For Rotary Orientation #2, I had to write a research paper about Poland, and in case you might be interested, here it is -
Poland
Poland is situated in the heart of Europe; in fact the exact center point of the European continent lies just outside of Warsaw. With Germany on its west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, Ukraine and Belarus in the east, and Russia to the north, Poland shares many borders. Encompassing a total area of about 312, 685 square km, Poland is the 6th largest country in Europe.
Geography
Geographically, Poland is a very diverse country. The majority of Poland is made up of the Northern European Plain, a lowland plain averaging no more than 900 feet above sea level. The 440 km of Baltic Sea coastline is mostly covered by sandy beaches, with the ports of Śzczecin-Sinoujcśie, Gdańsk, and Gdynia serving as trade centers. Emptying into the Baltic Sea are Poland’s major rivers, the Oder and the Vistula. The Oder River runs along the border with Germany while the Vistula wanders through central and eastern Poland. The Vistula is Poland’s longest and most used river; however both rivers are used to transport goods across Poland. Similar to MN, lakes are common in Poland. About 1% of the land is covered by water, with 3 distinct lake regions. Much of the lake region is lightly populated and very rural. Most of the country’s farmland is located in the southwestern sector of the country. Finally along the southern border are two mountain ranges, the Carpathian (Tatra) and Sudeten. The Tatra Mountains are the highest mountains in central Europe and are popular places to vacation both during the summer and winter, with many Polish families traveling there to hike or ski.
History/Wars
Poland has a long and varied history. Its first civilization dates from 2000 B.C., but Poland officially became a country in the 10th century. Mieszko I, a Slavic chief, united several Polish tribes under a Christian kingdom. In 1025, his son Boleslaw I was crowned and this was the beginning of the Piast Dynasty. The name Poland came from the Slavic word pole meaning plain or field. During the Piast Dynasty Boleslaw enlarged his realm and the next kings ruled over a prosperous kingdom.
In 1385 a treaty signed in Krewo united the Polish and Lithuanian states as the Lithuanian prince Jagiełło married the Polish princess. This established the Jagiellonian dynasty, often referred to as the Golden Age in Polish history. Under Jagiellonian kings the empire grew to include the Czech Republic and Hungary. It was during this time when Pole Nicolaus Copernicus showed how the Earth revolves around the Sun.
The union between Lithuania and Poland ended in 1569 and the next century was dominated by war, which greatly diminished Poland’s influence and dominance over European affairs. This led to a period of reforms in Poland. In 1791, Poland became the first European country to adopt a written constitution. However, Poland was too weak to defend against invading countries, Russia, Prussia, and Austria, and was soon taken over. For the next 100 years Poland ceased to exist as an individual state. After the collapse of the empires after WWI, Poland was able to restore its independence. November 11, 1918 was declared Polish Independence Day and the beginning of the second Polish Republic.
Poland was making great gains when it was invaded again. In 1939 Germany and the Soviet Union invaded Poland with an agreement to split the country. Britain and France sided with Poland and WWII began. Poland became the site of some of the most intense fighting. The Germans placed several of their death camps in Poland, including the most famous Auschwitz or as it is known in Polish, Oswiecim. Over 7 million Polish citizens were killed during WWII, including over 3 million Polish Jews.
On May 8th, 1945 WWII ended, however, Poland was still an occupied country. This time communist forces of the Soviet Union occupied the country. After elections in 1947 the Communists took full control. Most Poles opposed communist rule and in 1980 Polish workers began to strike. The movement called Solidarity and led by Lech Wałęsa, demanded more freedom for Polish people. By 1989 Soviet rule was crumbling and elections were held. Solidarity won elections by a landslide. The Communist Polish government dissolved in January 1990 and radical market reforms were introduced. In 1999 Poland joined NATO and in 2004 joined the EU.
