The Assembly Government has 'broken its promises' and is trying to 'mislead the public' over its language law plans, the Welsh Language Society has claimed in an official complaint to the First Minister.
In a letter to Carwyn Jones, the campaigners will say the government was 'extremely misleading' in its statements about the language measure last Thursday. The group claim that the Assembly Government has misled the public by claiming that the measure leads to rights to bilingual services and gives Welsh official status.
In the coalition agreement between Labour and Plaid Cymru the two parties promised to confirm "official status for both Welsh and English" and establish "linguistic rights", but the failure to deliver on its commitments to the people of Wales has enraged the society's members.
The group has also launched a petition at http://deiseb.cymdeithas.org which calls on the government to honour its promises.
Speaking following a review by Cymdeithas yr Iaith (The Welsh Language Society) of the plans, the society's Chair Menna Machreth said:
"Our members are very angry with this coalition government because they've broken their promises and tried to mislead the public. We understand that legal specialists have already started to express concerns about it. There are no rights in their plans and Welsh isn't given official status - they made two clear promises and they plan to break them. In fact, the only right in this law is a right for big companies and organisations to challenge any request for Welsh language services. Rights for business, but not for people. It's a complete disgrace. "
Radio Ceredigion has been sold to Town and Country Broadcasting by Tindle Newspaper Group. The company intends to close the studios in Aberystwyth and Felinfach and move to Narberth, home of Radio Pembrokeshire and Radio Carmarthenshire.
Angharad Clwyd, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith in Ceredigion said:
"It is of great concern to us a movement which has been campaigning over the last few years against the lack of Welsh language provision on Carmarthenshire Radio, to hear that the company has now bought Radio Ceredigion. Cymdeithas campaigned tirelessly against Carmarthenshire Radio including lobbying and protesting which culminated in the imprisonment of Gwenno Teifi in February 2006. Despite this the Welsh language provision of the company has deteriorated further in the nightly Welsh programme curtailed from 3 to 2 hours.
In response to Ceredigion County Council's proposed plans to close 6 primary schools in the Llandysul area and Dyffryn Teifi Secondary School and opening one 3-19 year old School, parents from 4 of the schools have drawn up petitions that will be presented outside the Council's Main Office at Penmorfa, Aberaeron today (Wednesday at 4pm).
Angharad Clwyd, Dyfed Organiser for Cymdeithas yr Iaith and a parent at Ysgol Gynradd Llandysul commented:
"There is strong opposition in this area to the County Council's plan to close the area's village schools and to create just one school for 3 - 19 year olds. The size of the opposition is obvious from the number of people who have signed these petitions, with over 200 parents and community members from Capel Cynon and Coed y Bryn and over 120 from Aberbanc having signed the petitions and over 100 parents signing the petition from Ysgol Gynradd Llandysul."
Former First Minister Rhodri Morgan failed to meet any Welsh language campaign groups during discussions about handing powers over the Welsh language to politicians in Cardiff, despite meeting several major businesses, recently released documents have revealed.
According to information released to Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (the Welsh Language Society), in a series of 10 meetings to discuss the Assembly's bid for powers, the then Welsh Labour Leader met 11 companies and business associations including Tesco, BT, the CBI and British Gas, as well as the government-funded Welsh Language Board. But , despite requests from the Welsh Language Society, no meeting was held between the First Minister and any language campaigning body.
CONCERNS have been raised after the head of the government Human Rights watchdog said she had "no responsibility for the Welsh language'.
The new Equality and Human Rights Commissioner Ann Beynon told Golwg magazine: "The Equalities Commission has no responsibility for the Welsh language but we have always had positive discussions between the Commission and the [Welsh Language] Board."
The UN Convention on Human Rights and the UK Human Rights Act prohibit discrimination on language grounds. In 2007, steps by the Race Equality Commission, one of the Equality and Human Rights Commission predecessor bodies, played a key role in reversing travel company Thomas Cook's ban on its staff speaking Welsh.
Debbie from Debenhams will be coming to Carmarthen tomorrow (Wednesday 17th February), ahead of the official Easter opening of the grand new high street store in the town.
Debbie (whose part will be played by Llinos Roberts, a member of the Welsh Language Society) will address the people of Carmarthen at 2pm outside the market. She will then hand out leaflets in the town centre inviting people to the shop, and then deliver a love letter to Mark James the Chief Executive of Camarthenshire County Council.
