Travel / Białowieża National Park in Poland [461]

Ironside


Please just get your facts from the people who know...maybe try Unesco who I would guess have a reason for declaring the forest a world heritage site..It doesn't matter who did what to who and when....what's important is what is happening now and how wrong it all is.....basically illegal logging which is being sold off to various companies or whatever.....this nonsense of an excuse by Szyszko that it is now a health and safety issue for the public really smells of someone who is running scared and trying to justify his decision...he is just a politician who probably won't last for much longer...they are 10 a penny....what is more important is the long term position concerning the Belowieza forest and how it will continue to provide tourism with a real destination and special memories.....The law is quite simple and the EU will not leave this alone.....they will continue to debate Polands refusal to stop logging in a Unesco world heritage site.....once a tree is felled that's it....the tree no longer lives and any animals/insects will be disrupted....all this for the sake of money...how sad and narrow minded....not really the thoughts of a forward looking political party...more of thoughts of a dinosaur group of people who appear to have captured votes through issuing 500 zlotys every month to every family who has a second baby.....incredible....it is so transparent.....and fake....

Travel / Białowieża National Park in Poland [461]

G undercover......I have to say that I have never met you before and you clearly don't know me so calling me a leftie is really a weak response to a topic which worries you.....I think you probably know that the logging issue is wrong but just can't bring yourself to admit it.....sorry but you really need to look at the evidence....

Travel / Białowieża National Park in Poland [461]

Supporters of PIS turning a blind eye to the logging.......sounds like what happened with the concentration camps during WW2..people turning a blind eye, very easy, very convenient so long as I and my family are alright, short term planning...very stupid...it really is quite sad and disgusting that people can be so selfish and greedy...they really don't deserve to be allowed a vote in politics or really offer any view whatsoever because these supporters really are unable to appreciate the bigger picture....very narrow minded and selfish....how sad and what do the Polish youth see in this...what do they learn from this sad episode...what do they think....who knows.

Travel / Białowieża National Park in Poland [461]

CasualObserver......thank you very much for your full and comprehensive explanation of the issues surrounding the Białowieża forest logging.....your comments were really helpful in understanding the bigger picture....this doesn't seem to be a vote winner for the PIS and unfortunately this will continue to erode all the good work done with funding of Polands infrastructure, education etc and potentially lead to reduced EU funding.....with the result that the Polish people will be the ones who suffer....what a tragedy...

Roger5....I Googled your suggestion and found a useful video which provides an interesting insight into the logging practices....

bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-41031299/will-fairy-tale-biaowiea-forest-survive-poland-s-fight-with-the-eu

Travel / Białowieża National Park in Poland [461]

It really is incredible that the PIS can be allowed to get away with the felling and sale of so many trees in the ancient forest....it really is a grab and cash in situation which will of course deplete and ruin these magnificent forests....having read some of the previous postings on this subject it probably would be right to fell infected trees and just leave them in the forest for nature to take its course and to allow important animal life to continue living in this environment.... Maybe PIS could start producing some statistics on how many trees are infected, the extent of this problem, why it is necessary to cut down infected trees and why they have to sell infected trees....in this way the public may start to understand more of the problem and allow them to make their own minds up about the rights or wrongs of logging...at the moment the news just talks about the EU -v- Poland. PIS seem unable to put forward any credible defence save from the standard message.....insufficient detail....insufficient reasons...etc.....pretty poor show....

I would much rather see more transparent management of forests to deal with the continuing problem of rubbish which is allowed to accumulate in various parts of forests....which includes bottles, beer cans, paper, plastic bags etc etc.... I have no idea what people think about this problem....do locals care enough to do something about this...eg. speak to the relevant authority and get the rubbish removed...it is an eyesore....or why not go for the easy option and organise regular clear up operations using volunteers....and combine this by educating the public on the dangers of tipping rubbish in forests...national advertising etc. Tourists must be so disappointed and shocked to see the rubbish when they walk in the forests....this to my mind is a really important problem which can so easily be solved.....

