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The Polish TV Pirate. Jan Hanasz. My project is about my own grandfather Jan Hanasz, an astronomer from Poland's University of Torun. He was born in 1934 In Torun, Poland, the home of Copernicus.
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The Polish TV Pirate Jan Hanasz
My project is about my own grandfather Jan Hanasz, an astronomer from Poland's University of Torun. He was born in 1934 In Torun, Poland, the home of Copernicus. During the 1980’s democracy was not allowed in Poland, and Poland was run by a military dictatorship. My grandfather and fellow scientists constructed a portable TV station that was mounted on a balloon that was broadcasting messages urging people to boycott the elections to support democracy because the election was rigged. The secret police were looking all over for them but they where not aware of the balloon. One of the balloons even fell in Communist Russia which started an international incident. In the end my grandfather was caught, his house was searched and he was arrested and received a suspended sentence. Very soon after communist government stopped to exist, and all political prisoners were released.
Political Background After the second world war communist dictatorship was established in Poland. Poland was not independent but was controlled by the Soviet Union. People were opposed to the communist government and kept starting protests over the years. In 1980 solidarity movement was born but it didn't exist very long because it was crushed by the military dictator General Jaruzelski with the support of Russia. Martial law was declared in Poland.
SPECTACULAR COMPUTER CRIME
Telewizia Solidarnosc! TV Solidarity In September of 1985, four Astronomers from Poland’s University of Torun, Zygmunt Turlo, Leszek Zaleski, Piotr Lukaszewski and Jan Hanasz, used a home computer, a synchronizing circuit, and a transmitter to superimpose messages in support of the labour movement Solidarność (Solidarity) over state-run television broadcasts in Torun. The messages said...
“Solidarity Torun Boycott the elections it is our duty!”
The court case attracted huge attention of international media. TV journalists from major TV station's reported the story about prosecution of democratic movement although TV cameras were not allowed in the court room. Many news papers printed the story in countries as far away as the US, Canada, Israel and Japan.
Even my mom who was still a University student at that time got involved in the commotion and dressed up as an old lady to escape with some of the broadcasting equipment during the police search. Although the house was surrounded by the police she managed to escape unnoticed through the fire exit in the basement. She ran quickly to a taxi and got away with the equipment to hide the evidence. The equipment was hidden in a sack with potatoes.
CONCLUSIONS In the year 2007 my grandfather was honoured during an international conference dedicated democratic movement in Europe. Organized by the European union. A lot of shows and books were made about my grandfather the most famous was called “Spectacular Computer Crimes” by Buck BloomBecker. In the photo you can see my grandfather on the left.
Bibliography • Spectacular Computer Crimes by Buck BloomBecker, Dow Jones-Irwin, Homewood Illinois 60430 • Wikipedia
The End By Ola Hanasz