Czech Republic: Childhood Obesity on the Rise

Recently a study by the World Health Organisation found that 80% of Czech children were not getting a decent amount of physical activity, helping lead to an increase in childhood obesity. This follows on the heels of a news report last month, with schools complaining that the new proposed food reforms – which aim to remove unhealthy products from school cafeterias – were ‘over the top’. The study also revealed that Czech children are leading the way with regards to alcohol, nicotine and marijuana consumption. The study targeted three groups of children – a group of 11-year-olds, another of 13-year-olds and finally a group of 15-year-olds – and various factors were considered: physical activity, sedentary behaviour, BMI, life satisfaction, risk behaviour, alcohol and substance consumption, parental and peer communication and school environment.

According to Michal Kalman of Jan Palcky University, Olomouc, the man in charge of the research for the Czech part of the survey, the reasons behind the problem are complex, although he does state that lack of exercise is a problem in Czech Republic, something which is decreasing year on year. He is right, though, that it is not the whole problem.

Contrary to popular belief, childhood obesity is not a problem which has struck since the accessibility of the internet, smartphones and computer games. In the early 1990s my father got his first car, and has since used it to drive to his local shop rather than walk the 10 minutes it would take on foot. I remember hearing about a study discussed on Channel 5’s The Wright Stuff a few years which found that, rather than moving less, children and teenagers in the UK generally moved the same amount as they had 50 years previously. The only differing factor was food: comparing nowadays with 50 years ago, not only are there more products with high levels of sugar and fat but we are generally just eating more than we used to in terms of portion size. This could also be true of Czech children: during communist times it was sometimes hard to get hold of general items, never mind luxury ones. Nowadays, however, supermarkets are fully stocked with anything you want. The idea that it is not only lack of exercise is further proven by the finding of the study of Czech children that, although boys are more active than girls in general, they are twice as likely to be overweight.

So, if more food is to blame rather than a lack of exercise, how do we go about controlling it? It is understandable that schools are not keen on the removal of certain items in their shops and cafeterias. Aside from the fact that the scheme plans to ban items such as fruit yoghurt, muesli bars and mustard alongside the usual high-fat, high-caffeine and high-sugar suspects – something which you could argue is over-the-top – it is good to remember that there are good reasons why these items are for sale: one, there is a high demand for them from students; and two, they are pretty much the only things one can sell in such an environment. If the children walked into any kind of small newsagents, they would only have the same sort of items on offer to buy. And, of course, if schools are forced to not sell them, then the children will just go elsewhere, meaning the vending machine companies and cafeterias will go out of business – and it is well worth remembering they are businesses, existing to make money rather than to care about the health of Czech school children.

Possibly an even greater worry is the high consumption of marijuana, cigarettes and alcohol amongst school children. It should come as no surprise that children, especially those of around the age of 15, are trying out these substances; one could argue it is a rite of passage and that presumably every child, or young adult, will try at least one of these things at least once in their life. What could possibly exacerbate the problem in Czech Republic is the permissive attitude surrounding these substances: here smoking is still allowed in pubs and clubs, marijuana smoking has been decriminalised and, like in many Slavic countries, drinking alcohol is deemed a perfectly acceptable pastime. So how do you get children as young as 11 to not try these things, especially if they live in a culture where a lot of people are doing it anyway?

In terms of obesity, the Czechs are trying to solve a problem which also many other countries in the developed world are trying to solve. In terms of substance consumption, it is a case of battling against ingrained culture. As Michal Kalman says, the key to improving Czech children’s health is through education, through developing strategies which promote healthy living, in the hope this will provide the turnaround needed.

Czech Republic: Happiest in Central and Eastern Europe?

Good news for all those living in Czech Republic – it is officially the happiest place in Central and Eastern Europe, according to the UN’s list of happiest places in the world. Moving up four places from last year, the country now sits in 27^th position. The index is based on six factors – GDP, health and life expectancy, personal freedom, perceived corruption, social support and charitable giving – and is based on the views of 1,000 people living in the country.

But is this representative of how the man on the street feels? As a non-native here you could be forgiven for thinking that the average Czech is not happy with his or her lot – they spend an awful lot of time complaining, that is for sure. (To be fair, having lived in Poland and also having travelled to a number of countries within the area, it seems to be more a Slavic habit rather than a specific trait of one country.) Even one person I asked said, “Well, I think we should be happy for sure, but we are never happy, never satisfied and always complaining.”