Travel / Białowieża National Park in Poland [461]

Merged:

Ancient forest of Białowieża

It would seem that the EU are out to decide on what penalties/action to take against Poland for defying EU law by refusing to stop logging in the ancient forest of Białowieża. Whilst a decision has yet to be taken by the EU it still seems odd to me that the insect infested trees are being sold....would it not be safer (or dare I say it ethical) to burn the wood or do all these insects run/fly away whenever a tree is felled.....I doubt it. I have no knowledge of the insect world and effect on trees and even less on how to deal with infected trees but it just seems right to burn those that are infected to contain the problem....or is it a situation where the non affected parts of a tree are cut and sold separately....? It sort of smells a bit when people are making money out of such an important ancient forest which has been listed as a Unesco world heritage site. Any thoughts on this?

News / 2ND MIRACLE OF THE VISTULA: youth mysteriously appear out of nowhere! [231]

Ironside......

Is this what you were referring to when you said that judges select themselves.....?

The National Judicial Council......A critical step in establishing the autonomy of the judicial branch was the Sejm's vote in December 1989 to create the National Judicial Council. The twenty-four member council, consisting of judges from the national, district, and local levels, serves a four-year term and has the primary function of recommending judgeship candidates to the president. Another basic function of the body is to oversee the entire judiciary and establish professional standards.

In the UK the body responsible for appointing judges is called the Judicial Appointments Commission.....They would both appear similar in composition although it would seem that the difference in the UK is that members of the commission are from many different legal backgrounds/specialisms and professions and politicians are not involved in influencing or controlling the behaviour of judges.

In view of the current proposal to address 'accountability' of judges is it really a smart move to allow politicians to control, oversee and pass judgement on judges. Do you not think that this is better carried out by professionals / lay members etc rather than politicians who come and go and whose job really should focus on politics and making Poland a better place to live. This of course does not appear very democratic and only serves to inflame the public who can smell a rat and will no doubt eventually use their right to vote in future elections.

News / 2ND MIRACLE OF THE VISTULA: youth mysteriously appear out of nowhere! [231]

gumishu....


Great.....was he prosecuted for theft.....or at the very least was he dismissed or disciplined.....? If not.....there lies the problem.....

News / 2ND MIRACLE OF THE VISTULA: youth mysteriously appear out of nowhere! [231]

Atch....


Then this is a great shame...and will only serve to delay progress needed to improve the economy, stability and reputation of Poland.....I will keep my fingers crossed....

News / 2ND MIRACLE OF THE VISTULA: youth mysteriously appear out of nowhere! [231]

gumishu.....


Actually I do live here and I am aware of the unfair rulings that you refer to.....apart from finding out why judges have the need to steal and give unfair rulings which is perhaps another discussion, there is a need to clean up this situation. To demonstrate impartiality the government need to look at the possibility of creating an independent commission or use a specialist police unit to investigate wrong doings, corruption and theft. (if this is already in existence then clearly they are not doing their job properly and need to be replaced) I would liaise with other European countries on tried and tested methods of dealing with corruption in the judiciary and share knowledge and resources to set up an effective unit. Until corruption/theft is resolved there will be little public confidence in the judiciary.

I am not sure that I would favour the public electing judges, and would rather see appointments made by, for example a judicial commission, some professionals, some lay members, specialists in law, a general mix.... all appointed through open and fair competition....With statutory powers the duties of the commission would be to select judges solely on merit, and select only those of good character....The National Judicial Council and other departments in the Polish judicial system all serve a useful purpose and may well be using the open and fair competition approach, but perhaps some now need to be revisited and new powers agreed and updated. It is of course almost 30 years since Poland regained its independence and we are of course discussing the most Important aspect of any democratic country....its legal system.

All this would take time but would in my view create a meaningful approach to deal with the problem of corruption etc. I get the Impression that it's a quick fix the PIS are looking for and one which would appear to be biased in favour of political gain and not one which offers a fair, impartial and effective solution.

News / 2ND MIRACLE OF THE VISTULA: youth mysteriously appear out of nowhere! [231]

Ironside.... I did actually say independence of judges from politicians...To be honest 'independence' and 'accountability' go hand in hand. You say that judges select themselves in Poland and are beyond any control and accountability...could you just set out how they do this....If this is correct I would say it is commendable that changes need to be made, although I am still at a loss to agree that judges should be appointed by politicians and controlled by the same. Not a great way to promote democracy....As I already mentioned accountability of judges in the UK centres around being monitored by an independent body and use of transparent policies to weed out the poor performing or corrupt judges. With this form of regulation (accountability) it tightens and reduces the possibility of corruption.

