<![CDATA[News - Open Republic]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/ pl Quick.Cms - RSS generator <![CDATA[Jubilee of the Righteous Among the Nations of the World]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/jubilee-of-the-righteous-among-the-nations-of-the-world,578.html 29.08.2010
Polskie Towarzystwo Sprawiedliwych wśród Narodów Świata [Polish Society of the Righteous among the Nations of the World] which has for 25 years cultivated the memory on Poles rescuing Jews during the Nazi occupation, has counteracted anti-Semitism and intolerance and has spread knowledge about the Holocaust, is celebrating its jubilee.

]]> Tue, 07 Sep 2010 09:40:00 +0200 <![CDATA[OR supported the appeal of HFPR]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/or-supported-the-appeal-of-hfpr,577.html 07.08.2010
The Open Republic supported the appeal of Helsińska Fundacja Praw Człowieka [Helsinki Human Rights Foundation] calling on the Prime Minister to ratify the UNO Convention on the Rights of Persons Living with Disability. In spite of signing the Treaty on 30 March 2007, the Republic of Poland has not yet ratified the Convention, which is necessary for guaranteeing each disabled person that he/she may exercise in an unlimited way, her/his rights.

]]> Tue, 07 Sep 2010 09:40:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Stadium racists are still unpunished]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/stadium-racists-are-still-unpunished,576.html 06.08.2010
Football hooligans may with impunity imitate monkeys to offend black football players, may shout: “to be burned!” and anti-Semitic slogans. The Prosecutor’s Office did not consider it to be an offence and decided to finally discontinue investigation on racist incidents during the football match between Cracovia and Wisła.

]]> Tue, 07 Sep 2010 09:39:00 +0200 <![CDATA[There are partners for discussion among Romani people]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/there-are-partners-for-discussion-among-romani-people,575.html 04.08.2010
We want to teach the young generation our history, but we have no chance, because it is usually the specialists on Romani people, who decide what is important and what is not, instead of Romani themselves. I repeatedly hear from the state officials: "The state administration bodies want to do good things, but you must adjust to it". It is like the colonial India, where the 19th century English style of life was an ideal - says Joanna Talewicz-Kwiatkowska.

]]> Tue, 07 Sep 2010 09:39:00 +0200 <![CDATA[OR intervention in Przemyśl]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/or-intervention-in-przemysl,574.html 30.07.2010
In connection with the press information on technical negligence in Zasańska Synagogue located at Plac Unii Brzeskiej 6 in Przemyśl, we applied to the President of the City Robert Choma for taking the appropriate steps in this respect. It follows from this press release that in 2005 the city sold this facility to a private entrepreneur Robert Błażkowski, and that the current negligence on the part of the owner regarding this historical monument are qualified as an offence pursuant to the Act of 23 July 2003 on Protection of Historical Monuments. AS we agree with this interpretation, we asked the President the aforementioned transaction between the office and the entrepreneur, which- according to the press release – was conducted with omission of the Regulatory Commission for Jewish Religious Communities, will be covered by the prosecutor’s examination.

]]> Tue, 07 Sep 2010 09:38:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Wrocław: A man accused of a racist attack will soon be trialed]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/wroclaw-a-man-accused-of-a-racist-attack-will-soon-be-trialed,573.html 15.07.2010
Soon, the trial of 27 year old Robert R. will start before the District Court in Wrocław. He is accused of a racist attack against a black citizen of Ghana.

]]> Sat, 17 Jul 2010 10:30:00 +0200 <![CDATA[OR at the conference "Status of a judge 20 years after system transformation in Poland"]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/or-at-the-conference-status-of-a-judge-20-years-after-system-transformation-in-poland-,572.html 15.07.2010
On July 1, 2010, at the Law and Administration Faculty of the Warsaw University, a conference was held. It was entitled "Status of a judge 20 years after the system transformation in Poland". The Open Republic was represented by Piotr Tomaszewski.

]]> Sat, 17 Jul 2010 10:29:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Statement of Open Republic on Europride]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/statement-of-open-republic-on-europride,569.html 12.07.2010


The Open Republic, Association against anti-Semitism and Xenophobia expresses it support and sends warm greetings to the organizers and friends of Europride Warsaw 2010. We are sure that the holiday of bisexual, transgender persons, gays and lesbians that you prepare will be a great lesson of tolerance and respect for otherness that Warsaw inhabitants will learn. The major goal of the Open Republic is promotion of openness and respect for persons and groups of different ethnic, national, religious, cultural or social identification and counteracting all forms of racism, anti-Semitism, xenophobia and other attitudes that do harm to human dignity. Such attitudes include exclusion or discrimination of persons of different sexual orientation. The motto of this year’s Europride is "Freedom, Equality, Tolerance!"  The Open Republic also believes in these words and values they contain. Your holiday is our holiday!