This is certainly true and it could be argued that, in some respects, Czechs do have a lot to complain about. “Saying that Czech people are the happiest doesn’t sound like they talked to them… We are always grumpy, always complaining, always thinking that our neighbours’ grass is greener, that being nice to other people is tricky because they will want something or they will steal something. Of course the situation is not the best (but honestly where is it the best?), we live in the middle of nowhere, we are so small some people even don’t know we exist, our government is corrupted, our president is a *&%$@! and our school and social systems need a reformation.”

The suspiciousness of other people is understandable. In Czech Republic’s recent history, when it was under Soviet rule, not knowing who to trust was a normal part of life and not something you unlearn in a relatively short space of time. Complaints about the government are commonplace here (in fairness, they are commonplace anywhere you go). And whose school and social systems do not need some kind of reformation? No system is perfect, after all.

So yes, Czechs have a lot to feel less than happy about – but then again, don’t we all? Is there any particular reason why they feel so disillusioned? A couple of my interviewees noted that a big part of it is because many Czechs have never left the country and so therefore have nothing to compare it to because, really, Czechs have a lot of reasons to be the happiest: “I think that Czech Republic is a good country for living. We have studies for free (even at universities), health care is good, we have beautiful girls, an interesting and rich history to be proud of with a nice capital. We have cheap beer – we do not have to drink at home before going out. We have beautiful landscapes and safety in cities is very high, no dangerous ghettos and so on. However, because they have not travelled much Czechs think that every other country is much better in terms of living, judging on the basis of salary.”

Put in its simplest terms, Czechs feel the same way about their country as many other people do about theirs. It is normally very hard to view your native homeland with an objective eye, only seeing either the worst parts or the best parts, depending on your personality type. Czechs do have a lot to be proud of and to be happy about; hopefully, in time, they will see that themselves.

Czech Republic: Its Own Teaching Crisis?

In the past highly respected and admired, the teaching profession has long been one which attracts people who wish to work with young people and to feel they are making a difference. Times are a-changing though, and the general feeling in a lot of European countries is that the respect that used to be held for the position of teacher cannot make up for the fact that it is now a profession which is woefully underpaid, overworked and undervalued. Teachers in various countries are leaving the field in droves, with some citing mental health reasons for their resignations.

Some people I have spoken to over the issue (mostly from the UK) feel little sympathy. Why should teachers complain when they have so many holidays and shorter working days? Still people believe that a teacher’s job starts when they begin their first class and ends when the school bell rings at 3:30pm, despite numerous media reports and teachers’ own testimonies that they can be working in excess of 55 hours per week (for those that do believe the sentiment regarding holidays and working hours – yes, teachers have far many other things to do in their days than just stand in front of your child and talk. And if you worked with teenagers or small children five days a week, you might possibly need the long holidays too).

Teachers’ plight has been plastered over the media in recent months. But what of the things which schools do not wish you to know about? Unfortunately, an incident in a school in Prague last month has brought such things to light, questioning the strength of teacher training here in Czech Republic along with other issues regarding the profession.

In February 2016 it was reported that a high school teacher in Prague had collapsed and died in front of her class after a long period of bullying from three of her pupils. The school denied her death was directly connected to the bullying, but experts suggested that her mental and physical health could have been impacted. The students had been suspended over the action and more recent reports tell us that the head of the school has since been dismissed. The case is still under investigation at the time of writing.

Statistically Czech has one of the lowest rates of student bullying; it is joint second lowest with Italy. However, in 2009 a poll conducted here suggested that 10% of teachers were considering leaving the profession due to teacher bullying and violence. Speaking with local people here, far from being an isolated incident it seems to not be out of the ordinary.

Of course this situation begs the question, ‘why is teacher bullying becoming more widespread in Czech society?’ According to various news reports, many factors come into play. The main reason being put forward is inadequate teacher training. Being an ex-teacher myself, I know from experience that training in terms of managing a class is virtually non-existent – basically consisting of a list of ‘don’ts’ but failing to inform the would-be teacher of how to deal with specific behaviour.

