The Dalai Lama on Poland's Solidarity Movement

The Dalai Lama held a speech in Poland yesterday to commemorate 30 years of Polish freedom. The exiled Buddhist leader remarked how the crumbling of Soviet communism was an important time in history not only for Poland but for the entire world. He noted how many people around the world were inspired by the Polish solidarity movement and how it gave hope to nations such as the Dalai Lama's home nation of Tibet, that one day they may gain their own political freedom. Poland was the first free trade nation to break off from the Soviet Bloc. The Dalai Lama was presented a solidarity medal by members of the Polish Solidarity Party. The Solidarity Party gained fame in 1980 for staging a 2 week strike in Baltic shipyards severely crippling the Soviet trade in the region. Negotiations for peace between Poland and the Soviets lasted from 1981-1989 when finally the Polish delegation negotiated a peaceful end to communist rule in their home country making the country, "the first to escape Moscow's grip."

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