Over 1,000 people, including many journalists, filled the streets of Cracow on February 19th, and participated in a demonstration against NATO, organised by peace movements, anarchists, and left forces, amongst others the Young Socialists and PPP (Polish Labour Party). A demonstration in Cracow doesn’t happen that often, but an event against NATO does more and more.

Poland entered the NATO ten years ago, and for this reason the ministers of defence of several countries met in Cracow on February 19th. The majority of Poland’s citizens had welcomed the NATO membership in the beginning, linking high expectations with the alliance. That day, many Polish citizens watched the large demonstration with curiosity, noticing the different flags and symbols of anarchists, anti-war movements, trade unions, and parties, such as the European Left and the Young Socialists, an organisation of young activists from all over Poland that is an observer to the European Left.

The same morning the Young Socialists had organised a conference with members of the European Left, Die Linke, and Synaspismos, where 100 people came to discuss the positions of the European Left concerning the dissolution of NATO, the necessity of a disarmament policy, the relationship between militarization and international crisis, the Lisbon treaty (which had been ratified by the Czech Republic in the meantime), etc.

In a country where the average salary is still 200 EUR and the number of poor people is growing, these young people raise the question whether it’s appropriate to spend money in armaments, and they try to explain to the elder that an antimissile shield will not lead to peace or development.

Graziella Mascia, Vice-president of the European Left