Government Structure
The first Republic of Poland was first established in 1791, when Poland adopted its constitution. The constitution was abolished a few years after Russia invaded the country. After the Round Table Agreement in 1989, the first non-Communist government since the 1940s was created. The Polish government is split into three branches, legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch is made up of two houses, the Senate (upper house) and the Sejm (lower house). The 100 seats in the Senate are elected by majority vote in provincial elections every fourth year. The Sejm has 460 seats and its members are also elected every four years, though they are elected through a complicated system of proportional representation. The Senate has fewer powers, serving mostly a supervisory and advisory role. The Senate can comment on and amend laws passed by the Sejm, but the Sejm can override these decisions with a majority vote. The term Zgromadzenie Narodowe is used only when the two houses meet together. The next legislative elections will be held in 2011.
The head of the executive branch is the president who shares power with the Council of Ministers. The prime minister is the head of the councils and the two leaders work closely together. The president is elected through popular vote every five years, and then appoints the prime minister who must be approved by the Sejm. The voting age in Poland is 18 and there is universal suffrage. The president is the supreme commander of the armed forces and has the duty to ensure that Poland follows its constitution and may has the power to call for parliamentary elections and to propose or veto legislation. The president may hold the position for two terms. The prime minister has the job of running the government and writing laws. The current prime minister is Donald Tusk.
Prime Minister Tusk decided to not run in the 2010 presidential elections. Instead he will focus on passing key economic reforms. The Polish presidential elections will be held in October 2010. The President is elected to a five-year term. The current president of Poland is Lech Kacynski.
The judicial power is split between two offices, the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Tribunal. The Supreme Court is Poland’s highest court made up of more than 100 judges, each recommended by the National Judicial Council of 24 appointed judges. Supreme Court judges serve for an indefinite period and supervise common, military, and administrative courts. The Constitutional Tribunal has 15 judges, selected by the Sejm for nine – year terms. They judge the constitutionality of laws and their execution.
The main political parties in Poland are the Civic Platform (PO), Law and Justice (PiS), the Polish People's Party (PSL), the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), Social Democracy of Poland (SDPL), Poland XXI, and the Democratic Party (PD). The original political party, Solidarity dissolved after several elections and is now a workers’ union.
President Obama appointed Lee Feinstein to the post of Ambassador to Poland in July 2009. The U.S. embassy is located in Warsaw with a general consulate in Krakow. The Polish Ambassador to the U.S. is Robert Kupiecki. The Polish embassy is located in Washington D.C. with consulates in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York.
Ministry of Defense
The Polish Defense Ministry confirmed January 21st that Poland will deploy U.S. missiles to the Polish-Russian border. The U.S. had ended the previous Bush administration’s missile defense plans, but after calls of neglect from Central European countries decided to reinstate a missile defense plan in October 2009. The missiles will be located in the town of Morag about 60 km from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. Policy experts believe that the U.S. has decided to partner more closely with Poland after recent scenes of Russian military exercises in the Baltic states. Poland is also believed to be more pro – U.S. than its neighbors.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will meet Russian Prime Minister Putin at a ceremony in April to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacres. The Soviet Secret Police murdered thousands of Polish military officers in April of 1940 during WWII. The Katyn massacres have long hindered Russian and Polish relations and the invitation by Prime Minister Putin is seen as a sign of potential thawing between the countries. April 13th is an officially recognized national day of remembrance in Poland.
Economy/Industry
The economy of Poland has experienced vast changes over the years. From the end of WWII to 1990, Poland was subject to a communist economic system, meaning that the government controlled all aspects of trade, jobs, and manufacturing. In 1990 a ‘shock therapy’ program was introduced with the intent of rapidly transforming the Polish economy to a free market. With rising foreign investment and a growing private sector, Poland now has the second fastest growing economy in Europe. However, unemployment is still high, with eleven percent of Poles unemployed in 2009. The current average per capita income of Poland is about $18,000.
Under communist occupation Poland was turned into a highly industrialized country and though that has decreased in the past years, 40 percent of Poland’s income still comes from mining and manufacturing. Coal is extremely abundant in Poland, especially in the Upper Silesia region. Coal is used to generate most of Poland’s energy and is also a primary export. Since the 1990s the Polish coal industry has been the focus of restructuring efforts because of environmental concerns. However, this has led to the closing of many mines and left hundreds of Poles unemployed. Poland also has large deposits of sulfur, copper, and rock salt. Most of Poland’s manufactured goods - steel, glass, and chemicals – are exported to other European countries, with a large percentage going to Germany.
