GOG WITH A BLOG

Paul Murphy - More Labour hypocrisy over Post Office closures

2008-03-29T11:17:00.008Z

Welsh Secretary, Paul Murphy, has again been criticised for being part of a Government which is closing Post Offices – while campaigning to save branches in his own constituency. Here is Ian Parri's (Daily Post writer) take on it...

Talking of post offices, it didn't suprise me to see hypocritical MPs who've been been campaigning to save brances in their own constituencies trooping sheepishly into the government lobbies to give the wholesale closure plans their seal of approval.

Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy, who was sufficiently perturbed by this week's stem cells row to threaten his resignation, was among them.

He's actually been along to Pontnewynydd post office in his Torfaen consistuency to lend his support to postmaster Chirav Dalal's attempts to keep the service open.

Mr Murphy urged locals to write to the Post Office to express their views. I assume he understood it was highly unlikely anybody would be doing so to support the branch's closure.

Mr Murphy said: "I understand how important it is for the Post Office to survive as a business. However, when they propose to close local post offices, they really have to take into account important local issues."

Labour hypocrisy over Post Office closures!

2008-03-29T08:38:00.012Z

With thanks to the Daily Post, here's a full list of the Labour MPs in North Wales who approved the Government's wholesale Post Office closure plans - despite some of them publicly declaring their opposition and simultaneously campaigning to keep them open in their own consistencies. Welsh Secretary, Paul Murphy, was among them.

A reader of the Daily Post (Mar 25, 2008, see below) summed it very well: "These Labours MPs have obviously been threatened with a slap on the wrists if they defied the party whip - none of them had the guts to stand up for their communities. I hope people will remember this at election time."

Martyn Jones (above) - Labour, Clwyd South. Approved Post Office closure plans. Publicly stated he opposed the closures.

Albert Owen (above) - Labour, Ynys Môn. Abstained from voting(!). Publicly stated he opposed the closures.

Betty Williams (above) - Labour, Conwy. Approved Post Office closure plans.

Chris Ruane (above) - Labour, Vale of Clwyd. Approved Post Office closure plans.

David Hanson (above) - Labour, Vale of Clwyd. Approved Post Office closure plans.

All the other MPs in North Wales voted against the closure plans. These were:

Elfyn Llwyd, Plaid Cymru Meirionnydd Nant Conwy
Hywel Williams, Plaid Cymru, Caernarfon
David Jones, Conservative Clwyd West
Mark Williams, Lib Dem Ceredigion

Letters from the Daily Post

Double Standards on PO closures

I refer to the recent article entitled "Cash Threat to Ex-Postmasters". (Daily Post, March 18). Included within the article were pictures of two North Wales Labour MPs who have publicly stated that they are opposed to the Government's Post Office closure programme, namely Martyn Jones for Clwyd South and Albert Owen for Ynys Môn.

The following day a motion to suspend the closure programme was put before the House of Commons.

If successful, the motion would have provided much needed time to examine further options of sustaining our vital post office network.

Sadly the motion was defeated. And which way did our two so-called Labour champions vote? Martyn Jones voted with the Government to support the closure programme whilst Albert Owen sat on the fence and abstained!

How on earth can we expect the public to trust politicians when we witness such blatant double standards?

Dylan Rees, Plaid Cymru, Parliamentary Candidate, Ynys Môn

Vital Service

How disgraceful that North Wales Labour MPs refused to support a motion calling for a halt to proposed Post Office closures in North Wales.

Despite petitions, campaigns, and public outcry the voice of the people has once again been ignored. So much for Labour being the party of the people!

This government can find billions of pounds of public money for illegal foreign wars and to bail out private companies like Northern Rock, yet cannot properly fund these vital community services which form an essential part of rural life in Wales, together with local schools and libraries.

This government has raised taxes (and their own pay!) more than any other government and should be helping local communities and the needs of our pensioners before wasting our money on illegal wars thousands of miles away.

These Labours MPs have obviously been threatened with a slap on the wrists if they defied the party whip - none of them had the guts to stand up for their communities.

I hope people will remember this at election time.

G Shepherd, Llanfairfechan

Anti-Welsh Claptrap

2007-07-09T21:04:00.000+01:00

As I mentioned in a previous post, there's a lot of English-only speakers in Wales who are happy to support the Welsh language. Here's an excellent letter from David Rodway in Cardiff which perfectly demonstrates this (Daily Post, July 9).

An an English-speaking Welshman visiting beautiful North Wales during the fall-out from the Thomas Cook Welsh ban, I am amazed to see how much sheer, nasty anti-Welsh claptrap is still bandied about.

Various people have written in to tell us how they see nothing wrong with a language being banned, or accusing protesters of being "paranoid", "extreme", etc.

This whole affair has had the merit of showing us just how far some are prepared to go in their attempt to smear and eradicate a language.

Welsh is an historic language of Wales, despite all that has been done to destroy it, and the majority language of Gwynedd.

It deserves respect and equal status.

It is, to me, far more "bigoted" or "racist" to refuse to learn your neighbour's language, than for your neighbour to ask you to do so.

Welsh-flag spotting outside Wales

2007-06-18T18:02:00.000+01:00

I don't know about you but whenever I'm outside Wales I seem to have an in-built and somewhat distracting tendency to go Welsh flag spotting. (Come to think of it, it happens when I'm in Wales too... I really ought to have better things to do with my time.) It always seems to surprise me that other countries fly the Welsh flag. It shouldn't, of course, because Wales has many present and historic connections with countries as far apart as Australia, Argentina, India, the US, Canada, etc.

But it was still a delight to find so many Welsh flags adorning the beautiful city of Dublin during a recent day visit. I must have easily spotted about 7 or 8 within a few hours. In a strange way it makes you feel welcome.

Interestingly - and this may be a figment of my imagination - I didn't spot any St. George flags and very few St. Andrew flags. Something else I noticed - there seemed to be a disproportionate amount of buildings displaying the Irish, Italian and Welsh flags all together, such as the one below. Anyone know why this is?

PS. If you're a Welsh flag spotter yourself, you may be interested in my new blog: http://walesbeyondwales.blogspot.com/

English-only speakers who support Welsh

2007-06-15T20:33:00.000+01:00

English-only or part-Welsh speakers in Wales who support the Welsh language - and there are many of them - and who also support the idea of strengthening the Welsh economy should take a look at this fantastic and bold idea on www.DimeGoch.com. If enough people in Wales got behind this idea then companies like Thomas Cook would need to seriously and quickly wake-up to the fact that Welsh is very important to the people of Wales, even to English-only and part-Welsh speakers.

We hear a lot these days about buying 'ethically', buying 'locally', buying 'green', etc. And quite right too. But here's another one: buy from companies who support the Welsh language and ditch those who refuse to use it!

Why I will vote for Plaid

2007-04-27T18:30:00.000+01:00

At the risk of stating-the-bloody-obvious I'm going to announce where my support with be going in next week's Assembly elections - Plaid Cymru, of course. Why? Not because I think Plaid are perfect and the answer to all of Wales's many problems. Indeed, no government can really solve or eradicate problems such as poverty, crime, and unemployment, despite their promises. (Interestingly though, they can create them).

No, the reason I will vote for Plaid is because they are the only party who are fighting only and solely for the interests of Wales - its people, its language, its ecomony. That's all I am interested in, and so are Plaid.

A vote for the British Nationalist parties is a vote to keep Wales in it's place - a poor loser in the so-called United Kingdom.

North Wales's chief constable: We should ALL be learning Welsh

2007-04-16T18:07:00.000+01:00

North Wales’s chief constable Richard Brunstrom addressed a campaign group’s conference and called on everyone living in Wales or moving here to learn Welsh.

In a speech which won him a standing ovation, the controversial chief made no apologies for sticking his neck out at Cymuned’s annual conference in Penrhyndeudraeth.

Speaking confidently in Welsh, which he’s learned as a second language, Mr Brunstrom said how much the language had enabled him to learn about Wales, its people, culture and history.