 

The Management Board of the Open Republic"
Paula Sawicka, Danuta Stołecka-Wójcik, Marek Gumkowski, Jan Herczyński, Elżbieta Petrajtis-O'Neill, Monika Wieczyńska, Krystyna Zowczak-Jastrzębska


Warszawa, 12.07.2010

]]> Sat, 17 Jul 2010 10:27:00 +0200 <![CDATA[March of Memory in Kielce on the 64th anniversary of the pogrom]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/march-of-memory-in-kielce-on-the-64th-anniversary-of-the-pogrom,568.html 12.07.2010
On July 5 about 250 persons marched the streets of Kielce to commemorate once again the Jews murdered in 1946. The ceremony started at Menorah monument commemorating the victims of the Kielce ghetto; the President of Kielce Wojciech Lubawski and the main rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich lighted the memory candles.

]]> Sat, 17 Jul 2010 10:26:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Lessons of tolerance for EU money]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/lessons-of-tolerance-for-eu-money,567.html 07.07.2010
A nice doll named The Other will teach the children from nursery schools and primary schools in Białystok the respect for cultural otherness – for refugees, for representatives of other nationalities, races, outlooks. The pilot lessons will start in autumn.

]]> Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:18:00 +0200 <![CDATA[OR at the conference on counteracting the rightist extremism]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/or-at-the-conference-on-counteracting-the-rightist-extremism,566.html 05.07.2010
On June 28, a conference entitled "Democracy needs quality! Effective counteracting the rightist extremism" was held in Berlin. It was organized by Ebert Foundation. Open Republic was represented by Krystyna Bratkowska.

]]> Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:18:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Leszek Kołakowski: Anti-Semites]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/leszek-kolakowski-anti-semites,565.html 02.07.2010
Mob may only be a tool for political reactionary forces. It acts only when having a clear perspective of direct effectiveness, only in a situation of a majority, and gives in only to violence. Anti-Semitism is the favorite form that may be ascribed to its blurred awareness - wrote Leszek Kołakowski.

]]> Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:17:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Halina Bortnowska: Anti-Semitism as such]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/halina-bortnowska-anti-semitism-as-such,564.html 01.07.2010
- Anti-Semites do harm do themselves and to all of us. Prof. Hartman seems either not to notice it or to neglect it. If it were the way he says, anti-Semitism would be harmless, and it is harmful. Jan Hartman mentions that even an unclear and mild anti-Polonism is harmful to Israel, while at the same time he ignores the threat posed by anti-Semitism among Poles – says Halina Bortnowska, the member of the Program Board of OR about the text of Prof. Hartman.

]]> Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:15:00 +0200 <![CDATA[The police must learn and it must release the witness of Max’ s death ]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/the-police-must-learn-and-it-must-release-the-witness-of-max’-s-death,563.html 01.07.2010
The human rights activists ask the Police City Headquarters to conduct intercultural trainings for policemen. This is connected with the shooting in May of a Nigerian man trading at the stadium - writes Wojciech Karpieszuk.

]]> Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:15:00 +0200 <![CDATA[OR at the conference “CONSTITUTIONAL ACT – CONVENTION – CHARTER. Deficit of Polish human rights standards”]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/or-at-the-conference-“constitutional-act-–-convention-–-charter.-deficit-of-polish-human-rights-standards”,562.html 01.07.2010
On June 29, 2010, the fifth conference of the Human Rights Institute at the Law and Administration Faculty of the Warsaw University was held. The title of this conference was “Constitutional Act – Convention – Charter. Deficit of Polish human rights standards.” OR was represented by Adam Kwiecień.

]]> Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:14:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Poles about Africans]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/poles-about-africans,561.html 25.06.2010
Every tenth Pole does not like Africans, every third believes that there are too many immigrants in Poland, less than half admits the marriage of their children with Africans. But we accept African teacher or doctor - writes Wojciech Karpieszuk.

]]> Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:12:00 +0200 <![CDATA[OR intervention regarding profanation of the Jewish prayer house in Żary]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/or-intervention-regarding-profanation-of-the-jewish-prayer-house-in-zary,560.html 25.06.2010
In connection with the press information that the fascist vandals painted a swastika sign on the building belonging to Lubulskie branch of the Jewish Social and Cultural Society in Poland, we asked the Mayer of Żary, Roman Pogorzelec for the information, if the City Office took care about the removal of writings and repair of damages. We also asked in our letter whether the authorities took steps aimed at preventing manifestations of xenophobia in the future. We also applied to the District Prosecutor in Żary, Barbara Neneman-Szachnowska for an examination whether this act does not exhaust the features of offence pursuant to Article 256 of the Penal Code (propagating fascist and totalitarianism).

