News / LGBT hate speech to be banned in Poland [208]

They should be absolutely ashamed of themselves for it, and I believe strongly that anyone trying such manipulation should be banned from working with kids for life without exception.

If you don't have the guts to stand by what you're saying, then you shouldn't say it at all.

People like that give LGBT communities a very bad name, and I have no time for them.

News / LGBT hate speech to be banned in Poland [208]


If I ever, ever caught someone doing that, I would either kick their ass from here to the bottom of the nearest lake - or if it was a female, I'd make sure they never got near kids again. My rule is that you tell kids nothing that you wouldn't be comfortable telling to their parents.

Doesn't matter what the topic is - ordering kids not to tell their parents about something is disgusting.

It's fine to be gay, straight, horsesexual, whatever - but it's not fine to manipulate children against their parents.

News / Poland -- Europe's only counterweight to Russia [271]


What about including Austria, Finland and Sweden into the mix? All of those are pretty much compatible with the original 6, and I'd argue the case for Ireland as well.

The rest, most probably not. Perhaps Slovenia, as they're very similar culturally to Austria, as well as Estonia that looks to Finland. But the rest - no way. Maybe at a push Malta, because they aren't offensive and don't really cause any trouble while being richer than poor parts of Italy.

I still think the big mistake the EU made was in rushing in with the extra 13 countries between 2004 and 2013. Even these days, I would've only taken Slovenia, Estonia and Malta. The rest simply weren't ready.

News / Poland -- Europe's only counterweight to Russia [271]


As is usual with our pro-Russian friend, he is completely wrong.

In 1992, the Polish-Ukrainian border was confirmed with the Treaty of Friendship between Poland and Ukraine.

History / Is 5th partition of Poland possible? What kind? How? When? [73]


It's an outdated term only used nowadays by people that support Russian interests in Ukraine. Everyone else uses Ukraine, as it's the name of the country, not a region.

Anyway, no matter how much you try and claim otherwise, L'viv is the centre of Ukrainian nationalism and isn't going anywhere. The people there are very open and friendly towards Poles, but they're not going to join Poland.

News / Hackers attack Polish "erotic dating" site, threaten to expose users [35]


Not anymore. Did you not see that story from a couple of months ago how the FBI managed to get into Tor?

wired.com/2016/02/fbis-tor-hack-shows-risk-subpoenas-security-researchers/


Not if it's encrypted to 256-bit standard. But then again, the CIA would probably just kidnap your family until you handed over the password.

Law / British citizen applying for residence permit in Poland (procedure of registering) [3]

Okay, first things first :

You'll have nothing to fear from Brexit in your case. Freedom of movement is highly likely to remain, although there might well be caps on employment. In your case, visiting Poland for 10 days a month will be covered by the tourist visa waiver if the freedom of movement stops - you'll have an entitlement to spend 90 days out of 180 in the Schengen zone.


If it came to it, you'd apply for a multiple entry long term visa. Schengen visas can be issued for up to 5 years, and in your case (a child in Poland), it would be issued pretty much without any fuss. But there's no way Poland will require visas from British people in the future.


You can register as a temporary address for up to 3 months using your rental contract. Longer than that will require proof of exactly what you're doing here, and won't be granted without evidence.

News / What kind of Poland do most Poles want? [101]


Given the amount of women venerated by the Catholic Church, it seems that the powers that be would be quite disappointed in a member of their flock throwing around terms like "godless sluts".

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]


Indeed. That's why we support the Constitutional Tribunal and the Constitution against the attacks of a government with a wafer thin majority that behaves like the country is theirs and theirs alone to rule.

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]

The fortunate part is that it looks as if the judicial community has decided to ignore whatever the government says and instead exercise judicial independence. The TK will be free to keep on issuing rulings, and courts will follow the TK's decisions regardless of what the government says.

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]

A simple solution to the current constitutional crisis has been proposed.

Currently, the Prime Minister is responsible for publishing the decision of the Constitutional Tribunal. It would require a simple change in the law to change that to the President of the Constitutional Tribunal, thus ending any problem with the law.

