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Polish Prime Minister calls for EU leaders to reject ACTA

125 points by marcin 15y ago

hastur 15y ago
Wow, this is actually quite big. I'd say, more significant than the previous decision by Poland (and then other EU counties) to suspend ACTA ratification. Suspension meant merely that they needed to think more about this. Now Poland comes out openly _against_ ACTA, and that's a _first_ among the participants and signatories of the treaty. Congrats to the participants of the anti-ACTA protests in Poland (possibly the biggest ACTA opposition in the world), who brought about this change.
- zalew 15y ago
  thanks to #anonymous for making a scene that led to recognizing this issue in our media.
  - kolinko 15y ago
    yeah, as much as I sometimes hate their juvenilish behaviour, this time it actually helped...
    - slowpoke 15y ago
      Well, despite all the "juvenile behavior", Anonymous is a force to be reckoned with. They mean it when they say "Expect us.". I also think the fact that they don't care how you perceive them (by acting juvenile or otherwise immature) is one of their greatest strengths. Believe it or not, but it frees you from a lot of burdens if you don't have to be polite and politically correct, and makes it a whole lot easier to actually do something (whether or not that something is good and/or justified is certainly debatable).
jwr 15y ago
A major politician admits he was wrong. This doesn't happen often, and in spite of Tusk's many flaws should be recognized. He deserves respect for being able to admit he was wrong.
- ancymon 15y ago
  That's one way to look at the situation. Another is that the politician "changes" his mind to gain popularity.
  - wildmXranat 15y ago
    That sounds closer to the truth. Tusk, like other politicians has the first and foremost goal of getting re-elected. Just look at Canada's safety minister Vic Toews back-pedal like a champ when he was called out after he compared any person criticising his proposed fascist spying bill to a 'child pornographer' supporter. It seems like there's an open season on moving the goal post when it comes to deteriorating publics right to privacy.
    - kolinko 15y ago
      Why does it sound closer to the truth? For me it's the exact opposite. Tusk over and over again refuses to change his policies when he meets the opposition from huge groups of people (for example the retirement system reform, fighting with football fans, with the doctors, with drug substitutes), I think ACTA is one of the few situations where he reversed his opinion. On the press conference, IIRC, he said that it's not because of the protest that he changed his mind, but because of the reasonable arguments. He also mentioned his reasons for changing his stance on Acta, and it seems that he genuinely understands now why it was wrong.
      - wildmXranat 15y ago
        Here is why: most of the issues you described when Tusk didn't give in were national and specific to Poland. ACTA is sort of a popular kid on the global political block; emphasis being on global. It's a new kid in school if you will, and one that everyone wants to take a stab at. This is bandwagon politics that caters to scaring the public with a gun, only to apologise and whack them over the head with a stick nevertheless. You and I probably agree that the outcome is good overall, but be wary of the political song and dance. Stay vigilant is my motto.

125 points by marcin 15y ago

Wow, this is actually quite big. I'd say, more significant than the previous decision by Poland (and then other EU counties) to suspend ACTA ratification. Suspension meant merely that they needed to think more about this. Now Poland comes out openly _against_ ACTA, and that's a _first_ among the participants and signatories of the treaty. Congrats to the participants of the anti-ACTA protests in Poland (possibly the biggest ACTA opposition in the world), who brought about this change.

zalew 15y ago
thanks to #anonymous for making a scene that led to recognizing this issue in our media.
- kolinko 15y ago
  yeah, as much as I sometimes hate their juvenilish behaviour, this time it actually helped...
  - slowpoke 15y ago
    Well, despite all the "juvenile behavior", Anonymous is a force to be reckoned with. They mean it when they say "Expect us.". I also think the fact that they don't care how you perceive them (by acting juvenile or otherwise immature) is one of their greatest strengths. Believe it or not, but it frees you from a lot of burdens if you don't have to be polite and politically correct, and makes it a whole lot easier to actually do something (whether or not that something is good and/or justified is certainly debatable).

jwr 15y ago

A major politician admits he was wrong. This doesn't happen often, and in spite of Tusk's many flaws should be recognized. He deserves respect for being able to admit he was wrong.

ancymon 15y ago
That's one way to look at the situation. Another is that the politician "changes" his mind to gain popularity.
- wildmXranat 15y ago
  That sounds closer to the truth. Tusk, like other politicians has the first and foremost goal of getting re-elected. Just look at Canada's safety minister Vic Toews back-pedal like a champ when he was called out after he compared any person criticising his proposed fascist spying bill to a 'child pornographer' supporter. It seems like there's an open season on moving the goal post when it comes to deteriorating publics right to privacy.
  - kolinko 15y ago
    Why does it sound closer to the truth? For me it's the exact opposite. Tusk over and over again refuses to change his policies when he meets the opposition from huge groups of people (for example the retirement system reform, fighting with football fans, with the doctors, with drug substitutes), I think ACTA is one of the few situations where he reversed his opinion. On the press conference, IIRC, he said that it's not because of the protest that he changed his mind, but because of the reasonable arguments. He also mentioned his reasons for changing his stance on Acta, and it seems that he genuinely understands now why it was wrong.
    - wildmXranat 15y ago
      Here is why: most of the issues you described when Tusk didn't give in were national and specific to Poland. ACTA is sort of a popular kid on the global political block; emphasis being on global. It's a new kid in school if you will, and one that everyone wants to take a stab at. This is bandwagon politics that caters to scaring the public with a gun, only to apologise and whack them over the head with a stick nevertheless. You and I probably agree that the outcome is good overall, but be wary of the political song and dance. Stay vigilant is my motto.