Look further into Europe and you will find legal systems where the judges are routinely monitored and regulated by independent bodies...

News / 60% of Poles say Szydło's government should resign [238]

To me what is odd are the roles of the President and Prime minister...I have been following the progress of the PIS and news reports over the last year or so and I find it difficult to understand who is actually properly managing Poland....The Prime minister has of course been vocal at press conferences and the President also....however I get the impression that Beata Szydło is a politician who aspires to a higher level which really is currently above her station....I sort of think that she needs to gain more experience before she starts addressing Europe on international issues. Whilst her main issue is immigration and related problems I can appreciate the points she makes....but that is all....I don't see her talking much about the economic problems in Poland...pay scales...health service....housing....levels of pollution.....etc the usual concerns faced by everyone....however she does talk a lot about immigration which although important should really provide views on a more broader level...there are many other very important issues to address....and time drifts by....

In the other corner is President Duda who although a cheerful chap and looks the part...doesn't really cut it on the political circuit....save to irritate Europe on his internal reforms and all the other stuff...he just doesn't seem credible....Jaroslaw Kaczynski the leader of PIS is probably the person with all the power in my view and you really get the impression that he pulls a lot of strings...However he really doesn't have a lot of clout outside Poland save to cause concern and worry on what he is putting forward as PIS policies.....I think he needs to think more internationally and take on board the bigger picture....sadly I don't think he will and will eventually run out of steam to make way for a more progressive and internationally knowledgeable leader....

Again who is running the PIS...President...Prime minister or Leader....?

News / 2ND MIRACLE OF THE VISTULA: youth mysteriously appear out of nowhere! [231]

Ironside.....My question was really directed at 'independence' from politics rather than the method of selection and yes Judges in the UK are appointed but through a selection process..(I can't speak for the USA as I am not American)...and are basically appointed on merit to instil public confidence and accountability. It all centres around impartiality and independence from central government and from undue pressure from business, the media and politicians. This really is what is at the heart of most other democratic countries.

News / 2ND MIRACLE OF THE VISTULA: youth mysteriously appear out of nowhere! [231]

It does seem strange to me that in an effort to eliminate corruption amongst some or all of the Judges, PIS have tried or have installed Judges who are PIS supporters or at the very least favour PIS ideology. This in itself is not something that would seem to me to give much confidence in creating an unbiased and independent group of Judges making decisions on legislation put forward by PIS. In nearly all other modern societies Judges are treated as completely independent and are elected not appointed. Yes there are still possibilities for corruption with Judges in other countries but there is regulation and checks, designed to weed out the corrupt ones. I am not sure what regulation and checks are in place with the Judges in Poland. Maybe PIS should go on fact finding missions to other countries to find out how their legal systems work in terms of regulating Judges, lawyers etc, and use a similar system in Poland. It is a tried and tested method and generally provides the best results.

My other point is there would appear to be some talk about PIS minister(s) wanting control over Judges so that in certain special situations they could discipline offending Judges. Judges in my view should be monitored and regulated by an independent body/commission who have experience of the legal process and not politicians who are not lawyers. There has to be a separation between the legal process and politics. With the best will in the world there is a difference between Judges who are trained professionals and politicians who come and go. In short politicians should distance themselves from the legal process otherwise it is open to accusations of potential manipulation and corruption which I thought is what PIS are trying to stamp out.

People in Poland do seem to smell a rat and it is no surprise that there are demonstrations, but not to worry it is just demonstrations....however if the PIS party are upset that their President has vetoed their proposals then maybe they need to re-elect a new President if that is possible...given what is happening it probably is possible. It is surprising that although PIS have a majority they still want to change the makeup of Judicial appointments when in fact they just need to talk to the body who represent Judges if one exists and agree on how 'corruption' can be regulated. Normal day to day wrong/ poor decisions etc by Judges should surely be monitored by an independent body who should have the powers to discipline.....it happens in other countries why not Poland?

News / 2ND MIRACLE OF THE VISTULA: youth mysteriously appear out of nowhere! [231]

I think that one or two posters on this topic spend too much time in the past and really need to look more towards the future and what government policies could help Poland to improve its economic situation...jobs...salary...conditions of employment etc...the usual things which people need and would benefit from.