Commenting on the Welsh language, Debbie will say:
"We were told at headquarters that you had your own cute little language called Welsh - I didn't know that it was so widely spoken.. very old apparently?ohh, I can hear it everywhere around me here. It's popular innit? Cymraeg it's called innit? Apparently, it's widely spoken in Carmarthenshire-more so than in any other county in Wales, but there we go - sooo many languages in this big world of ours. We do try to be sensitive to these little differences at Debenhams - we've got some ethical policies or whatever, but we're so lucky we've got the English language that everyone can understand - even you - yeah,and that's why were throwing in a little smattering of Welsh into our fab new store - just to keep you Welshies happy!. What? did I hear someone say that Welsh should have equal status to English? hey! Your'e having me on aint you? What? Welsh signs everywhere? Oh no my darlings, that wouldn't be possible - it would cost far,far too much! We only made 95.1 million pounds in profit last year wiv it being the recession and all, oh we are struggling babes!"
Language campaigners have expressed concerns about Bangor University's decision not to ask for a Welsh speaker or learner in a job advert for its next Vice Chancellor.
In the job advert for the role, the university states: "Candidates must be able to appreciate and work positively within the bilingual environment in which the University operates.", but there's no mention of the ability to speak or learn Welsh.
Vice Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (The Welsh Language Society), Rhys Llwyd commented:
"It is important that the new Vice-Chancellor can speak Welsh; a positive attitude to the language is essential. The new person should also have knowledge and experience of working in the Welsh context and specifically in the field of developing Welsh medium education."
Members of the Welsh Language Society will call on politicians "to let the Welsh language live" as they gather in Cardiff Bay today (Wednesday, 10th February) as powers over the language are handed to the Assembly.
While the society is unhappy with the government's limited plans, they will mark the historical importance of the power shift. Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (The Welsh Language Society) has been campaigning since 1999 for a new law to deliver official status, language rights and a commissioner with powers to promote equality.
Speaking ahead of the rally, Bethan Williams, Chair of the Language Act group of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg said:
"Our politicians should understand that with these new powers come the responsibility to make a law which will strengthen Welsh, a language which is a unique inheritance for everyone who lives in our country.
Leading Welsh language campaigners have warned that plans to close sixth forms in Rhondda Cynon Taf would "kill the Welsh language" in the county borough.
The Welsh Language Society has written to Education Minister and Rhondda AM Leighton Andrews asking him to block the council's wish to close schools and setup bilingual colleges instead. Under the plans, classes for 16 to 18 year olds at schools in Cymmer, Garth Olwg, Rhydywaun and Llanhari will close.
The society also warned that there would be 'strong protests' against the plans if the council and the Welsh Government didn't reconsider their options.
The Welsh Language Society has paid tribute to Hywel Teifi Edwards, who died yesterday, giving thanks for his enormous contribution to Welsh life.
Menna Machreth Jones, Chair of the Welsh Language Society, said:
"Everyone who shares the vision and values of Hywel Teifi will be greatly saddened by his passing, but at the same time we will remember and give thanks for his immense contribution to the life of the nation."
"He played a vital role in the political and cultural life of Wales, and we in Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg will miss him very much.
"He spoke in a large number of our rallies and public meetings. The last time he did so was at the the end of May outside the National Assembly, calling for a proper Welsh Language Act. Once again, he gave a brilliant and incisive address which was an inspiration to the crowd."
Less than 12% of Wales' top civil servants can speak Welsh, figures released to the Welsh Language Society show.
According to statistics released under the Freedom of Information Act, of the nearly three thousand staff who work in the Assembly Government's head office, in Cathays Park, Cardiff, just over three hundred speak Welsh - just over eleven percent. That's roughly half the level amongst the general Welsh population: the 2001 census recorded that over one in five could speak Welsh, more recent surveys put the figure closer to a quarter of the population.
The information also shows that the level of Welsh language learning in the Welsh civil service has halved in the last six years. In 2003, 7.5% of civil servants in the Welsh government were learning, by today, that figure had fallen to only 3%.
Commenting on the information released to Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (The Welsh Language Society), the campaign group's chair, Menna Machreth Jones, said:
"These figures are disappointing. There are a few positive initiatives the Assembly government is taking to promote the Welsh language, but they're are clearly not enough. As the Equality and Human Rights Commission pointed out earlier this year, women are also underepresented at the top levels of power. There's clearly a wider equalities problem; I hope the Assembly government will agree to do something about the issue. At the moment, they're treating Welsh like an optional add-on rather than as an essential part of the government's work."
It seems that the County Council and consultants have set their sights on the centralised 3-19 year old super schools in the Llandysul and Tregaron areas and have placed the onus on parents and governors to justify other options. This could mean the closure of a large number of village schools and even Llandysul primary school itself.