There is also the issue of the taboo of bullying. Schools rarely want to acknowledge student bullying for fear of bringing the school’s reputation down; many schools have anti-bullying policies in place, although for the most part this seems to be for show. Teacher bullying is even more of a taboo, considering that teachers are the ones who expected to be in control and when they are not it is somehow a failing on their part. Of course teachers need to exert some kind of authority over their class, but it is worth taking into account that they are teachers – crowd control in the form of security guards is not what they are trained for.

Czechs I have spoken to regarding the issue revealed other possible causes. One suggested the lack of discipline teachers are allowed to dole out in the classroom. We have obviously moved on from the old school method of thrashing a child for stepping out of line. Unfortunately, many people feel the switch has gone too far the opposite way, with teachers barely having any rights to punish misdemeanors. Czech President Milos Zemen has gone so far to suggest bringing back mild physical punishments, although I am not sure how many people would agree with him. Another person I spoke to suggested the mixing of Slavic and Germanic genes creating a sort of psychopathy in Czech youngsters, although no evidence exists to back up this claim.

It is fair to say that the problem is not restricted to Czech Republic; many countries are facing a teaching crisis of some sort. What needs to change here is the way teachers can discipline students, along with decent training on how to deal with uncomfortable situations, in order to make their working lives easier and safer.

Poland: Koszalin Burquini Backlash

Funny how something so banal can create such intense feelings in folk. Recently a photo emerged on Facebook taken by Koszalin resident Jarek Wilczek of a (presumably) Muslim woman partaking of Koszalin’s Aquapark wearing a burquini. (Whether Mr Wilczek asked permission to take said photo of a woman and her children he does not know has yet to be established, as far as I have been able to make out.) The furore it has created could be described as torrential, to say the least. Comments included:

“… never go in the same pool where some hag crawled in wearing clothes. First think about Poland and Poles!” (Obviously this person cannot distinguish between a burka and a burquini.)

“Until now, in my opinion this has been the best water park in the area, but having seen a Paki in the water there, never in my life will me or my friends do anything in this pool!” (No reason supplied.)

“[The aquapark now] stinks like a kebab.” (Much like the rest of Poland then, owing to the huge number of kebab shops which have popped up in recent years. Personally, I prefer the smell of kebabs to chlorine, but there you go.)

“Send her back!” (Back where, exactly? Presumably to the changing room.)

The aquapark in question has defended its decision to allow the woman to bathe there, informing in an online statement that all people are welcome to use the pool and that no rules had been broken. However, this has not stopped a further barrage of comments, including those instructing this woman to either respect Poland’s laws or get out, and also an article in Fronda which dresses itself up as being a piece which is tolerant to Muslims, but is actually just as racist as the other comments mentioned here.

First and foremost, there is no law in Poland, or in any country in Europ as far as I am aware, that states that revealing clothing must be worn when attending swimming pools. I even know quite a few females who do not use these facilities purely out of embarrassment of their bodies, and would probably love something like a burquini in order to swim. Secondly, if there was a genuine risk to hygiene, then the establishment in question would have removed this woman. As it is their establishment it is for them to decide the hygiene risks, not some loud-mouthed internet trolls who have nothing better to do with their time than pass very poor judgements which they cannot seem to justify and only prove their ignorance.

Having lived in Koszalin for four years, I am afraid to say that this kind of xenophobia was not uncommon. The years I spent teaching students there were spent fielding comments such as “I didn’t like London because of all the Indians” and “Poles are very tolerant people… but we don’t like Muslims and Jews”. (Ironically, these types of comments generally came from the same Poles who were dumbfounded and hurt that there were some Brits who were not happy about Poles living in Britain.) This is of course not representative of every single person in Koszalin – I met some wonderful people there who embrace other cultures and have not a racist bone in their bodies. Unfortunately though, Koszalin is still that kind of place where anything different will just not do. Not that there is anything wrong with protecting one’s culture, although it does surprise me that Poles feel their culture is threatened, especially after years of being told that Polish culture is extremely strong.