Referring to himself as a “converted immigrant” Mr Brunstrom said it should be “acceptable” for everybody to learn Welsh and for Wales to become a confident and bilingual country.

Since moving to live in Wales, Mr Brunstrom said he understood Welsh people’s fears for the language’s future.

He urged politicians to update the present Welsh Language Act and for the Assembly to bring about measures to safeguard and promote Welsh.

He said the Government of Wales Act 2006 gave Welsh people the powers to carry out more than just creating a strategy to ensure the language’s survival.

Mr Brunstrom suggested that the newly-empowered Assembly should pass measures to promote and safeguard the language allowing speakers full powers to use it with public and private organisations.

He said: “I believe I have a legal duty as a senior public servant to promote the use of Welsh.”

He also called for Welsh to become a more “normalised” language used both in everyday life and business in Wales.

“Wales is a country of its own and doesn’t correspond to a region of England. The huge majority of English people including politicians can’t accept this.”

He referred to “imperialist” attitudes of his fellow countrymen who “place Wales on some far horizon.”

His speech, included references to the Welsh Not, the drowning of Tryweryn, and his admiration of poet T H Parry-Williams’ poem Hon about Wales which he found “thrillingly relevant” as well as the long struggle by Welsh communities to survive, got a standing ovation and endeared him to the 50 delegates present.

Labour MP for Alyn and Deeside Mark Tami had previously suggested it was “inappropriate” for Mr Brunstrom to have attended Cymuned’s conference while he said it was important for him to “interact” with all sections of the community in North Wales.

Afterwards, Mr Brunstrom made no apologies for making recommendations and suggestions to elected politicians about policies which would lead to “more cohesion and less tension within communities.”

Also speaking at the conference was director of the Race Equality Council Chris Myant.

Cymuned chief Aran Jones, himself a Welsh-learner, urged politicians to hold talks at the Assembly on the need for a housing market where houses are only built if there is a local need.

Source: Daily Post, April 16, 2007

Exposing a simple myth

2007-04-01T12:48:00.000+01:00

Something in the Daily Post of great national importance caught my eye yesterday which I feel compelled to tell you about.

Was it Mark Currie's article about Craig Bellamy's generous donation to Wrexham FC? No, although I read it with much interest. Was it Tom Bodden's article about the introduction of free prescriptions in Wales? No, although I found that interesting too. So was it the story about the arrival of a rare Welsh Mountain goat at Colwyn Bay's zoo? No, although, again, I found that quite interesting.

No, it was none of these - it was something of much greater significance.

Secreted away in the Weekend Post supplement was a simple but little-known fact which exposes a centuries-held myth that continues to corrupt the minds of countless millions of unwitting victims. The fact was this, that:

Snowdon ISN'T the highest mountain in England and Wales: it is, in fact, the highest mountain in Wales and higher than any mountain in England.

Yep, really. It's true. You see, there are no mountains in England and Wales. In fact, there's no such thing as "England and Wales" at all! It doesn't exist! I keep checking the map and I just cannot find a country called "England and Wales" anywhere. The only thing I can find is a place called "England" and another place called "Wales".

So the next time you hear someone describe Snowdon as "the highest mountain in England and Wales" you'll be able to point out the obvious fact that Snowdon is actually located in Wales, not in "England and Wales".

Well done John Tanner for correctly describing the location of Snowdon!

Recommended Welsh blogs and websites

2007-03-27T17:58:00.000+01:00

I've just added a few interesting links to the sidebar which I ought to mention. Read and enjoy...

BLOGS

Miserable Old Fart
Alwyn ap Huw's blog on politics, Plaid and Welsh social issues. Don't be put off by the title!

Sparta
A new blog by Welsh nationalist, Sanddef. He's been a very prolific poster thus far.

Steffan Lewis
Lewis is a decentralist Socialist whose "primary aspirations are to see an independent Wales and a Socialist society".

Undoubtedly Bodacious
A blog by a Welsh learner and patriot from Newport.

WEBSITES

Casglu'r Tlysau/Gathering the Jewels
Over 20,000 images of objects, books, letters, aerial photographs and other items from museums, libraries and record offices in Wales.

Glaniad
Images and stories about the Welsh settlements in Patagonia.

Welshpedia
Like Wikipedia, but dedicated entirely to Wales.

Wicipedia
This has been going for a while now, but it deserves a mention. The Welsh language Wikipedia.

Owain Glyndwr fields open

2007-03-20T16:34:00.000Z

This story was published in the Daily Post, March 20, 2007.

Three Wrexham fields dedicated to Welsh hero Owain Glyndŵr will be opened this week.

A field at Station Road, Marchwiel, comes first followed by official openings at Heol Kenyon, Johnstown, and Vicarage Hill, Rhostyllen.

They are being opened to the public as part of the Owain Glyndŵr Fields network established across Wales by the National Playing Fields Association.

The initiative, endorsed by the National Assembly, aims to establish an Owain Glyndŵr Field in every unitary authority in Wales.

More information about the Glyndŵr Fields can be found on the NPFA website:

Owain Glyndwr FieldsNPFA Cymru established the Owain Glyndŵr Fields scheme as a memorial to the Welsh hero, Owain Glyndŵr, Prince of Wales.

When the scheme was first launched at Caerphilly in 2001, Mrs Jenny Randerson AM, Wales’ Minister for Culture, Sport and Welsh Language said: “I am wholeheartedly in support of the NPFA Cymru’s Owain Glyndŵr Fields initiative. It is important that local communities throughout Wales, and the children within those communities in particular, have continued access to local recreation facilities. I believe the programme to be a worthwhile initiative, which can help secure the protection, and environmentally-friendly management, of playing fields and open spaces.”

Endorsed by the National Assembly for Wales, the Owain Glyndŵr Society, and the Owain Glyndŵr Embassy, the scheme has the support of almost all Welsh local authorities. Some of the fields are owned by the NPFA and others remain under the day-to-day control of the local authorities. All come under NPFA Cymru’s guardianship and are legally protected from being built on.

Each field displays special plaques commemorating Owain Glyndŵr and acknowledging the HSBC and the Foundation for Sports and the Arts which have supported the scheme. A welcome is extendend to any individual, company or society to support the scheme locally or nationally. Please contact the NPFA Cymru office in Cardiff.

Why it matters that we beat the English

2007-03-18T09:39:00.000Z

"As long as we beat the English, we don't care" sang the Stereophonics's Kelly Jones on the BBC, perfectly summing-up the mood in Wales before Wales's clash with England at the Millennium Stadium yesterday.

But why does it matter so much to us Welsh that we beat the English at rugby? Is it because we're racist and we simply don't like English people? Some probably don't. But for most of us, it's plain old rivalry, which has its roots in several hundred years of history in which Wales has had to battle against the odds to merely exist.

Even today, the legacy of that history can be seen in England's dominance over Wales in areas such as politics, economics and culture.

But despite living next door to one of the world's biggest expansionists we've somehow managed to retain our identity, our language, our pride in being Welsh, and our pride in Wales. The fact that there is still anything such as "Wales" and a Welsh language is pretty amazing.

We are comparatively much smaller, much less populous and much less powerful than England ... and yet we can still out-play and beat them on the rugby field at our 'national sport'. That gives us real pride, not only for our rugby team but for being Welsh too.

But having said all that, whether the Welsh rugby team win or lose, I wouldn't want to be part of any other country - not because I hate the English or anyone else - but because I have such pride and love for my own beautiful and magnificent country.

Angel of North East Wales

2007-03-09T21:11:00.000Z

Five design teams have been picked to come with up ideas for a major landmark to be built at Queensferry, reports BBC's North East Wales blog. Apparently, the Blue Bridge in Queensferry is looking like the likely spot for North East Wales's version of the Angel of the North.