]]> Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:11:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Thanks to the President of Gdańsk]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/thanks-to-the-president-of-gdansk,559.html 25.06.2010
We want to thank Paweł Adamowicz, the President of Gdańsk and services subordinate to him for a quick reaction to the profanation of the Jewish cemetery in Chełm and the care about the historical cemetery.

]]> Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:10:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Representatives of OR at the seminar “Jewish minority in Poland – myths and reality"]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/representatives-of-or-at-the-seminar-“jewish-minority-in-poland-–-myths-and-reality-,558.html 23.06.2010
On May 20, 2010 the seminar was held, which was entitled: “Jewish minority in Poland. Myths and reality." The discussion concerned support for development of identity of Jews in Poland, the meetings of the Jewish and Polish youth, stereotypes and mutual prejudice. Open Republic was represented by Paula Sawicka, Monika Wieczyńska, Adam Kwiecień and Piotr Tomaszewski. The seminar was held during the session of the parliamentary Commission for National and Ethnic Minorities.

]]> Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:10:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Marzanna Pogorzelska – the winner of Irena Sendlerowa Award]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/marzanna-pogorzelska-–-the-winner-of-irena-sendlerowa-award,557.html 22.06.2010
This year’s winner of Irena Sendlerowa Award “For making the world better” is Marzanna Pogorzelska, the teacher of English language in the high school in Kędzierzyn-Koźle, coordinator of the school group of Amnesty International, the member of Open Republic and the author of our educational materials. Marzanna Pogorzelska realizes projects on multicultural education and education re: human rights, involving the youth and local community.
Our congratulations to Marzanna Pogorzelska!

]]> Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:09:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Program "Politische Bildung in Aktion!/Civic Education in Action!"]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/program-politische-bildung-in-aktion!-civic-education-in-action!-,556.html 18.06.2010
The Federal Headquarters of Civic Education (bpb) and Robert Bosch Foundation organize third edition of “Politische Bildung in Aktion!/Civic Education in Action!” – a program for young professionals regarding political and social education. Persons from the Central and Eastern Europe, who are involved in voluntary activities or professional activities in social and educational institutions and NGOs may participate in it.

]]> Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:07:00 +0200 <![CDATA[ECRI on racism in Poland]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/ecri-on-racism-in-poland,555.html 15.06.2010
European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) of the Council of Europe prepared a report on Poland, in which it criticized us for frequent occurrence of racist statements. "In the political circles and major media anti-Semitism is partly tolerated" – states the report.

]]> Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:07:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Renewed Ph.D. dissertation of Professor Szacki]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/renewed-ph.d.-dissertation-of-professor-szacki,554.html 15.06.2010
Scholar, thinker, and righteous citizen. What else can one expect – said Professor Paweł Śpiewak about Professor Szacki. At the Warsaw University the ceremony of renewal of Professor Szacki’s PH.D. dissertation was held. Professor Szacki is one of the most outstanding Polish sociologists, a co-founder and member of the Open Republic.

]]> Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:06:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Jerzy Jedlicki’s birthday]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/jerzy-jedlicki’s-birthday,553.html 14.06.2010
Our best wishes to Jerzy Jedlicki, the Chairman of the Program Board of the Open Republic Association on his 80th birthday.
Members of OR

]]> Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:05:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Penalties for propagating fascism]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/penalties-for-propagating-fascism,552.html 14.06.2010
On June 8, the so called major amendment to the codes came into force. It provides for penalization for the sale of items containing totalitarian contents.

]]> Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:05:00 +0200 <![CDATA[OR at the expert seminar at the Ministry of the Interior and Administration [MSWiA]]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/or-at-the-expert-seminar-at-the-ministry-of-the-interior-and-administration-(mswia),551.html 10.06.2010
On June 9, 2010, at the initiative of z the Department for Control of u Complaints and Petitions of MSWiA, a seminar was held, which was focused on methodology of gathering data on the discrimination, xenophobic, and racist phenomena. The Open Republic was represented by: Elżbieta Petrajtis O’Neill, Monika Wieczyńska and Przemysław Wiszniewski.

]]> Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:03:00 +0200 <![CDATA["Here, obviously, life is not easy". Friends about Maxwell Itoyi’s death]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/-here-obviously-life-is-not-easy-.-friends-about-maxwell-itoyi’s-death,548.html 03.06.2010
James: - After Max’s death I don’t feel good in Poland. Before, it was not ideal but it was better. Recently a man made a gesture in the street as if he was aiming at me with a pistol. A stupid joke but such things create special atmosphere. I tell my friends from Nigeria: be careful. I wait to see how the authorities, the police the prosecutor’s office, and ordinary citizens react to what happened in the Stadium.

