The 3rd Anniversary

Is Tusk Happy?

Today is the third anniversary of the Civic Platform – Polish People’s Party (PO-PSL) coalition. All government ministers have sent their reports to the prime minister in which they have presented their achievements. What can the  government be proud of? Probably with EU grant expenditure and investments for Euro 2012. What is interesting, the government has always willingly summarised its ‘anniversaries’. However, this time, the closer we get to the end of the government’s tenure, the less the government is willing to report on its achievements. Over the last three years, the government has not implemented many of its promises, often making decisions inconsistent with its pledges.

For example, it promised to reduce taxes but Poles are now having to face an VAT increase (from 22% to 23%) from January next year. The government blames this on the crisis, however, Civic Platform has also not succeeded in introducing a one-mandate electoral system for parliamentary elections, limiting the power of the diplomatic immunity of parliamentarians and reforming KRUS (the Agricultural Social Insurance Fund). A pension reform has only just been started. PM Tusk succeeded in withdrawing the Polish army from Iraq, introducing a ‘regular’ army, separating the functions of the minister of justice and the attorney general, implementing regulations regarding the extension of maternity leave and enabling 6-year-old children to go to school. The process of building stadia for Euro 2012 and so-called Orliks (school playing fields) also looks promising.
Rzeczpospolita

The Copernicus Science Centre

A Look into the Future

A tornado, earthquake and flutter of a butterfly wing will be experienced by us all at the Copernicus Science Centre (Centrum Nauki Kopernik). It opens today, on the 5th of November, in Warsaw. It is the most modern science institution in Poland. “The era of felt slippers and glass-case museums is over once and for all,” says Robert Firmhofer, director of the centre. The grand opening of the centre will begin with “Big Bang” directed by Peter Greenaway and Saskia Boddeke. This spectacular show presents seven myths concerning the creation of the world including the big bang theory. Organisers have also promised lots of fireworks, lighting effects and animations. Robert Firmhofer says, “We saw many science centres and museums all over the world, we talked with their directors and wardens, we took advantage of their good and bad experiences and we also have familiarised ourselves with all the necessary documents but we did not copy any of those places. The Copernicus Science Centre is an original project because we present exhibits that simply cannot be found in other countries like the “Robot Theatre”, the first theatre in which human actors are replaced by robots.”
Wirtualna Polska

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