"The proposed Flintshire site in the vicinity of the Blue Bridge in Queensferry is an historic crossing and entry point into Wales. It is an area with a range of transport – the River Dee, the A494, London – Holyhead and Wrexham – Liverpool railway lines and the River Dee Cycle Route and is the location of Northern Gateway, the proposed major expansion of Deeside Industrial Park...

"In April there will be an exhibition locally of the proposed designs from the five artists for the Flintshire scheme. The preferred scheme will be chosen in May and the final bid for funding made to the Big Lottery who will decide if the scheme is successful later in the year," the Flintshire Council website reports.

There's plans for similar projects at Holyhead Harbour and the Second Severn Crossing in Monmouth.

God only knows what they'll come up with. Hopefully it'll be a little more interesting and relevant than that hideous lump of rust in Gateshead. What we need is something that draws on the unique aspects of North East Wales and it's historical importance to the shaping of Wales. An historical figure such as Owain Glyndwr would be a great choice. My fear, though, is that they'll opt for something akin to the Angel of the North - an irrelevant piece of modern "art" which at the same time offends and pleases nobody. Please, please prove me wrong Flintshire County Council.

Wales DOES get a bank holiday afterall - but it's got nothing to do with Wales

2007-03-02T19:11:00.000Z

Well, well, it appears that Tony Blair has asked Whitehall to consider a proposal that a public holiday be granted in recognition of the Queen becoming the first monarch in history to record 60 years of marriage.

So we in Wales are not allowed the day off on March 1st to celebrate our patron saint and our Welshness because it would be bad for the Welsh economy but we are allowed to take the day off, along with about 57 million other people in the UK, merely to celebrate the Queen's 60th Wedding Anniversary? You couldn't make it up if you tried.

And remember the conversation I had with a British nationalist friend who said we didn't need a bank holiday on St. David's Day because it'd be bad for business? His reaction to this new proposal for another bank holiday this year? A shrug of the shoulders and the comment "That'll do me nicely"...

The Welsh Dragon - a Satanic Symbol?

2007-02-28T19:08:00.000Z

A new party in Wales is about to launch a campaign to replace Y Ddraig Goch as the national flag of Wales ... because it's the symbol of the devil.

Party manifesto coordinator Rev David P Griffiths from The new Welsh Christian Party declared it an “outrage” that various government, housing and tourism bodies in North Wales associate themselves with a symbol of defeat and Satan – the dragon.

And I always thought they were associating themselves with the national flag of Wales. Silly me. May I suggest that it's only religious nuts like the Rev Griffith who associate the Welsh Dragon with Satanism?

Tom Bodden tells the full story.

No St. David's Day holiday - A lame response from the Government

2007-02-27T10:54:00.000Z

Calls from over 11,000 people who petitioned the PM to proclaim March 1st a Bank Holiday in Wales have been, predictably, rejected. The response from the Government was:

"Whilst the Government is pleased that so many people are interested, as you can imagine it is not possible to please everyone as to who or what should be celebrated. Unlike Northern Ireland, where St Patrick's Day is a bank holiday, bank and public holidays in Great Britain do not, by tradition commemorate particular individuals, events, or institutions, other than those associated with Christmas and Easter. Moreover, many individuals and communities in Wales already celebrate St David's Day in a way they consider more suitable. The present pattern of bank holidays in the United Kingdom is well established and accepted, and the Government has no current plans to change the arrangements."

Ahhh, I see. So it's perfectly OK that everyone in the UK - which is largely secular - has bank holidays to remember the day when Jesus was crucified on a cross (Good Friday), when he was resurrected (Easter) and the date on which he was born (if he existed at all, of course.)

But it's not OK to celebrate and remember something actually meaningful - our cultural hertitage and what it means to be a part of Wales (whether you're Welsh or not)? Perhaps it's just me but I can't see the logic in the Government's argument. Or perhaps that is their logic.

I had a debate with someone - a British nationalist - on this issue a few days ago. It went something like this (my opponents' comments are in italics):

"I can't see the point in it. It's just an excuse to have a day off. Businesses are already being squeezed."

"But", I piped up, "you still think it's fine to have the other bank holidays off?"

"Well, yes".

"So you think it's OK to take days off to acknowledge Christian events, which may be completely mythical and are certainly distorted, even though you proclaim yourself to be non religious?"

"It's not ideal but I don't mind. We all need some days off. And nobody really acknowledges the religious aspect anyway."

"So what's wrong with the idea of a day off for everyone in Wales to celebrate all things Welsh on the day of our patron saint?"

"It's an OK idea but I just don't think it's necessary. People are free to celerbate it if they wish anyway. They don't need another day off."

"Yes, but they can't celebrate much if they're working until 5pm, can they?"

"No, but... I just don't think they need the day off. Like I said, businesses are already being squeezed."

"Well, you could swap one of the bank holidays for St. David's Day then?"

"... I suppose, but ... if you do that, everyone will be demanding days off for this event, for that event. It'll be never ending."

"Look, it surely can't be a bad idea to have just one day off a year to celebrate something meaningful and useful to the people of Wales? It's something everyone in Wales could join in with. It's not that you're against the idea of Bank Holidays because you're quite happy to celebrate days which are, to you as a non-religious person, completely meaningless. You don't complain about businesses being squeezed then, do you? It's just that you don't like the idea of having another day, or swaping a Bank Holiday, to celebrate St. David's Day because you're a British nationalist and, like the government, you don't like the idea of the seperate nations of the UK celebrating their unique cultural and historical identities."

"Yeah, but I still maintain that we don't need to take the day off just because it's St. David Day. There's no need for it."

At this point we decided to agree to disagree but I think the conversation highlighted an important point: the underlying tendancy for British nationalists to resist any idea of the separate nations of the UK celebrating their unique identities. They would rather we all melted into a UK-wide, Union Jack-waving culture, and forget what makes us different and unique. Thankfully, that's just not going to happen.

Olympic Disaster for Wales

2007-02-19T08:27:00.000Z

Aside from the obvious fact that Wales will gain little if anything from the London Olympics it now seems that we'll actually be worse off! This is because we'll be losing out on £29m of lottery money which will have to be raided as a result of rising costs. Doubtless that number will increase even further by 2012. And they say Wales couldn't survive without handouts from London?

For the full depressing story see Hywel Trewyn's article in the Daily Post.

English Support in Wales

2007-02-11T22:27:00.000Z

Taffia Don’s blog about English support for Scotland in yesterday’s 6 Nations match against Wales has got me thinking … why, in certain parts of North East Wales, is there more support and interest in English sporting teams than Welsh sporting teams?

Even some Welsh people seem far more clued-up about the goings-on of the English teams than the Welsh teams. They’ll know, for instance, when England are playing, who they’re playing, who‘s in the team, etc. But ask them about the Welsh team and they’ll either look at you blankly or mutter “Oh, I don’t really know.”

This is amply demonstrated at my local snooker hall whenever there is an English football match on the TV. Most of the time you’ll find a sizeable gathering for the English games with lots of support and cheering, etc, but for the Welsh matches … hardly any support at all.

Perhaps it has to do with geography. The place in question, although in Wales, is very close to the border. Even those brought up in the area were probably born in an English hospital and perhaps one or more parents are either from or were born in England. Consequently, they probably identify themselves as English, and it is only natural to support the team you identify with.

But that doesn’t explain everything. I mean, do the Welsh supporters (I assume there are a few somewhere) simply hide indoors whenever the Welsh teams play? Do they not take an interest? Or are English fans generally rowdier and more vocal? Maybe there’s simply more of them?

Whatever the answer, it certainly seems as if there’s more support for English teams than Welsh teams in parts of Wales.

Stop Colonising Our Villages

2007-02-02T19:48:00.000Z

Here's a interesting letter from the North-East Wales paper, Evening Leader, published January 15th 2007. Comments are welcomed:

For several years now, the inefficient planning guidelines have been followed and carried out by welsh authorities including Wrecsam Council. Planning decisions have done a superb job in solving the housing crisis of Cheshire, Wirral & beyond.