]]> Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:02:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Holocaust in the new gymnasium textbooks for WOS [Knowledge about Society]]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/holocaust-in-the-new-gymnasium-textbooks-for-wos-(knowledge-about-society),547.html 02.06.2010
Holocaust is a subject that has been in the curriculum of Polish schools for a long time. Since 1999 this problem has been obligatory in teaching history and Polish language in gymnasiums, and since 2001 in high schools. Depending on their abilities, maturity and preparation the students got familiarized with difficult fate of the Jews and of Polish-Jewish relationships during the Second World War. The progress in teaching about the Holocaust in the last decade has been very impressive - writes Robert Szuchta, the member of the Program Board of OR.

]]> Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:01:00 +0200 <![CDATA[OR at the Conference “How to bring children up to prevent stereotype way of thinking"]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/or-at-the-conference-“how-to-bring-children-up-to-prevent-stereotype-way-of-thinking-,546.html 01.06.2010
On May 21, 2010 at the Office of the Government’s Attorney for Equal Treatment, a conference was held, which was entitled: “How to bring children up to prevent stereotype way of thinking". The Open Republic was represented by Monika Wieczyńska.

]]> Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:01:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Draft bill on equal treatment]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/draft-bill-on-equal-treatment,545.html 01.06.2010
Minister Elżbieta Radziszewska, the Government’s Attorney for Equal Treatment proposed a draft bill on implementation of certain regulations of the European Union related to equal treatment. The Act is supposed to define the areas and ways of counteracting the breaches of the principle of equal treatment due to sex, race, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or denomination, world outlook, disability, age and sexual orientation. Coalition for Equal Opportunities prepares corrections to the draft. OR is a member of the Coalition.

]]> Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:00:00 +0200 <![CDATA[European Civic Days]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/european-civic-days,528.html 26.05.2010
On May 6-9, 2010 in the Spanish city of Malaga, an international conference was held on the European social citizenship. It was prepared by 13 Spanish organizations with cooperation of other European organizations. The Open Republic Association was invited by AEDH to participate in the conference. Our association was represented by Elżbieta Petrajtis-O’Neill, who was a panelist in one of workshops.

]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 10:02:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Prosecutor’s Office: Who can be offended]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/prosecutor’s-office-who-can-be-offended,544.html 25.05.2010
Prosecution for hate speech re: gays and lesbians is not within the social interest – decided the Warsaw Prosecutor’s Office.

]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 20:47:00 +0200 <![CDATA[The first Polish commission to fight discrimination at the Warsaw University]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/the-first-polish-commission-to-fight-discrimination-at-the-warsaw-university,543.html 23.05.2010

The Warsaw University is the first Polish university, where a commission for counteracting discrimination related to sex, age, disability, denomination, religion, race and sexual orientation was established. – If anyone feels offended by any statement during a lecture will be able to report this to the commission. It has no penal empowerment, but it will attempt to clarify the matter, mediate, it may also inform the Rector about it – says Anna Korzekwa, UW spokeswoman.

]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 20:45:00 +0200 <![CDATA[OR at the conference “Participation of young people – the way to civic society”]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/or-at-the-conference-“participation-of-young-people-–-the-way-to-civic-society”,542.html 22.05.2010
On April 12 – 18, 2010 in Budapest the conference “Participation of young people – the way to civic society” was held. The Open Republic was represented by Paweł Kwiecień.

]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 20:45:00 +0200 <![CDATA[OR’s intervention on the theft of historical tombstones]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/or’s-intervention-on-the-theft-of-historical-tombstones,541.html 21.05.2010
In connection with the theft of historical tombstones from the Jewish cemetery in Radość, the Open Republic asked the Head of Warszawa Wawer Police Station, inspector Krzysztof Kawka what actions did the police take on this.

]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 20:44:00 +0200 <![CDATA[OR representatives at the meeting of the Commission for Equal Treatment]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/or-representatives-at-the-meeting-of-the-commission-for-equal-treatment,540.html 19.05.2010

On May 11, the meeting of the Commission for Social Dialog on Equal Treatment at the Office of the President of Warsaw was held. The Open Republic was represented by: Monika Wieczyńska, Adam Kwiecień and Piotr Tomaszewski.

]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 20:43:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Professor Magdalena Środa: Who cares about animals!]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/professor-magdalena-sroda-who-cares-about-animals!,539.html 14.05.2010
Professor Peter Singer, an outstanding philosopher, a great intellectual and spokesman for the rights of animals could not deliver a speech at the conference organized by the Law and Administration Department of the Warsaw University. One of the panelists – the professor at UW – discovered that professor Singer has liberal opinion on abortion and euthanasia. Prof. Magdalena Środa comments: "In the case of Professor Singer we can see the lack of understanding of what democracy, university, and academic debate are. One can see opportunism of authorities and cowardice of individuals, who are unable, who do not want, or are simply afraid of standing up for freedom and pluralism, which the University should be the spokesman for".

