View Full Version : New Welsh Language Act Rally, Cardiff 1/10/05
Ben Bore
09-09-2005, 11:43
http://cymdeithas.com/lluniau/01-10-05-rali-din-bach.jpg
I've recieved an e-mail from the Welsh Language Society (http://cymdeithas.com/english/) about a Rally calling for a new Welsh Language Act which takes place in Cardiff on the 1st of October 2005 (2:00pm outside the National Assembly's Office in Cathay's Park)
When the Conservative Party were pushing the Act through back in 1993, Rhodri Morgan from the opposition Labour Party refused to back it claiming it didn't go far enough, his words at the time were:
"The Government calls this a Welsh Language Bill, but it would be better described as a Welsh Language Quango Bill. What one could call a Quango for the lingo ...... We shall be abstaining tonight because we hope to have the opportunity before long to do the job properly. That will be done when we revisit the question of a Welsh language messure when we are in Government."
But during this years National Eisteddfod, when Rhodir Morgan was asked about a new Welsh Language Act, conidering that there is now a National Asembly and that he leads his party in Government, his reply was:
"Boring, Boring , Boring"
To raise awareness of the rally, Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg intend to place advertisments in the press. This is going to cost money of course, so if you can contribute (http://cymdeithas.com/2004/05/26/contribute_to_cymdeithas_yr_iaith.html) or just turn up , please do.
bonheddwr
22-09-2005, 22:00
I'll definitely be there! Received this through email today:
CYMDEITHAS YR IAITH GYMRAEG - PRESS RELEASE - 22/09/05
SIX MEMBERS OF CYMDEITHAS YR IAITH ARRESTED IN CATHAYS PARK
Three sisters are amongst the six members of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg arrested this morning after painting slogans calling for a new Welsh Language Act on the walls of the Welsh Assembly Governments’ headquarters in Cathays Park, Cardiff. Angharad Clwyd from Pont-Tweli, and Siriol Teifi and Gwenno Teifi from Llanfihangel-ar-Arth, along with students Menna Machraeth from Llanddarog, Lois Barrar from Merthyr and Lowri Larsen from Caernarfon are in Fairwater police station at the moment.
Four slogans were painted, including ‘Deddf Iaith – Dyma’r Cyfle’ (Language Act – the last chance) on the walls of the building following a press conference in which the names of hundreds of prominent Welsh people who have stated their public support for a new Welsh Language Act.
According to Cymdeithas yr Iaith, this marks the beginning of a series of direct actions which will take place in the coming weeks leading up to Christmas. This action marks a significant progression in the campaign for a new Welsh Language Act.
Catrin Dafydd, chair of the campaign for a new Welsh Language Act, said:
“This is the time to press for a new Welsh Language Act. The recent decision by the Welsh Assembly’s Government to abolish the Welsh Language Board means that some sort of Act will be created. The Welsh Assembly government aims to carry out an administrative tidying up exercise and nothing more. This is not good enough – a comprehensive Language Act which establishes basic rights for Welsh speakers is essential.
Following Rhodri Morgan’s complete objection, Cymdeithas yr Iaith will be taking direct action over the coming weeks to ensure that this important matter is discussed.
We call upon the people of Wales to support this campaign by attending the National Rally to be held in Cardiff on the 1st of October. We also call upon the opposition parties in the Welsh Assembly to raise the issue as a matter of urgency.”
Today’s action was carried out during a press conference held this morning. During this press conference Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg announced the names of hundreds of prominent Welsh people who have publicly supported the call for a new Welsh Language Act.
Catrin Dafydd added,
“During this year’s National Eisteddfod, Rhodri Morgan claimed that only a handful o bullies supported the call for a New Welsh Language Act. The fact that so many prominent Welsh people have stated their support publicly shows that this is not true. There is now a general consensus that securing new legislation for the Welsh language is essential to ensure that the rights of Welsh speakers are protected over the coming decades.”
Background note:
The New Welsh Language Act National Rally will be held at 2 p.m, on Saturday the 1st of October at the National Assembly Governments’ headquarters in Cathays Park, Cardiff. The speakers are Hywel Williams M.P., Hywel Teifi Edwards, Mererid Hopwood, and Steffan Cravos.
The Welsh language belongs to EVERYONE in Wales and is EVERYONE's heritage both Welsh and English speakers. If the language dies we will all lose out, and so will our kids! Please everyone, make an effort to be there, and bring your Welsh, St David, Owain Glyndwr, etc flags! :cool:
King Biscuit Time
22-09-2005, 22:57
I know today wasn't the day of the rally, but the Welsh Office in cathays park got thoroughly done over with welsh language act graffiti this afternoon.
