20 years on the weaker side. Fight makes sense

‘Smith: Why, why, why? Why are you doing this? Why do you stand up and fight? Do you believe he's fighting for something? More than life? Can you tell me what this is? You know that? Is that freedom? Right? How about peace or love? It's all delusions. The whims of perception. The fleeting creations of a weak human head that seeks the origin of being where there is no sense or purpose. All these things are artificial as themselves. Matrix, although only the human head could make this boredom—love. I think you request to see this. You don't have a chance. There's no point in fighting. Then why do you insist?

Neo: due to the fact that that's how I choose" – the characters of the movie "Matrix Revolutions" talk.

The civilian Affairs Institute is celebrating. This year we celebrate our 20th birthday. On February 2, 2004, the Foundation Institute of civilian Affairs was entered in the National Court Register.

You can enjoy with us, want the Institute 100 years and... strengthen what we're doing now. They think, talk or act.

Roots

The Institute's roots are many: tiny and large, short and long, winding and straight. 3 are key. The first root is Radio broadcast “Are you aware?”. Launched in 1996 present has a continuation in weekly podcasts published in the Week of civilian Affairs.

The second root is protest against the construction of the road on Mount St. Anne in 1998. It was the loudest action of civilian disobedience after protests against the construction of a atomic power plant in Żarnowiec (1985-1990) and shares ‘Tama Tamie’ in Czorsztyn (1990-1992).

The 3rd root is Letter ‘Citizen’ issued in 2000-2010. In our first issue, we wrote: “Despite hopes and expectations in the 3rd Republic, both the practice of government and the dominant way of reasoning are far from common sense and what is associated with the thought of citizenship. Citizenship understood as preceded by an open debate by joint decision on common good".

From these roots grows tree trunk with many branches in the form of initiatives, campaigns and social projects of the Institute of civilian Affairs.

20 years have passed

20 years of searching for the truth, fighting evil and caring for the common good have passed like a day. For 20 years, we were on the side of the weak. “It is essential to intervene erstwhile good people encounter something bad” (the movie “Indestructible”).

On the side of residents whose towns were scattered by the road and car lobby (citizen campaign) ‘Tiri on track’). Example Danuta Kowalczyk, fighting the illegal passage of the north-south A1 motorway. On the side of employees who were objects in companies alternatively of entities (initiative Centre for the Support of Workers' Councils). Example Mary the Juror, unlawfully released by the board of mBank. On the part of consumers whose right to information is repeatedly violated (citizen campaigns) “I want to know”). Example Emilia Stanek, purchasing food on the local marketplace in Łódź.

We were on the side of informal movements and social organizations fighting against pure evil. Example Green Will Association the ongoing fight with the lobby of pyromaniacs, who want to launch a waste incineration plant in Zduńska Wola; an example inhabitants of the crane defending 400 days of their land and water from the Chevron Corporation; an example local communities fighting telecom corporations putting mobile telephone masts close schools, kindergartens and homes.

The last 20 years have besides been analytical-expert work, which has given power to the weaker. We worked with scientists and experts (you don't should be a scientist to be an expert). Our achievements are draft laws, reports and expertise.

For example, between 2019 and 2021 we implemented ‘Citizens decide’ project under the strategical Programme for investigation and improvement "Social and economical improvement of Poland in Globalised Markets" – GOSPOSTRATEG. The task was implemented by a consortium which we were the leader of, and partners were: the University of Gdańsk – the Chair of Constitutional Law and Political Institutions and the University of Łódź – the Center for Electoral Studies. The task was financed by the National Centre for investigation and Development.

The Institute of civilian Affairs is an exceptional institution, "four in one": think-tank (thinking and analysis), action tank (mobilising for citizenship), watchdog (looking at power on hands) and services (offered social organisations, companies and local authorities).

How to Make Politics

“Everything is set. You're expected to be protecting us. Bullshit! We defend ourselves. No 1 else. Not corporations. Not science. Not the authorities. We!” says Robert Bilott in the movie ‘Dark waters’, whose script was based on the communicative of life taken. The communicative described in Nathaniel Rich’s loud article, “The lawyer who became DuPont's worst nightmare”, published in the fresh York Times in 2016. I agree with Bilott, I have found this many times in the last nearly 30 years of social activities.