Angharad Clwyd, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith in Ceredigion and a parent at Llandysul school said:
"It would be very ironic if the Welsh-Medium secondary school's Dyffryn Teifi and Tregaron, were responsible for destroying the very Welsh-peaking communities which has provided them with their pupils for the last generation. This should be a genuine analysis of all the options available including the more progressive option of a new-style federation between Ysgol Dyffryn Teifi and Ysgol Uwchradd Tregaron and the schools that feed
them. This would create a strong educational unit and yet maintain a presence in all the communities. It is the consultants responsibility to work out detailed implications of this as well as other models rather than expect unpaid parents and governors to do the work as was suggested in the public meeting."
A language campaigner sentenced to a month prison will warn of the 'death of Welsh as a community language' on his release from gaol today (Tuesday, 8th December).
Osian Jones, from Dyffryn Nantlle, was imprisoned after painting slogans on highstreet stores in north Wales in protest against their lack of services in Welsh. Ahead of his release, the campaigner warned that 'the next decade could see the destruction of Welsh as a community language', and urged companies and the government simply to 'let the language live'.
32 year-old Mr Jones, whose 28 day sentence is the longest handed down to a Welsh language activist since 1991, will be greeted by a crowd of supporters as he arrives at Bangor train station. Welsh Language Society members have marked the jailing with pickets and streets stalls all over Wales: five Aberystwyth university students went on a 24 hour hunger-strike as a show of support.
FIVE Aberystwyth university students are on hunger-strike for 24 hours today (Thursday 3rd December) as a show of support for a Welsh language campaigner who was jailed for protesting against the language policy of major high street stores in north Wales.
Osian Jones, from Dyffryn Nantlle, was last week sentenced to 28 days imprisonment for painting slogans on Boots and Superdrug stores in Caernarfon, Llangefni and Bangor in protest against their lack of Welsh services.
The students' fast is part of a series of events organised by members of the Welsh Language Society to raise awareness of the imprisonment and the lack of Welsh language services in the private sector.
18 year old Mair Evans, one of the five students who are fasting, said:
"We are doing this to show support for Osian. He's in prison because he stood up for the rights of everyone in Wales to see, hear and use the language. It's unfair that our legal system criminalises Osian. These companies should, at the very least, provide basic Welsh language services, the fact that they refuse makes protests like this inevitable."
Carmarthen shoppers will receive leaflets divulging the true attitude of Superdrug towards the Welsh language today Thursday 26/11. Members of Cymdeithas will be distributing leaflets outside the shop at 4pm with the words "The Health and Beauty retailer with an Unhelathy and Ugly attitude towards the Welsh Language ".
Members of Cymdeithas will also be picketing outside Boots in Llandysul on Monday 30th of November at 1pm. Distributing alternative Boots ADVANTAGE CARDS for free outside the shop. Turning Boots' slogan on its head, the Welsh Language Socety's alternative advantage cards will read "there are no points whatsoever for using Welsh".
The pickets have been organised in support Osian Jones who was jailed yesterday the 25th of November for 28 days, after he campaigned about the lack of Welsh language services provided by major highstreet stores in north Wales.
A Welsh language campaigner has been sent to prison for a month at a hearing in Caernarfon magistrates court today (Wednesday, 25th November), following his protest against major high street stores' lack of bilingual language services.
In April 2008, Osian Jones, from Dyffryn Nantlle, protested against big retailers in north Wales, including Boots and Superdrug, over their lack of basic services for customers in Welsh.
The action was part of the Welsh Language Society's campaign for a step-change in the private sector's treatment of the Welsh language. They are calling for a new Language Act to covering these retailers, in order for the language to be promoted and normalised in everyday life.
Speaking after the verdict, Menna Machreth Jones, Chair of the Welsh Language Society, said:
"Direct action is the last step in any campaign we run. Osian took this step because the people of Wales don't have the right to see and use the Welsh language. It's very sad that we're got a system which puts the profits of large multinational companies ahead of the right for everyone in Wales to enjoy the Welsh language. These companies who show extreme disregard for Welsh do not deserve compensation; they should be paying us for making the language invisible."
EARLY Christmas presents from the Welsh Language Society will greet Bangor shoppers today (Saturday, 14th November) as campaigners give away free Boots 'Advantage' cards in the town.
Turning Boots' slogan on its head, the Welsh Language Socety's alternative loyalty points cards will read "there are no points whatsoever for using Welsh". Boots will also benefit from new employees, provided by Cymdeithas, who will offer a bilingual service.
The protestors are holding a rally to support Osian Jones who's facing imprisonment after he campaigned about the lack of Welsh language services provided by major highstreet stores in north Wales.
