FREE APRIL 2009 Edition 54 ISSN 1898-4762 krakow POST www.krakowpost.com OFF Plus Camera '09 O.S.T.R. inside CityLife - Page 16 CityLife - Page 12 Citylife Green Paths for Krakow Region Locals consider ecological angles Magdalena Matyjaszek eing open to an ecological life- style seems to be not enough for a contemporary society that is demanding more and more engagementB in ecological issues. These days, being directly involved in the green way of life seems to be the answer. As a result, a growing number of initia- tives are spreading throughout Krakow and the Małopolska region with the aim of promoting a more hands-on involve- ment. While considering the city and look- ing for evidence of activities promoting local food production, some end up be- Visualisation of the Płaszów labour camp, from the forthcoming exhibition at the Schindler Factory / photo MHK lieving that products sold at the Kleparz market are all healthy, while others try and save up in advance when planning INSIDE a visit to a health food shop. The motto SCHINDLER WILL SHINE “you are what you eat” provokes much Krakow more consideration now than several years ago. Armenian anniversary As a result of Polish participation in First phase of factory revamp complete commemorated in Krakow the Kyoto protocol, many initiatives fil- >> page 4 ter down to smaller scale communities. Alexandra Szaflarska from the Aeris Nick Hodge Futuro Foundation, an NGO founded Poland in Krakow, organises campaigns and activities across the country: "We try to he centre-piece is ent Krakow in the period of changed its character fol- Football: Showing racism keep ourselves active on the home front, yet to come, but the Second World War: how lowing the years 1939-1945. the red card but attempts are often limited by logis- the Schindler Fac- Krakow was, what losses it Almost 30 percent of the in- >> page 8 tical constraints. One of our flagship tory has opened to sustained, and what role it habitants of the city - those initiatives has been planting along the Tthe public after years of ad- played in Poland and Eu- who were Jewish - disap- Greenways trail, which runs from Kra- ministrative wrangling. The rope at that time," Michał peared, and in all prob- Feature kow to Vienna. In fact, this was one of Historical Museum of the Niezabitowski, director of ability, they disappeared our key planting locations for our pop- City of Krakow has taken the city museum, told the forever. We came through a Easter traditions ular 'Dedicate a Tree' projects, through control of the project, and Krakow Post. traumatic experience - one in Krakow which anyone can visit our website and this autumn, an interactive "Up until now there has which has had a strong im- >> page 9 sponsor a tree for a loved one.” exhibition will transport been no exhibition which pact on our history." Returning to a city such as Krakow, it visitors back to the trying shows the history of Kra- Unquestionably, there is necessary to begin with the local need years of the occupation: kow during this very diffi- will be a focus on Oskar for fresh and seasonal food to be found "The main aim of found- cult time," he continued. Schindler himself, the Ger- Opinion on the shop shelves. If there is strong ing this museum is to pres- "The city completely man entrepreneur who British National Party encouragement from a community, the saved over a thousand Jews reaction of farmers’ markets is immedi- from the Holocaust. in Spitfire muddle ate. For now, the market circumstances Oskar Schindler (1908- >> page 10 in Poland are different, resulting from a 1974) took over the enam- customer force of habit. Sir Julian Rose, elware factory following the an early pioneer of organic farming Nazi invasion of Poland in methods in the UK, is, together with September 1939. The busi- Jadwiga Łopata, directing the Interna- ness was already defunct, tional Coalition to Protect the Polish but Schindler, who was in Countryside. Their headquarters are the pay of German Intel- in Stryszów, near Wadowice. He ex- ligence, sought to exploit plains that “Poland is only just getting cheap labour in an effort to stuck into the supermarket scenario turn the enterprise around. and therefore the incentive to look for He persuaded Nazi authori- an alternative hasn’t quite happened yet, ties to allow him to house but I think it will.” Those waiting for a workers on site, ultimately change hope that people will swiftly transferring his predomi- realise that food now available Michał Niezabitowski speaks at last month's conference nantly Jewish work- in the supermarkets is incom- >> 2 / photo Anna Spysz force west in 1944. >> 3 2 Krakow Post APRIL 2009 www.krakowpost.com News Krakow << Schindler from page 1 A small exhibition about Schindler