Currency
Though Poland is part of the EU it has not accepted the use of the euro. Instead the zloty is the currency of Poland. One U.S. dollar can be exchanged for about 3 Polish zlotych and one zloty is made up of 100 groszy. Due to inflation in the 1990s, the zloty underwent changes and the old zloty (PLZ) was phased out and the new zloty (PLN) started to be circulated. The zlotych are decorated with images of important historical figures such as King Boleslaw I.
Education
Poland has a history of good education. The Jagiellonian University in Krakow was established in the 14th century and is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in Europe. Polish school children start school at age 7, when they attend a primary school (Szkoła Podstawowa) for six years. School through high school is paid for by the Polish state. Students attend a middle school (Gimnazjum) until the age of 16. When students enter high school (Liceum) there are several different tracks that either prepares them for university or for work right out of high school. Classes usually last from about 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. There are both private and public universities throughout Poland where students study for 2 – 4 years depending on what they plan to do. Eligibility for higher education is determined by a Maturity exam given at the end of the high school years. Tuition is free for students accepted to university.
In a high school students are placed into classes of about 30 people. Though students do switch rooms and teachers throughout the day, they never switch classmates. Most students have likely been with the same classmates their whole lives. Students are expected to respect the teacher, for example standing when a teacher enters the room.
Health Care
Under the old Polish socialist state, citizens were assured full medical care at no cost, however this was never totally true in practice. Today, Poland’s health care system is based on a general health insurance system. Subsidized health services are provided to Polish residents that are covered by general health insurance. This can be either on a compulsory or a voluntary basis. There are many private institutions offering health care in Poland as well as a wide range of specialized doctors, especially in bigger cities. Most specialties exist and a wide range of clinics exist. Private institutions and practices are typically more expensive and due to high unemployment and low wages, many Poles are unable to afford private treatment.
Life expectancy in Poland has enjoyed large gains due to improvements in living conditions, public health interventions and progress in health care. In 2007, life expectancy at birth in Poland was 75.4 years. Infant mortality rate has fallen greatly over the past decades and stood at 6.0 deaths per 1000 live births in 2007. As a country, in 2007, Poland spent about 6.4 percent of its gross domestic products on health. In 2007, Poland had 2.2 practicing physicians per 1000 population. There has been rapid growth in the availability of diagnostic technologies such as CT scanners, MRI scanners, etc.
Some interesting local remedies. A sore throat or light lung condition might be treated with hot mild with a spoonful of butter in it and one chopped piece of garlic sweetened with either honey or sugar (this will likely help you to fall asleep sooner). A cold is treated with a hot beverage made with raspberry juice (or raspberry jam). Another remedy for a cold (or a fever in general) is line tree blossom tea, which can be purchased at herbal remedy stores.
Agriculture
About 18 percent of Poles work in agriculture, according to a 2005 estimate. Wheat, rye, potatoes, and fruit are important crops, while farms also raise cattle, sheep and hogs. Poland still has a large number of family farms; about 75 percent of farmland is privately owned. Many are financially unstable and have to compete with multinational agribusinesses across Europe. Polish farms are less industrialized than other EU countries and horses are still used to power the work on some farms.
Demographics
Poland is one of the most homogeneous countries in the world. Of its 38,482,919 people, 97 percent are ethnically Polish, with a small percentage of Germans, Ukrainians, and Belorussians residing along the borders. There is little immigration into the country, but a high percentage of emigrants leaving to look for better paying jobs. The Polish population is becoming more urban, though cities are small, with none over 2 million people.