Historical discussions are interesting but in my view discussions on current problems and solutions are more practical. Demonstrations take place in all countries and I find it strange that so much is being said about them...its quite normal to have demonstrations even on the scale currently seen in Poland....People shouldn't be worried about demonstrations they are quite normal and democratic.....if you really disagree with what the demo's are about then fine, just vote for the party you believe in at the next election.

Life is too short to debate history....just move on and channel your views on finding solutions to the real practical issues faced by people in Poland...and if this is not possible then perhaps something needs to be changed whatever that may be. At the end of the day people know what is fair and what isn't and they will vote for change if they feel it is needed. Change just needs to be embraced but of course it depends on whether you are set in your ways ....the past....or whether you want a great future for Poland. Time is precious and more effort should be spent on finding solutions rather than trying to justify the policies or methods of PIS...it really is just a political party like any other which will come and go like any other in any democratic country.

News / The Mayor of Warsaw Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz cuts down 150,000 trees in the Poland's capital. [84]

I was aware of the importance of protecting trees in Poland last year when I had to get permission from the local council to cut down a number of trees in my garden. The reason was to remove rotten and dangerous trees as well as trees obstructing the growth of others. The job was done and all went well. However recently I was aware of people removing trees in their gardens and then was told that from 1 January 2017 the law allowed people to cut down trees in their gardens without the need for permission from the local council. It also appears that this change of law is due to end on 16 June 2017.....not sure if this is correct but what is all this about.? It seems that the law is changing in fits and starts. I found an article in the Guardian newspaper on line which provided an interesting insight into the chaos surrounding tree felling which you may well have already read but thought that you may like to see it.

theguardian.com/environment/2017/apr/07/polish-law-change-unleashes-massacre-of-trees


I am not familiar with politics in Poland or what the policies are on environmental issues, but it would seem to me that Jan Szyszko has quite a lot to answer for.....allowing the law to be abused in a reckless and unnecessary felling of trees some as old as 200 years old seems quite frankly criminal......presumably someone, somewhere has an ulterior motive for allowing this change in the law.....unbelievable when I would have thought that there are greater issues needed to be resolved in Poland....incredible.

Then on reading the article further I came across the following...


What on earth is a minister citing the book of 'Genesis' for....who is this person and why is he not quoting hard and fast reasons rather than referring to the book of Genesis...?...and is he still the environmental minister....how was it that he was able to get this law changed and what is happening about the further change to the tree felling law which I referred to above....is it happening and what has the environmental minster got to say about this.....will he change his mind again.....seems like a complete shambles......he should be promoting environmental issues and protecting things which are very special to Poland....ancient forests....etc.......doesn't sound very democratic to me.....time for the minister to step down I think (I presume that a few other people are as amazed as me at the sheer amateurish way in which this 'tree law' has been implemented....no records are even made the number of trees cut down...so absolutely no monitoring or record kept.....unbelievable........sounds like the dark ages....in 2017...what a joke.

Law / Highway Code equivalent in Poland? [7]

Atch......thank you very much for this information....much appreciated.

News / Tusk or Hollande -- a Salomonic dilemma? What will be better for Poland? [180]

This is an interesting discussion on the worthiness of the EU and elections etc....however I feel that there are other more pressing issues which I think are being overlooked. I feel those who attack Tusk and the EU really need to see the bigger picture for Poland.

The EU will not go away just yet, despite all the opinions and suggestions and bearing in mind that the EU have already provided funding on a massive scale to help improve the position of Poland (and yes loans will need to be paid back but then again it is the same with all loans) I think the government need to work with this and focus more on their achievements to date and future achievements and set out how these will help the Polish people.

I think people need to be told what has been achieved so far to give people some sense of living in a country where change is making a real difference to their lives. I don't seem to see much being said about the local policies and achievements and future plans.....but there seems to be a lot being said about the EU, Tusk, and bureaucrats on TV etc....I am sure that many Polish people would much prefer to hear about the real projects currently in hand which will directly help them improve their situation whether it be job creation schemes, environmental improvements, business development, regulation, changes to employment law....things that people would be keen to hear more about and ultimately benefit from.