opened in the factory on March 15th, which will be complemented by more threads once the main section opens. "We want everyone who visits this museum to feel that they are walking into the past," explained Łukasz Czuj, co-author of the planned centre-piece. Speaking with great enthusiasm about the project, he described how the design follows a labyrinthine form, with visitors moving though a chain of halls following the chronological progression of the Nazi occupation. "We want to build an exposition that allows you to enter into the very drama of the city, so that you feel how the city is changing," he said, adding that even the sounds and smells of the occupation will be evoked. Like the acclaimed Warsaw Rising Museum, the Krakow exhibition will offer a modern, interactive experience. Dramatic episodes such as the mass ar- rest of Krakow professors will be ren- dered, as well as the emergence of resis- tance. Simulations of the ghetto and the Płaszów forced labour camp will evoke the magnitude of the Jewish tragedy. "The exhibition will show the dramat- ic choices that people made," Mr. Czuj explained. "But it should also prompt us to think 'What would my decision have been?'" Besides worthy historical heirlooms, the curators are also looking for more Visualisation of Schindler's office, from the forthcoming exhibition at the Schindler Factory/ photo MHK mundane items in an effort to recreate the atmosphere of those years. artists denounced as "degenerate." a womaniser and that he did it for the in order to discuss the most appropriate "We have a vast amount of pho- Crucially, it is hoped that the cre- money. But of course, I would not exist manner in which to handle the legacy. tographs and documents," director ation of the two museums in Krakow's had it not been for Schindler." "Such a museum could be created Niezabitowski said, "but we're lacking Zabłocie district will help regenerate Of the current developments at the elsewhere, but this is indeed an ideal everyday, household objects from the an area that is considered somewhat factory, Mrs. Haber is optimistic: "I am place for such purposes. It is a kind of occupation era," he added. "These may beyond the pale. The factory's legacy glad that something is being done," she historical monument, and for this rea- not have great material value, but for us enjoys exceptional publicity owing to says. son it is with immense good fortune curators, they are very precious." Thomas Keneally's historical novel Director Michał Niezabitowski re- that owing to the course of events, and One of the stumbling blocks in the Schindler's Ark and Spielberg's subse- vealed that visits to Germany, Israel also to the activity of the city authori- regeneration of the factory thus far has quent film, Schindler's List. One section and the United States had been made ties, we can realise the exhibition here." been the sheer vastness of the site. In of the main exhibition will allow visitors fact, despite the considerable scope of to walk through Oskar Schindler's pri- the current project, it will only utilize vate office, which will contain an "ark" the former administrative buildings of of enamelware in tribute to the Jewish the factory. These halls provide ample workers. room for the curators' needs. Schindler himself continues to pro- The adjoining factory buildings - voke conflicting reactions. Lili Haber, which resemble a string of air hangars President of the Association of Cra- - will house a museum of contemporary covians in Israel, has organised events art, under separate ownership. This de- in tribute to the industrialist, and her cision sparked some debate, with ques- own father was saved on the list, along tions raised as to whether contemporary with two of her uncles. She talks with art was appropriate for a site so inti- joy about the overwhelming success of mately connected with the Holocaust. a recent Polish exhibition in Jerusalem However, it has been argued that a space about the Jews of pre-war Krakow. How- that allows for free artistic expression is ever, she told the Post that her father re- in itself a victory against the ideology of sented the praise lavished on Schindler. Nazism. Hitler's regime banned count- "My father always told me that he was less artforms, with scores of brilliant The revamped exterior of the former Schindler factory / photo Anna Spysz letters to the editor about krakow POST Krakow Post is a monthly Anna Spysz, Editor-in-Chief For advertising inquiries, TheKrakow Post welcomes letters to the editor. Letters for publication should be signed and bear the publication published by [email protected] please contact: Lifeboat Ltd. signatory’s e-mail address and city of residence. 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