They need to be congratulated for accelerating the anglicisation of our village communities.

Where Cymraeg has filtered out as a first language over the past generation, the English speaking Welsh communities are now at a point of imminent extinction as their children are unable to afford to live in villages occupied by their families for generations.

It is now only a matter of time before our once individual village accents are gone to be replaced by (*) English accents (* edited - brummie & scouse drawl).

New housing estates should only be built in communities where they are needed by that community and priced for that community.

The greed of property developers, setting such house prices out of reach of our own but within reach of affluent English has to stop.

Only a change in planning law can stop this effect from continuing.

A new policy stating that any such new development must be priced accordingly with local earnings, and criteria built into the deeds of such land and dwellings to ensure continuation of such.

What is important to these "wannabe city councillors"? More council tax payers or losing our identity?

We have every right to say we don't want our communities anglicised - colonisation is wrong, as the United Nations has declared. We love being Welsh, we love our culture, our heritage, our language, our history, and we want to stay that way.

What's wrong with Welsh, Mark Tami?

2007-01-29T18:20:00.000Z

As readers of the Daily Post will already know, Richard Brunstrom, North Wales Police Chief Constable, is to speak at Cymuned's upcoming Annual Conference in April. Apparently, Brunstrom will talk about increasing the use of Welsh within the North Wales Police and respond to Cymuned's calls for other councils to adopt language policies similar to that of Gwynedd Council.

A good thing, right? Not according to Mark Tami, Labour MP for Alyn and Deeside, who thinks it’s "inappropriate for him to take part. I would think he would have better things to do”. Geez, Mr Tami, when did it become inappropriate or a waste of time for a Chief Constable to talk about the use of Welsh within the North Wales police force? Anyone would think you don't care. Oh, that's right, you don't.

In a further attack he said, “[Cymuned] want to reduce the wealth of hard working people by taking capital out of homes, ban the use of English on public signs and dictate how we lead our lives, to the point of when and where we shop. This is not the sort of message a chief constable should be supporting.”

This tripe is so misleading it's embarrassing.

Cymuned chief Aran Jones responded: “This is an absolutely appalling statement from a serving Member of Parliament.

“If Mr Tami does not believe in the value of listening to other people’s views, he most certainly should not be representing the people of Alyn and Deeside in Westminster. We have supporters in his constituency – does he believe that they are non-people whose views he can freely ignore? He should either apologise, or resign.”

An even better response came from former Archdruid Dr Robyn Léwis, from Nefyn:

In your story ‘Brunstrom to address Welsh pressure group’ (Daily Post, January 25) it was of great interest to read that Cymuned chief Aran Jones and Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom had been learning Welsh for approximately the same length of time.

Both are to be heartily congratulated for the fluency they have achieved.

However, I fail to understand why the Labour MP for Alyn and Deeside, Mark Tami, takes the view that it is inappropriate for the Chief Constable to address Cymuned’s annual conference.

Surely it is part of the duties of our chief of police to explain his acts and his policies to various organisations and representatives of the public when invited to do so.

I have noticed that, since Mr Tami’s election in 2001, there has been a deafening silence from him in respect of any moves to help disseminate and safeguard the Welsh language.

If I am wrong, Mr Tami will doubtless tell us how, and by what means, he has assisted the cause of the Welsh language and bilingualism in Wales.

Has he himself been learning Welsh? Or, if he has children, is he ensuring that they are being brought up with a knowledge of Welsh? I think we should be told.

Otherwise we might conclude that Mr Tami is being negatively anti-Welsh just for the sake of being obstructive.

Dr Robyn Léwis, Nefyn

Independence or In Dependence?

2007-01-21T22:23:00.000Z

With the growing level of support for Welsh independence it was only a matter of time before a no-holds-barred Welsh Independence blog was created. Contrary to my initial comments on another blog, this isn't the work of one person. It's a collaborate effort with at least 10 willing contributors so far. Doubtless that number will soon increase. Actually, it already has - I've just agreed to take up the recent offer from Hedd and contribute myself! I'm not sure yet how it will all pan out, but I'm certainly looking forward to this blog. It's about time!

Could Britain break up?

2007-01-15T19:23:00.000Z

"Could Britain break up?" is the question being asked in a debate on the BBC website. Of course, the answer is "yes". Perhaps a better question would be "Should Britain break up?" or "Will Britain break up?". Again, the answer for both questions has to be "yes".

As support for Scottish, English and Welsh nationalism and independence grows it was only a matter of time before the big-wigs at Labour finally displayed their true Unionist colours. Even the Tories seem less pro-Unionist than Labour these days!

Writing in the Western Mail Peter Hain asks, "Who seriously imagines a tiny nation like Wales would have any clout on the world stage isolated and alone?". What confidence you must have in Wales Mr Hain. So do you seriously believe Wales will have any "clout", even within the UK, while it continues to rely on hand-outs from dear old London, having to run to Westminster with the begging bowl and seeking approval everytime it wants to actually do something on its own?

Wales is like the naughty child of the UK. Treated like a child, it acts like a child. It's time it stood on its own two feet and learnt how to make it in the big wide world that exists outside London and the UK.

See also:

UK's existence is at risk - Brown

Let the People Decide by Referendum

UK Spilt Apart?

Northern Secretary Lost In Self Interest

Peter Hain on the 'Balkanisation of Britain'

Brown's ballsed it up!

FAW finally acknowledges our national language

2007-01-01T18:25:00.000Z

Well, hallelujah! It may have taken a mere 131 years, but finally, one of Wales' national institutions - the Football Association of Wales - has decided to conduct its business in our own national language, as well as English.

For a moment I thought it was never going to happen after last year's debacle when John Pritchard, secretary of the Caernarfon League, was told by FAW secretary general David Collins that the association "conducts its business in English" and refused to answer his letters in Welsh. This lead to a six month campaign and several articles in the Daily Post exposing the idiocy of the FAW's decision.

But now, thankfully, the FAW is to conduct its business bilingually. FAW honorary treasurer Trefor Lloyd Hughes, from Holyhead, said: “If anybody wishes to speak in Welsh then they will be able to and letters will be answered in Welsh.

“Disciplinary hearings will also be able to be held in Welsh.

“Answer phone messages will have bilingually recorded messages in Welsh and English.

“And FAW job adverts will from now on state that the ability to converse and write in Welsh will be an advantage.”

As an incentive, staff already working for the FAW and wishing to learn or improve their Welsh language skills will be offered training.

Well done, FAW, it's about time!

See the Daily Post website for the full story.

Integration, Integration

2006-12-19T21:45:00.000Z

I must admit I’m a regular viewer of Relocation, Relocation but there’s one issue which keeps bugging me with these kinds of programmes - the scant regard for cultural integration.

Most programmes feature an affluent couple from the city wishing to relocate to “the country”, which is usually a long away from their previous home.

There’s nothing wrong with that but does it not concern the programme makers that the current level of mass migration to “the country” has negative cultural and social effects, especially when the migrates are unwilling to integrate into the existing culture or at least learn something about it beforehand?

In Cymru this has meant house prices are now way above the level of which most local people can afford. The “housing crisis” we have today is not lack of houses but a lack of people who need them but can’t afford them, especially first-time buyers.

Mass migration also continues to have a huge - mostly deteriorating - impact on the language and culture of our communities. Many Welsh towns and villages which were predominantly Cymraeg speaking have quickly turned into English speaking villages as large numbers of incomers don’t bother to learn and use the community language.

But the same goes for England too. Look at how areas in Cumbria, Yorkshire, and Cornwall have changed over the last few decades. You’ll find as many pissed-off locals there as you will anywhere in Cymru. The difference however is that something is being done about it - at least in the Yorkshire Dales and parts of Shropshire, and rightly so.

Personally, I can’t see the sense in moving to an area you know very little about. I’ve lived in Gogledd Ddwyrain Cymru all my life but if I planned to relocate to a different area, country, or nation, with a different language, culture, history, etc, I’d make it my priority to learn everything I could about the area so that I could integrate and contribute to the local community as best as I could, if for no other reason than through common courtesy and respect.