Religion/Roman Catholicism
Poland has a long and fascinating religious history. Christianity stems back to the time of King Mieszko I who adopted Christianity for Poland in 966 A.D. As Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire, times of tension arose exhibited in the eventual split and formation of the Orthodox Church in 1054 A.D. Poland aligned itself with Rome. An estimated 95 percent of present day Poles profess Roman Catholicism and over 70 percent say they are practicing Catholics.
Roman Catholicism has exercised key roles in the most recent societal transformation from Communism to democracy. Church and everyday life are woven together very tightly. Attendance at Sunday services and Holy Days of Obligation are heavily attended by people of all ages, while Christmas Eve (Wigilia) and Holy Week are the most celebrated national events. Shrines line the roads and countryside. The holiest and most popular shrine in Poland is the Jasna Gora, or Shining Mountain, at the Pauline monastery in Czestochowa. The chapel of Jasna Gora houses the miraculous image of the Black Madonna, Poland’s most treasured icon. There are many places of worship, many impressive, many unusual. For example, there is the underground Chapel of the Blessed Kings hewn in crystal rock at the ancient salt mine of Wielicska where everything is carved from salt. Another church renowned for its beauty is the Church of St. Andrew in Krakow.
Of course, Poland was the homeland of Pope John Paul II. The Polish people were enormously proud of the Polish pope. It was his interaction as a young Polish man with Communism and the oppression and horrors of war, that shaped and formed his worldview and that lead him to become a priest and eventually to ascend the hierarchical ranks in the Church of Poland. Millions of Poles flocked to see the Pope during his seven visits to Poland.
Climate
The climate of Poland is temperate, with the northern coast and western plain having warmer winters and summers that are cool and wet due to the Baltic Sea affect. For the rest of the country winters are cold and cloudy and summers are mild with frequent rain. The average summertime temperature in Warsaw is 24 degrees Celsius, the winter about -4 degrees Celsius.
Wildlife/Nature/Environment
Poland is home to many species of wildlife. Within the last remaining primeval forest in Europe, the Białowieża Forest, the rare European bison and wild boar reside. Wild horses, brown bears, and Eurasian lynx also live in Poland. About 28% of Poland’s land is protected in some way; this includes 23 national parks and over 1000 smaller reserves. However, despite these achievements Poland is also one of the most polluted countries in Europe. Pollution has decreased since 1989 because of the decline in heavy industry and increased concern of the population and government. However, air pollution is a serious concern due to the heavy usage of coal-fired power plants. Acid rain has become a huge problem, damaging forests and buildings throughout Poland, especially in the Upper Silesia region. Water pollution is also prevalent, as waste from industrial and municipal sources are frequently under treated. In 2000 the Second National Environmental Policy defined short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals for managing natural resources, improving environmental quality, and strengthening policy for the environment. Poland is a signatory to the Kyoto Accords. There is hope that Poland’s pollution will decrease as it continues to improve its environmental standards.
Foods/Meals
The Poles have a tradition of rich and tasty foods for which they are famous for and that will fill the stomach. They are insatiable meat eaters, especially beef and pork served as ham or sausages. Because of the expense, meat is typically reserved for special occasions, feast days or for visitors. Meals are usually vegetable based and mostly boiled. Beets and cabbage are a popular. Some national dishes are golabki, cabbage leaves stuffed with minced meat and rice; bigos, sauerkraut with spicy meat and mushrooms; and flaki, tripe served boiled or fried with carrots and onions. Depending on the region, pickled herring with onions and sour cream between glasses of vodka is popular. In the coastal and mountain areas, people may also eat carp or trout, usually grilled whole to a crispy brown. Soups are also very popular and are often served as the starter course for a meal, with the best known being barszcz, beet soup. Many soups include pork and fish using cream as the base. Soups are often served with pierogi, small square pockets of dough filled with meat, potatoes, or cheese.
Vodka is especially popular in Poland. The Poles also have a wide range of beers, soda drinks, fruit juices, and Coca Cola and Pepsi are widespread. Bottled water is common because of water purification concerns. Tea with lemon and a lot of sugar is popular
Poles usually eat a light breakfast and a light lunch. Lunch might include a plate of cold meat, cheese, rolls and jams. The main course is in the late afternoon with a snack later in the evening. The biggest meal of the week is Sunday lunch and often takes considerable time. There are many restaurants that serve a wide selection of foods and are usually open from late morning to mid-evening. Some don’t open until 1pm after which liquor can be served. Cafes are very popular and vary in what they serve.
