)
(11 minutes)

Links mentioned in this PolBlogcast:

1) the beatroot

2) Official German election results (German Embassy in London)




******************************************************
PolBlog - News Poland 24/7
Poland's first (almost) daily English-language news blog. Read the news then share your views

FAIR USE NOTICE This article contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in the efforts to advance understanding of Poland's economic, environmental, human rights, political, scientific, and social justice issues, among others. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this article is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes.

wtorek, września 20, 2005

PolBlog's "Caption This!"

PolBlog's "Caption This!"


Captionable



Submit your best caption using your humor, wits, and creativity (and knowledge of Polish/Poland). Use the comment button to submit. Click on image to enlarge. Powodzenia!


******************************************************
PolBlog - News Poland 24/7
Poland's first (almost) daily English-language news blog.
Read the news then share your views


FAIR USE NOTICE This article contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in the efforts to advance understanding of Poland's economic, environmental, human rights, political, scientific, and social justice issues, among others. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this article is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes.

niedziela, września 18, 2005

PolBloglet: Turning Sounds 3 - International Meeting in Warsaw

PolBloglet: Turning Sounds 3 - International Meeting in Warsaw

News Poland

Another PolBloglet


TURNING SOUNDS 3, an international conference to be held in Warsaw on September 19-25, 2005.

TURNING SOUNDS 3 is a conference for contemporary music artists: composers, DJs, performers, producers, as well as music critics, journalists and theorists, who are interested in mutual influences between contemporary “high” music and progressive music rooted in pop culture. During the conference, there will be workshops, installations, and concerts around Warsaw.

Source: USA Embassy (Warsaw)


FAIR USE NOTICE This article contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in the efforts to advance understanding of Poland's economic, environmental, human rights, political, scientific, and social justice issues, among others. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this article is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes.

środa, września 14, 2005

Gdzie to jest? / Where is it?

Gdzie to jest? / Where is it?

And the winner is:
rina papadopulu
who was first to correctly identyfy the location.

Also congratulations to Aleksandra & Ivana, who named the objects portrayed: "Gruba Kaska" & the "Blue Skyscraper" building

***********************************************************************************

The top of "Gruba Kaska" and the wall of the Blue Skyscraper in the background


Taken at Plac Bankowy, towards Solidarności ave. (at the tram stop)
**********************************************************************************
TIME'S UP !!!
**********************************************************************************
Guess where - in Warsaw - were these photos taken...

Use the "comment" feature to publish your answer.

The first correct one will be displayed as a caption, together with author's e-name: glory to the winner! Please include the country/city/district you are writing from....

You have one week.

The photo in the second edition of our contest was a close-up of Kolumna Zygmunta (Plac Zamkowy, Old Town).

BEFORE: King Sigi on his perch, identified correctly by aawil



AFTER: Look familiar now?


******************************************************
PolBlog - News Poland 24/7
Poland's first (almost) daily English-language news blog.
Read the news then share your views


FAIR USE NOTICE This article contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in the efforts to advance understanding of Poland's economic, environmental, human rights, political, scientific, and social justice issues, among others. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this article is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes.

Time out for Art

Time out for Art


Time out for Art


We know the whole weight
depends on small silences
we fit ourselves into.

~Yusef Komunyakaa



As part of its America Presents program, the USA Embassy in Warsaw (Cultural Affairs Division) hosted a poetry reading by Yusef Komunyakaa, on September 12 at the Traffic Club in Warsaw (Bracka 25). Komunyakaa gave a poetry reading from his new book “Praise of Dark Places”. The book was released on September 7 in Polish by Znak Publishing House.



Traffic Club, Warsaw


Stage



Intro: Ed Kulakowski (USA Embassy),
the Poet, and Polish interpreter



Yusef Komunyakaa

In Praise of Dark Places_Komunyakaa -
Traffic Club, Warsaw, Poland (9/13/05)
[2 Minutes]



Yusef Komunyakaa was born in Bogalusa, Louisiana, in 1947. His numerous books of poems include Pleasure Dome: New & Collected Poems, 1975-1999 (Wesleyan University Press, 2001); Talking Dirty to the Gods (2000); Thieves of Paradise (1998), which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.