Programmes like Relocation, Relocation aren’t the cause of the problem, but they certainly fuel the fire. There should be a disclaimer on every episode which reads something like: “Be sensitive to the area in which you want to relocate. If you find there is a difference in culture, language, etc, then respect that. After all, you choose to move there. Instead of forcing your own culture on them, educate yourself beforehand and learn to integrate into to your new community in a positive way.”

Vast Opposition to Development Plans in Sir Ddinbych

2006-12-18T19:57:00.000Z

A few weeks ago we reported on Denbighshire Country Council's development plan to build 800 new houses in and around Llanelwy (St Asaph). Understandably, this proposal continues to be hugely unpopular among local residents and also those from near towns and villages such as Trefnant, Dinbych, and Rhuthun which are also likely to be hit.

And unless the proposals genuinely help the needs of young local residents get on the property ladder and stay in the area, then the Council's plans will continue to face huge opposition from the vast majority of people in and around Gogledd Ddwyrain Cymru - apart from some relatively well-off Cheshire and Merseyside commuters of course.

Thankfully, anyone wanting to register their opposition can now do so through Cymuned's website. Simply go to http://cymuned.net/blogsaesneg/?page_id=93 and fill out the online form.

As the page states, this plan "would be destructive of both rural and urban communities as well as massively damaging to the Welsh language in the North-East of Wales, because it fails to take local need into account as its main objective, and instead concentrates on providing expensive housing for the open market."

Assembly Back dotCYM Campaign

2006-11-17T20:26:00.000Z

Assembly members yesterday backed a campaign to enhance Welsh culture and identify on the World Wide Web.

The house committee of the Welsh Assembly voted to support the campaign to have dotCYM accepted as a domain on the internet.

Success would mean that organisations, companies and individuals could have the option to replace .org with .cym.

The campaign, dotCYM, already have support from a range of sectors including commerce, design, public relations, publishing and the legal sectors.

Assembly Presiding Officer Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, said "I believe that a dotCYM sponsored top level domain could play an important role in promoting Welsh culture and language in the UK and abroad. A well as Welsh language sites it could also be used for sites in other languages which are of Welsh interest.

"Since .cat has been introducted in Catalonia, there has been an increase of 33% in the number of sites using Catalan, so it would it seem that the adoption of .cym would be an effective way of promoting the Welsh language and the Welsh identity."

Meanwhile, a new free office software suite for computer users was launched yesterday by Welsh language minister Alun Pugh.

The Welsh and English dual language dual-language version of the open-office suite used world wide, was created at the Mercator Centre, University of Wales, Aberystwyth.

From today's Daily Post (Nov 17, 2006).

See also: Assembly’s House Committee support dotCYM

Comment: Bloody hell, it looks as if the Assembly is actual working in unison for the benefit of Cymru for a change - well, on this issue at least. That's because this isn't a party issue, this is something which will benefit everyone in Cymru.

Changing Denbighshire's Local Development Plan

2006-11-04T22:42:00.000Z

There's an interesting front-page feature on this month's Llaid y Sir/County Voice from Cyngor Sir Ddinbych/Debighshire County Council...

Change the View
If you've ever said to yourself "I would never have allowed that development there" then this is your chance to play your part in shaping the way Denbighshire will look in the future.

We are currently asking people for their views on the Local Development Plan (LDP) which will be a blueprint for planning and development through to 2021.

The LDP will feature a whole host of things which affect every one of us, including sustainable development, affordable housing, employment land, town centres, rural communities, transport, leisure and energy.

We have come up with initial suggestions for possible development sites - these are all available to view on the web, Trem Clwyd Office, Ruthin or County Libraries. Some of the key questions that need addressing are:

Denbighshire's population is increasing by about 650 people every year, creating a significant housing need, including affordable housing - how should the LDP accommodate this growth?
To get the right jobs we need the right buildings and sites - how much land is needed and where?
How can the plan be made as environmentally friendly as possible?
Some of our own town centres are in need of revitalisinng - do we have the right policies to do this?
Are we doing enough to meet your recreation and open space needs?

Over 300 people attended meetings to launch the LDP and hundreds more have already given their views and made lots of useful suggestions.

You have until the end of December to add your views at ldp@denbighshire.gov.uk or call 01824 708 057 or write to Local Development Plan, Planning & Public Protection Services, Trem Clwyd, Canol y Dre, Ruthin, LL15 1QA.

dotCYM: Campaigning for a .cym internet domain

2006-10-25T21:26:00.000+01:00

Do you think there should be a .cym domain name for websites which operate through the medium of Welsh and websites which promote and associcate with Welsh culture? Of course you do, you'd be mad not to. And that's why you should sign the dotCYM petition.

From the homepage (fersiwn saesneg):

"The Welsh language and culture is a community that we believe should be identified and enhanced by having its own sponsored top-level domain (sTLD) on the Internet. Under a .CYM sponsored TLD those organisations, companies and individuals, throughout the world, that express themselves in the Welsh language and/or wish to encourage Welsh culture will be able to be registered and will be clearly identifiable.

"The success of the dotCYM campaign will unite the Welsh-speaking communities across the world. As well as Wales, there are historic Welsh communities in other parts of the British Isles, North and South America, and Australia.

"The success of the dotCYM campaign will confirm that the World Wide Web really is multi-national and a multilingual medium. It will also play a pivotal role in promoting further the use of the Welsh language on the World Wide Web as a modern medium of communication.

"We can succeed. Recently an application by puntCAT for a .cat domain for the Catalan language and culture was accepted. But if we are to be Welsh withour frontiers we need your help. Join up!"

WelshLanguageAct.org

2006-09-22T17:27:00.000+01:00

Another new website - this time from Cymdeithas yr Iaith.

"We call on the Welsh Assembly Government to ensure a New Welsh Language Act that will provide official status and a Commissioner for the language, along with basic rights that will give everyone in Wales fair and real opportunities to learn Welsh, receive a Welsh-medium education and be enabled to use the language in every aspect of life."

www.DeddfIaith.org
www.WelshLanguageAct.org

See also: Society's 1st online petition launched

Shops and Homes for Locals

2006-09-22T16:46:00.000+01:00

Cymuned have just launched two new websites aimed at creating/supporting shops and homes for locals. Apparently, "Homes4Locals.com is being enthusiastically promoted not only in Gwynedd but also in the North-East, in the Valleys, and even in Cornwall!"

Homes4Locals.com
No new build except for LOCAL NEED
www.homes4locals.com

Shops4Locals.com
Market Towns, not Supermarket Towns
www.shops4locals.com

Hafod Blog

2006-09-15T21:39:00.000+01:00

Anyone wanting the latest updates on the Hafod protests should visit http://hafodquarry.blogspot.com. By pure coincidence it looks like my blog, but I don't own or write for it. But I'm happy to promote it.

England leads the way on housing issue

2006-09-06T19:49:00.000+01:00

This letter by Dewi Owen Jones, published in the Daily Post, highlights the need for a Welsh housing policy which focuses on meeting local needs.

As in Wales, parts of the Yorkshire Dales have become awash with second-homes and holiday lets. This has caused house prices to rocket and forced local first-time buyers out of the area. The difference, however, is that the planning policies of the Yorkshire Dales National Park are now aimed at creating affordable homes for locals and limiting the number of new housing developments for non-locals.

But where's the Welsh equivalent? Why aren't our villages and towns being protected against the ravages of the property market? Something needs to de done to halt the destruction of our small Welsh communities before they turn into mere holiday resorts for wealthy outsiders.

I write to you in the light of the recent announcement of a planned development of 50 new houses in the village of Chwilog, Eifionydd, by an English-based brewery.

It takes little imagination to foresee the effects such a development would have on such a small, mainly Welsh-speaking community.