Of course, recent events in Germany have sparked fear in the hearts of many around Europe. This fear is akin to someone being afraid of flying because of one plane crash. These people seem to forget that these incidents are newsworthy because they are not commonplace; as journalists we can hardly go around reporting every little mundane thing that happens. Like with so many other things, people see the minority and use it to judge the majority. If a woman said, “I was raped by a man, therefore all men are rapists”, it would be condemned as sexism; the same should be applied to all forms of discrimination. It is also probable that Germany, like so many countries in the world, had a problem with sexual assault and rape before these particular incidents.

The biggest problem here lies not in the attire of the woman in question, but the xenophobic attitude of the Poles in question, and the fear of the ‘Islamisation’ of Poland. Not that I am an expert, but I think it is fair to say that Poland is far from being turned into an Islamic country so this fear is unfounded, as is the idea of this woman disrespecting Polish culture. If she had been going around the pool telling other women to cover up, then yes, she would have been being disrespectful. However, all that has happened here is that she used the pool in what the aquapark deemed appropriate clothing, doing no one any bother. Surely, in exchange for this show of respect, we can show this woman some respect in return? </spanFBF

Slovakia: Slovakia’s LGBT Community

Whilst in Australia they are currently debating whether to allow gay marriage alongside civil partnerships and in the UK there is a possibility of a case to attempt to allow heterosexual couples the option of civil partnerships as well as marriage – the same option that homosexuals have – it is easy to forget that in some parts of the world people and laws are not so relaxed on the subject of gay rights, particularly when those countries belong to the same developed world, claiming to want to be more like their western counterparts.

Slovakia, like all countries in Europe, recognises same-sex relations and has done since 1962 when it was under Czechoslovakian law. Also, like most other European countries, LGBT people can serve in the military, anti-gay discrimination is illegal, single LGBT persons are allowed to adopt, and are allowed to change their gender, although this requires them to be sterilised beforehand. The biggest fight on the hands of the LGBT community in Slovakia at present remains the fight for same-sex marriage, or at the very least the right to have your partner recognised in the eyes of the law.

On 7^th February 2015 a referendum was held in the country after a huge push from conservative groups whose aim was to try and block the gain of more rights by gay couples. The ballot questions included those pertaining to the limitation of the word ‘marriage’ to a union between a woman and a man, and also the exclusion of children from sex education and lessons regarding issues such as euthanasia if their parents so wished. Despite a big campaign, especially in comparison with the LGBT community’s counter-campaign, only 21.4% of citizens came to vote.

This, according to members of the Central Slovakian LGBT initiative, based in Banska Bystrica, was a huge step in the right direction for members of the community in Slovakia. However, since the failed referendum things have not moved forward as they thought they would, although attitudes are changing.

According to my sources within the community, like in so many countries the loudest voices – the ones in power – are the ones who are against homosexuality; most Slovaks are not fussed either way. In 2007, a report by the Pew Global Attitudes Project stated that 66% of Slovaks feel that homosexuality should be accepted, as opposed to 29% who thought it should be rejected. When speaking with other Slovaks on the issue this is the feeling I garnered, although it was not without old prejudices. One male I spoke to said, “I don’t care if people are gay, as long as they aren’t around me.” (Because, of course, if you have a gay friend, they will automatically fancy you. Even if your face resembles the back of horse). Whether these feelings are due to ignorance or just not wanting to look too keen to support LGBT rights in front of other people is anyone’s guess. A more recent poll in 2012 showed that 47% of Slovaks would vote in favour of same-sex marriage, compared with only 19% in an earlier survey by the European Union.

However, regardless of these changes in attitude, changes to LGBT rights, along with those of the Roma, have made no significant progress. Over the past three years it has been a major issue, although greater importance has been given to refugees in recent months. The LGBT community is still very active here though, and becoming more active still, particularly in Bratislava where there are a number of gay bars and clubs. From 2010 to 2014, Rainbow Pride was held annually. Unfortunately, in 2015 the parade was cancelled, although the 2016 march is due to take place at the end of June. In Banska Bystrica many events are organised for the community, a sure sign they have no intention of keeping quiet.

Like with so many issues, the ideologies of those in power do not entirely match the ones of the people they work for. However, times are changing, and there is hope that Slovakia will follow the lead of other European countries, including that of its close neighbour, Czech Republic, in gaining rights for its gay community. Or, as one person I spoke to suggested, “We just have to wait until all the old people die.”