Pics to follow when I get my phone near my comp!
bonheddwr
22-09-2005, 23:55
Some pictures on the Cymdeithas website here (http://oriel.cymdeithas.com/archif/cat_01_gweithred_deddf_iaith_dymar_cyfle_caerdydd_medi_2005.html)
Ben Bore
23-09-2005, 10:01
Hope to see you there
spacemonkey
23-09-2005, 10:09
http://oriel.cymdeithas.com/archif/din-caerdydd-08.JPG
:confused:
bonheddwr
23-09-2005, 20:29
And the three were girls as well! Us boys should be ashamed ;)
bonheddwr
28-09-2005, 18:53
Who's coming to rhis rally then? :cool:
Ben Bore
29-09-2005, 09:16
Boring :rolleyes:
;)
The language seems to be doing alright.
<listens to dulcet tones of all those signed up for Welsh in the Workplace coming from the office next door>
Text of RESPECT leaflet handed out at same. Interesting to note the only 2 political parties visible at this were RESPECT and Plaid Cymru
RESPECT YR IAITH!
"The Government calls this a Welsh Language Bill, but it would be better described as a Welsh Language Quango Bill. What one could call a Quango for the lingo ...... We shall be abstaining tonight because we hope to have the opportunity before long to do the job properly. That will be done when we revisit the question of a Welsh language messure when we are in Government."
So Said Rhodri Morgan back in 1993 when he opposed the Tories Welsh Language Act. But as with many of the promises New Labour made prior to getting elected in 1997, this promise has vanished into thin air. We in RESPECT are for the Welsh language having full equality with English. This would mean going way beyond the present legislation. The current Act calls for bilingualism based on ‘reasonableness’ . This has been used to avoid immediate use of Welsh in some official contexts.
We agree with Catrin Dafydd of the campaign for a new Welsh Language Act when she says, “This is the time to press for a new Welsh Language Act. The recent decision by the Welsh Assembly’s Government to abolish the Welsh Language Board means that some sort of Act will be created. The Welsh Assembly aims to carry out an administrative tidying up exercise and nothing more. This is not good enough.”
We stand for the defence of the Welsh language, not out of nationalism but out of respect for international culture. International culture to us does not mean the ’culture’ of Murdoch, Mcdonalds and Market Values, but of those who believe another world not only possible; but necessary. We believe our children should have access to the Mabinogion, Shakespeare, Salman Rushdie, Caradoc Evans, Dylan Thomas, Bapsi Sidhwa, Chinua Achebe and many others - and in whatever language they want! Such a stance also includes fighting for the rights of those who speak other languages such as refugees and asylum seekers and their children so that they have access to education and other facilities in their own languages.
We believe the money is there to provide this, but the government wastes billions on a war opposed by millions. Our movements, whether they be for language rights, or against war and injustice have begun to provide the basis for a real alternative to New Labour. But our views are far too often marginalized and disregarded by the mainstream political parties. RESPECT is a party that seeks to provide a voice for the millions who are opposed to war, racism, privatisation inequality and the destruction of the environment. We hope to create a broad party that brings together all progressive movements into a united challenge to New Labour.
chilango
03-10-2005, 16:15
Text of RESPECT leaflet handed out at same. etc....
Out of curiosity...I presume this leaflet was bilingual in the original?
chilango
04-10-2005, 13:02
Of course :)
excellent.
This piece appeared in Socialist Worker, the only UK wide paper to cover it -
"At a rally for Welsh language campaigners in Cardiff recently, speakers from Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (Welsh Language Society) called for campaigners to intensify their protests for a new Welsh Language Act.
The previous act (put in place by the Tories in 1993) does not do enough to protect the rights of Welsh speakers, said Catrin Dafydd, chair of Cymdeithas.
All the speakers there called for the Welsh New Labour government of Rhodri Morgan to put a new Welsh Language Act in place and to ensure that private companies provide services through the medium of Welsh.
Respect members attended and said that although we do not support Welsh nationalism, it is important to protect the rights of all cultures and languages, and that people should have the right to be educated in any language they wish."
This piece appeared in Socialist Worker, the only UK wide paper to cover it -
"At a rally for Welsh language campaigners in Cardiff recently, speakers from Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (Welsh Language Society) called for campaigners to intensify their protests for a new Welsh Language Act.
The previous act (put in place by the Tories in 1993) does not do enough to protect the rights of Welsh speakers, said Catrin Dafydd, chair of Cymdeithas.