Audience


Unnatural State of the Unicorn_English_and_Polish
Komunyakaa (Traffic Club, Warsaw)
[3 minutes - satisfactory quality]


His honors include the William Faulkner Prize from the Université de Rennes, the Thomas Forcade Award, the Hanes Poetry Prize, fellowships from the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, the Louisiana Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam, where he served as a correspondent and managing editor of the Southern Cross. In 1999 he was elected a Chancellor of The Academy of American Poets. Yusef Komunyakaa is a professor in the Council of Humanities and Creative Writing Program at Princeton University. He lives in New York City.

Poems read at Traffic Club:
Ode to the Maggot
Venus's-flytraps
The Smoke House
"You and I Are Disappearing" --Bjorn Hakansson
Anodyne



Praise of Dark Places
(Polish Translation)






******************************************************
PolBlog - News Poland 24/7
Poland's first (almost) daily English-language news blog.
Read the news then share your views


FAIR USE NOTICE This article contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in the efforts to advance understanding of Poland's economic, environmental, human rights, political, scientific, and social justice issues, among others. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this article is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes.

wtorek, września 13, 2005

Only in Poland Blogbyte

Only in Poland Blogbyte


Another Only in Poland Blogbyte

Police in the northern city of Slupsk have cracked a ring of tractor thieves, recovering farm equipment valued at PLN 1 mln. The villains broke into farms, tying up farmers and stashing tractors in nearby locations.


Source: New Warsaw Express


******************************************************
PolBlog - News Poland 24/7
Poland's first (almost) daily English-language news blog.
Read the news then share your views

FAIR USE NOTICE This article contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in the efforts to advance understanding of Poland's economic, environmental, human rights, political, scientific, and social justice issues, among others. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this article is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes.

piątek, września 09, 2005

PolBlogcast: The Junk Juggernaut in Warsaw

PolBlogcast: The Junk Juggernaut in Warsaw


Another PolBlogcast


One man's junk is another man's...well, junk too.

In our current PolBlogcast we look at the so-called 'junkification' of Warsaw sidewalks by a growing tide of peddlers. Selling household items from a-z, these sidewalk merchants seem to take a diversity of forms-- retirees, parents overloaded with junk, individuals involved in a larger merchandizing ring. But they all appear to share a common denominator -- they are all poor. The majority of photos are of the sidewalks around Rondo Wiatraczna.



Yard sale gone public



A 'haggling' merchant of Wiatraczna

We have seen toys, pipes, stuffed animals, even used vcr tapes, and old DOS software disks. It's both funny and sad. Are these people really desperately poor or are they just unloading their junk (possibly from dumpster diving) to see if someone will snatch it up? Whatever the reality, the truth is that it's clearly illegal and an eye sore for the neighborhood.



At Szembeka corner, a junk-strewn curb



Branching out

We invite your comments about this issue. What should be done? Is this just something that we should tolerate, afterall at least this stuff isn't clogging up the landfills? And who knows, there might be that hidden treasure to be discovered? Maybe these people would do better to get on eBay, or the Polish version called Allegro? Maybe all they need is a microloan?

What's your opinion?



the goods...




At least the 'green grocers' use tables,
and the veggies and fruits are fresh.


Listen to the PolBlogcast (9 minutes)


Links to Sites mentioned in this PolBlogcast:
1) In the Spotlight (Featured Blog): the beatroot
2) Fundusz Mikro is the not-for-profit microfinance institution. It was established in 1994 by the Polish American Enterprise Fund (PAEF) to promote the development of microenterprises in Poland.

******************************************************
PolBlog - News Poland 24/7
Poland's first (almost) daily English-language news blog.
Read the news then share your views


FAIR USE NOTICE This article contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in the efforts to advance understanding of Poland's economic, environmental, human rights, political, scientific, and social justice issues, among others. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this article is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes.

podsafe music network

Our neighborhood produce stand