Festivals

Practise vocabulary about HALLOWEEN!!!
Taken from OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS. Interesting!! Go ahead:




http://http//promo.oupe.es/halloween/#eoi

Steve Jobs Stanford Commencement Speech 2005

Watch this emotive speech by Steve Jobs talking about life and death. Worth it!!!!!!!

Riots in London August 2011

Read about the riots in London August 2011:

Taken from: guardian.co.uk

Anti-cuts march draws hundreds of thousands as police battle rioters

Turnout for generally good-natured rally exceeds organisers' expectations, but mood marred by violent minority
March for the Alternative – as it happened
Thousands march against spending cuts – in pictures

• 
  
  
  
  
  
  • 
    

• Mark Townsend, Tracy McVeigh, Jamie Doward and David Sharrock


• guardian.co.uk, Sunday 27 March 2011 02.25 BST


• Article history

More than a quarter of a million people have marched through central London to deliver a powerful message about the government's cuts in public spending. The generally good-natured mood was soured by violent and destructive attacks on symbols of wealth including the Ritz, banks and a luxury car dealer, and an occupation of the upmarket food store Fortnum and Mason.

Trade union organisers said that the turnout had exceeded their expectations, and thousands had travelled by coach and by train from as far as Edinburgh to vent their anger at the government's cuts by marching through London to a rally in Hyde Park.

Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, the public service trade union, said that the turnout was "absolutely enormous and showed the anger of ordinary working people".

But the day was marred by a violent minority of anarchists who went on the rampage, smashing windows and attacking property around Oxford Street. Prentis said he regretted that the actions of "a few hundred" risked diverting attention from the message that the "political heat is rising on the government".

At one stage 13 shops in Oxford Street were closed following skirmishes between activists and riot police. Topshop – owned by Sir Philip Green, who has been accused of tax avoidance – and HSBC had windows smashed, while paint and bottles were thrown at a Royal Bank of Scotland branch. A dozen police officers were surrounded and beaten by a masked mob in Sackville Street, off Piccadilly.

Police said 211 people were arrested for offences including using threatening or insulting words or behaviour, criminal damage, aggravated trespass, violent disorder and for going equipped with intent to cause criminal damage. They said video evidence would be used to make further arrests.

Thirteen officers were injured, and one was among 16 people taken to hospital. A total of 66 people were treated for injuries. By mid-afternoon the main focus of police activity was a sit-in at the upmarket grocers Fortnum and Mason, organised by anti-tax evasion activist group UK Uncut. Hundreds of riot police sealed off the area.

Last night police appealed to people not involved in the disorder to leave Trafalgar Square as they came under increased bombardment from a group of protesters who said they planned to stay there all night. The protesters were throwing items such as coins and water bottles. Scotland Yard said that light bulbs filled with ammonia had also been thrown at officers earlier. But Commander Bob Broadhurst, the Scotland Yard officer in charge of policing the protests, said the TUC had done an excellent job in ensuring that the march was "very professional, very well prepared". But he said a hardcore element had been intent on making trouble.

"Unfortunately we've had in the region of 500-plus criminals – people hiding under the pretence of the TUC march – who have caused considerable damage, attacked police officers, attacked police vehicles and scared the general public. Unfortunately, because of their mobility and the fact they are aware of some of our tactics, we have been unable to contain them and so we have had these groups wandering around the central London area."

Broadhurst said they had learned lessons from the student protests last year, which were heavily criticised for the use of "kettling". "We've worked hard on communication, making people aware by using text and Twitter and a better informed website," he said.

The main group of marchers demonstrated peacefully and walked along the planned route from Embankment to Hyde Park. Steel bands, choirs and dancers performed while the mass of people, many with their children, blew horns and whistles as they passed alongside parliament.

The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, told protesters at the TUC rally in Hyde Park that the government was wrong to make such deep cuts in public services. He was heckled by a small number of protesters when he said "some cuts" were needed, but most people applauded his speech.

Miliband said: "Our struggle is to fight to preserve, protect and defend the best of the services we cherish because they represent the best of the country we love. We know what the government will say: that this is a march of the minority. They are so wrong. David Cameron, you wanted to create the 'big society' – this is the big society. The big society united against what your government is doing to our country. We stand today not as the minority, but as the voice of the mainstream majority in this country."