Media
The Polish word for newspapers is gazeta. In Poland there are over 10 national newspapers, all of which are privately owned. The most popular paper is Gazeta Wyborcza, a major national newspaper that also publishes local supplements within the larger paper. Another well-known paper is Rzeczpospolita. The most prominent English newspaper, the Warsaw Voice, is also available online. Television is a government-controlled medium in Poland. The most popular T.V. channels are TVP1 and TVP2. There are also many radio stations, which broadcast both popular music and the news. Due to the large number of Poles living abroad, there are many online sites providing Polish news, such as the BBC’s Polish language site.
Crime/Safety
Overall, Poland is a very safe country. Cities often suffer from the activity of pickpockets, though the risk can be mitigated by simple precautionary moves, like not carrying valuables in open bags or in back pockets. Train stations, trams, and buses are often the sites of theft. In case of an emergency the police can be reached by dialing 997.
Transportation
Car ownership in Poland has greatly increased since the Communist days, though roads are still very rough and often congested. There are over 249,488 km of paved roads in Poland. The Polish State Railway is a very popular way to travel. Buses are also widely used and are usually cheaper. The main airport in Poland is Warsaw Okęcie, where over 25 major airlines debark.
Language
The official language of Poland is Polish and for 98 percent of the population Polish is their first language. Across Poland there are slightly different dialects, for example Poles from Warsaw might find it hard to understand Poles from the Tatra Mountains. During the Communist occupation Russian was compulsory for grade school children to learn. Today, most Poles learn English as it is seen as a global language, though the older population most likely does not speak any English. German is also studied due to the number of economic ties between the two countries. Poland is very proud of the Polish language, for many years it was seen as a symbol of the continued existence of the Polish nation, thus most Poles prefer to converse in Polish.
There are 32 letters and 45 sounds in the Polish language. There are three genders, masculine, feminine, and neuter, that create different cases and structures for some verbs, nouns, and adjectives. When greeting someone Poles use, “Dzien dobry!” and to say goodbye use the expression, “Do widzenia” or “Szczesc Boze” which translates to God bless you. Thank you is, “Dziękuję”, yes “tak”, no “nie”, and please “prosze.” To inform someone of your name the expression, “Nazywam się…” is used, while to say it’s nice to meet you is, “Bardzo mi miło pana/panią poznać.”
Culture/Holidays
Poles are very proud of their culture. Throughout the year, the Poles celebrate both religious and secular festivals. Holy Week, Easter, and Christmas are very important. On Easter Monday the Poles celebrate the traditional festival of Smigus – Dyngus. On this day groups of children run around dousing each other with water. Though the custom started hundreds of years ago as ritual washing, today the practice is thought to bring good luck! Christmas Eve is very important in Polish culture, more so than Christmas Day. Polish families celebrate with a traditional meal called Wigilia, starting off with a thin holy bread called oplatek. National Independence Day on November 11th and Constitution Day are also largely celebrated.
Music
Poland has produced some of the finest musical talents in history. Frederic Chopin started to perform piano at age 8. Though he moved to France at age 21, Chopin is still considered a Polish hero. Much of his music was inspired from Poland and he incorporated many traditional Polish tunes and rhythms. Poland has seventeen conservatories, over 100 music schools, and ten symphony orchestras.
To honor the Polish composer 2010 has been declared International Chopin Year. 2010 marks the 200th anniversary of the composer’s birth. Over 2,000 events have been organized to celebrate this year. In August Warsaw will host ‘Chopin and his Europe’ International Festival and in October the 14th Chopin International Piano Competition will take place.