Without the funding from the EU, Poland really will have found it a challenge to catch up with the economic and social benefits enjoyed by other European countries. Just accept membership of the EU and get on with improving Poland. There are many great things in Polish life which are unique and Poland can be a country of destination and an even better place for the people who live there, providing less time is spent on debating and complaining about other politicians, the EU etc....and more time promoting Poland and telling the Polish people how and where the EU money is being spent and how it will benefit them and what the future holds for them.

I just don't seem to see much communication happening to let the people know what progress is being made with projects designed to improve Poland and peoples lives. (yes there are the local authorities if one wants to go to the offices, or if they are fit enough to go there or if they really have the time) I feel that people will have a greater sense of satisfaction and inclusivity of the decision making process, projects under way and just about anything which will affect us, if they were able to see and hear regular updates on projects ....it would be good to see community centres where local events are held on a regular basis, where people can have fun and talk to each other or meet people for the first time, or just to have somewhere to go for an hour or so. I feel it starts with meaningful communication and not having to guess what exactly is happening on projects which will directly improve peoples lives. There seems to be a lot of Chinese whispers happening which will only make it more frustrating for people who really want to know more of what is happening.

News / What impact will Donald Trump's election have on Poland? [331]

To be honest I don't know what the fuss is all about...yes Trump is different and not a career politician.(do you need to be? He will have people to provide the political angle)...but you only need to think of some of the previous presidents in the USA, for example Ronald Regan....a 'B' rated ex actor.!!....Basically Trump has upset the establishment who with Clinton in power would have been happy to continue in the way they have over many years.. (by establishment I mean the media and other figures who clearly threw everything at Trump in an attempt to 'keep things as they are' ...in other words USA governments who appear to do a lot for Americans but don't appear to actually achieve anything substantial.)

As a casual observer it was very clear that the news reports coming out were slanted in favour of Clinton and seemed to try to rubbish Trump every step of the way.... What the establishment is afraid of is that Trump is different and as a businessman wants to make real changes not tow the line with the 'establishment'.....Of course it will not just be Trump calling the shots, as he will have a team of advisors who have a certain amount of clout in decision making. Maybe this is a refreshing change in USA politics and of course mistakes will be made from time to time like every other previous President of the USA.

News / 10 year prison sentence for Polish lorry driver who killed 4 people while driving and using his mobile phone [90]

The Polish should be ashamed at the extent of dangerous driving that continues to blight the roads....unless it is seen to be unacceptable in a civilised society and action taken to reduce the level of illegal driving via more police powers....increased fines....political intervention....more use of road safety groups.....community action..etc...then this will simply continue and more innocent people will be killed. How many people need to die before people sit up and realise that something must be done sooner than later. As I have mentioned already regulation is the key to this as it is with a lot of issues...such as the amount of rubbish in forests..etc.

News / 10 year prison sentence for Polish lorry driver who killed 4 people while driving and using his mobile phone [90]

Quite simply there are some drivers in Poland who just don't know when to slow down....it has nothing to do with road infrastructure or new cars but it has everything to do with education and an understanding on how to drive a car safely. As mentioned already there is also a responsibility on the police to regulate this so that offenders are targeted and dealt with. The unfortunate thing is that when accidents do occur other drivers generally come off worse as a result of stupid and dangerous driving....tailgating...use of mobile phones..etc

News / 10 year prison sentence for Polish lorry driver who killed 4 people while driving and using his mobile phone [90]

This is of course a very sad story. In my experience of driving in Poland I have to say that there have been many occasions where I have seen drivers using their mobile phones whilst driving, or turning corners, or switching lanes on the motorway etc. I think that the problem is that it is not regulated strictly enough just like the fast and furious driving seen on all roads....I don't know if it is against the law in Poland to use a mobile whilst driving but if it isn't it should be. Of course it happens in other countries as well, but because I see it so often in Poland I can only assume that the police here do not see this as important enough to strictly monitor which of course they should along with crazy driving.

I am still at a loss to understand why it is so necessary for drivers to drive so close to the back of other cars at dangerous speeds....they do not seem to understand the science surrounding braking distance at high speed and how much road distance you need to stop quickly before crashing into another vehicle....complete madness. At the end of the day regulation is key to everything otherwise people will always believe they can get away with it, be it using a mobile, dangerous driving or any other illegal act.