Pwllheli Magistrates adjourned the hearing for another fortnight until November 25^th where it will be held at Caernarfon Magistrates Court In protest Osian Jones and his supporters stayed in the courtroom for an hour preventing court officials from continuing with their work, while another fifty supporters demonstrated outside shouting 'Hawliau Iaith (Language Rights)
Menna machreth Chair of Cymdeithas said:
"It's quite cruel and unjust that the Magistrates have adjourned this court case for another fortnight, even though they have decided on a custodial sentence. Their excuse was that they wished to contact Osian's employers, but he is employed by Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg and we have no intention of withdrawing any fine from his salary. We will all be back in Caernarfon within a fortnight."
Tomorrow, Friday November 6th at 9.30 am, Osian Jones, North Wales organiser for Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg will be sentenced to a month in prison by Pwllheli Magistrates. The magistrates have already warned him that he faces imprisonment because of his refusal to pay fines for painting slogans on High Street stores as part of a Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg campaign for a comprehensive Welsh Language Measure. He has a £1,000 in fines and costs to pay for painting slogans on on Superdrug, Matelan, Boots and PC World stores in Bangor earlier this year.
Osian will be the second member of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg to go to prison this year. Ffred Ffransis was imprisoned back in June for refusing to pay fines also imposed for his part in the campaign for a comprehensive Welsh Language Measure.
Cymdeithas yr Iaith have accused the Assembly Government of "running out of steam" following Rhodri Morgan's call yesterday for the closure of up to 170 schools due to empty places. In a message to the First Minister, Cymdeithas Education Spokesperson, Ffred Ffransis says that: "this tired old negative approach suggests that the Government is running out of steam."
He continued:
"Our Government should be reacting creatively to the financial crisis. There are a plethora of public agencies now who all have their own offices. Why not locate many of them within surplus places in schools where appropriate, and use the resources and extra capacity of schools to deliver a whole range of multiple services in rural and deprived areas? The only obstacle appears to be the blinkered approach to departmental budgets. We need truly holistic and joined-up thinking to develop schools creatively as community assets, saving money from other budgets in the process."
On Saturday the 24th of October, Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg are to hold their General Meeting and Annual Rally in the Welsh Language Centre in Merthyr Tydfil, titled A Revolution in the Valleys. The General Meeting will begin at 10.30am and the Annual Rally at 2pm.
Menna Machreth, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith said,
"We were very pleased to receive a invitation by our members in Merthyr to hold our 2009 General Meeting in the town. Merthyr has played a key part in Welsh history, however, the emphasis of the meeting will be on the future not the past of the South East communities, hence the theme Revolution in the Valleys."
"We will be discussion many motions put forward including one regarding the housing development in Bodelwyddan a whether we should support communities' campaign against Tesco coming into their local area. We will also introduce Cymdeithas' new Communications Officer, Colin Nosworthy."
A deputation of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg activists who met Peter Hain the Wales Secretary said after the meeting that they were deeply disappointed and frustrated with the whole process. Menna Machreth (Chair of Cymdeithas) along with Bethan Williams and Ffred Ffransis had gone to the meeting to discuss the LCO on the Welsh language.
Menna Machreth, speaking on behalf of the deputation said:
"While we were given to understand that the LCO will be discussed on the floor of the House of Commons in December and the Privy Council in February we feel deeply disappointed and frustrated with the whole process and wonder whether the LCO is worth the paper it is written. This is because the LCO will have hardly any effect at all on the private sector and high street shops. There will be no obligation on most of the private sector to provide a bilingual service."
Menna added:
"On November 6^th this year Osian Jones will face a prison sentence for his part in the campaign for a stronger and more effective Language Act. His imprisonment should have signalled a closure on this campaign. But the LCO on offer seems to weak and ineffective that our direct action campaign for linguistic rights seems destined to continue, and we will see more and more people go to prison."
At 2 o'clock today (15.10.09) a deputation from Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (Welsh Language Society) will meet Peter Hain the Welsh Secretary in Cardiff to discuss the Welsh language LCO. The deputation from Cymdeithas will include Menna Machreth (Chair), Bethan Williams (leader of the language Act Campaign Group) and Ffred Ffransis (Cymdeithas Senate).
Speaking on behalf of the deputation Menna Machreth said:
"We will emphasise in our meeting that the long drawn out, laborious and complicated LCO system is completely unacceptable. We will also make the point that MPs in London have had far too much influence over the process and that the Welsh language is a matter that should be fully devolved to the National Assembly. Another bone of contention in our discussions today is the fact that only companies and bodies receiving over £400,000 of public money will be asked to provide Welsh language services. This threshold is far too high and should be deleted."
