Leader of nonviolent Polish struggle to be honoured
-13/04/06
The charismatic leader of
Leader of nonviolent Polish struggle to be honoured
-13/04/06
The charismatic leader of millions of workers who led a non-violent struggle which played a crucial part in the events which led to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the peaceful re-emergence of a free Poland, is to be honoured by Liverpool’s auxiliary Catholic bishop.
Bishop Tom Williams will welcome Lech Walesa to Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral next month, where he will be made an honorary fellow of the Liverpool John Moores University – the highest honour which the university can confer.
A Catholic, Walesa has often told of how his Christian faith gave him the courage to persevere against seemingly impossible odds.
Born on September 29th 1943, it was in 1980 that Lech Walesa became the charismatic leader of millions of Polish workers.
The birth of Solidarity ñ Solidarnosc – Polandís first independent trades union, became the catalyst for extraordinary and historic change. The cataclysmic events which led to the collapse of the Soviet Union, the peaceful re-emergence of a free Poland, the re-unification of Germany, and the freeing of the other Eastern European nations, also led to the honouring of Lech Walesa for the historic role which he had played.
In 1983 he became the first Pole to be awarded the prize founded by Alfred Nobel to recognise those whose endeavours peacefully bring the nations of the world closer together. In 1990 the Polish people elected him as their President.
Speaking to Ekklesia, Lord Alton of Liverpool who is also a professor At John Moores University said; “As he is welcomed to the Cathedral many will be reflecting on the momentous events in which he was involved which re-shaped the map of Europe in just 25 short years.
“Leader of Solidarity, Nobel Laureate, and President of Poland: for so many of us, Lech Walesaís name became synonymous with our deepest yearnings and longings for true freedom and an end to tyranny.”
There are many links between Poland and Liverpool. A quarter of a century ago many Liverpudlians gathered in the same cathedral to greet Karol Wojtyla, Pope John Paul II. That visit is celebrated by a great tapestry which is part of the back-drop for the ceremony which will honour Walesa. The Pope famously said: “Whenever men exploit the weak; whenever the rich take advantage of the poor; whenever great powers seek to dominate and impose ideologies, there the work of making peace is undone; there the cathedral of peace is destroyed.”
“It is not difficult to see how these same teachings inspired and shaped so much of Lech Walesa’s own outlook” Lord Alton said.
Walesa was the son of a carpenter he was brought up in Popowa. After graduating from a vocational technical school ñ very much a part of the traditions of this university ñ Lech Walesa worked as a car mechanic before serving for two years in the army. In 1967 he went to work in the Gdansk shipyards as an electrician.
As early as 1970, in the years when Poland had exchanged Nazism for Soviet totalitarianism, he was detained following a clash between the workers and the communist government. Inscribed on the monument erected at the entrance to the Gdansk Shipyard in memory of those who were killed in December 1970 are the words of the Psalm: “The Lord will give His people the blessing of peace”.
In 1976, because of his activities as a shop steward, he was arbitrarily dismissed and the family was plunged into penury as he sought one temporary job after another.
In 1978 he began to work with others in organising the countryís first free non-communist trades union. He became increasingly involved in direct action and protests and the notorious secret services kept him under continuous surveillance and regularly detained him.
Then on August 14th, 1980, the 37-year-old electrician took a series of actions which would change history. Lech Walesa first scaled a wall of the Lenin Shipyard a began a strike. Within days this would lead to the closure of factories all over Poland and would ultimately lead to the end of the Cold War, lead to the liberation of millions of people well beyond the borders of the Polish state, and lead to the re-configuration of European and global political dynamics.
The event is on Monday May 15th. Tickets for the Walesa lecture which will accompany it are available from Barbara Mace: [email protected] 0151 231 3852
Leader of nonviolent Polish struggle to be honoured
-13/04/06
The charismatic leader of millions of workers who led a non-violent struggle which played a crucial part in the events which led to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the peaceful re-emergence of a free Poland, is to be honoured by Liverpool’s auxiliary Catholic bishop.
Bishop Tom Williams will welcome Lech Walesa to Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral next month, where he will be made an honorary fellow of the Liverpool John Moores University – the highest honour which the university can confer.
A Catholic, Walesa has often told of how his Christian faith gave him the courage to persevere against seemingly impossible odds.
Born on September 29th 1943, it was in 1980 that Lech Walesa became the charismatic leader of millions of Polish workers.
The birth of Solidarity ñ Solidarnosc – Polandís first independent trades union, became the catalyst for extraordinary and historic change. The cataclysmic events which led to the collapse of the Soviet Union, the peaceful re-emergence of a free Poland, the re-unification of Germany, and the freeing of the other Eastern European nations, also led to the honouring of Lech Walesa for the historic role which he had played.
In 1983 he became the first Pole to be awarded the prize founded by Alfred Nobel to recognise those whose endeavours peacefully bring the nations of the world closer together. In 1990 the Polish people elected him as their President.
Speaking to Ekklesia, Lord Alton of Liverpool who is also a professor At John Moores University said; “As he is welcomed to the Cathedral many will be reflecting on the momentous events in which he was involved which re-shaped the map of Europe in just 25 short years.
“Leader of Solidarity, Nobel Laureate, and President of Poland: for so many of us, Lech Walesaís name became synonymous with our deepest yearnings and longings for true freedom and an end to tyranny.”
There are many links between Poland and Liverpool. A quarter of a century ago many Liverpudlians gathered in the same cathedral to greet Karol Wojtyla, Pope John Paul II. That visit is celebrated by a great tapestry which is part of the back-drop for the ceremony which will honour Walesa. The Pope famously said: “Whenever men exploit the weak; whenever the rich take advantage of the poor; whenever great powers seek to dominate and impose ideologies, there the work of making peace is undone; there the cathedral of peace is destroyed.”
“It is not difficult to see how these same teachings inspired and shaped so much of Lech Walesa’s own outlook” Lord Alton said.
Walesa was the son of a carpenter he was brought up in Popowa. After graduating from a vocational technical school ñ very much a part of the traditions of this university ñ Lech Walesa worked as a car mechanic before serving for two years in the army. In 1967 he went to work in the Gdansk shipyards as an electrician.
As early as 1970, in the years when Poland had exchanged Nazism for Soviet totalitarianism, he was detained following a clash between the workers and the communist government. Inscribed on the monument erected at the entrance to the Gdansk Shipyard in memory of those who were killed in December 1970 are the words of the Psalm: “The Lord will give His people the blessing of peace”.
In 1976, because of his activities as a shop steward, he was arbitrarily dismissed and the family was plunged into penury as he sought one temporary job after another.
In 1978 he began to work with others in organising the countryís first free non-communist trades union. He became increasingly involved in direct action and protests and the notorious secret services kept him under continuous surveillance and regularly detained him.
Then on August 14th, 1980, the 37-year-old electrician took a series of actions which would change history. Lech Walesa first scaled a wall of the Lenin Shipyard a began a strike. Within days this would lead to the closure of factories all over Poland and would ultimately lead to the end of the Cold War, lead to the liberation of millions of people well beyond the borders of the Polish state, and lead to the re-configuration of European and global political dynamics.
The event is on Monday May 15th. Tickets for the Walesa lecture which will accompany it are available from Barbara Mace: [email protected] 0151 231 3852