Slovakia: Slovakia’s Roma Community

The term ‘gypsy’ conjures up many images in the mind. For some, they imagine the romantic scene consisting of an old wooden caravan pulled by horses, inside a group of traditionally dressed, dark-skinned nomads, wandering from place to place, telling fortunes at summer fayres. Others may think of the TV show Bit Fat Gypsy Weddings. For many, the word ‘gypsy’ is synonymous with words such as ‘thief’, ‘criminal’, ‘lazy’ and ‘dirty’. No matter what people think, xenophobia against the Roma community is rife worldwide, and Slovakia is no exception. In recent years human rights advocates have tried to improve conditions for the Roma, every government has pledged to bring solutions to this excluded part of society and yet, as with other minority sections of Slovak society, very little has changed and shows no sign of improvement.

January 2016 has particularly been a bad month new-wise. Recently three children died when a fire broke out in a Roma settlement in the village of Lomnicka in northern Slovakia, following the death of two children, both under the age of one, in Maslickovo, Kosice; one killed in a fire and the other freezing to death. According to the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) these deaths were completely preventable. Other stories relating to the Roma community in recent months include alleged vote-buying by politicians, a UN committee condemning Slovakia for violence against the community, a study confirming the level of physical and emotional abuse against Roma women, and the exclusion of Roma issues in Fico’s government’s election campaign.

You only have to take a look at photos of Roma districts in Slovakia – or as one person I spoke to said, ‘ghettos’ would be a more appropriate word – to see that this community lives in abject poverty: the housing is in a state of complete disrepair, electricity, gas and water supplies are known to be largely non-existent, common illnesses are rife and the population is largely unemployed. It could be argued that the Roma people have brought this on themselves: they initially moved in in the early 1980s and, due to non-payment of utilities and rent, the utilities have been switched off. Refuse is rarely collected, and the Roma themselves seem to care very little about the upkeep of the buildings.

So, bearing this in mind, should people care?

In a way, many parallels can be drawn between life for Slovak gypsies and some aspects of working class life in the UK. There are reports of Slovak Romani women having children as young as 14; something which is hardly unheard in Britain, given that the country has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in the developed world, where now we have got to the point where it is now no longer shocking to hear of such things. One Slovak I spoke to who had worked with gypsies in school in Lunik IX told me about a small minority of families where incest is rife, with many members being taught in special needs schools due to severe learning disabilities; having worked in special needs in Cardiff, similar stories occurred regarding the ethnic minorities within the community. And like in the UK, where the plight of the most disadvantaged and most poverty-stricken is largely ignored by the government and public at large, the same can be said of the Roma in Slovakia.

The ignorance surrounding the plight of the Roma is similar – if not exactly the same – as the ignorance surrounding the plight of those stuck in poverty around the world: the idea that it is somewhat their own fault, that if they wished to, they could climb their way out of it and that, if they do not, it is out of choice and laziness. The same ignorant view that blinkers people to the truth that those problems which can even affect the lives of the middle and upper classes – crime, drugs and mental health issues – are most often the result of very deeply ingrained prejudices and social injustice. Yes, some Roma may commit crimes. Yes, some may be largely uneducated and unable to work. Yes, some may choose not to work purely out of laziness. But can the same not be said about most parts of society? Are all Slovaks hard-working, law-abiding citizens? The problem is, it is very easy to make generalisations; the refugee crisis alone is proof of that. And, as with many generalisations, they tend to be extremely illogical. One friend of mine said that they knew gypsies to be thieves as they had had problems with one or two gypsies in the past – therefore, in their mind, all gypsies were thieves. Like with the working class who are deemed ‘benefit scroungers’ in the UK, the Roma are judged purely on stereotypes. Discriminated against and disillusioned, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy and prevents them from climbing out of poverty.

But there is hope for the Roma community. As was said previously, organisations like the ERRC and the Committee Against Torture (CAT) are getting on Slovakia’s back with regards to the human rights issues connected with the community’s treatment. Social workers and organisations such as Saleziani are working within the community, endeavouring to get them into work and education. Without government and public support, however, the future looks to be an uphill struggle.

