Attention

On the 19th of June at two pm Women on Waves sends their international press release from Władysławowo with their contact number. In this press release they officially state that their ship will be arriving in Poland. The response is meager, and for a while, it seems as of their cause has not moved anyone.

But by the 20th the press phones are ringing all the time, and the emails for help are pouring in. Volunteers and translators set up shop in the new office, and by evening the help hotline is ready for use.
Since it is illegal to supply women with information with may facilitate them in terminating their pregnancy, the hotline is very restricted in the things they can say. They ask the women calling to visit their website for more information.

Press team, Sladjana: �I arrive in Gdansk in the afternoon. The taxi driver that drives me to Wladyslawowo has a copy of Newsweek in his car. The cover story is about abortion and of course there is an article about us in it. I try to read it. Here is this Dutch chick in his car that doesn’t speak Polish, trying to read an article about abortions in Polish. Since the news of our action is already out in Poland, it mustn't be hard for this guy to figure out who I am. So, I start reading every damn magazine in his car in Polish to not be suspicious. He must think I am crazy�.

June 19, 2003
Jeannette and Sladjana have installed the office in our rented house. At 2 o'clock we send out the first press release with our contact number. This is the first time we officially confirm that the ship is about to arrive in Poland. We ready ourselves to receive an avalanche of press calls from international and Dutch press but nothing much happens; almost no one calls. We are a bit disappointed. The Polish media have been writing for days about the ship's arrival. The journalists still think that the ship's name is "Aurora" (the name of the ship we used for the Ireland campaign). One of the articles in the Polish press makes us realise how fortunate we are that our ship is the “Langenort� and not the “Aurora�.

Polish Press agency, 19-06-2003: "The Bishop of Lublin, Rev. Zycimski thought, as had been earlier reported, that the ship’s name was "Aurora". He immediately drew an analogy to the name of the Aurora cruiser that in 1917 gave signal, according to the communist legend, to the start of the October Revolution in Russia. At that point, the bishop explained that it was a revolution, which was to bring freedom and happiness to millions, but in fact it brought fear, pain and death. We do not need such an Aurora in here!�

Press team, Sladjana: "We send the press releases out to all the world-wide media. Jeannette and I get our press phones working and wait impatiently for all hell to break loose. We have been preparing for this day for so long and we know that once the press release goes out, our phones shouldn’t stop ringing. At two in the afternoon, we hit the ‘send’ button. At 2.15 the phones still haven’t rung. At 2.17 my phone finally rings. Hooray! Hooray! Jeannette also receives a phone call. Maybe about two more follow. Then the phones fall silent again... A hilarious situation! What if no press at all is interested? Hahaha! We expected everything, we’ve practised all the difficult questions and now it seems as if all our preparation was in vain!�

Goodbye

The Langenort leaves to return the Netherlands. Weather is rough and emotions…

The last trip

The Langenort sails to international waters very early in the morning to avoid…

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…

Open Ship

An open house day is held on the ship to be able to provide more information.

Support us

In Wroc?aw a demonstration takes place to support the actions of Women on Waves.

Active media

Washington Times 29-06-2003, Joe Bob's week in review: "The Langenort, a…

Sailing again

The Langenort sails out into international waters for the second time. There…

Dealing

The local prosecutor has started an investigation concerning the possible…

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…

Custom officials

On the 22nd of June the pharmaceutical experts identify 180 Cytotec pills and…

Arriving in Władysławowo

After 48 hours of negotiation with the harbor officials, the wind lifts up and…

Calling

DZIENNIK BALTYCKI: "There will be no pregnant women coming even as close as 10…

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…

Wladywhatta?

By April 2003, the crew, press team, medical team and translators are all in…

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…

Condensed SexEd

In December 2002, Women on Waves gives one day workshops for medical…

License to question authority

Even though Women on Waves' application for a license as a first trimester…