Life / Living Expenses in Krakow [42]

DominicB............Plus your wife will certainly not be working, and you have to keep her entertained so that she doesn't lose her mind and start hating Poland, and, eventually, you. The life of an Indian wife in Poland can be very lonely, boring and depressing indeed, especially as Indian women do not associate with each other unless they are of approximately the same social standing. Expenses may vary enormously, but count on at least 1000 PLN a month to keep her busy, engaged and happy. Otherwise she will be constantly harping on you to pay for plane tickets to visit family and friends in India

You seem to be making a lot of generalisations about Indian women.....why do you think that 'the life of an Indian women' can be lonely....is loneliness specifically reserved to 'Indian women'....why also do you think that she would be expecting money in order to 'keep her busy, engaged and happy'...and why would you think she will be 'constantly harping on you to pay for plane tickets'..Money helps of course but you seem to suggest that you know a lot about the OP's wife, what she likes and will dislike and what her plans are likely to be....a little bit presumptuous I feel and the OP really deserves a response to a reasonable question without unfounded opinions and a lack of diversity awareness.

Work / Double payment to Poland's ZUS/NFZ? [3]

Terri......thanks for your advice. I only mentioned ZUS because that is what I can read on my bank statements...basically it is a payment which ends up with NFZ, but I think ZUS manages this payment and passes it on to NFZ. (I already pay tax on my pension in the UK so it is not a tax payment)

I set up a monthly payment for NFZ health care and was able to do this through my bank. (I understand there are other methods of payment but thought that the bank would be the easiest and it has been) For some reason although the bank were more than willing to help me set up a standing order they seem unable to cancel it on my instructions. (Additionally I pay the bank 1.5% of the amount to calculate the payment...it doesn't come to much but you would think that I could stop something which attracts bank fees)

Having said that I am still concerned that the bank think that irrespective of my new employer paying my NFZ they say I will probably have to continue paying...? I intend to visit either ZUS or NFZ soon to see what they say.

News / Poland's election winning party: PIS proclamations [229]

Merged: PIS Manifesto

Hello...I am interested to know details on what the PIS party are planning or have already implemented concerning job creation, planned improvements to the health service, planned improvements to the general economic picture in Poland, transport improvements etc. It would also be interesting to know what the inflation rate is like and whether more houses are needed and a general overview. If anyone knows what the PIS manifesto is and where I can find it I would be grateful. I am just interested to see what the government are planning to do with their plans on improving the economy, infrastructure, health service and how things are progressing. Thank you.

Life / Ekogroszek/wood pellets or gas for heating in Poland? [9]

KPC21.....Thank you for your very helpful feedback and links, it has given me a good deal of useful information which will help me to decide on the way forward. I do like the idea of using wood pellets which would be a cleaner option but concerns over sufficient suppliers and perhaps having to use more than 'coal' would need to be considered. I do have a gas connection to the house (not used at present) but I am worried over potential cost and supplementary charges.

My thoughts at present are to perhaps go with a boiler which is capable of burning 'coal' and 'wood pellets' or at least has the ability to convert from one to the other. In this way it would help if legislation bans the use of coal or if I wanted to change the solid fuel if one or other becomes expensive.

Food / Where to find a good bottle of wine in Poland? [18]

Thank you grape juice I will check this out in my local Biedronka.....

Life / Ekogroszek/wood pellets or gas for heating in Poland? [9]

Thank you Terri for your thoughts on this....I personally would prefer to use wood pellets but I gather from other forums etc that I would be using many more bags to heat the house over the course of the year as compared to using coal.

However I feel that by having a boiler which can run on coal and wood pellets would give me a degree of flexibility if future legislation imposes a ban on using coal. Some people have said that this type of 'uni' boiler is not as efficient as a boiler which solely runs on coal or solely runs on wood pellets, but maybe this is not such a problem as current boiler technology has improved greatly and there isn't perhaps such a difference between 'uni' boilers and those that use just one type of solid fuel.

I am quite interested in boilers provided by a company called 'Defro' and these seem to be quite popular. In particular I am looking at one called 'Defro Duo Uni' which would appear to meet my needs but it is early days. In any event I will need to decide soon before winter sets in.

I made a mistake...my possible choice of boiler should be the 'Defro Sigma Uni' 5 Klasa.....not the Defro Duo Uni..