Slovakia: Culture and Sport 2016

Reading the Slovak news, you would think that all is doom and gloom within the country, what with the refugee crisis, the problems within the health and education sectors, the level of corruption increasing. However, my time in Slovakia has been a fun, educational one, and it is fair to say that there is a lot going on in this country culturally which is note-worthy. Although previously I have mentioned that Slovaks generally feel that there is not much to Slovakia’s cultural identity, there is evidence that this is changing. Here is the low-down on what there is to look forward to in Slovakia this year.

In 2013 Kosice, in eastern Slovakia, was one of the European capitals of culture, the first time that a Slovak city had been awarded the honour. The city already being known for its rich history and developed industry, when plans started on the projects it was with the intention of increasing creative diversity and interest. The emphasis was on the industrial side of the town, with many projects combining the idea of industry with art. Old buildings were transformed, including: the Karsarne Kulturpark, originally a 19^th military barracks turned into a centre of contemporary art, concert halls and exhibition spaces; Kunsthalle, a 1960s disused swimming pool turned into Slovakia’s first Kunsthalle; Tabacka, an old tobacco factory turned into a centre of independent culture; and SPOTs, disused heat exchangers from the 1970s and 80s turned into cultural ‘spots’ in Kosice’s residential areas.

And that was just the beginning, not just for Kosice but the whole of Slovakia. Cultural events in the country from January to March this year range from live music (including a classical festival), cinema (Bratislava has just hosted an Iranian film festival), stand up comedy, ice sculpting, dance, and art, including a Japanese graphic art exhibition.

2016 also looks set to be a hot year in terms of sport, with Kosice being named as one of the European cities of sport. Aims for the projects this year include investing in sports grounds, developing traditional and new sports, and a large number of activities aiming to get the people of Kosice up and moving. Kosice already has a strong tradition in sport. Probably the most popular sport in Slovakia is ice hockey, and Kosice boasts the best team in the Slovak league. The oldest marathon in Europe, and the third oldest in the world – Kosice Peace Marathon – is run here every year on the first Sunday of October. Bratislava is also getting in on the action, currently hosting the 2016 European Figure Skating Championships.

As well as these more common events, later in the year there will be some more unusual festivals. Like to be spooked? Bojnice and Orava will be holding International Ghosts and Spirits festivals in May/June. A fan of cheese? Head to Liptovsky Mikulas in May for the Festival of Cheese and Bryndza (a traditional Slovak sheep cheese). Or maybe you prefer red meat? February 6^th is the start of a pig-slaughtering festival in Bratislava. (Pig slaughtering has long been a strong tradition in Slovakia; sorry to all the vegetarians who may be reading this!)

Slovakia: Slovakia’s Health Care Crisis

No matter where you go in the world, someone, somewhere complains about the state of their country’s health service. Whether it is long waiting times, lack of facilities, the inability to get a GP appointment or problems with staffing, there always seems to be something which is not running as well and efficiently as it should. In Slovakia, its health care system has recently hit breaking point after the resignation of hundreds of nurses over pay and lack of facilities in Slovak hospitals.

Recently representatives of nurses and midwives personally delivered a letter for Prime Minister Robert Fico, urging him to address the mass resignations which are due to come into effect on February 1^st.

“Once again, we call upon you not to wait for February 1^st 2016, when hundreds of nurses will leave Slovak hospitals, but use the weight of your office to intervene now and initiate a meeting with representatives of nurses and midwives… Despite our interest in talks since December 1^st 2015, the minister has failed to meet us and has shown no willingness to arrive at an agreement,” the letter reads.

Fico denies this unwillingness to talk, claiming on January 19^th that “further talks are pending”, and that the health ministry is taking an active approach to negotiations.

Fico and the nursing industry are having a hard time coming to agreements regarding the situation. The nursing representatives are unhappy after Viliam Čislák, Minister for Health, appearing on a political talk show on January 17^th, defended the actions of Prešov hospital head Radoslav Čuha, who had called nurses on sick leave back to work or sent social inspectors to check on them, reportedly claiming that nurses are misusing the situation to apply for sick leave. The representatives also feel that Čislák is painting a rather more pleasant picture of what is happening in Slovak hospitals in reality.

Although Fico has said he respects the nurses’ rights to protest and to hold differing opinions, he countered this by saying that, if he had been in their shoes, he would not have “left the patients”. He also pointed out that an additional €55 million has been set aside for health workers’ pay rises.

