Polish Diary
Occasionally Women on Waves is accused of being a media stunt, a PR machine only set up for the hungry eyes of the press. Supposedly, they only stir up a lot of trouble in peaceful Catholic countries where women do not have the right to decide what can be removed from their uterus. Apparently, there are people that think that Women on Waves is mainly a form of Chairitertainment which does not offer any real practical help.
But after Women on Waves visited Poland, where hundreds of woman given information, information not only about abortion, but about contraceptives, birth control, safe sex and family planning, an enactment was introduced to parlement to legalize abortion. Perhaps Women on Waves could not save thousands of Polish women from an unsafe illegal abortion during the two weeks the Langenort was in Poland, but perhaps they can save Polish women from unsafe and illegal abortions in the future.
What follows in the contents of this Polish diary, are the day to day thoughts which ran through the heads of the volunteers faced with a situation that was unacceptable to them. It contains quotes from the two week front page press coverage, letters from politicians supporting the cause, hate mail, conversations recorded on the hotline, and photographs of everyone involved, the feminists, the volunteers, the police, the pregnant women and the skinheads.
All this and more has also been published in the book Women on Waves - Poland, which is available from our online shop.
Artists or abortion doctors?
Women on Waves are invited to participate in an art event at Modelarnia, a…
Kremlin, Acropolis, Eiffel Tower, Langenort!
The Langenort does not sail out again due to weather conditions, and instead…
To international waters
The Langenort can finally sail to international waters to provide Polish women…
Teaching those who want to learn
The ship moved to a publicly more accessible space so that press and visitors…
A letter of support, a drop of truth.
On the fourth day of the campaign, it almost seemed like this hectic isolated…
Arriving in Władysławowo
After 48 hours of negotiation with the harbor officials, the wind lifts up and…
Press, police, politicians. and phones.
In the morning of the 21st of June, a press conference is held in the…
Bright Lights, Wrong City
When the Langenort finally arrives in Poland on the 20th of June, it finds no…
Keep the closet closed
On the 16th of June, the Langenort finally sails out, after first having the…
Clogged toilets and lawyers who never stop talking.
Meanwhile, the Langenort is having some difficulties. The Langenort's engine…
Fame! Glory! Compulsory EU leader tours!
In June 2003, Women on Waves got a spot in the first Biennial of Thessalonica…
Leaking like a sieve.
Women on Waves is careful not to announce their trip to Poland, as not to allow…
Power to the... Church?
In January 2003 the Polish Government announces that a referendum will be held…
License to question authority
Even though Women on Waves' application for a license as a first trimester…
Media Abortion ship Poland 2003
For more then 2 weeks the Women on Waves ship was the main topic in all…