The Guardian is seeking to establish a team of volunteer "cuts-watchers" who will collect information on how services are being hit in a particular area or sector. If you're interested in getting involved please email us atcutswatch@guardian.co.uk or see here for more information.

The Queen Speech 2010: Opening of the New Parliament

Watch the video of the Queen Speech 2010. Perfect English!!!!!!
Taken from: Youtube

The Queen full Speech

The Queen has opened the New Parliament . Read out the full Speech.
Taken from: Timesonline.co.uk

In full: text of the 2010 Queen’s Speech

My Lords and Members of the House of Commons

My Government’s legislative programme will be based upon the principles of freedom, fairness and responsibility.

The first priority is to reduce the deficit and restore economic growth.

Action will be taken to accelerate the reduction of the structural budget deficit. A new Office for Budget Responsibility will provide confidence in the management of the public finances.

Related Links

• History of the Queen’s Speech

• Coalition to unveil programme in Queen’s Speech

• IN FULL: how the day unfolded

The tax and benefits system will be made fairer and simpler. Changes to National Insurance will safeguard jobs and support the economy. People will be supported into work with sanctions for those who refuse available jobs and the timetable for increasing the State Pension Age will be reviewed.

Legislation will reform financial services regulation to learn from the financial crisis and to make fair and transparent payments to Equitable Life policy holders.

My Government will support investment in new high-speed broadband internet connections, enable the construction of a high-speed railway network and reform the economic regulation of airports to benefit passengers.

My Government will modernise the Royal Mail, in partnership with employees, and will ensure it benefits from private sector capital and disciplines.

My Government will limit the number of non-European Union economic migrants entering the United Kingdom and end the detention of children for immigration purposes.

Legislation will be introduced to improve energy efficiency in homes and businesses, to promote low carbon energy production and to secure energy supplies.

My Government will remove barriers to flexible working and promote equal pay.

My Government will seek to build a strong and fair society by reforming public services and encouraging individual and social responsibility.

Legislation will be introduced to enable more schools to achieve academy status, give teachers greater freedom over the curriculum and allow new providers to run state schools.

The voice of patients and the role of doctors to be strengthened in the National Health Service to improve public health alongside actions to reduce health inequalities. A commission will be appointed to consider a sustainable long-term structure for the operation of social care.

A Bill will be introduced to make the police service more accountable to local people and to tackle alcohol-related violence and anti-social behaviour.

The role of social enterprises, charities and the co-operatives in our public services will be enhanced. The cost of bureaucracy and the number of public bodies will be reduced.

A Bill will be introduced to devolve greater powers to councils and neighbourhoods and give local communities control over housing and planning decisions. Legislation will be introduced to stop uncompleted plans to create unitary councils.

My Government will propose Parliamentary and political reform to restore trust in democratic institutions and rebalance the relationship between the citizen and the state.

Measures will be brought forward to introduce fixed term Parliaments of five years.

A Bill will be introduced for a referendum on the Alternative Vote system for the House of Commons and to create fewer and more equal sized constituencies.

Constituents will be given the right to recall their Members of Parliament where they are guilty of serious wrongdoing.

Proposals will be brought forward for a reformed second House that is wholly or mainly elected on the basis of proportional representation.

Action will be taken to reform the funding of political parties. A draft Bill will be published on reforming parliamentary privilege.

Legislation will be brought forward to restore freedoms and civil liberties, through the abolition of Identity Cards and repeal of unnecessary laws.

My Government will work constructively and co-operatively with the devolved institutions.

My Government will introduce legislation to implement recommendations from the Final Report of the Commission on Scottish Devolution and is committed to a referendum on additional powers for the National Assembly of Wales.

My Government will support the political institutions and stable devolved government in Northern Ireland.

MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

Estimates for the public services will be laid before you.

MY LORDS AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

My Government will introduce legislation to ensure that in future this Parliament and the British people have their say on any proposed transfer of powers to the European Union.

The Duke of Edinburgh and I look forward to our visit to Canada in June and to our visit to the United Nations in New York in July. We also look forward to receiving His Holiness Pope Benedict the Sixteenth in September.

My Government will seek effective global collaboration to sustain economic recovery and to combat climate change, including at the climate change conference in Mexico later this year.

My Government will fully support our courageous armed forces and undertake a full Strategic Defence and Security Review.

My Government will work with the Afghan government, Pakistan and international partners for lasting security and stability in Afghanistan.