In recent years the Slovak health service has been hit by a number of scandals and problems, including the purchases of overpriced hospital equipment, criminal charges brought against hospital staff, Čislák facing two no-confidence motions initiated by the opposition, and the so-called ‘octopus in healthcare’.

Speaking to Slovaks and subsequent reading of online stories confirmed that the Slovak hospital system looks pretty much like a lot of other state hospital systems: pleasant and hard-working staff, but seriously under-funded and under-developed. In Slovakia’s case, it is a surprise for a foreigner to have to be taken to hospital and discover that they were supposed to bring their own toilet paper, certain items of food (and food they are provided with in hospital can either be rotten or not properly cooked), and in some cases even cutlery; Slovaks, of course, know that they should take these items in, or arrange for them to be brought in.

It may be of some comfort to know that the government is setting aside €55 million in order to increase the pay of health care workers. However, many nurses feel that a new law put in place considering health care salary conditions will actually lead to decreases. As it stands, changes will lead to the increase of pay for more than 20 occupations, but nurses in fields such as doctors’ surgeries, spas and social service facilities are excluded. To include these fields, the additional funds needed would have to be €200 million.

It is clear that Slovakia’s health care system has hit crisis point, and it is clear that things are set to become worse if nurses carry out their resignations, leaving hospitals severely understaffed. What is still unclear is if the government is willing to listen to its citizens and engage in dialogue to resolve the situation.

Slovakia:What is Behind Slovakia’s Anti-Refugee Rhetoric?

 

 

 

After living in Poland for several years where anti-refugee sentiment is very common, it was not surprising to find that the same feelings are felt by the majority of Slovaks. The Slovak Prime Minister, Robert Fico, has recently hit back at an anonymous criminal complaint filed against him regarding comments he made against the Muslim community. Fico claims he does not wish what happened in Cologne to happen in Slovakia. Are his fears founded in fact, or is there another darker reasoning behind his views?

Fico’s recent comments about Muslims, stated at a press conference on January 7^th in response to the recent sex attacks in Cologne on New Year’s Day, included that Slovakia must be protected from security threats, and one way to do this would be to prevent the formation of a Muslim community in the country. This is not the first time Fico has posed such controversial views. Back in early 2015, he stated, “If Slovakia is a country with dominance of [the] Catholic Church and [the] Evangelical Church is the second strongest, therefore we should not easily tolerate that 300 or 400 Muslims will come here, they start to construct mosques and start to change the character, culture and values of our state,” during a political debate. Later, in November 2015 after the Paris terrorist attacks, he said, “We monitor every single Muslim in Slovakia” followed by the statement “when peoples’ lives and state security is at stake, I don’t care about ethics.”

Although it seems the majority of the Slovak population agree with Fico (according to one of my sources, approximately 70% of Slovaks do not want refugees), he is not without opposition. Slovak President Andrej Kiska recently condemned anti-Muslim remarks when he received representatives of Slovak churches and other religious communities, including Muslim community representatives, at the Presidential Palace in Bratislava.

This may all seem understandable when you consider that Fico is only reiterating what a lot of people are thinking at present. However, it should be noted that Fico is the leader of SMER-SD – translated in English as Direction – Social Democracy. Therefore, his anti-Muslim statements, his focus on the Christianity of Slovakia and his utter refusal to answer questions on certain Slovak social issues, such as the state of the hospitals and schools, may seem slightly strange; certainly when I chatted with Slovaks about this issue, the party came across as more right-wing than social democrat.

It is important to understand that there is a general election coming up in March this year in Slovakia and, seeing as the majority of Slovaks seem to be anti-refugee, it may be that Fico wants to appear to be focusing on what Slovaks believe to be a vital issue at this time. However, in my talks over the last couple of days it seems that there may be another agenda at work. (Please note that the following is purely what I have been informed by Slovaks, and I do not presume to have authority on this matter.)

I mentioned earlier the state of the hospitals and schools in the country. To give some examples, one person I spoke to said that it is commonplace to take your own toilet paper when you need to stay in hospital (another source informed me there is some kind of event relating to this issue to coincide with the March elections) and when he himself was in hospital he and other patients were served rotten apples for breakfast. Teachers are threatening to go on strike over lack of adequate investment in school facilities. The nursing profession has also seen strikes and mass resignations in the past few months for the same reasons as teachers.