I refuse to believe that there exists a genuine need for 50 new homes in Chwilog and even if that was proven to be the case, there is no assurance that local people would take precedence when these homes came on the market.

I strongly believe that planning conditions should reflect the needs of the local community - socially, environmentally and linguistically. Planning permission should not be given where it could be damaging to the community, the environment or the Welsh language.

I would like to draw your readers’ attention to the planning rules used by the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The main objectives of their Local Plan are:

1. Meeting the needs of the local community, with special regards for their need for affordable housing.

2. Resisting any new development that is aimed at satisfying housing needs from outside the National Park.

3. Ensuring that housing provision is in sites that are environmentally acceptable.

4. Giving precedence to re-using already developed land through, for example, conversion of existing buildings.

I would like to see Gwynedd Council adopting the Yorkshire Dales’ planning policies in order to protect our communities from damaging developments.

Dewi Owen Jones, on behalf of Cymuned

The latest articles on the Hafod protests

2006-09-03T22:06:00.000+01:00

IC North Wales:

BBC:

Protests continue at quarry tip

Seren blog:

Others:

Protest as Liverpool uses Welsh landfill dump

Celtic League write to Wrecsam Council

League 'Rubbish' Merseyside WDA Policy

Why Won't the Assembly Government Step in to Help?

2006-09-02T14:34:00.000+01:00

What's the point of having an Assembly Government which is powerless to protect our communities? Our water supplies, our quarries, our landfill sites, our gas supplies, our language, our environment, and much more, are all being threatened by outside powers, and yet our politicians in the Senedd sit by and do nothing. Some actually support the schemes!

This excellent letter by Beca Lewis, from Aberystwyth, in the Daily Post, sums it up perfectly.

The disgraceful dumping of Liverpool’s waste in Wrecsam, a 70-mile gas pipeline under Welsh communities, more nuclear power in Wales… all seems to be symptoms of a paralysis on the part of the Welsh political system.

We have an Assembly government that cannot or will not intervene in several key issues and is content to hang onto the coat-tails of UK legislation on pressing issues like smoking in public.

This impotence in the face of key issues is leading many people across Wales to take the initiative in resisting big business interests or selfish UK government schemes that damage or threaten their communities. We will not stand idly by, even if the politicians in power will.

There is a growing understanding that we need not only to kick out the ineffective government in Cardiff but also make sure that we have politicians of conviction who have the power to make a difference here in Wales.

The people of Wales should decide on the issues that matter to us, not politicians in London who are not answerable to us. We need a proper parliament in Wales that is answerable to us all.

Take off the 'Marina blinkers', say Cymuned

2006-09-01T20:56:00.000+01:00

This letter comes from Aran Jones, Chief Executive of Cymuned, and was published in the Daily Post (where else?).

It is a pity Paul Brett is still wearing his ‘Marina blinkers’ (Letters, August 30) - they appear to be making it very difficult for him to see clearly.

The right way forward for Pwllheli is a local development trust, similar to Cwmni Tref Caernarfon, run by and for local people - a trust with no personal agenda to pursue, with no personal profit to seek, that can consider carefully a wide range of possibilities and make sure that local people benefit from the creation of jobs that will actually allow them to afford a mortgage in Pwllheli.

At the moment, all we are being offered is the same old stale nonsense about an unsuccessful Marina project which even Dylan Jones Evans, in his published report on the matter, admitted would do more to put extra money in the pockets of current Marina business owners than it would to create new jobs.

It’s a busted flush, and it’s high time for those who claim to have the interests of local people at heart to support a genuinely local solution.

Oh, and Mr Brett doesn’t need to worry that Cymuned are ignoring Caernarfon - we’ve got members doing the background work at the moment, and if needs be we’ll be active there, just as we have been recently on other matters in Wrecsam and Abertawe.

The days of small groups of self-interested businessmen having a free hand to overdevelop at will are gone.

Paul Brett can’t see that just as he can’t see that Cymuned is active throughout Cymru - it must be those ‘Marina blinkers’ again.

Aran Jones, Chief Executive, Cymuned

Marinas: Revenue at any cost

2006-08-29T18:15:00.000+01:00

“North Wales is missing out on millions of pounds of inward investment because our marinas can’t keep up with demand from boat owners”, reports Hywel Trewyn in today’s Daily Post.

Oh, so a few hundred people (mostly) from Manchester, Liverpool and Cheshire are missing out on the chance to move here to enjoy their summer holidays, not learn the language and raise house prices? Big deal.

It’s laughable that Dr Jones-Evans, who wrote an economic report for Gwynedd Council on the feasibility of extending Hafan Pwllheli, believes that “200 people moving to live in Pwllheli would not be catastrophic and that they would learn Welsh”. Yes, a small percentage probably would, but most wouldn‘t, if past experience is anything to go by.

Dafydd Sam Jones thinks that “expansion of marinas should not be detrimental to the Welsh language”. But he would say wouldn‘t he; he’s part of the Anglesey Port Company!

He continues, “If you don’t have work, there will be no language. What we want is to keep people here on Anglesey and create well-paid jobs for our young people”.

Hold on, let’s get this in perspective. How would a few well-paid jobs - and it would only be a few - help the Welsh language when you consider the fact that a few hundred non-Welsh speakers would be moving into the area?

I do agree that expanding the marinas would probably inject some much-needed revenue to an impoverished area - but at what cost to Welsh culture?

Go back to the drawing-board lads, surely you can think of other ways of creating employment and revenue. Short-term financial gain at the detriment of our language and culture is not the answer.

Hafod Protests Continue

2006-08-28T21:00:00.000+01:00

Recent photographs of the protests at Hafod Quarry, near Wrecsam, can be seen on the Indy Media website.

"More support is needed for this campaign, both at the Quarry and at the offices and waste transfer sites of Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority & Mersey Waste Holdings Ltd. Pressure needs also to be brought on the councillors of Liverpool, Sefton, Wirral, Knowsley and St Helen's who sit on the board of the company," say the protesters.

Another valuable source of information on the Hafod protests is Seren's blog:

If anyone knows of more news sources, articles, photographs, notices, etc, let me know.

Dan Y Cownter 2: A Review

2006-08-27T17:51:00.000+01:00

Not one to miss out on a freebie, when I heard that Dan Y Cownter were offering a free CD of contemporary Welsh-language music I felt compelled to take up their offer. Admittedly, these are my first tentative steps into the Welsh-language music scene. I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long to take the leap but I’m very glad I did. Here’s a breakdown of the tracks and what I thought of them. Anyone who’d like to receive a copy should contact post@danycownter.com

Radio Luxembourg - Pwer y Fflwer - 4/5
A fast-tempo, punchy opening track which launches straight into the main riff. Almost punk sounding, this track would sound superb live. Watch out for the chorus, it‘s brilliant.

Swci Boscawen - Adar y Nefoedd - 5/5
Soft, echo-laden pianos (think The Smashing Pumpkins’s “Adore” album) and angelic vocals dominate the verses. An infectious chorus and a quickening piano riff really uplifts the song, especially towards the end when the electronic beat kicks in and rumbles along like a juggernaut. Brilliant.

Mim Twm Llai - Rhosyn Rhwng Fy Nannedd - 3/5
Hip-hop vocals over jazz-like guitars, bass and drums. The minimalist, stripped-down sound would sound great live. (Check out their blog at http://mimtwmllai.blogspot.com/)

Genod Droog - Breuddwyd Oer - 4/5
This track would fit nicely onto any Groove Armada or Air album. Very laid back with trumpets, synth sounds, wah-wah guitars, and a soft humming bass all seamlessly drifting in and out of focus.

Stitches - Dan Dô - 5/5
Haunting Dave Grohl-like vocals perfectly compliment the down-tuned guitars, distorted electronic beats, and samples. The sound is almost heavy and centres around a simple rock riff. Cool as hell.

Richard James - Tir a Môr - 3/5
An unusual track with a strange acoustic guitar riff and dreamy vocals which sound like they‘ve come from outer space. Interesting but not brilliant.