My Government looks forward to an enhanced partnership with India.

In the Middle East, my Government will continue to work for a two-state solution that sees a viable Palestinian state existing in peace and security alongside Israel.

My Government will work to reduce the threat from nuclear weapons and nuclear proliferation including the serious international concerns posed by Iran’s nuclear programme.

My Government is committed to spend nought point seven per cent of gross national income in development aid from 2013.

Other measures will be laid before you.

MY LORDS AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your counsels.

Verb tenses

The sentence "He is to visit London next week" shows Spanish speakers many difficulties in order to translate it into Spanish. Here comes some explanations in Spanish with many examples in both languages. There are some exercises at the end of it. Try them!!!!

Taken from: menuaingles.blogspot.com

Para expresar planes futuros: "To be" (conjugado en "present tense", y en ocasiones en "past tense" )+ un verbo en infinitivo es una estructura formal que se utiliza para hablar acerca de planes futuros, sobre todo, si son de carácter oficial, por ello, se puede ver en los titulares de periódicos.

Por ejemplo:

- The President is to visit Paris next week.
El presidente visitará Paris la próxima semana.

Suele aparecer con una referencia futura. Por ejemplo: next week, next month, next year, etc. Pero esta referencia futura no siempre es necesaria.




Más ejemplos:

- They are to travel to London tomorrow. Ellos viajarán a Londres mañana.
- The Minister is to visit the prisioners. El Ministro visitará a los presos. Nota: en inglés "minister" es también pastor (de iglesia).
- He is to work with the Government in an international project. Él trabajará con el Gobierno en un proyecto internacional.
- I felt happy because I was soon to leave my job. Me sentí feliz porque pronto iba a dejar mi trabajo. Nota: Aquí tenemos un ejemplo con el verbo "to be" en pasado.


2) Para planes futuros que no llegaron a cumplirse

Es posible poner el verbo "to be" (conjugado en "past tense) + verbo en infinitivo para indicar que nuestros planes futuros no se cumplieron.

Por ejemplo:

He was to get a pay raise, but he didn't. Él iba a obtener una subida salarial, pero no fue así. Nota: Tengo "sujeto": "He", luego "was" (past tense "to be" para la tercera persona) y luego "to get" (el verbo "get" en infinitivo). En español, si te fijas he utilizado el pretérito imperfecto "iba". ¿Y no podría decir en inglés, por ejemplo: "He was going to get a pay raise"? Sí, claro que sí es posible. Pero con la el verbo "to be + infinitivo" decimos lo mismo de una manera más formal.

Para expresar planes futuros que no llegaron a cumplirse: To be (conjugado en "past tense") + un verbo en infinitivo se utiliza para hablar acerca de planes futuros que no llegaron a cumplirse.

Más ejemplos:

- She was to marry in June, but unexpectedly she changed her mind. Ella se iba a casar en junio, pero inesperadamente cambió de opinión.

- We were to move to France, but we had to stay in the UK for one more year. Nos íbamos a mudar a Francia, pero tuvimos que quedarnos en el Reino Unido un año más. Nota: Fíjate como en todos estos ejemplos he utilizado "but" para explicar porqué no se cumplieron los planes.

3) Para futuro desconocido

También podemos utilizar "to be" (conjugado en "past tense") + verbo en infinitivo para expresar que pensábamos que algo iba ocurrir de una manera y finalmente ocurrió de otra.

Por ejemplo:

-When she first saw him she didn't know they were to marry many years later. Cuando lo vio por primera vez ella no sabía que se casarían muchos años después. Nota: ¿Te has fijado? Estoy utilizando un tono narrativo y como narrador lo sé todo sobre el personaje "ella" (narrador omnipresente), que tiene un futuro oculto que desconoce.

4) Para dar órdenes

También podemos utilizar "to be" (conjugado en "present tense") + verbo en infinitivo para dar órdenes.

Este es un estilo que se suele utilizar con niños o adolescentes. En español podemos traducirlo por "debes".



- You are to clean your room before you leave. Debes limpiar tu habitación antes de marcharte.

- She is to be back before ten if she wants me to give her pocket money. Debe volver antes de las diez si quiere que le de la paga. Nota: ¿Te has fijado? "to be back" significa "estar de vuelta" o "volver".