If you request technological arguments due to the fact that you don't believe us, I urge you read a book. "Game of atom. Social technology management in atomic energy improvement in Poland" published by the technological Publishing home of the Nicolaus Copernicus University. Piotr Stankiewicz on over 500 pages shows the mechanisms for blocking public participation by secret interest groups in the framework of the "golden triangle" of science, business and public authorities.

"(...) the weaker position of civilian actors in the decision-making process is the consequence of the intentional and intentional actions of another actors, not just the derivative of the structural characteristics of Polish democracy," Stankiewicz writes.

From the beginning, we have been curious in causes and mechanisms, not the effects of problems that alleged average citizens experience in everyday life. That's how we chose.

He's aware they don't give prizes for that choice. Today, it is easier to gain popularity by collecting money into a can for children with cancer than by collecting information and publicizing who contributes to the fact that these children are suffering from cancer. It is easier to receive a prize for promoting public consultation than for revealing mechanisms that contribute to the fact that these consultations are fiction. It's easier to give distant election sausage than to make people aware of how sausage and politics are made.

20 successes for 20th birthday

When a social organization deals with causes and mechanisms, results and successes come after years or decades. And sometimes that time isn't enough. We request to learn patience and perseverance; to see and celebrate tiny successes; and above all to make the courage to march against the current social sentiments and current fashions.

Because fashion changes. Fortunately, after years, “the hook comes out of the bag.” It turns out to be the truth. actual intentions are revealed. For example, erstwhile we were talking about smog cars as part of the “Tira on track” run since 1996, decision makers were knocking on their foreheads. Today the fight against smog is already fashionable. erstwhile we started the citizens' run “House is work” in 2006, the lame leg dog was not curious in the subject of appreciation for unpaid home work. Today's subject is on the government agenda. erstwhile in 2012 we called for changes in the law on facilitation for citizens in collecting 100,000 signatures under civilian laws, politicians listened to the left ear and released the right ear. Today, the Marshal of the Polish Sejm Simon Holovnia expresses interest in our demands.

We operate without censorship. We don't advertise, we don't charge for texts. We request your support. Throw yourself in the media.

When I look at the past 20 years, I see 20 circumstantial moments of our actions:

1. In 2023, the Weekly of civilian Affairs read 453,835. In total, we've already spent 213 numbers. Names of selected authors of texts and experts with whom we conducted interviews: Joel BAKAN, Robert BILOTT, Rafał DUDKIEWICZ, Jarosław FLIS, Tomasz GABIŚ, Jerzy HAUSNER, Grzegorz KOŁODKO, Marek KONORZEWSKI, Paweł KUKIZ, Krzysztof KWIATKOWSKI, Tadeusz MARKOWSKI, Paweł MISTICKI, Paweł MUCHA, Arkadiusz MULARCZYK, Adriana Rozwadowska, Brett SCOTT, Piotr SKUBALA, Gary SMALL, Andrzej SHAHAJ, Katarzyna SZYMIALECZ, Adam WAYRAK, Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI, Rafał WODŚ, Stanisław ŻERKO.

2. The parties have eliminated the limitwhich prevented Polish and Polish people from paying in cash over PLN 20 thousand. We announce the triumph of the conflict as part of the citizens' run “Cash Gun!” (2023).

3. We joined the global coalition Stop Killer Robots, which brings together more than 250 social organisations from 70 countries (2023).

4. The “White Book” 222 of the Local circular Table advice calls for us to introduce the anticipation of a copy 1% in CIT taxation for public benefit organisations (2022).

5. On 1 June 2021, precedence for pedestrians came into force entering the passageway. This is simply a change in the law, which we promoted, among others, as part of the Piesza Polska initiative.

6. We have trained 270 people from 186 organisations from all over Poland in the scope of government and legislation. Academy of the Institute of civilian Affairs (2020-2021).

7. Food labelling rules “without GMOs” have entered into force. On our initiative, the Ministry of Agriculture and agrarian improvement has prepared a draft law “on the labelling of products produced without the usage of genetically modified organisms as free from these organisms” (2020).

8. The issue of transport exclusion went to public debate. The Ministry of Infrastructure launched the Public Service Bus improvement Fund (the alleged Bus Act).

