From Betsan Powys' Blog
Time to vote. If there were a referendum tomorrow, would you vote?
87% would. 13% would not.
And if you voted, would you vote to leave things as they are, or vote to give the National Assembly law making powers all at once?
64% want law making powers; 36% don't.
"The Nineteenth century saw a great Springtime of Nations as the revolutions of 1848 saw new countries created the length and breadth of Europe. In our world today we are now seeing our own Spring Awakening with people and cultures that have long been dormant and subdued asserting their right to exist, their right to dream." Adam Price MP
Sunday, 28 June 2009
The Neutrality Debate: An Armed Forces Day?
Steve Smedley said:
Sun, 2009-06-28 15:13
I know several people who are in the armed services, and I wish them all well in their various endeavours. However, as far as the campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan are concerned, they do not act in my name and I do not wish to express any support for military actions in these theatres.
I have experienced at first hand the overly jingoistic and mawkish attitude of the American public to their own servicemen and women, where every public event, it seems, has to incorporate its own distasteful celebration of military imperialism and "freedom". This is not something that I want to see replicated in this country.
I refuse to have my nationality defined in terms of dubious, and possibly illegal military actions, both past and present. There are many aspects of our cultural heritage that are worth celibrating, but an Armed Forces Day isn't one of them.
Comment: Independence Cymru concurs with this view.
From Anon : Agreed. I'm afraid this is the emerging ugly face of modern British nationalism. It is a function of the Anglo-American military alliance and unrestricted capitalism. The antidotes are Welsh (and Scottish) independence within a social Europe.
Sun, 2009-06-28 15:13
I know several people who are in the armed services, and I wish them all well in their various endeavours. However, as far as the campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan are concerned, they do not act in my name and I do not wish to express any support for military actions in these theatres.
I have experienced at first hand the overly jingoistic and mawkish attitude of the American public to their own servicemen and women, where every public event, it seems, has to incorporate its own distasteful celebration of military imperialism and "freedom". This is not something that I want to see replicated in this country.
I refuse to have my nationality defined in terms of dubious, and possibly illegal military actions, both past and present. There are many aspects of our cultural heritage that are worth celibrating, but an Armed Forces Day isn't one of them.
Comment: Independence Cymru concurs with this view.
From Anon : Agreed. I'm afraid this is the emerging ugly face of modern British nationalism. It is a function of the Anglo-American military alliance and unrestricted capitalism. The antidotes are Welsh (and Scottish) independence within a social Europe.
Devolution Does Not Stop Here
Tories were 'wrong' on devolution
David Cameron said he would respect Scotland if he came to power
Conservative leader David Cameron has said his party was wrong in the past to oppose Scottish devolution.
Mr Cameron told a BBC TV documentary the Tories were right to point out the potential problems of such a move.
But he added they should have paid more attention to "legitimate" pressure for self-government in Scotland during their time in power at Westminster.
The Conservatives opposed devolution until 1997 when Labour's victory paved the way for the Scottish Parliament.
Comment: of course they were wrong to oppose devolution, but will they get it right next time?
Scotland, Wales and northern Ireland hold their breath....
David Cameron said he would respect Scotland if he came to power
Conservative leader David Cameron has said his party was wrong in the past to oppose Scottish devolution.
Mr Cameron told a BBC TV documentary the Tories were right to point out the potential problems of such a move.
But he added they should have paid more attention to "legitimate" pressure for self-government in Scotland during their time in power at Westminster.
The Conservatives opposed devolution until 1997 when Labour's victory paved the way for the Scottish Parliament.
Comment: of course they were wrong to oppose devolution, but will they get it right next time?
Scotland, Wales and northern Ireland hold their breath....
Saturday, 27 June 2009
Friday, 26 June 2009
Davy Spillane - Worship
There are places where nature takes over from the mad headlong rush towards never-never land.
Thursday, 25 June 2009
Trundling Down to West Cork
The move is finally happening. It's time to meet up with the doughty and whimsical Fenians of the Fail (legendary name for Ireland).
No sign in this country of the Union flag which has no credence here. Here you will see the green, white and orange tricolor proudly flying in the breeze, along with the county flags displayed by die-hard supporters of the hurling teams.
Take the N71 west from Cork City and after a short drive you'll cross an invisible line that defines the boundary of West Cork. This region, at the very southern tip of the island of Ireland, has a colourful and turbulent history. Co. Cork is known as 'The Rebel County' to this day, and West Cork was always at the very heart of Ireland's long struggle for independence from British rule.
The Irish are a vehemently patriotic people 'none more so than the people of West Cork' and yet they are among the most open and welcoming people you could ever wish to meet.