5) Para expresar pre-requisitos

También podemos utilizar "to be" (conjugado en "present" o "past tense") + verbo en infinitivo para expresar que una condición se tiene que cumplir para que otra cosa ocurra.

Esta formula se utiliza frecuentemente con estructuras condicionales.

Por ejemplo:

-You are to study hard if you want to pass the exam. Debes estudiar mucho si quieres pasar el examen.
- He is to be here on time if he wants me to help him. Él debe estar aquí a tiempo si quiere que yo le ayude.

6) Para dar instrucciones y advertir

En este caso ¡ojo! el verbo en infinitivo va en forma pasiva.

También podemos utilizar am/are/is (not) + "to be" + participio pasado del verbo en instrucciones o para hacer una advertencia. También es posible omitir el verbo to be conjugado (am/is/are) y poner sólo "to be" + verbo en participio pasado

Esta es la típica leyenda que viene en las medicinas, o en cualquier manual de instrucciones de una aparato.

- The door is not to be opened during the flight. No se debe abrir la puerta durante el vuelo. Nota: Participio del verbo "open": "opened" "Open" es también adjetivo. Puedes encontrar que se escribe "no to be open" también. Por ejemplo: He is an open person. Él es una persona abierta.
- Lid is not to be removed. No quitar la tapa. Nota: Participio del verbo "remove" (quitar) es "removed".
- To be taken twice a day with meals. Tomar dos veces al día durante las comidas. Nota: Participio de "take", "taken". Aquí no hemos utilizado el "to be" conjugado, si no en infinitivo.

Recapitulando: El verbo "to be" conjugado en presente (am/is/are)/pasado (was/were) + un verbo en infinitivo (es decir "to work", "to leave", "to do") se utliza para: 1) Planes futuros: He is to leave tomorrow. Él se marcha mañana. 2) Planes futuros que no se cumplen: He was to leave but he finally he didn't go. Se iba a marchar pero finalmente no lo hizo. 3) Futuro desconocido: He didn't know he was to leave. Él no sabía que se iba a marchar. 4) Para dar órdenes: You are to leave now. Debes marcharte ahora. 5) Pre-requisitos en estructura condicional: You are to leave, if you want to get there soon. Debes marcharte si quieres llegar allí pronto. 6) En instrucciones y advertencias: The dog is not be disturbed. El perro no debe ser molestado. Nota: En este caso, se puede omitir am/is/are y "to be" va seguido del participio del verbo.

***********

Ahora a practicar

Traduce las siguientes oraciones (con la formula que hemos aprendido, claro está):

- El Rey viajará a Canadá en febrero.
- Si quieres llegar a tiempo date prisa.
- Debes empezar lo antes posible si quieres terminar a tiempo.
- No sabíamos que nos veríamos nuevamente.
- No se debe tragar.

******

Traducción:

- The King is to visit Canada in February.
- If you are to arrive on time, hurry up.
- You are to start as soon as possible if you want to finish on time.
- We didn't know we were to see each other again.
- Not to be swallowed.

Iceland volcano

Great amounts of money lost in the airline sector. Crisis in this sector? who's responsible for that? Read about what's going on in Iceland!!! Mother Nature , What is happening?????

Taken from: telegraph.co.uk

Iceland volcano eruption triggers fears for glacier

A volcano that has been dormant for almost 200 years has erupted in Iceland

by Our Foreign Staff
Published: 9:42AM GMT 21 Mar 2010

Link to this video

Authorities evacuated hundreds of people after a volcano erupted beside a glacier in southern Iceland, Iceland's civil protection agency said on Sunday, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The eruption occurred beside the Eyjafjallajokull glacier, the fifth largest in Iceland. Authorities initially said the eruption was below the glacier, triggering fears that it could lead to flooding from glacier melt, but scientists conducting an aerial survey in daylight located the eruption and said it did not occur below ice.

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"The eruption is a small one," said Agust Gunnar Gylfason, a risk analyst at the Civil Protection Department.

"An eruption in and close to this glacier can be dangerous due to possible flooding if the fissure forms under the glacier," he said. "That is why we initiated our disaster response plan."

The last time the volcano erupted was in the 1820s.

Scientists can see lava flows in the half-mile long fissure, and authorities are watching for further activity.

Authorities evacuated some 450 people in the area 100 miles southeast of the capital, Reykjavik, as a precaution, said Vidir Reynisson, the department manager for the Icelandic Civil Protection Department.