Menna Machreth added:
"The truth is that we have not moved on that much. Welsh speakers will still be second-class citizens in Wales. The LCO's failure to address the private sector is not it's only failure. What about the right to speak Welsh in the workplace or the right to Welsh medium education? It is a matter of bewilderment to us that a government that demanded that the private sector accepted the minimum wage and new laws concerning the rights of the disabled, but has failed to recognise that Welsh speakers have similar rights. Today we will be telling Peter Hain that there will be no linguistic truce in Wales until the LCO is strengthened. At the moment we have no idea what will be the outcome of our meeting but I am sure that we will have a lively and frank discussion."
Final draft Welsh Language LCO is an obstacle on the road to full linguistic rights
With the publication of the final draft of the Welsh language LCO, on the Welsh Language, Cymdeithas yr Iaith are disappointed that a 'socialist' Government has not acted to achieve equality for everyone in Wales who want to use the Welsh language and who wish to see the Welsh language a normal part of life in Wales.
Even though strong evidence was submitted in favour of devolving full powers in relation to the Welsh language to the Assembly Government by Cymdeithas yr Iaith, the Celebrating our Language group of organisations and the Catalonian Government, who have included the private sector within their language, as well as constructive reports from the scrutiny committees, the LCO published has insufficient powers.
Today Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg held a picket at the Plaid Cymru Conference at 'Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Saturday September 12.
The picket was held because the LCO on the Welsh language as it stands is an obstacle to full linguistic rights in Wales. It was also an opportunity for Cymdeithas to show its frustration because large High street shops such as Boots, Super drug and Tesco have not been included in the LCO.
Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg will seek legal advice following a decision made by the Assembly Commission not to translate English speeches made in plenary into Welsh in future. Dafydd Morgan Lewis speaking on behalf of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg said:
"We have sent a letter of complaint to the Commission emphasising that their decision emphasised the weakness of present Welsh language legislation when Welsh Language Plans drawn up by various bodies can be rubbished and ignored."
"In our letter we also told the Commission that their decision set a bad example to other bodies and institutions. They could now start ignoring their language plans and cut back on their bilingual services, using the decision of the Assembly Commission as an excuse for this."
"Another concern was that this decision would have a detrimental effect on the development of Welsh language policy in the private sector. Their argument all along has been that developing a Welsh language policy is too expensive, the same argument that the Commission offers for cutting back on its translating services. The private sector and the Assembly Commission seem to be singing from the same hymn book."
"It is also a matter of great sadness that Dafydd Ellis - Thomas the Presiding Officer has actively backed this decision since it shows a churlish, colonialist attitude utterly alien for a nation that is striving to create a bilingual future for itself."
"But we emphasise yet again that our aim at the moment is to seek legal advice concerning this decision since we believe it to be both unlawful and unjust."
Osian Jones, north Wales organiser of Cymdeithas yr iaith Gymraeg was given a suspended sentence of a month's imprisonnment by Pwllheli Magistrates today, for criminal damage to the property of PCWorld and Matalan shops in Bangor. Osian had pasted stickers and posters on the shops windows in May, calling for a comprehensive Language Act including the private sector, and making a clear statement that the present Language LCO's scope is too narrow and is a barrier to the rights of the people of Wales to use our own language.
At 2 o'clock today in the Societies Tent at the National Eisteddfod in Bala, Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg will be holding a public meeting which is central to all it's activities on the Eisteddfod field this year. Hywel Griffiths leader of the Welsh Communities campaign said:
"Our hope is that ideas arising from this meeting that will safeguard the future of our Welsh-speaking communities. Over the last few months members of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg have had discussions with community leaders in the Bala area about this very issue. Our hope is that the ideas that will come out of today's meeting will be relevant not only to the people of Penllyn but to communities the length and breadth of Wales. Those of us worried about the future of our communities must exercise the power to safeguard that future ourselves. We see this public meeting as the trigger for activities which will extend all over Wales."
Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg from from it's unit (401-402) on the National Eisteddfod field will be leading the campaign for sustainable Welsh communities. Menna Machreth, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg said:
"It is impossible to escape from the fact that this year's National Eisteddfod is within shouting distance of Llyn Celyn. The drowning of the Tryweryn Valley in the early 1960's made the people of Wales realise for the first time how weak and defenceless our communities were and how great the challenges that faced the Welsh language. Even though many campaigns have been won since then we must realise that the future of our Welsh-speaking communities is still very precarious.
