Stories about Poland from December, 2007
Poland: Bhutto's Tractor Scam
the beatroot writes about a 1990s Polish-made Ursus tractors scam, in which Benazir Bhutto was allegedly involved: “Benazir had launched the Awami Tractor Scheme for the welfare of poor farmers in Pakistan and allegedly received 7.15 percent commission in the purchase of tractors through their front men – Jens Schlegelmilch...
Poland: Christmas
the beatroot cites an opinion poll that shows that Christmas in Poland “is a time where family and traditions take precedence over the religious nature.”
Poland: Ecology, Coal Mines, Iraq
Our Man in Gdansk comments on the coverage of Poland's ecology, coal mines and involvement in Iraq.
Poland: “Troll” Sues Wikipedia
The beatroot reports: “Arnold Buzdygan […] – sometime wannabe presidential candidate, and a regular on usernet sites in Poland – went to court in Wroclaw, southwestern Poland, last week, to sue Wikpedia Polska for deformation of character. […] Buzdygan claims that his fiancée’s mother refused to let the marriage go...
Poland: Simon Mol
The beatroot writes again about Simon Mol, a “Cameroonian ‘refugee’, poet and human rights activist” charged with infecting 12 Polish women with HIV. (Many of the 213 comments to this post do not seem to have much to do with the subject.)
Poland: Organ Donation
The beatroot writes about Polish boxing and kickboxing champion who donated one of his kidneys to his sick baby daughter: “The case has highlighted the lack of donors in Poland, though the country has one of the lowest family refusal rates in the EU – where relatives block the removal...
Central & Eastern Europe: Populism?
Dr. Sean's Blog reviews texts on populism in Central and Eastern Europe that have appeared in the special issue of Journal of Democracy: “The irony is that this comes just as the ‘populist backlash’ seems to be waning.”
Russia: Lyudmila Ulitskaya
Russian Blog writes about Lyudmila Ulitskaya's latest – and, possibly, her last – novel, “Daniel Stein, translator”: “After being such a prolific writer for many years, and after the huge work she put into her last effort, she of course deserves a break. Anyone who has read this masterpiece would...
Europe: Anti-EU “Strategies”
Kosmopolit writes about three “different anti-EU strategies of leading politicians”: “the quiet, the loud and the hyperactive.”
Russia, France: Charmed by Putin?
Russian bloggers discuss Nicolas Sarkozy's congratulatory phone call to Vladimir Putin, following the Dec. 2 parliamentary election in Russia.
Poland: Guns
The beatroot writes about gun laws in Poland and Europe.
