Ultimate70s.com: 1970's History Day By Day

This Day In 1970's History: Saturday December 19, 1981

Summary criminal proceedings against some local activists of the Solidarity union movement have begun, Poland's military authorities announced. The unionists are being charged with seeking to instigate strikes in violation of martial law. [New York Times] East Germany sent food to Warsaw in an attempt to head off civil unrest, but reports of scattered strikes continued in cities outside the capital. The emergency food aid had been urgently requested from all Soviet-bloc countries several days ago by the new martial-law government in Poland. [New York Times] The depleted air traffic control force appears to have coped efficiently last week with the first spell of stormy wintry weather. The control system worked smoothly with no serious delays despite wide concern that turbulence and thick cloud decks would cause serious tieups, government officials said. [New York Times] Antarctica's food and energy sources might lead to nullification of a 20-year international treaty whose intent was to keep the continent "forever" as a non-political domain for scientific research and other nonexploitative purposes. The development potential of the world's last pristine continent might be an area contested among the 14 nations that signed the treaty. At a meeting last July in Buenos Aires, those 14 countries agreed to undertake mineral exploitation of the continent "as a matter of urgency." The United States, West Germany, Japan and the Soviet Union are among the nations keenly aware of its potential. [New York Times] Federal rules governing nursing homes would be relaxed or repealed under proposals under consideration by Reagan administration officials. Among the regulations being considered for possible repeal are rules affecting the rights of patients and health standards for staff members at long-term care facilities. [New York Times]

Click here for more news from this date....