Sibrydion - Blithdraphlith - 2/5
Catchy, loveable and annoying at the same time. The cheesy hooks make it a song you love to hate, which, unfortunately, means it’ll be playing in your head several days later. After 20 seconds I always find myself reaching for the forward button.

Y Diwygian - Mewn Can Mlynedd - 5/5
In total contrast, this trip-hop style track sounds like it was made for a DJ Krush album. Soulful female vocals contrast perfectly against the head-bobbing beats and low-end hip-hop rapping. Slick and stylish, this one would sound perfect in the dark, rainy nights of winter.

Ryan Kift - Gola Ola - 4/5
The heavily layered guitar sounds gives this slow tempo track an interesting edge. Catchy, heart-felt vocals with a great melody that you can’t fail to sing along with.

Acid Casuals - Y Ferch ar y Cei yn Rio - 4/5
Another slow, dreamy track, containing a single vocal hook which drifts you off into a relaxed and happy state of mind. A nice way to end the collection.

OVERALL: 4/5 Highly recommended!

Related links

Welsh Music Foundation
Providing support, advice, information and contacts to the Welsh music industry.

Sebon
Featuring the latest releases of Wales' most exciting and original artists and labels.

Radio Amgen
Promoting experimental and alternative music in Wales.

Sain Wales
Wales's leading record label.

North East Wales is becoming a dumping ground for Merseyside waste

2006-08-23T16:00:00.000+01:00

An urgent message (below) has just arrived from Cymuned concerning a protest against the landfill site at Hafod Quarry in Johnstown, near Wrecsam, being used as a dumping ground for Merseyside waste. The Wrecsam edition of the Evening Leader also covered the story today (Aug 23 2006).

Another group, Balchder Cymru, has set-up a "Stop Mersey Waste" online petition. Martyn Jones, Clwyd South MP, has voiced strong opposition too.

If anyone else has more details of the protests, I'd be happy to publish them.

Between 7 and 8 o'clock this morning, a group of 50 to 100 protestors attempted to stop lorries from Mersey Waste dumping in a Welsh quarry near Wrecsam. More details here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_east/5274302.stm The protestors will be meeting by the entrance to the Hafod site, near Johnstown, Wrecsam, at 7.00 o'clock every morning for the rest of this week. They will picket for an hour, from 7 until 8, in order to attempt to stop the unacceptable decision to let Liverpool dump its waste in North Wales. If you live nearby, please go and support the protestors tomorrow morning. If you don't live in the area, please forward this e-mail to anyone you know who does.

News stories from the BBC:

Cross-border rubbish dumping row (Aug 16 2006)
Wrexham to take Merseyside waste (Aug 14 2006)
Quarry rubbish row at High Court (Jun 27 2005)
Landfill residents in legal fight (Oct 6 2004)
Quarry landfill given go-ahead (Aug 31 2004)
Public inquiry into landfill row (Jul 20 2004)
Council to decide in landfill row (Mar 31 2004)
Assembly steps in over landfill row (Mar 9 2004)
Concerns voiced over landfill development (Feb 4 2003)

News stories from the Daily Post:

Newt fears fail to halt tipping (Aug 23 2006)
Petition over dumped waste (Aug 17 2006)
Waste from half the homes of Merseyside (Aug 16 2006)
Mersey muck we can all do without (Aug 16 2006)
We don't want your rubbish (Nov 19 2005)

Thousands Back Language Campaign in Rhuthun

2006-08-22T20:08:00.000+01:00

Last week Cymdeithas yr Iaith members were visiting towns and cities in South Wales, collecting signatures for their petition calling for a New Welsh Language Act. This week, members will target towns in North Wales - Rhuthun (Mon, 21 Aug), Llangefni (Tue, 22 Aug), Pwllheli (Wed, 23 Aug), Caernarfon (Thu, 24 Aug) and Dolgellau (Fri, 25 Aug). Details of these visits can be found on the Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg website. If you can't make it to any of those, you can declare your support by downloading a bilingual pdf version of the 'New Welsh Language Act Petition' (43k) and sending it to Cymdeithas's office in Aberystwyth.

This news report about a recent visit to Rhuthun came from the Daily Post (Aug 22, 2006).

Thousands back language campaign
Aug 22 2006
Daily Post

CYMDEITHAS yr Iaith Gymraeg (Welsh Language Society) yesterday brought its drive to secure a new Language Act to North Wales.

The Society was in Ruthin to collect signatures for its petition calling for a new Welsh Language Act.

Activists gathered by the town clock for a four-hour session collecting names. The mayor of Ruthin, Councillor Morfudd Jones, and other dignitaries were among those to sign.

The visit to Ruthin is part of an all-Wales campaign with members of the society visiting various towns throughout the country.

Last week Cymdeithas members visited Swansea, Ammanford, Pontypridd, Cardiff, Newport and Aberystwyth.

This week they are in North Wales with Llangefni, Pwllheli, Caernarfon and Dolgellau among their other destinations.

Dewi Snelson, who organised the Ruthin visit, said: "Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg had a very successful week at the National Eisteddfod.

"A truly historical meeting was held at the society's tent on the eisteddfod field where representatives from Plaid Cymru, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives declared their support for a new Welsh Language Act.

"A very effective demonstration was held against the Labour Party - the only political party in Wales not to show support for the Language Act campaign - and thousands of signatures were collected.

"Cymdeithas also published a draft Welsh Language Measure which gave the campaign further impetus.

"We now have the opportunity to take the campaign to the people of Wales in their local communities."

Glyn Wise: A Welsh Speaking Hero!

2006-08-19T22:03:00.000+01:00

Who would of thought it? A young local patriotic welsh speaker - with aspirations of becoming a Welsh teacher and Plaid president, who would ban people buying second homes in Welsh speaking areas, and who'd dethrone Charles as Prince of Wales - would take 2nd place in Channel 4’s Big Brother final?

A lot of people mock Big Brother, and for good reasons. But this series was different. For the first time ever there were two Welsh speakers in the house (it wouldn‘t have worked with just one Welsh speaker, of course) who constantly conversed together in their first language. By doing so, he and fellow housemate Imogen Thomas (from Llanelli) have shown that Cymraeg is a living language to millions across Britain and Ireland. And that doesn't happen very often.

Equally important, Glyn and Imogen have shown what it means to be Welsh. Wales is not just about Cardiff, rugby and the Valleys; it’s also about the language. In fact, it’s probably the language which defines us as a distinct nation more than anything else.

At first they were banned from speaking “in code” but this decision was later reversed, and subtitles were used. Towards the end, even BB was speaking Welsh and Glyn was given the task of teaching Welsh to some of the housemates. For this, the producers of BB are to be congratulated.

To see Glyn’s constant and abounding enthusiasm for Wales, Cymraeg, y Ddraig Goch, and all things Welsh was brilliant. For once I have to agree with Rhodri Morgan: "Your passion and love for our country and language has been an inspiration for other young people and you've certainly put your home town of Blaenau Ffestiniog and Wales on the map.

"Your conversations in the house with Imogen have certainly raised the profile of the Welsh language to a new audience all over the world."

21st Century Wales: Crap Wages and a Stifling Economy

2006-08-13T22:02:00.000+01:00

Denbighshire has the worst wages in Wales according to research by GMB, averaging a mere £20,860 - 74% of the UK average. Apart from Flintshire with an average of over £25,000, the picture is bleak right across North Wales. And although the situation is better in South Wales, not one county in Wales meets the UK average.

But the bad news doesn‘t stop there. A damning report by a political think tank, Reform, claims Wales is in danger of becoming one of Whitehall’s “last colonies”, dependent on state employment and taxpayers cash.

Apparently, public spending accounts for 54% of the Welsh economy. Furthermore, the state employs nearly a quarter of all workers in Wales and the average household derives 18% of its total income from social security benefits.

Cycle of Economic Inactivity - More of the same anyone?