A state of emergency has been declared in communities near the 100 square mile glacier, and three Red Cross centers were set up for evacuees in the village of Hella.

The Icelandic Civil Aviation Administration has ordered aircraft to stay 120 nautical miles away from the volcano area, essentially closing it off.

Three Icelandair flights from the U.S. - departing from Seattle; Boston; and Orlando, Florida - bound for Keflavik airport in Reykjavik were turned back to Boston. All domestic flights were also canceled until further notice, the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service reported.

Keflavik international airport, Reykjavik airport and Akureyri airport are all closed due to the possibility of ash getting into engines of the planes. The only airport that is open is Egilsstadir airport in the eastern part of the country as a back up international airport.

Gudjon Arngrimsson, a spokesman for Icelandair, said he could not immediately comment.

A European volcanic island in the North Atlantic, Iceland is largely an arctic desert with mountains, glaciers and volcanoes and agricultural areas in the lowlands close to the coastline.

Iceland volcano

Great amounts of money lost in the airline sector. Crisis in this sector? who's responsible for that? Read about what's going on in Iceland!!! Mother Nature , What is happening?????

Taken from: telegraph.co.uk

Iceland volcano eruption triggers fears for glacier

A volcano that has been dormant for almost 200 years has erupted in Iceland

by Our Foreign Staff
Published: 9:42AM GMT 21 Mar 2010

Link to this video

Authorities evacuated hundreds of people after a volcano erupted beside a glacier in southern Iceland, Iceland's civil protection agency said on Sunday, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The eruption occurred beside the Eyjafjallajokull glacier, the fifth largest in Iceland. Authorities initially said the eruption was below the glacier, triggering fears that it could lead to flooding from glacier melt, but scientists conducting an aerial survey in daylight located the eruption and said it did not occur below ice.

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"The eruption is a small one," said Agust Gunnar Gylfason, a risk analyst at the Civil Protection Department.

"An eruption in and close to this glacier can be dangerous due to possible flooding if the fissure forms under the glacier," he said. "That is why we initiated our disaster response plan."

The last time the volcano erupted was in the 1820s.

Scientists can see lava flows in the half-mile long fissure, and authorities are watching for further activity.

Authorities evacuated some 450 people in the area 100 miles southeast of the capital, Reykjavik, as a precaution, said Vidir Reynisson, the department manager for the Icelandic Civil Protection Department.

A state of emergency has been declared in communities near the 100 square mile glacier, and three Red Cross centers were set up for evacuees in the village of Hella.

The Icelandic Civil Aviation Administration has ordered aircraft to stay 120 nautical miles away from the volcano area, essentially closing it off.

Three Icelandair flights from the U.S. - departing from Seattle; Boston; and Orlando, Florida - bound for Keflavik airport in Reykjavik were turned back to Boston. All domestic flights were also canceled until further notice, the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service reported.

Keflavik international airport, Reykjavik airport and Akureyri airport are all closed due to the possibility of ash getting into engines of the planes. The only airport that is open is Egilsstadir airport in the eastern part of the country as a back up international airport.

Gudjon Arngrimsson, a spokesman for Icelandair, said he could not immediately comment.

A European volcanic island in the North Atlantic, Iceland is largely an arctic desert with mountains, glaciers and volcanoes and agricultural areas in the lowlands close to the coastline.

News articles

Read about the political consequences of the plane crash. Read also some other articles on the guardian. Interesting!!

Taken from:guardian.co.uk

Poland and Russia: reconciled in tragedy

The air crash that killed Poland's leaders has led Russia to face its role in past horrors in Katyn

• Jarosław Kurski


• guardian.co.uk, Sunday 11 April 2010 22.00 BST


• Article history

There is no such thing as a good death. Every tragic death is senseless and aimless. But today Poles can bring some sense to this unprecedented tragedy in their country's history.

For the last 70 years, the name Katyn had little resonance for most people in the west. It was also seen as a symbol of Russophobia on the part of Poles. Paradoxically, what happened on Saturday in Smolensk makes this notion obsolete.

Due to last weekend's tragedy, the killing of 22,000 Polish officers by Russians in 1940 will become common knowledge. We Poles do remember that, but because they wanted to keep Russia happy, its western allies chose not to challenge Russian propaganda blaming Germans for the Katyn massacre. Now, the truth will become widely known – and truth is the very first criterion of any reconciliation.

