Facebook and Twitter: new tools of civil resistance – says Lech Walesa in Kuwait.

Lech Walesa participated in the conference “Renewing dialogue for peace and advancing freedom and human rights in today’s world” organized by Fahad al Salem Center for Dialogue among Civilizations and Defense of Liberty.

“In the times of Solidarity movement we wrote our demands on walls or printed leaflets that were illegally distributed among the people. These methods were replaced today by  Facebook, Twitter  or other social media easily accessible by an ordinary man who stands against the totalitarian system. These media do not know any boundaries. Today in Kuwait we are discussing the role of social media. I believe in their power and I appreciate their significance. However, we have to remember about the responsibility that media has to bear” -  said Lech Walesa during the debate.

The conference brought together some of the world’s top minds in foreign policy, conflict resolution and media, including representatives of the Lech Walesa Institute, the Club of Madrid, Human Rights Watch, the Council on Foreign Relations  and other prominent advocates of liberty to explore  how social media and citizen journalism can be encouraged and channeled to advance freedom, combat extremism, and  further dialogue between civilizations and religions.