The national anthem of Poland is the Dąbrowski's Mazurka. It is a lively folk dance written after Poland lost its independence to the partitions of Russia, Austria, and Germany. The anthem is extremely patriotic, using events of the time to inspire Polish patriotism, and thus includes references to Bonaparte and the Polish general Dabrowski. The flag of Poland is made up of two equal strands of red and white, with the white being on top.
Sports
Soccer is the most popular sport as in many European countries. Today’s Polish soccer teams are as competitive as they once had been. During the 1970’s under the leadership of Kazimierz Gorski the Polish national team won the Olympic gold metal in ’72 silver in ’76 and won the bronze in the world cup in ’74. The Polish – German soccer rivalry is ranked as one of the best of all time by CNN, dating back to bad blood after the German invasion of WWII. Polish youth are involved at many levels with soccer tournaments at high school, college, and club levels. There are many public pitches were kids can play for fun, and a version called street ball can be played anywhere. This summer the World Cup will be held in South Africa. The Polish national team has qualified seven times for the World Cup the latest being in the ’02 and ’06 opening rounds. Though not qualified for the 2010 World Cup, two Poles played on the German team. Women can play just about any sport they want in Poland. There are also professional soccer, handball, basketball and other sport leagues. These leagues are not as popular or as high paying as the men’s soccer leagues. Other popular activities include horse riding, swimming, volleyball, hiking, and skiing.
Rotary in Poland
Rotary in Poland began in 1931 with the creation of the Warsaw Rotary Club. Polish Rotary experienced some opposition by the Catholic Church in its beginning years. It is thought that the Church believed Rotary to be associated with Freemasonry; a movement that at the time opposed many Church practices. Before WWII there were eight Rotary clubs in Poland. However after Germany invaded Poland, Rotary charters ended throughout the country. There continued to be no Rotary groups in Poland during the Communist occupation. In 1989, the Warsaw Rotary club was resurrected, though Polish Rotary was linked with a Swedish district until 1997 when Polish Rotary became an independent district. Today District 2230 is made up of Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine, with 73 clubs in Poland. The current President is Tadeusz Płuziński, who was re-elected in July 2009.
For the 2009 – 2010 year District 2230 (Polish part) welcomed 45 Rotary Youth Exchange students from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., among others. District 2230 is proud of its exchange program and has been certified by Rotary International as a partner in Youth Exchange. The Youth Exchange Chairman for Poland is Krzysztof Kopyciński.
Throughout the year, District 2230 requires Youth Exchangers to attend four mandatory meetings. The first is held in Torún in the second week of September, after most exchangers have been in country for about a month. The next meeting takes place right before Christmas and exchange students gather to learn about Polish Christmas traditions as well as share traditions from their home countries. This meeting takes place in Wrocław. In April the meeting takes place in Krakow, during the “March of the Living.” This solemn occasion is dedicated to learning about and remembering all those killed in WWII. The final meeting is held in Mielno and is a chance for the exchange students to celebrate their year and all that they have learned and achieved. All mandatory meetings are paid for by Rotary Poland.
District 2230 also offered three optional trips in 2009 – 2010. In November a trip called. “Iberia Tour,” took students to Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, and France. The trip cost approximately $1600 and was about three weeks long. The second trip offered is held March. Called “Grecia and Italia”, students travel to Slovakia, Hungary, Italy, Vatican, and Austria for about two weeks. This trip cost about $1200. The last trip was “Capitals of Central Europe.” The week long trip takes students to four of the major European Capitals – Prague, Berlin, Budapest, and Vienna. This trip cost about $800. There are three trips being offered in 2010 - 2011. A "European Tour" to France, Spain, Italy, Monaco, Germany, Netherlands and Belgium. It is over two weeks long and costs about $1500. The second trip is "Capitals of Central Europe", the same as the previous year. The last trip is "Amazing Poland" and will take place after the final Rotary meeting. Cost: $600.
Poland is a fascinating country. Its people are extremely proud of their Polish heritage, and though Poland has experienced many trials throughout the years, its people continue to thrive. I am very excited for the opportunity to live in such a captivating country. I hope to experience Poland’s many festivals, taste its many foods, and learn from its people. Poland, here I come!
