Check out our latest additions or find in-depth info online at www.salisbury.edu Nobel Prize-Winner Lech Walesa Former President of Poland Thursday, March 30 Holloway Hall Auditorium, 7 p.m. Walesa burst into the world spotlight in 1980 during the Lenin Shipyard strike in Gdansk, Poland. Workers, incensed by an increase in prices set by the Communist government, were demanding the right to organize free and independent trade unions. Walesa, an electrician who had long been active in the underground labor movement, arrived at the barricaded shipyard just as the dispirited workers were on the verge of abandoning their strike. Scaling the shipyard walls, he delivered a stirring speech, revitalizing the strike that spread to fac- tories across the nation. Christened “Solidarity,” the strike became a social revolution. Walesa entered into negotiations with the government, convincing it to grant recognition to Solidarity and the right to form independent unions as well as the right to strike. Through years of political turmoil and jail time for thousands of Solidarity members—including Walesa —Solidarity planted the seeds of freedom and democracy that eventually ended Communist rule in Poland. For his heroic efforts, Walesa was named “Man of the Year” by “Time” magazine, “The Financial Times,” “The London Observer,” “Die Welt,” “Die Zeit,” “L’Express” and “Le Soir.” Walesa was awarded the 1983 Nobel Peace Prize. On December 9, 1990, he became Poland’s first democratically elected president, winning more than 74 percent of the votes cast. His term in office set Poland firmly on the path to becoming a free-market democracy. He now heads the Lech Walesa Institute whose aim is to advance the ideals of democracy and free-market reform throughout Eastern Europe and the rest of the world. “One Person Can Make A Difference” Lecture Series In addition to keynoting the semester-long “’80s On Our 80th” cultural events series, Walesa is part of SU’s Center for Conflict Resolution’s “One Person Can Make a Difference” lecture series. The series provides the community the opportunity to be exposed to pioneering individuals in the field of conflict resolution. The lecture series has hosted such notable speakers as Under Secretary General of the United Nations Giandomenico Picco, Ambassador John McDonald and Dr. Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. Thursday, March 30

Nobel Prize-Winner Lech Walesa · 2020-04-07 · Lech Walesa Former President of Poland Thursday, March 30 Holloway Hall Auditorium, 7 p.m. Walesa burst into the world spotlight in

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Page 1: Nobel Prize-Winner Lech Walesa · 2020-04-07 · Lech Walesa Former President of Poland Thursday, March 30 Holloway Hall Auditorium, 7 p.m. Walesa burst into the world spotlight in

Check out our latest additions or find in-depth info online at www.salisbury.edu

Nobel Prize-Winner Lech WalesaFormer President of PolandThursday, March 30Holloway Hall Auditorium, 7 p.m.

Walesa burst into the worldspotlight in 1980 during theLenin Shipyard strike inGdansk, Poland. Workers,incensed by an increase inprices set by the Communistgovernment, were demanding the right toorganize free and independent trade unions.Walesa, an electrician whohad long been active in theunderground labor movement, arrived at thebarricaded shipyard just asthe dispirited workers wereon the verge of abandoningtheir strike. Scaling the shipyard walls, he delivereda stirring speech, revitalizingthe strike that spread to fac-tories across the nation.

Christened “Solidarity,”the strike became a socialrevolution. Walesa enteredinto negotiations with thegovernment, convincing it togrant recognition toSolidarity and the right toform independent unions aswell as the right to strike.Through years of politicalturmoil and jail time forthousands of Solidaritymembers—including Walesa—Solidarity planted theseeds of freedom

and democracy that eventually endedCommunist rule in Poland.

For his heroic efforts,Walesa was named “Man ofthe Year” by “Time” magazine, “The FinancialTimes,” “The LondonObserver,” “Die Welt,” “DieZeit,” “L’Express” and “LeSoir.” Walesa was awardedthe 1983 Nobel Peace Prize.

On December 9, 1990,he became Poland’s firstdemocratically elected president, winning morethan 74 percent of the votescast. His term in office setPoland firmly on the path tobecoming a free-marketdemocracy. He now headsthe Lech Walesa Institutewhose aim is to advance theideals of democracy andfree-market reform throughout Eastern Europeand the rest of the world.

“One Person Can Make A Difference”Lecture SeriesIn addition to keynotingthe semester-long “’80s OnOur 80th” cultural eventsseries, Walesa is part ofSU’s Center for ConflictResolution’s “One PersonCan Make a Difference”lecture series. The seriesprovides the communitythe opportunity to beexposed to pioneering individuals in the field ofconflict resolution. The lecture series has hostedsuch notable speakers asUnder Secretary General ofthe United NationsGiandomenico Picco,Ambassador JohnMcDonald and Dr. ArunGandhi, grandson ofMahatma Gandhi.

Thursday, March 30