Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and President Andrzej Duda paid tribute yesterday to the victims of martial law, imposed 39 years ago by Poland’s communist regime.
During yesterday’s ceremony, a memorial plaque was unveiled at the Museum of Cursed Soldiers and Political Prisoners of the Polish People’s Republic in Warsaw, honoring those who fought against the communist regime from 1980-1989.
Beginning at 6:00 on the 13 of December 1981 and lasting until the 22 of July 1983, the authoritarian communist government of the Polish People’s Republic drastically restricted everyday life by introducing “stan wojenny” or martial law.
The move was a concentrated effort to eliminate political opposition, in particular the burgeoning Solidarity Movement. Protests broke out across Poland in response, including a large demonstration in Gdańsk on December 16-17, which resulted in at least four people being killed and 324 being injured.
The week of December 14-19 is also particularly significant for Pomeranian residents in that it marks the 50th anniversary of the bloody 1970 strikes in the region.
On December 14th, 1970, riots broke out in Gdańsk, Gdynia, Elbląg, and Szczecin in response to a drastic increase in the price of goods, especially food. The army and police brutally suppressed protestors demanding decent living conditions, the elimination of price increases, and an increase in living wages. The resulting massacre claimed the lives of 45 people and resulted in over 1,165 being injured.
In honor of the heroes of the 1970 protests, commemorations will kick off today with a conference at the European Solidarity Center entitled, “Strikes, demonstrations and street protests in the Polish People’s Republic and the Eastern Bloc.” The event will be broadcast online and will be followed by a series of commemorations, dedications, and concerts in Gdynia and Gdańsk over the course of the week.
For more information and a full schedule of events, visit https://radiogdansk.pl/wiadomosci/item/118996-apel-poleglych-odsloniecie-tablic-i-koncerty-uroczystosci-ku-czci-bohaterow-grudnia-70-w-gdansku-i-gdyni/.
Polish President Andrzej Duda is scheduled to discuss a national coronavirus vaccination strategy with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki during a high-level meeting in Warsaw today.
The meeting is also expected to be attended by Health Minister Adam Niedzielski and the head of the Prime Minister’s Office, Michał Dworczyk, who has been tasked with coordinating a national vaccination program.
Dworczyk announced on Saturday that Poland was gearing up to administer 3.4 million vaccinations per month depending on the number of vaccination teams available. According to Dworczyk, 8,319 facilities across the country have applied to be registered as COVID-19 vaccination sites, with free, two-stage vaccinations set to begin early next year.
Since imposing additional lockdown measures in October, Poland’s daily infection rates have declined, with 8,977 new coronavirus infections and 188 more deaths reported on Sunday, bringing the total number of cases to over 1.1 million (1,135,676) and fatalities to nearly 23,000 (22,864).
Director Mariusz Wilczyński’s debut film, “Kill It and Leave This Town,” took home the top Golden Lion award at the 45th annual Gdynia Film Festival over the weekend.
Wilczyński’s film, described as an “animated horror movie,” takes viewers back to the director’s youth in the 1960s and 1970s, and introduces viewers to the “artists who shaped [his] world of childhood imagination and sensitivity.”
The Silver Lion award went to Swedish film director Magnus von Horn for “Sweat,” a joint Polish-Swedish biopic on popular Polish fitness instructor Sylwia Zając.
The annual Polish Film Festival provides Poland’s most prestigious showcase of new home-grown movies and is one of Europe’s oldest such events.
The Polish ski-jumping team of Piotr Żyła, Andrzej Stękała, Kamil Stoch, and Dawid Kubacki took the bronze in the team competition yesterday at the Ski Flying World Championships in Planica, Slovenia.
Norway finished first in the competition, while Germany rounded out the podium in 2nd place. The FIS Skiing World Cup competitions are set to continue next weekend in Engelberg, Switzerland.
Weather
Today will be partly cloudy and cold, with a light breeze coming in from the south and very little chance of rain or snow. Temperatures will remain on the cold side with a high of 3°C, or 38°F, dropping to just above freezing overnight with a low of 1°C or 34°F. Similar weather is expected tomorrow, with a chance for sunshine and slightly warmer temps on Wednesday.
Elizabeth Peck/ako