All the speakers there called for the Welsh New Labour government of Rhodri Morgan to put a new Welsh Language Act in place and to ensure that private companies provide services through the medium of Welsh.
Respect members attended and said that although we do not support Welsh nationalism, it is important to protect the rights of all cultures and languages, and that people should have the right to be educated in any language they wish."
If respect has so much respect for the Welsh language could you please explain why there is no Welsh language translation offered on thier site.I know there was in the past but this is no more.Why? :confused:
Because the person who was paying for this link in Wales forgot before the deadline :o . (it wasn't me either, before you ask). Until we do something about this. It might be worth emailing the main site asking for translations, pointing out there are Welsh members able to do this for the site (and which bits you would like translated). I am glad you have alerted me to this though.
nwnm: "Respect members attended and said that although we do not support Welsh nationalism, it is important to protect the rights of all cultures and languages, and that people should have the right to be educated in any language they wish."
Do you also warn moslems that, although you don't support moslem separatism and believe religion is the opium of the people, you support their right to faith schools?
Or is your support a little less qualified...
Because the person who was paying for this link in Wales forgot before the deadline :o . (it wasn't me either, before you ask). Until we do something about this. It might be worth emailing the main site asking for translations, pointing out there are Welsh members able to do this for the site (and which bits you would like translated). I am glad you have alerted me to this though.
This link has been down for months!And could I also point out to you, that even when the link was there it did not translate into Welsh.If you went to the link the page would just come back up in english!!!
As for contacting the main site,I called the main office in London only to be told that no one there spoke Welsh, but as I spoke english they could give me any information I required.They were polite, but I felt they totally did not understand that I maybe able to speak english, but that there are people here in Cymru who prefer to use the medium of Welsh.
If respect do respect the Welsh language would this situation really occur?
lewislewis
23-10-2005, 17:19
They're not a Welsh party, doesn't surprise me.
Niclas -
"Do you also warn moslems that, although you don't support moslem separatism and believe religion is the opium of the people, you support their right to faith schools? Or is your support a little less qualified..." Thats funny - haven't seen that one in the RESPECT manifesto :rolleyes: . Respect is more of a broad coalition involving the far left, former Labour members, sections of the anti war movement and sections of the muslim population. You know a bit like what you tried to build in Forward Wales, only better :) , I would no more want Marx on religion in the manifesto of such an organisation, than I would independence for a Welsh version mate.
swan -
"could you please explain why there is no Welsh language translation offered on thier site.I know there was in the past but this is no more.Why?"
" even when the link was there it did not translate into Welsh.If you went to the link the page would just come back up in english!!!" Now thats called contradicting yourself.....
"As for contacting the main site,I called the main office in London only to be told that no one there spoke Welsh, but as I spoke english they could give me any information I required.They were polite, but I felt they totally did not understand that I maybe able to speak english, but that there are people here in Cymru who prefer to use the medium of Welsh." Your right, this is a problem - its something that I'm working on. Thats why I suggested emailing them in my last post, (it would be useful explaining why you want it in Welsh and that there are people in RESPECT in Wales who would do it for them.) Until then if you want anything off the RESPECT website translated PM me and I'll give you the Local RESPECT email address - and we'll sort it from there. Its worth pointing out that RESPECT is less than 3 years old, and operating on limited resources compared to the big 4, (and only 1 other political party turned out for the rally.)
Ben Bore
24-10-2005, 15:30
To be fair to Respect, other parties in Wales with much more resources (not that it's any excuse ;) ) have English only websites, or token jestures.
Have a go at finding a 'Cymraeg' option on the following sites.
http://www.welshlabour.org.uk/
http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=wales.index.page
Fair comment Ben,but neither of these parties were at the demo claiming to support the language.
nwnm This piece appeared in Socialist Worker, the only UK wide paper to cover it -
No nwnm the SWP`s paper did not `cover the demo`.That implies they sent a reporter, which they did not.What they did do was print a letter.Was it from you?
Steve Rolf, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan
Udo Erasmus
25-10-2005, 19:10
I understand that a report was sent of the demo, which missed the deadline, so it was printed as a letter in the following week
It was an article (not by me) which missed the deadline - but it was seen as an important issue to highlight. So the person who sent it in was asked if he would like it submitted as a letter.
Socialist Worker isn't the only paper to do this, but the relationship between readers and paper is probably closer than most.
BTW most of the footage of 7/7 was shot on mobiles - this didn't stop ITN from using it. If newspapers only relied on journalists for news the world would be a very dull place :rolleyes:
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