]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 20:42:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Anti-Semitic banners in Rzeszów]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/anti-semitic-banners-in-rzeszow,538.html 14.05.2010
At the derby of Resovia and Stal Rzeszów, in the stadium sector occupied by the pseudo-fans of Resovia, a banner was displayed with the following text "Death to hooked noses". On the other, there was a cancelled figure of a Jew. OR filed a notification of the commitment of a public offense consisting in calling for committing a crime (Art. 255 §2 of the Penal Code) and inciting to hate stemming from nationality differences (Art. 256 of the Penal Code).

]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 20:41:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Irena Sendler award “For repairing the world”]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/irena-sendler-award-“for-repairing-the-world”,537.html 14.05.2010
This year, I. Sendler award “For repairing the world” will be awarded for the fourth time. This award is granted each year to the teachers of primary and high schools, who educate their students in the spirit of tolerance and respect for other people, inspire to take steps consistent with these principles and play an active role sin their schools and local community. The award is USD 10 000. Proposals can be filed until June 5, 2010.

]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 20:41:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Monument in Prosta street]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/monument-in-prosta-street,536.html 14.05.2010
In the place where 67 years ago the fighters from the Warsaw ghetto came out from the sewage canal to the Aryan side of the city, a small monument was erected. It was unveiled by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski and organizer of that evacuation - Symcha Ratajzer-Rotem, pseudonym "Kazik".

]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 20:36:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Protest against the march of nationalists in Lublin]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/protest-against-the-march-of-nationalists-in-lublin,535.html 12.05.2010
In the letter sent to the President of Lublin Adam Wasilewski we asked for preventing the march of nationalists through the city, which was planned for May 22, 2010. During the previous meetings of ONR numerous anti-Semitic and xenophobic slogans were shouted. It is easy to foresee that it may look the same in Lublin.

]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 20:36:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Thanks for the students]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/thanks-for-the-students,534.html 12.05.2010
We thank the students of the Higher Agro-business School in Łomża for their prompt campaign of gathering signatures against liquidation of the center for refugees in Łomża. Protest against such decisions and interest in the fate of refugees, who are in Poland a group that is practically helpless in face of xenophobia and discrimination is a good example of spreading tolerance in our public life. These are activities that facilitate counteracting xenophobia.

]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 20:35:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Letter to the President of Wrocław]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/letter-to-the-president-of-wroclaw,533.html 12.05.2010
In connection with vandalizing the Jewish Cemetery at ul. Lotnicza in Wrocław we asked the President of the City, Mr. Rafał Dutkiewicz for the information, whether the City Office took care about removal of these writings and repair of damages. We also asked whether any steps were taken, which would prevent such hate acts and anti-Semitic demonstrations that are too frequent in public places in Wrocław.

]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 20:34:00 +0200 <![CDATA[The position of Coalition for Equal Opportunities]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/the-position-of-coalition-for-equal-opportunities,532.html 12.05.2010
We present the position of the Coalition for Equal Opportunities filed with the European Tribunal of Justice for a failure to implement the provisions of the community directive prohibiting discrimination for race or ethnic reasons. OR is a member of the Coalition.

]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 20:34:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Mosque in Warsaw- yes or no?]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/mosque-in-warsaw-yes-or-no-,531.html 28.04.2010
On April 22, 2010 in Cafe Karma, Warszawskie Centrum Innowacji Edukacyjno-Społecznych i Szkoleń organized an open discussion on the construction of a mosque in Warsaw, which is underway. The meeting was attended by Samir Ismail – the chairman of the Muslim League of the Republic of Poland, which builds the mosque, Bogusław R. Zagórski – an expert on Islam (Ibn Chaldun Institute) and Professor Zbigniew Mikołejko – philosopher and historian of religion, as well as numerous inhabitants of Warsaw and Warsaw Muslims. The Open Republic was represented by Krystyna Zowczak-Jastrzębska.

]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 20:33:00 +0200 <![CDATA[White on black, or how should we understand NOP slogans]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/white-on-black-or-how-should-we-understand-nop-slogans,530.html 25.04.2010

- The slogan "Poland for Poles" has no race associations, so it may not be considered a racist slogan –dr Tomasz Scheffler, an expert in the trial of the members of the National Rebirth of Poland and Nationalistic Association "Zadruga" tried to persuade the court.

]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 20:32:00 +0200 <![CDATA[OBOP: how do the Poles perceive the Jews?]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/obop-how-do-the-poles-perceive-the-jews-,529.html 25.04.2010
The majority of Poles do not represent anti-Semitic views, but almost half of them agrees with the opinion that the Jews’ influence in the global affairs is too high – this results from the survey carried out by TNS OBOP.

]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 20:31:00 +0200 <![CDATA[*]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/-,514.html  

Members of the Open Republic Association are devastated and deeply shocked by the crash of the plane and the death of the President of Poland and his Wife, leaders of political parties, members of the parliament, priests, main officers of the Polish armed forces and many other outstanding public persons as well as the crew of the plane. We express our deep sorrow and sympathy to the families of the victims of this tragic catastrophe. Let this tragedy unite our society and help to overcome differences and prejudice.