What about it, PiS?

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]

Another day, another hilarious "good change".

After the death of two mares at the stud in Janow Podlaski, it now transpires that a competition will be held to appoint the new director of the stud. The current one, who infamously admitted to knowing nothing about horses - will lose his job and be reassigned within the ANR. The move towards the PRLbis continues freely, where a good Party man simply gets a new job elsewhere rather than being made unemployed.

Those who remember history will also chuckle at the way that PiS are creating some sort of "national horse breeding council" - which again reminds one of how the Communists had endless non-jobs for Party members.

Travel / Białowieża National Park in Poland [461]


The thing is - basic science tells you that if some trees die, they will be replaced with trees that are more resilient. You just have to leave it alone - the forest will use the dead trees, and what replaces the dead trees will be stronger than before.

But if you use this approach, the foresters don't get their hands on the 200 year old trees that are very valuable on the open market, hence the local forest inspectorate loses power/money. It's all about a cash grab under the guise of 'management'.

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]


Oh dear.


thenews/1/10/Artykul/247563,Head-of-Polish-protest-movement-in-Washington-talks

Those of us interested in American affairs remember that Senator McCain is the chairman of the incredibly influential Senate Committee on Armed Services.

Ironside, do try harder in future. Relying on news sources that are funded with stolen money is not exactly the most credible thing you could do.

Law / Brit/Pol divorce. Husband - British, non resident Poland. Wife - Polish resident, Poland. [10]

No. Not in the slightest. The only thing is that if it's a concordat wedding (i.e., one that is recognised by the State) - then the usual rules apply.

History / Is 5th partition of Poland possible? What kind? How? When? [73]


I don't think you've ever actually been to Ukraine if you think that Ukrainians are going to give up Ukraine for the sake of the West.


Poland has no interest in taking on a large, economically backwards territory. Western Ukraine is mostly based around agriculture, and the only thing of any real value is the IT sector in L'viv.


There was some philosopher who said something about Ukraine. I forget who it was, possibly Nietzsche - who said "Ukraine is not in the mind, but in the hearts and the fists of every man born on that soil".

Life / Swearing in front of children - is it normal in Polish society? [26]


I hate to agree, but I do.

But in this case, I'd simply put the foot down. If they can't stop it, then they don't see the child, end of story.

(having said this, the wisest advice is not to marry into such a family that finds swearing in every second word to be acceptable)

History / Is 5th partition of Poland possible? What kind? How? When? [73]


Who said I have no connection? The passport stamps say otherwise...

That's why I know that the city is in pretty poor state - it was only before Euro 2012 that the streets in the centre were repaved, and a lot of the old kamienicas in the centre are in a bad way. That's not even talking about the areas outside of the centre - the less we say, the better.

Wrocław is infinitely more beautiful.

I also wouldn't trade Karpacz for Yaremche.

Life / Swearing in front of children - is it normal in Polish society? [26]


Then don't. Tell them that if they want to be around you and the child, the swearing has to stop.

For what it's worth, it's the problem associated with lower class Poles. Well educated Poles would never swear like that in front of a child.

Travel / Białowieża National Park in Poland [461]


The plan is to go from 48,000 cubic metres to 180,000 cubic metres. A huge increase.


By your numbers then, PiS want to fell more than the PRL did.


From what I gather, it's related to Podlasie politics. Under PO, the plan was to eventually turn the entire forest into a national park to protect it. One of the failings of PO was to push it through (they backed off under heavy pressure from LP) - and PiS made a huge fuss out of how PO didn't care about the livelihoods of local communities there and how they would permit much more logging.

Either way, there really is absolutely no reason to touch it. LP is rich in cash, and if it gets turned into a National Park (with the correspondingly lower salaries) - LP could easily subsidise their wages to make up for it.

Ideologically, foresters also want to cut everything in sight because they want to manage it, even though Białowieża should be left as a wilderness to protect the most valuable part. Let's not forget that there's also a huge impact on local animal populations too.