"That is why we have chosen 'Sustainable Welsh Communities' as the theme for our activities on the National Eisteddfod field this year. It is also the tittle of a public meeting which we shall be holding in the Societies Tent at 2 o' clock on Wednesday August 5th. We shall also during the week invite the public to create a logo for the new Welsh Federal College which will hopefully be up and running within the next two years. Yet again this year the language Act campaign will also throw its shadow over all we do. Adequate powers must be transferred from Westminster to the National Assembly before the next General Election, or we will have to go through the whole process again. Time is not on our side and that will be the message of our demonstration which will be held on the Eisteddfod field at 2 o'clock on Friday. Following all the campaigning on the Eisteddfod field there will be an opportunity to relax in the gigs held throughout the week in 'Pabell Tafod' next to the Leisure Centre and at the Plas Coch Hotel on the Tuesday evening."
On the eve of a meeting held between Hywel Francis MP and Carwyn Jones AM tomorrow (21/07/09), to discuss the process of transferring further powers to the Assembly through Legislative Competence Orders, Cymdeithas yr Iaith has expressed concerns and highlighted the restrictions that the society has experienced with the process. Cymdeithas yr Iaith, who has been involved with Legislative Competence Orders concerning the Welsh Language and Housing, believes that the process is so long and overcomplicated that it further alienates the people of Wales from political and democratic engagement.
Sioned Haf, Lobbying Officer for Cymdeithas yr Iaith said:
''The fiasco of the Language LCO has proven that all powers are in the hands of the politicians and that the voice of the people of Wales is insignificant. Indisputable, evidence was presented to both Assembly and Westminste committees, by citizens in Wales, of the need to transfer legislative powers for the language fully from London to Wales. Despite this, Peter Hain has placed more restrictions in the way of the Language Order, and it appears that the Welsh Affairs Committee want to discuss the matter again."
In its response to the Welsh Government's draft Welsh Language Education Strategy ( consultation ends on August 5th ) Cymdeithas yr iaith has called for a basic change in the strategy's aim. The Society contend that the ability to communicate and present work in Welsh should be recognised as a basic educational skill and that the aim of the strategy should be for EVERY pupil in Wales, over a period of time, to be equipped with this skill and therefore receive a significant proportion of their education in Welsh.
This is in marked contrast to the current aim of the draft strategy of increasing merely the opportunity to receive Welsh-medium education, and a simultaneous proposal to require LEAs to assess the demand for Welsh-medium education in their area. Cymdeithas Education Spokesperson, Ffred Ffransis, explained:
"Cymdeithas readily acknowledge that the implementation of the Government's proposed stratgey should result in a significant increase in Welsh-medium education in many areas, and that is to be welcomed. However, accepting a target of 13% of Welsh-medium GCSE registrations means that up to 87% of Welsh pupils could be deprived of the basic educational skill of being to communicate and present their work in Welsh. We emphasise that this would not be a failure to promote the language, but would represent an educational failing by the system as the ability to do one's work in Welsh is just as much an educational skill in a bilingual country as being able to work in English and to be properly equipped to use I.T. effectively".
Cymdeithas yr Iaith welcomes the report released today by the welsh Affairs Committee and is pleased to see the Committee have recognised the Welsh Assembly should have the powers to legislate on the Welsh language.
Menna Machreth, Cymdeithas yr Iaith Chairperson said:
'It is encouraging to see the Welsh Affairs Committee are unanimous in their opinion that the Assembly should obtain the powers in relation to the Welsh language. But the report notes the Committee may want to scrutinize the LCO again if the Assembly make significant changes, which is worrying because there is no need to slow this process any further.
'The report notes the list of categories should be removed in favour of a set of principles a measure would have to meet, but Cymdeithas yr Iaith strongly believes this is not appropriate for an LCO transferring the powers but a decision for the Assembly when forming the measure. We disagree with the Committee's attempt to weaken the powers in the LCO by suggesting that one-off payments of public money made to NGO's, charities and bodies with small numbers of employees or private sector companies should be excluded from the LCO.
Cymdeithas yr Iaith are claiming that a questionaire sent by Carmarthenshire Council to parents is "misleading" and that any results will be therefore "meaningless". It appears that the Council has followed Assembly Government wording in attempting to define possible linguistic categories for secondary schools, but these are very confusing.
During the past week, the Council has sent the questionnaire to parents of Primary school children in Dinefwr and the Gwendraeth Valley in attempt to gauge opinion as to the linguistic status of 3 new secondary schools to be established following re-organisation.