We salute their memory

May they rest in peace

The Management Board of the Open Republic Association

 

]]> Sat, 10 Apr 2010 19:01:00 +0200 <![CDATA[In memory of the ghetto heroes]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/in-memory-of-the-ghetto-heroes,527.html  

In memory of the ghetto heroes – for the first time without Marek Edelman

For 65 years on April 19, at noon, aside the official ceremony, Marek Edelman turned up at the Ghetto Heroes Monument and later went to the former Umschlagplatz. He was accompanied by friends, among them Jacek Kuroń, Lechosław Goździk, Bronisław Geremek and all those who wanted to salute the memory of the heroes in a public but very personal manner.

He was also accompanied by his son and daughter with their families. In the recent years the growing number of school students also joined him not only to salute the heroes but also to participate in the lesson of history, sensitivity, and humanity. This event became a symbolic act of Marek Edelman vesting the memory on those who had lost their lives to the next generations and an obligation for those who accompanied him to continue his mission.

This year we will meet at his grave at the Jewish Cemetery and then we will go to the Ghetto Heroes Monument and our usual way – to the monument of Szmul Zygielbojm, to MIła bunker, and finally – to Umschlagplatz.

Friends of Marek Edelman

 

]]> Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:28:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Position of OR regarding the protests against construction of the mosque in Warsaw]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/position-of-or-regarding-the-protests-against-construction-of-the-mosque-in-warsaw,526.html 07.04.2010
We express our concern about xenophobic demonstrations against construction of the mosque in Warsaw. It is painful for us that many people, when speaking about the Muslims living in Poland, use hate speech and reveal prejudice.
Tolerance, openness and dialog - instead of hostile demonstrations and apprehension - are a basis for building a multi-cultural society, in which each group and religion has its place.
Management Board of the Open Republic Association

]]> Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:26:00 +0200 <![CDATA[When we will live in the world with no capital punishment?]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/when-we-will-live-in-the-world-with-no-capital-punishment-,525.html 31.03.2010
“When will we live in the world with no capital punishment?” – this is the title of a conference organized on March 30 by Amnesty International and "Horyzont – against capital punishment". Draginja Nadażdin, the director of Amnesty International Polska presented the Report of Amnesty International “Death sentences and executions in 2009” – the report does not show the number of executions in China, where most of them take place (last year, over 1000) and called for China to disclose these data.

]]> Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:25:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Picket “No more Nazism on Allegro!”]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/picket-“no-more-nazism-on-allegro!”,524.html 30.03.2010
On March 21, the International Day of Struggle against Racism, representative of the Open Republic participated in the picket “No more Nazism on Allegro in Warsaw organized by the Green 2004, “Never Again” Associaiton and Green Light Foundation.

]]> Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:25:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Echoes of campaign “I miss you, Jew!"]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/echoes-of-campaign-“i-miss-you-jew!-,523.html 29.03.2010
Apostrophe to "Jew" is in the intent of the author of the campaign, Rafał Betlejewski, addressed to an abstracted Jew and a particular Jew. This first aspect of call to any Jew may teach us not to be afraid of using the word “Jew”. The second aspect reconstructs our relationship between a particular memory and a real person from the past – writes Przemysław Wiszniewski, a member of OR.

]]> Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:24:00 +0200 <![CDATA[OR in Gymnasium in Kołbiel]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/or-in-gymnasium-in-kolbiel,522.html 17.03.2010
Przemysław Wiszniewski and Adam and Paweł Kwiecień from OR visited on March 12, 2010 the Public Gymnasium by the name of O. Kolberg in Kołbiel. They talked with the students of seven classes about anti-Semitism. They attempted to tell them about the evil of pathological social phenomena such as racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism.

]]> Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:23:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Krakow. Anti-Semitism and commemoration of ghetto liquidation]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/krakow.-anti-semitism-and-commemoration-of-ghetto-liquidation,521.html 17.03.2010
Several hundred people marched along the streets of Krakow to commemorate the victims of liquidation of the Krakow ghetto. A day before this march the monument of victims of Nazi crimes was desecrated – someone wrote on it "Hitler good", "Jude raus", swastikas and David stars on the gallows were painted.

]]> Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:22:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Conference on counteracting discrimination]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/conference-on-counteracting-discrimination,520.html 15.03.2010
On March 12, 2010 at the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy a conference was held, which summed up the series of five meetings on counteracting age, disability, race, ethnic and national origin, religion, sex and sexual orientation discrimination. Open Republic was represented by Anna Kwiecień.

