Civic Society and Independent Media in Central Europe

Discussion Panel: Civic Society and Independent Media in Central Europe:
30 Years of the Solidarity Movement in Poland

Guests: Henryk and Ludwika Wujec, Zbigniew Pietrzyk and Zbigniew
Karwowski Moderator: Dr. Arista M. Cirtautas

Time: 7:30PM Date: November 15, 2010 Place: Walker-Ames Room at Kane
Hall

UW Campus Organizer: UW Polish Studies Endowment Committee (UW
PSEC); Co-sponsors: Polish Airlines LOT, The Evans School of Public
Affairs, Mr. & Mrs. R. Golubiec, MillionZillion Software, Inc.

Lecture is free and open to the public; reception follows

The panel discussion will focus on the roots of Solidarność and its role
in initiating a peaceful revolution in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE)
leading to building civic society in that region. It will cover 30 years
of history, from the origins of the Solidarity Movement through Martial
Law and the Round Table Negotiations, to the role of NSZZ Solidarność in
the transformation of Poland from a communist to an independent
democratic state. The participants will assess the current status and
the role of independent media in building a civic society in Poland and
in CEE.

Henryk and Ludwika Wujec, journalists, activists, politicians, were
instrumental in establishing independent trade unions and media in
Poland. They were involved in KOR (Committee for Worker’s Defense),
underground trade unions, and later, in building the basic structure of
the Independent Trade Union Solidarność, particularly its media.
Zbigniew Pietrzyk and Zbigniew “Ziggy” Karwowski, former Solidarity
leaders and organizers, now residing in the US, will join Mr. and Mrs.
Wujec in the discussion led by Dr. Arista Cirtautas, UW Professor from
the Jackson School of International Studies.