Three options are given viz Category 1 (Welsh-medium school) and categories 2A and 2B which are both misleadingly called "bilingual schools". Category 2A is indeed a bilingual school, but Cymdeithas believe that it is stretching the truth to the breaking-point to describe Category 2B as a "bilingual school". Not only is it impossible to receive a full Welsh-medium education, but it is possible to avoid Welsh as a medium of education, and teachers and pupils will not have to be able to communicate in Welsh. Reading the first words of the description of Category 2B that "80% of subjects will be taught in Welsh", parents might well think that this is a school such as Maes-yr-yrfa. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth, the only guarantee given is of the availability of such subjects in Welsh. Had one chosen the words that "100% of the subjects will be taught in English" (i.e. available in English) then a totally different impression would be created for parents.
Members of Cymdeithas yr Iaith will be picketing councillors on their way in to a vital meeting of Ceredigion Council (9am tomorrow Tues 30/6 Aberaeron) which will reconsider the decision to publich a Statutory Closure Notice for Ysgol Syr John Rhys, Ponterwyd.
In a message to the councillors, Cymdeithas say that the process which led to the decision to close the school was so hurried and flawed that the Education Minister would be certain to overturn the decision on appeal. Cymdeithas therefore argue that it is better for councillors to instruct their officials to re-engage with parents and the local community to seek a consensus as to the way forward.
Cymdeithas yr Iaith has expressed its disappointment that a key meeting to discuss the Language LCO has been postponed. Peter Hain had announced that the Welsh Grand Committee would meet on July 8th to discuss the Assembly's request to devolve the power to legislate on the Welsh language to Wales, even though such a meeting isn't necessary. Yesterday it was announced that this meeting will be postponed because the Welsh Affairs Committee wants Welsh MP's to have more time to consider their report (as yet unpublished) before they meet.
Cymdeithas yr Iaith is worried that the Welsh Affairs Committee is trying to stall the process, and that the Welsh Office is placing more obstacles in the way of the LCO, to ensure that it doesn't reach the Statute Book before the General Election. If the LCO does not reach the Statute Book before the General Election, the present plans will fall, and the scrutinising process at Westminster will have to begin all over again. This would, in Cymdeithas' view, be totally unacceptable and clearly shows the flaws in the present system.
Bethan Williams, Chair of Cymdeithas' Language Act Campaign Group says:
"We were already concerned that the Welsh Affairs Committee would drag its heels on this matter, and that those who oppose the request would try to postpone the process until after the General Election, which would mean the scrutinising process having to start all over again at Westminster. Peter Hain's decision to insist that the matter is discussed at the Welsh Grand Committee, and then the fact that the meeting has been postponed confirms that concern. Cymdeithas yr Iaith, together with a number of other movements, has presented irrefutable evidence to the Committee at the Assembly and at Westminster of the need to devolve all powers over the Welsh language to Wales, but the Welsh Affairs Committee and the Wales Office are still trying to stall the process."
On the day Professor Robin Williams' recommendations to the Education Minister were published re the Government's policy on the establishment of a Welsh medium Federal college, Cymdeithas yr Iaith has welcomed some of the strong recommendations of the report and is now calling on the Government to establish a robust multi-site College with a substantial budget.
Rhys Llwyd, Cymdeithas' spokesperson on a Welsh medium Federal College, said:
"We are extremely happy that Robin Williams' report has recommended that a new independent establishment be created to develop Welsh-medium education in the higher education sector. Both Cymdeithas and Students' Unions have argued this for years now and are glad that Professor Robin Williams has come to realise that this is the only credible option to substantially increase the Welsh language provision in this sector. Cymdeithas are also pleased that the report stipulates that such developments should be adequately financed."
However Cymdeithas is concerned about the relationship between the proposed Federal College and the present Universities. Rhys Llwyd again :
"Although I understand that it is of central importance that the new Education establishment should co-operate on every level with the present Universities, Cymdeithas believes that there is a danger that people could misinterpret the report's words to mean that the Federal College would be a subordinate body, some kind of little brother to the present universities. It is of central importance that the new college should be of equal status to the other Universities with its own Vice-Chancellor who will be of equal status in this sector as the Vice-chancellors of the other establishments."
Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg has sent a letter to Mark Rosenshield who is responsible for the Welsh Affairs office in the US Embassy concerning a shameful decision not to allow Arfon Gwilym to enter the country to take part in the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. This is because of a criminal record he acquired as a result of his involvement in campaigns connected with Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg.
Dafydd Lewis, speaking on behalf of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg said:
"Arfon Gwilym has played a key role in the struggle for the future of the Welsh language and it is a matter of great shame, that he is because of this banned from going to the United States of America. Not only has he been a prominent language campaigner but his efforts to promote the folk singing tradition in Wales has been outstanding. Refusing him entry into the United States would be equivalent to the British government refusing Martin Luther King entry into Britain in the 1960's."