]]> Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:22:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Representatives of OR at the meeting of the Commission for National and Ethnic Minorities of the Polish Parliament]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/representatives-of-or-at-the-meeting-of-the-commission-for-national-and-ethnic-minorities-of-the-polish-parliament,519.html 14.03.2010
On March 4, 2010 the meeting of the parliamentary Commission for National and Ethnic Minorities was held. It concerned safety issues. Representatives of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Ministry of Justice, Chairman of National Minorities, parliament members, representatives of “Never Again” Association and Monika Wieczyńska from the Open Republic participated in the discussion.

]]> Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:21:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Paula Sawicka at the meeting with OR members and supporters in Copenhagen]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/paula-sawicka-at-the-meeting-with-or-members-and-supporters-in-copenhagen,518.html 10.03.2010
Paula Sawicka was invited to Copenhagen by the Danish members and supporters of the Open Republic. On March 7, during the meeting with the members of the Club of Jews from Poland she spoke about the last book of Marek Edelman “And there was love in the ghetto”. She also told the members of the club about OR activity, which trigged off n interesting discussion on the manifestations of anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia and intolerance in Poland and in Denmark.

]]> Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:20:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Petition for defense of the Jewish cemetery at Bródno part of Warsaw]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/petition-for-defense-of-the-jewish-cemetery-at-brodno-part-of-warsaw,517.html 05.03.2010
In Warsaw, the city exceptionally stigmatized by history, where great attention is paid to the memory of the past, the Jewish cemetery at Bródno is devastated and the authorities of the city do not react. Sign a petition for defense of this cemetery

]]> Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:19:00 +0200 <![CDATA[OR in the Initiative against capital punishment]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/or-in-the-initiative-against-capital-punishment,516.html 28.02.2010
The Management Board of OR decided to join the informal Initiative against the capital punishment. This initiative consists in public celebrating of October 10, 2010 as the European Day against Capital Punishment. This initiative roots from conviction non humanitarian institution of capital punishment is an evil, which must be eliminated. The author of this idea is Halina Bortnowska, a member of the Program Board of OR.

]]> Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:18:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Progress, counteracting discrimination, promotion of diversity]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/progress-counteracting-discrimination-promotion-of-diversity,515.html 15.02.2010
The project is carried out by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy. Activities taken under this project are aimed at initiation of a broad social dialog on non-discrimination and promotion of diversity in Poland, making the society sensitive to the problems of persons being the victims of discrimination, strengthening groups and persons dealing with this subject and developing recommendations for preparation of the future actions in this respect.

]]> Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:18:00 +0200 <![CDATA[Letter to the Prime Minister sent by the Coalition for Equal Opportunities]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/letter-to-the-prime-minister-sent-by-the-coalition-for-equal-opportunities,513.html 04.02.2010
In connection with taking by the European Commission of another step in the procedure against Poland for breaching the community law by improper implementation of anti-discrimination regulations relating to employment, the Open Republic together with its allies from the Coalition for Equal Opportunities called for the prompt drafting and implementation of the appropriate legal acts in this area

]]> Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:06:00 +0100 <![CDATA[Meeting with Hannah Rosenthal]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/meeting-with-hannah-rosenthal,512.html 02.02.2010
On January 28, in the American Embassy, representatives of Polish NGOs met with Hannah Rosenthal, who is the special envoy of President Obama, working at the Department of State and dealing with combating anti-Semitism. Mrs. Rosenthal wanted to learn about the activities of Polish NGOs, especially educational steps preventing the spreading of anti-Semitism. The Open Republic was represented by Elżbieta Petrajtis-O’Neill.

]]> Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:15:00 +0100 <![CDATA[Conference on the public service media]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/conference-on-the-public-service-media,511.html 02.02.2010
On January 23, in the Column Room of the Parliament, the international conference was held; it was entitled: Public media: future or funeral. In the first part , the speakers presented a brief analysis of the situation of the public service media. They stated that the problem of “colonization” of public media by the politicians occurs in all countries of the Central Europe, but it is particularly acute in Poland. The speeach delivered by Doris Pack, the Chairwoman of the Culture and Media Committee of the European Parliament was focused on the European media policy. In the second part of the conference two panels were held: one on budgeting the public service media and the other on the role of the public service media in the era of the internat.

]]> Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:15:00 +0100 <![CDATA[Signing the petition]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/signing-the-petition,510.html 27.01.2010
During the night January 22/23, swastikas appeared on Rotbaum plague near the synagogue in Wrocław. Unknown perpetrators also wrote the slogan "Jude raus!" at Włodkowica Street. This is the second incident of this type in the last six months; this incident happened at the time of the ceremony of commemorating the victims of Auschwitz – Birkenau camp. We ask you to sign a petition for installing monitoring at Włodkowica Street.

]]> Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:14:00 +0100 <![CDATA[Celebrating the Judaism Day]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/celebrating-the-judaism-day,509.html 25.01.2010
January 17 has been for 13 years celebrated in the Catholic Church as the Judaism Day. On that day, the members of Jewish communities and Christian communities get to know each other through numerous forms of meetings, such as press conferences, discussions, concerts, performances, and common prayers.