No sign in this country of the Union flag which has no credence here. Here you will see the green, white and orange tricolor proudly flying in the breeze, along with the county flags displayed by die-hard supporters of the hurling teams.
Take the N71 west from Cork City and after a short drive you'll cross an invisible line that defines the boundary of West Cork. This region, at the very southern tip of the island of Ireland, has a colourful and turbulent history. Co. Cork is known as 'The Rebel County' to this day, and West Cork was always at the very heart of Ireland's long struggle for independence from British rule.
The Irish are a vehemently patriotic people 'none more so than the people of West Cork' and yet they are among the most open and welcoming people you could ever wish to meet.
National Minorities in Europe
National minorities have had their democratic rights trampled upon for too long. Here are some examples : Breton families deported to the South of France for speaking Breton; Welsh speakers denied their rights in courts and schools to speak the language of birth; Scottish landowners reduced to poverty as their lands were enclosed and clan tartans banished; Cornish nationalists scorned and the status of their Stannery Parliament denigrated; Basques prevented from asserting their cultural individuality; Irish people treated as second-class citizens in Ulster ...the list goes on. These peoples with their distinctive cultures, languages and traditions have for centuries been dominated and often subjugated by the major powers in the region, notably Britain, France, Spain and Italy. Yet they continue to survive and flourish and to resist the tide of uniformity which seeks to ethnic-cleanse their colourful character and cultural and linguistic diversity and uniqueness.
Congratulations & Llongyfarchiadau
Good to see that Jill Evans MEP has been elected President of EFA and is also a Vice President of the whole Green/EFA group led by Danny Cohn-Bendit. Plaid at the heart of Europe!
Now is the time for all nationalists across Europe to join up with the Greens.
Now is the time for all nationalists across Europe to join up with the Greens.
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
Another Political Dinosaur
Thank you for your email which I read with interest.
As a Member of the European Parliament I am pleased to say that it is not within my power to interfere with the Constitutional arrangements of the United Kingdom. As it happens, I do not support any form of devolved assembly for Cornwall nor for the Cornish to be recognised as a national minority.
Yours sincerely
Ashley Fox
As a Member of the European Parliament I am pleased to say that it is not within my power to interfere with the Constitutional arrangements of the United Kingdom. As it happens, I do not support any form of devolved assembly for Cornwall nor for the Cornish to be recognised as a national minority.
Yours sincerely
Ashley Fox
Vision for a People's Europe
http://e-f-a.org/images/content/documents/
2009EFAManifesto_ENG.pdf
http://www.gfbv.it/3dossier/eu-min/europe2004-en.html
A precursor of more to come......
Find the nations of Europe on the map:
http://www.e-f-a.org/kaartje.php
2009EFAManifesto_ENG.pdf
http://www.gfbv.it/3dossier/eu-min/europe2004-en.html
A precursor of more to come......
Find the nations of Europe on the map:
http://www.e-f-a.org/kaartje.php
Welsh Language Under Attack
In the interests of transparency I publish the following verbatim:
To: Rhobert ap Steffan
Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 11:33 AM
Subject: Re: Gwefan Llanegwad
Rhob
DISGRACEFUL! It's a guy called Andrew Taylor who lives in Meiros Hill, Felingwm, I understand, an incomer with a strong antipathy to the Welsh people. He is a computer boffin and therefore was asked to set up the Llanegwad website, possibly by the Anglican vicar/Parochial (sic!) Church Council. This is completely unacceptable. I'll ask Jonathan Edwards if we can sue him/the site on the grounds of racial discrimination. I'll also forward it to Adam.
I suggest you forward it to Sioned and Hedd Gwynfor. This cannot be allowed to continue - especially in the most pure of pure heartlands of Wallia Pura.
Hwyl H
Henry,
Please read this and inform Adam. This is serious anti-Welsh propaganda from LLANEGWAD!!
Rhob.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Owain Gruffydd"
To: "Rhobert ap Steffan"
Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 10:18 AM
Subject: FW: Gwefan Llanegwad
Helo Rhobert
A welest ti'r isod ar wefan Llanegwad?!!
Hwyl
Owain
The Language and the People
The Welsh are on the whole a friendly nation but insular. As a visitor you should have no problems as all but the die-hards speak English if addressed in that language. If you want to try out the language for yourself, lessons on pronunciation are essential as you are unlikely to be understood otherwise. The Welsh language is spoken by fewer than a quarter of the population and the written word is understood by less. The language differs in the north and south of the country and is not the easiest to learn, or the most practical, but a minority of the population wish to impose it on the rest through a Welsh language policy that has come under much
criticism.