9. We organized 5 editions Geopolitical Forum with the participation of experts above the ideological and political divisions, including Prof. Małgorzata BONIKOWSKI, Jacek DUKAJ, Prof. Bogdan GÓRALczyk, Natalia HATALSKI, Prof. Michał Lubina, Gen. Bogusław PACK, Radosław PyFFLA, Bartłomiej RAJEWSKI, Łukasz WARZECH, and Prof. Andrzej ZYBERTOWICZ.

10. After 13 years of civic run “Home is work” president Andrzej Duda signed a law introducing maternal pensions under the “Mama 4+” programme (2019).

11. We've published the report. “Megaustawa 5G – Is this book truly White?”, which is to this day the only Polish informing forecast related to fresh telecommunications technologies, in peculiar wireless technology (2019).

12. On our initiative The State Labour Inspection has carried out inspections in companies to comply with the Staff Information and Consultation Act (2017).

13. We gave the president of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda over 223 1000 signatures Polish and Polish on introducing legal facilitations for civilian laws (2017).

14. We campaigned against CETA and TTIP agreements. We took part in big demonstration in Warsaw, involving six 1000 citizens (2016).

Protest against CETA and TTIP, © Piotr Skubisz

15. place "Citizens decide" He recorded a million 8 100 1000 hits on You Tube (2013).

16. Minister of Transport appointed Intermodal Transport Council implementing the citizens' run "Tira for the tracks" (2012).

17. Within Social Economics Support Centre With our support, 234 jobs have been created for people who are the hardest on the labour market. In addition, we have strengthened our customers by offering more than 13 1000 hours of specialist support, 1.6 1000 hours of training, 360 services specified as website preparation and creation of graphic materials. We have animated over 230 local partnerships and organised 60 networking and education meetings (2010-2023).

18. We called to life "The Campers' Bay" in which we strengthen social workers by offering training, coaching and publications. We published a book. "How to win a campaign. Communication for change’ Chrisa Rose as a applicable guide to planning and conducting civic campaigns aimed at social change (2012).

19. We were driving. Centre for the Support of Workers' Councils, in which we trained more than half a 1000 councils of employees, provided respective 100 advices and organized 4 editions of the National Forum of Workers' Councils (2007).

20. On behalf of the Ministry of Environment We have mobilised 108 Polish cities to participate in the “Day without Car” initiative. This gave Poland a 3rd place in Europe in 2004 in terms of the number of cities involved.

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20 fresh years

“For 40 years it has been a beautiful age. Get ready for the another one. Or possibly the third, who knows?” – sang Andrzej Rosievicz.

We are prepared for 1 thing, work and topics we will not lack. We're not going to quit soon.

due to the fact that 1% of the richest and associated politicians have deep respect for the weaker citizens and concern for the common good. For example, I can talk like a sleeve. I only give 3 that I consider to be the most crucial today.

First, the real threat is that the 21st century will turn out to be an age. genocide, unemployment and surveillance on a scale unprecedented in human history. And it's all thanks to the so-called. artificial intelligence.

Secondly, we are ahead of the tsunami wave of threats to the fresh GMO NGT. We're fighting an uneven conflict with lobby that strives to modify on a massive scale children, animals and plants.

Third, real becomes real War on Resources: Water, oil and rare metals. As Vice president Kamala Harris says: “For decades, generations, wars were fought over natural materials, over oil. Soon, we will wage wars over water."

In view of the above, we propose the appointment National Future Institute (IPN+). Poland needs imagination, forecasts and anticipation of forwards. We cannot stay blind.

It is worth to be inspired by solutions from another countries, specified as the Finnish – organization – model of reasoning about the future in the spirit of common good and over the current organization divisions.

Thank you.

I thank all those who have helped for the past 20 years with thought, speech and deed. Thank you:

Several 100 volunteers, employees, colleagues, and members of their families, who are bound by our actions.

453,000 readers of the civilian Affairs Week.

423,000 citizens who signed our petitions to politicians.

112 1000 followers of the Institute's activities in social media.

108,000 sympathizers reading our newsletter.

"20 years passed this beautiful age" – paraphrased Rosiewicz. You can enjoy with us, want the Institute 100 years and... strengthen what we're doing now. They think, talk or act.

Finally, it is worth reminding Edward Abbey: “Be like me... part-time crusaders, half-hearted fanatics. It is not adequate to fight. ... Even more crucial is, having fun with itIt’s okay. ”