]]> Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:27:00 +0100 <![CDATA[The end of the ”School of Dialog” Project]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/the-end-of-the-”school-of-dialog”-project,508.html 25.01.2010
On January 14 the ceremony ending the “School of Dialog 2009” project organized by the Forum of Dialog Between the Nations took place in Warsaw. This time the program covered the students of Warsaw schools and – for the first time – young people from small towns – totally about 500 students participated in the project.

]]> Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:26:00 +0100 <![CDATA[OR in the Coalition for Equal Opportunities]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/or-in-the-coalition-for-equal-opportunities,507.html 24.01.2010
The Management Board of OR decided on accession to the Coalition for Equal Opportunities. The Coalition was established as a reaction to the unsatisfactory and not sufficiently transparent work of the government on the draft of a new legal act on equal treatment. Organizations belonging to the coalition are the leading Polish organizations acting in the area of counteracting discrimination.

]]> Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:25:00 +0100 <![CDATA["Jew, I miss you!" campaign]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/-jew-i-miss-you!-campaign,506.html 19.01.2010
- We usually see the word “Jew” as an offence used in the anti-Semitic writings on the walls. I decided to overcome this fear of uttering this word – says Rafał Betlejewski, an artist, who begins the campaign entitled “Jew, I miss you!"

]]> Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:24:00 +0100 <![CDATA[Publication summing up the program FOR TOLERANCE]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/publication-summing-up-the-program-for-tolerance,505.html 19.01.2010
The book summing up the experience gathered in the program FOR TOLERANCE "Common factors/Differing factors" carried out by Towarzystwo Inicjatyw Twórczych "ę" and Batory Foundation in the period 2006 – 2009 was published recently. The Open Republic Association also took part in the program.
The persons interested in the publication are asked to send an e-mail to the address: dorota.borodaj@e.org.pl

]]> Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:23:00 +0100 <![CDATA[Court reacted to anti-Semitic excesses of Leszek Bubel]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/court-reacted-to-anti-semitic-excesses-of-leszek-bubel,504.html 10.01.2010
ON January 6, 2010, the Warsaw District Court ordered the prosecutor’s office to re-examine the case of publication of the list of members of Jewish Community in Warsaw by the magazine “Only Poland” published by Leszek Bubel. Bubel, who was many times accused of spreading racism and anti-Semitism, has been publishing the names, surnames, photos, and information on the private lives of the members of the Warsaw Jewish community in his magazines.

]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:15:00 +0100 <![CDATA[About the conference "To make it in Poland"]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/about-the-conference-to-make-it-in-poland-,503.html 03.01.2010

Some people, when speaking about integration of foreigners with the Polish society, in fact mean assimilation. This is not the same - Monika Wieczyńska, the member of the Management Board of OR writes about the conference “To make it in Poland”.

]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:12:00 +0100 <![CDATA[The Conference "Hate speech versus freedom of speech – the legal and social aspects"]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/the-conference-hate-speech-versus-freedom-of-speech-–-the-legal-and-social-aspects-,502.html 07.12.2009
On November 30 in Poznań the Conference "Hate speech versus freedom of speech – the legal and social aspects". The Open Republic was represented by Dr Andrzej Malanowski and Adam Kwiecień. The Conference was organized by Poznańskie Centrum Praw Człowieka INP PAN. It consisted of 3 panels, each of which was summed up with the discussion. The first panel was led by Prof. Roman Wieruszewski, the second by Prof. Mirosław Wyrzykowski.

]]> Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:37:00 +0100 <![CDATA[OR invites you to the course of UW Open University]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/or-invites-you-to-the-course-of-uw-open-university,501.html 06.12.2009
OR invites you to the courses "Getting familiarized with the Constitutional Act" and "Human rights before the Strasburg Tribunal", conducted at UW Open University by Dr Wojciech Brzozowski from the Department of Law and Administration of UW. Both courses will commence on January 11, 2010.

]]> Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:36:00 +0100 <![CDATA[OR on the decision of authorities regarding the march of fascists on November 11]]> http://www.otwarta.org/english/or-on-the-decision-of-authorities-regarding-the-march-of-fascists-on-november-11,500.html 06.12.2009
OR notified the Prosecutor’s Office of the commitment of crime of propagating totalitarianism and fascism by the members of the National Radical Camp, who made the Nazi “Heil!” gestures and shouted “National socialism” “Off with Jewish chauvinism!” “Off with Jewish occupation!” during the celebrations of the national independence day of November 11. We also asked the Chief of the Warsaw Police for explanation, why the police did not intervene  In the letter to the President of Warsaw, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz we expressed out indignation regarding her failure to protest against organizing demonstration by the fascists and explaining her leniency toward ONR by the freedom of speech.

]]> Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:35:00 +0100