News / Poland directly threatened by ISIS. Do Islamists planning terrorist attacks in Poland? [390]


Not really, to be honest. They identify far more with Croats, because they go on holiday to Croatia a lot, they have the same religion, etc etc. Serbs are only really identified with by far right types that also support Russia.

I've never heard anyone normal in Poland talking about Serbs. Croats on the other hand... well, it's not exactly a surprise to find Poles and Croats drinking together in Croatia.

Travel / Białowieża National Park in Poland [461]

theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/03/poland-europe-bialowieza-forest-eu

There you are. 43% of the planned felling is of trees that aren't diseased.

Polonius, can you really not see the madness in attacking Białowieża? It's such a pearl in Poland and there's nothing comparable in most of Europe - chopping down 200 year old trees there just for the sake of filling the pockets of local foresters is absolute madness.

History / Is 5th partition of Poland possible? What kind? How? When? [73]


Perhaps not in your book. Those of us that don't have a pro-Russia agenda consider Wrocław and her 100 bridges to be far more beautiful than the depressed wreck that is most of L'viv.

Travel / Białowieża National Park in Poland [461]

Another day, another "good change", this time in the field of wind power.

It effectively means that windmills cannot be built in 99.9% of Poland due to the provisions in their law. Furthermore, despite the Supreme Court giving the opinion that the law is incompatible with EU law and is potentially unconstitutional, the law is due to come into force within 14 days instead of the year that was requested. The reason is simple - 14 days will not be long enough for the EU to give a negative opinion on the matter.

Furthermore, taxation (!) on windmills will increase by nearly 50% over the 25 year lifespan.

Effectively, PiS are protecting the coal industry instead of promoting cleaner energy - which means that Poles will continue to suffer appalling health problems as a result of the poor air quality. Nevermind, coal miners still have significant pensions paid for by the rest of us.

History / Is 5th partition of Poland possible? What kind? How? When? [73]


Poland doesn't even want them to change. I cannot imagine the economic catastrophe that would follow eastwards expansion, nor can I imagine the inevitable bloody civil war.

News / Poland -- Europe's only counterweight to Russia [271]


I assure you that most of the Polish posters on here are also strongly against Putin. Can't imagine Ironside, Wulkan or Polonius supporting Putin or anything that Russia does.

Travel / Białowieża National Park in Poland [461]


It's certainly a PiS character that thought up the idea to reverse the PO-era restrictions and go all in when it comes to destroying Białowieża.

LP has over 2 billion złoty in the bank. They could provide every forester in Białowieża with comfortable salaries for the next 100 years and leave the forest alone, but you know, PiS just need to cut the place to shreds.

If the plan was merely to get rid of diseased trees, perhaps it could be argued. But chopping down healthy forest for the sake of the personal profit of the foresters is disgusting.

Travel / Białowieża National Park in Poland [461]

[moved from]
It's like the destruction of Białowieża. The State Forestry Service is incredibly wealthy, but because of they way they operate, they have a vested interest in cutting as much wood as possible. They see those big, thick, unspoiled trees and see złoty in their bank accounts.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world wonders why the hell Poland would cut down such a valuable resource.

News / Poland directly threatened by ISIS. Do Islamists planning terrorist attacks in Poland? [390]


They're obviously very young, because if they knew anything about history, they'd know that Poles fell on the battlefield against Serbs in the 1990's.

Law / Brit/Pol divorce. Husband - British, non resident Poland. Wife - Polish resident, Poland. [10]


Utter and total misinformation and a blatant attempt to deceive. Getting an annulment can be an expensive process involving blatant bribery, and obviously this lawyer sees you as a potential source of easy cash.

In the eyes of the law, your marriage in the church was simply to confirm the vows in the eyes of the Church. It was before the Church had the right to conduct legal marriages, so your wife has no right to anything if the divorce is granted by the UK as long as the marriage was never officially recognised by Poland.

Divorce in the UK, and if you want the marriage annulled, expect a hefty contribution to the Cathedral's roof repair funds.