When asked about the reasons for lack of funding in the health and education sectors, my interviewee answered that funding is there; it is just misappropriated. It is alleged that those in charge of the funding for hospitals, for example, buy hospital equipment at escalated prices from sellers that they know personally, and that the extra money is then dispersed between their personal bank accounts. Whether this is what led to new rules in November 2015 regarding the purchase of medical devices is anyone’s guess.

Why then are so many concerned about the refugee crisis rather than what is happening with their own domestic issues? A number of reasons have been cited to me, including Slovaks’ intolerance and their short memories regarding their own refugee status after the Second World War; and the political parties’ election campaign agendas which are instilling fear in people. Another important factor, one which was of quite a surprise to me, may be the feeling of a lot of Slovaks that Slovak culture is extremely weak, especially in comparison with its Czech and Polish neighbours. When I spoke to Polish people regarding the refugee crisis, I heard the argument that their culture would be destroyed if they accepted people of other religions and races; this was coming from a people who generally pride themselves on having a strong cultural identity, one which would probably not be impacted by a small percentage of Middle Easterns. However, in Slovakia people have the same fear, but they also seem to believe that their cultural identity does not rival its neighbours, one which could, in their view, be very easily destroyed by an immigrant influx.

One thing is certain: Fico’s anti-Muslim rhetoric is reflected by the majority of his nation, and which will help put him on the way to win the upcoming election. What remains to be seen is its consequences: will Fico’s promises to keep refugees out of Slovakia make up for the government’s continuing dismissal of its domestic issues?

 

 

 

 

Poland: Church Numbers Continue to Decline

Poland is well-known across the world as being a staunchly religious country, with Catholicism being a massively important influence on Polish culture and way of life. However, recent studies show that, even though Poland and Poles claim to be a Catholic country, church-going numbers have dropped dramatically in recent years.

 According to statistics, since 2009 regular attendance of mass has remained steady at just under 40%, although this is a significant drop from 1980 when attendance stood at almost 60%. With regards to the sacraments, in 2014 368,438 baptisms were recorded, as were 310,320 confirmations, 210,497 first holy communions and 132,192 marriages which, according to the Church, means “Poles almost universally accept the sacraments of the Catholic Church”. However, comparing with the fact that in 1969 baptism numbers stood at just under half a million, and rose to approximately 750,000 in the early 1980s, this shows that the number of babies being indoctrinated into the state religion is in massive decline.

 Probably this decline in taking part in Catholic sacraments should be no surprise; it has happened in many countries in Europe and around the world already. A decline in birth rates is one possible explanation for the drop in baptisms, as could a general change in Sunday lifestyles be the reason for the drop in church-going numbers – people now work on Sundays, it may be their only chance to do shopping or spend time with family, or they may simply choose to relax after a hard-working week in front of the TV on the sofa.

 However, in recent years the Catholic Church has been dogged by bad publicity. A number of sex abuse claims have come to light, with the Church being rather disorganised and clumsy in dealing with such matters. This, along with other issues such as the appropriation of funds, has certainly instilled a frost towards the Church in the younger generations of Poles.

 Another reason why younger Poles may be turning away from their state religion is that the Catholic Church has continued to stick to staunch doctrine, creating the feeling amongst these generations that the Church is out of touch with modern society. Even within older generations of Poles, who religiously quote and claim to follow doctrine, there are plenty of divorces, relationships involving sex before marriage and use of contraceptives, all things which the Catholic Church denounces, a hypocrisy which does nothing to convince the younger generations to flock to mass on a Sunday. You could also suggest that the fact that a long, dull mass in a cold church can hardly compete with the delights of Facebook, video games and the internet.

 It is understandable why the Catholic Church is reluctant to relax its doctrine after so many years of following the same rules. However, if the Church wishes to increase the amount of people coming through its doors, it needs to – as has been said many, many times – update itself and make itself more attractive to its potential younger members. Considering the earlier comments on how they believe that Poles still accept the sacraments of the Church, it could also be said that they are in denial of how much power they actually yield in Poland.