A second paradox is that the Russian reaction to the deaths – a crash that claimed the life not only of the Polish president, but of many senior government officials and the entire top brass of the military on their way to Katyn – is creating a unique situation. Authentic reconciliation between Poles and Russians, just like that of French and Germans under Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer, has now become possible.

Across Russia people are crying together with us today. And there are stunning, from our perspective, things happening in Russia as we speak. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin talks about Soviet crime in Katyn. He bows his head for the victims alongside the Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk. After the tragedy in Smolensk, Russia's president, Dmitry Medvedev, talks to the Polish people and declares Monday a day of national mourning in Russia.

Last but not least, Vladimir Putin travels to Smolensk, takes over an investigation into the causes of the plane crash, and hugs Tusk in a moment of spontaneous solidarity. Russian state television airs Andrzej Wajda's movie Katyn, that wounds the Russian conscience, in prime time.

There is a sea of flowers at the Polish embassy in Moscow. Russia has opened its heart to Poland, but has also opened its heart to itself: to its own history and to the history of Russian Stalinism, which killed millions of Russians and other Soviet citizens. Two Slavic nations should be able to reconcile at a moment like this.

The young Polish democracy – and young independent Poland – will be shaken by the tragedy, but it will survive. Poles are proving today that as a nation they are ready for freedom, the same freedom that they were so desperately short of in the last 200 years of their history.

I hope that the governing party, Civic Platform, will put national interest above the interests of the party when nominating people for vacant posts, in the spirit of national reconciliation.

It is very difficult to foresee all the political consequences of the crash in Smolensk. But I am sure of this: Poles will pass this difficult exam with flying colours.

News articles

Read about the political consequences of the plane crash. Read also some other articles on the guardian. Interesting!!

Taken from:guardian.co.uk

Poland and Russia: reconciled in tragedy

The air crash that killed Poland's leaders has led Russia to face its role in past horrors in Katyn

• Jarosław Kurski


• guardian.co.uk, Sunday 11 April 2010 22.00 BST


• Article history

There is no such thing as a good death. Every tragic death is senseless and aimless. But today Poles can bring some sense to this unprecedented tragedy in their country's history.

For the last 70 years, the name Katyn had little resonance for most people in the west. It was also seen as a symbol of Russophobia on the part of Poles. Paradoxically, what happened on Saturday in Smolensk makes this notion obsolete.

Due to last weekend's tragedy, the killing of 22,000 Polish officers by Russians in 1940 will become common knowledge. We Poles do remember that, but because they wanted to keep Russia happy, its western allies chose not to challenge Russian propaganda blaming Germans for the Katyn massacre. Now, the truth will become widely known – and truth is the very first criterion of any reconciliation.

A second paradox is that the Russian reaction to the deaths – a crash that claimed the life not only of the Polish president, but of many senior government officials and the entire top brass of the military on their way to Katyn – is creating a unique situation. Authentic reconciliation between Poles and Russians, just like that of French and Germans under Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer, has now become possible.

Across Russia people are crying together with us today. And there are stunning, from our perspective, things happening in Russia as we speak. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin talks about Soviet crime in Katyn. He bows his head for the victims alongside the Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk. After the tragedy in Smolensk, Russia's president, Dmitry Medvedev, talks to the Polish people and declares Monday a day of national mourning in Russia.

Last but not least, Vladimir Putin travels to Smolensk, takes over an investigation into the causes of the plane crash, and hugs Tusk in a moment of spontaneous solidarity. Russian state television airs Andrzej Wajda's movie Katyn, that wounds the Russian conscience, in prime time.

There is a sea of flowers at the Polish embassy in Moscow. Russia has opened its heart to Poland, but has also opened its heart to itself: to its own history and to the history of Russian Stalinism, which killed millions of Russians and other Soviet citizens. Two Slavic nations should be able to reconcile at a moment like this.

The young Polish democracy – and young independent Poland – will be shaken by the tragedy, but it will survive. Poles are proving today that as a nation they are ready for freedom, the same freedom that they were so desperately short of in the last 200 years of their history.

I hope that the governing party, Civic Platform, will put national interest above the interests of the party when nominating people for vacant posts, in the spirit of national reconciliation.

It is very difficult to foresee all the political consequences of the crash in Smolensk. But I am sure of this: Poles will pass this difficult exam with flying colours.