The use of the language outside of Wales is virtually nil, the cost of printing everything from Road Signs to Water Bills in two languages is ludicrous beyond belief. It is a classic case of Political Correctness gone mad - but that is not unusual in Wales! Whilst the necessity to preserve Welsh culture cannot be denied, the language could be kept alive for those that want it in other ways and the resultant money saved spent on far more deserving projects. The wealth of the country would be that much greater. The cost to the economy is hard to identify as official figures are rarely - if ever published. It has been said that if the true cost were made public there would be a public outcry.
Ydych chi'n ymwybodol o'r testun uchod ar wefan Llanegwad?
http://www.llanegwad-carmarthen.co.uk/welshwords.htm
Comment:I would say that the language and culture are inextricably inter-related and interdependent and that it is essential that the language be preserved and expanded by every possible means whatever the cost. alanindyfed
To: Rhobert ap Steffan
Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 11:33 AM
Subject: Re: Gwefan Llanegwad
Rhob
DISGRACEFUL! It's a guy called Andrew Taylor who lives in Meiros Hill, Felingwm, I understand, an incomer with a strong antipathy to the Welsh people. He is a computer boffin and therefore was asked to set up the Llanegwad website, possibly by the Anglican vicar/Parochial (sic!) Church Council. This is completely unacceptable. I'll ask Jonathan Edwards if we can sue him/the site on the grounds of racial discrimination. I'll also forward it to Adam.
I suggest you forward it to Sioned and Hedd Gwynfor. This cannot be allowed to continue - especially in the most pure of pure heartlands of Wallia Pura.
Hwyl H
Henry,
Please read this and inform Adam. This is serious anti-Welsh propaganda from LLANEGWAD!!
Rhob.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Owain Gruffydd"
To: "Rhobert ap Steffan"
Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 10:18 AM
Subject: FW: Gwefan Llanegwad
Helo Rhobert
A welest ti'r isod ar wefan Llanegwad?!!
Hwyl
Owain
The Language and the People
The Welsh are on the whole a friendly nation but insular. As a visitor you should have no problems as all but the die-hards speak English if addressed in that language. If you want to try out the language for yourself, lessons on pronunciation are essential as you are unlikely to be understood otherwise. The Welsh language is spoken by fewer than a quarter of the population and the written word is understood by less. The language differs in the north and south of the country and is not the easiest to learn, or the most practical, but a minority of the population wish to impose it on the rest through a Welsh language policy that has come under much
criticism.
The use of the language outside of Wales is virtually nil, the cost of printing everything from Road Signs to Water Bills in two languages is ludicrous beyond belief. It is a classic case of Political Correctness gone mad - but that is not unusual in Wales! Whilst the necessity to preserve Welsh culture cannot be denied, the language could be kept alive for those that want it in other ways and the resultant money saved spent on far more deserving projects. The wealth of the country would be that much greater. The cost to the economy is hard to identify as official figures are rarely - if ever published. It has been said that if the true cost were made public there would be a public outcry.
Ydych chi'n ymwybodol o'r testun uchod ar wefan Llanegwad?
http://www.llanegwad-carmarthen.co.uk/welshwords.htm
Comment:I would say that the language and culture are inextricably inter-related and interdependent and that it is essential that the language be preserved and expanded by every possible means whatever the cost. alanindyfed
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Alan Watts - "The Human Game"
THE PROBLEM OF INTERFERING WITH WHAT IS
The Tao of Not-Doing
Out of being arises doing.
There is no separation -
there is no effort.
Doing - which arises naturally
out of being,
without effort -
is called "not doing".
It happens -
naturally and spontaneously,
in just the right place,
at just the right time.
Sitting quietly, doing nothing,
Spring comes,
and the grass grows by itself!
Yet ................
the cloud water sage knows not
who causes the rain to fall
upon the Jade Mountain.
(alanindyfed)
Monday, 22 June 2009
Petition for Patagonia
Please click on the link below to confirm your signature on the petition.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/patagonia/Cl1bllCzFLNPCmc0TOARQzp
The petition was created by Roy Davies and reads:
'We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Preserve
Welsh links with Patagonia.'
Comment: an independent Wales would naturally preserve links with Patagonia.
I sometimes wonder whether petitions like this to No.10 have any effect.....
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/patagonia/Cl1bllCzFLNPCmc0TOARQzp
The petition was created by Roy Davies and reads:
'We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Preserve
Welsh links with Patagonia.'
Comment: an independent Wales would naturally preserve links with Patagonia.
I sometimes wonder whether petitions like this to No.10 have any effect.....
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