These problems are perpetuating yet more of the same problems. As young people are forced to move out of the area in search of work, Wales loses its most economically active members. This produces a declining population. Businesses also move or are forced to close (especially small businesses). Fewer business start-ups are created and existing businesses are less inclined to invest into the area. All of this means less employment and more people on benefits. And so it goes on.

Another major concern is the reliance on tourism, creating poorly paid jobs for only several months of the year. We live in one of the wettest parts of the country and yet we rely on a tourist industry which demands nice weather? Whoever thought that was a good business idea seriously needs their head testing.

It seems that a lot of money is going into North Wales but relatively little is coming out and we’re in danger of becoming a land of retirement homes, marinas, hotels, and caravan sites. If North Wales’ economy was an animal, it’d be a one trick pony.

Can this economic tide - or rather, drought - be reversed?

I’m no business expert but my guess is that a solution probably lies in the creation of small-to-mid sized companies - preferably the latter - which are economically profitable throughout the year. That’s easier said than done but there seems to be many ’outsiders’ who are earning a decent living by running businesses which offer interesting services and niche products.

Budding business people should consider this letter by G Hughes, recently published in the Daily Post. It concerns the controversial Pwllheli marina expansion proposals but the issues and solutions raised apply throughout North Wales.

Think Outside the Box over Marina

The future of Pwllheli, or indeed of Pen Llŷn and Eifionydd, DOES NOT depend on developing the marinas as we are constantly led to be believed by the Marine Trade Association, and even some of our elected and unelected politicians.

With a combination of knowledge, imagination and entrepreneurship, the Pwllheli harbour area can be developed into other more sustainable activities.

What about a Centre of Excellence for the ever-expanding range of sea sports that are rising in popularity across Wales, such as kayaking, wakeboarding, rowing and diving? A well-equipped facility could act as an incubator for exciting new industries, just like what happened in Llandysul when it became a centre for canoeing, and at the same time provide an affordable, safe and exciting facility for local people.

What about an all weather cultural tourist attraction based on Y Mabinogion or/and Cantre’r Gwaelod, or even investing in kick-starting high-tech aquaculture, producing valuable seafood?

All these activities could be developed by a local trust, similar to Cwmni Tref Caernarfon, run 100% by local people and wholly for the benefit of local people.

Thinking outside the box is not difficult once you take off the marina blinkers.

Government of Wales Act makes us "4th class citizens"

2006-08-12T13:13:00.000+01:00

Discontent over the Government of Wales Act continues to rumble in and outside the Welsh Assembly. This letter below by David Thomas, Plaid Assembly Candidate for Montgomeryshire, spells out the absurdity of an Act which leaves all the major decisions in Wales at the mercy of Westminster (from Daily Post, 11 August, 2006).

The Government of Wales Act, passed on 25 July, far from settling the democratic process in Wales “for generations at least if not for ever” (as Peter Hain hopes) should be repealed as soon as possible as it makes us 4th class citizens in our own land.

Both the Northern Ireland Assembly (when it meets) and the Scottish Parliament have far more control over their own affairs than the Welsh Assembly and, given that Westminster, with an in-built majority of 529 English MPs out of a total of 646, virtually functions as an English Parliament that means we in Wales have less responsibility than any legislature in the UK over even the handful of matters which have been devolved to any degree at all.

Take, for example, the building of new nuclear power stations. Both the NI and Scotland Assemblies could refuse planning permission but not we in Wales. In fact the UK government could force one on us and the minister who would currently take the decision on our behalf could be a Scottish MP!

Even laws proposed unanimously by the Welsh Assembly can be blocked in five different ways by Westminster. What sort of democracy is that!

As a matter of natural justice and human rights we in Wales should have the same legislative powers as NI and Scotland.

We deserve to be treated as 1st class not 4th class citizens.

52% Back Welsh Independence

2006-07-31T23:28:00.000+01:00

Is it time to break from the Union? Well, a majority of people across Cymru - 52% - think so, according to a new poll conducted by Wales on Sunday.

The poll also shows 70% are happy with the new Government of Wales Act. "After having the powers explained to them, a large majority of those polled say it was the right move. But more than half still said they wanted independence altogether," says reporter Matt Whithers.

But let’s not get carried away here - the results are based on a mere 420 respondents. So at best they’re only suggestive. Still, whichever way you cut it, it’s a majority.

Quick dismissals from the Brit Nats ... and Plaid

Of course, the Westminster parties were quick to dismiss the results. Peter Hain is "sceptical" and Nick Bourne thinks "talk of independence is pie in the sky." But that‘s to be expected, Westminster parties have always play-downed nationalistic support in Cymru, hoping that by ignoring it, it’ll go away.

Only marginally less disappointing was Ieuan Wyn Jones’s rather lukewarm response. "Whether people actually support everything that independence stands for I don't know, but I do think people are more prepared to consider making decisions for themselves," is all he could muster-up. Nobody is expecting Plaid to rejoice in fits of ecstasy but a little more enthusiasm for independence would be nice.

Government of Wales Act - a joke?

Although in favour of independence myself, I must confess to being in the minority regarding the new Government of Wales Act. Primary legislation on devolved issues only when Westminster has agreed to it? A referendum on whether to have a Scottish-style parliament only if it is voted for by a two-thirds majority in the Assembly and a majority in both the House of Commons and the Lords? It‘s a joke.

OK, it might be (slightly) better than nothing but for Peter Hain to claim that “We've now settled this whole issue of the constitutional future of Wales, I would say, pretty well for good" is frankly insulting.

No, at best this Act is a mere stepping-stone to a full parliament, and then independence.

(This story was also featured on British Nat Watch and Seren - both of which I highly recommend.)

Ble Mae'r Gymraeg, Somerfield?

2006-07-30T11:15:00.000+01:00

In general I don’t like supermarkets for a variety of reasons. But yesterday I decided to shop at the new Somerfield store in Prestatyn. I was disappointed. Not once did I see a single word of Cymraeg anywhere in the store. It’s a real shame because in most respects it’s an improvement on Kwikies (which Somerfield recently sold-off); the layout is massively improved, the prices are reasonable, and there’s a better selection of produce. So why the lack of Cymraeg?

Contrast this with the new Tesco store in Rhuthun. It’s still not open but according to Alun Pugh the store is “keeping its promises in relation to stocking Welsh produce and using the Welsh language... Tesco will clearly identify tills operated by bilingual staff, and all staff who speak both languages will carry a badge to this effect.”

Kwikies had Cymraeg signage. So too does Sainsbury’s in Rhuddlan, and Tesco in Abergele. So what’s the problem with Somerfield then?

Thankfully, supermarkets aren’t the be-all and end-all of Cymraeg; it can survive and thrive with or without them. But that’s not the point. Cymraeg should be a natural part of their everyday business. There’s no getting away from the fact that even the ‘borderlands’ are bilingual, not monolingual.

No matter where you are in Cymru, Cymraeg is the national language and it’s being spoken by an increasing number of people. Somerfield and other large stores should recognise this!

Gwrando ar Gymru/What Wales Wants

2006-07-28T21:51:00.000+01:00

If you read the Daily Post or listen to the Welsh news you'll have probably heard about Ieuan Wyn Jones's Wales-Wide-Walk. Basically, he'll be walking around Cymru in an attempt to find out what people want from politicians. It's an initiative intended to generate publicity and support in the run-up to next year's (2007) Assembly election. It started yesterday in Ynys Môn and ends in Abertawe at the National Eisteddfod on August 7. Tommorrow he'll be in Bala, which is as far north east as he'll get.

Personally, I think it's a good idea as it gives people a chance to contribute ideas on what Plaid should or shouldn't be doing. I'm sure everyone has an opinion on how life in Cymru could be improved. My top issues would probably be (in no particular order); cheap and decent housing for locals; increasing opportunities for full-time employment; increasing the use of Welsh in the private sector; and increasing Welsh language schools.

For more information see Plaid's website, and the What Wales Wants website where you can contribute your ideas online.