By clicking twice and adding your name and address you can help to ensure that full legislative powers concerning the Welsh language are transferred to Wales. This is extremely important at a time when the lack of confidence people have in our MPs in London is so apparent.
We call on Peter Hain, Secretary of State for Wales, not to allow the Select Committee on Welsh Affairs in London to drag its feet on matters concerning the Welsh language. Immediate action needs to be taken before a General election is called, or the process of transferring powers will have to be started again from the beginning.
Having heard all the evidence from the people of Wales the Legislative Committee in the National Assembly has shown initiative by calling for the transfer of all powers concerning the Welsh language from Westminster to Wales. The Welsh Select Committee in London has also heard irrefutable evidence in favour of devolving the powers for the Welsh language to Wales, and the wishes of the National Assembly are crystal clear.
We call on Peter Hain to make sure that the Select Committee's report will be available before the Summer recess, so that we can move forward with the process of devolving the powers for the Welsh language as soon as possible.
Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg congratulate the members of the Legislation Committee (Number 5) of the Welsh Assembly for preparing a report that clearly concludes that the broadest legislative powers for the Welsh language should be devolved to the National Assembly of Wales. Cymdeithas yr Iaith have been arguing for years that full powers for the Welsh language should be devolved to Wales, allowing the National Assembly to create a comprehensive Welsh Language Measure(s) that gives the Welsh language official status in Wales, gives people in Wales rights to use the language across every sector, and establishes the role of a Welsh language Commissioner.
Rhys Llwyd, Cymdeithas yr Iaith Vice-Chairperson said:
''We congratulate the Committee in the Assembly for declaring with clarity, that the scope of the draft LCO on the Welsh language needs to be expanded, that the broadest scope of legislative power possible over the Welsh Language should be devolved to the National Assembly of Wales. We call upon the Welsh Affairs Select Committee in London, as well as the Secretary of State for Wales, not to block this call from the Assembly, and allow these powers to be devolved to the Assembly as soon as possible."
"It is imperative that these new powers will be used in such a way that the people of Wales will witness a real change in their daily lives. Up until now, there have been no real developments in the field of the Welsh language made by the Welsh Government, and it is high time for this to change. A language measure that includes every sector, including the private sector in its entirety, would be a real step forward that would allow the people of Wales full rights to use the Welsh language."
Two days before the national assembly's legislative Committee No5 presents its report on the LCO (Welsh Language) to the Welsh Assembly Government Ffred Ffransis was released from Park Prison (Bridgend) today. As a result of his failure to receive any services in the Welsh language while he was there Ffred Ffransis has called on the scrutinising committee to demand that ALL legislative powers concerning the Welsh language is fully devolved to Wales with no restrictions through the present LCO.
Ffred Ffransis said:
"The difficulty to receive any kind of forms or Welsh language service within Parc Prison shows clearly how silly it is to try and construct a very complex LCO that is only relevant to limited parts of the private sector. This prison is run by a private company for the benefit of the public sector. It's status under the law would be unclear, and this is only one example amongst thousands of potential difficulties. It's quite obvious that the simple answer is to transfer ALL legislative rights for the Welsh language to the Assembly through the LCO. Then we can have a democratic discussion in the National Assembly about how these new rights should be used. We call on the National Assembly to make a simple announcement about this tomorrow."
Ffred Ffransis, the veteran language campaigner, was sentenced on Monday to 5 days in prison at Llanelli Magistrates court and was taken to Parc Prison Bridgend. His imprisonment was as a result of his part in the campaign for a comprehensive Welsh language measure which would include the private sector.
In a telephone conversation with his wife Meinir Ffransis today (Tuesday) Ffred said that there is no Welsh language provision in Parc prison. There are no bilingual forms or signs and no Welsh Bible. The court at Llanelli refused permission for Ffred to take his Welsh New Testament with him to prison, saying that there would be a Bible at the Prison - but there are only English versions.
Ffred also said that he had refused to sign the remission form which would allow him to be releases after serving two thirds of his sentence i.e.after 3 days because the form was in English only, and it is thus possible that he won't be released until after the full 5 days. He also said that he had refused to fill an English only form to request vegetarian food and is confined to eating only potatoes.
Ffred Ffransis, a prominent camapigner with Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg was sent to Parc prison in Bridgend today by Llanelli Magistrates for refusing to pay a £50 fine impossed as a result of the campaign for a New Welsh Language Act. In court today, Ffred said that he refused to pay the fine because the situation regarding the status of the Welsh language had not changed in the eight years since the fine was impossed. Ffred also challenged the Magistrates to call on the Assembly Government to demand that all legislative powers for the Welsh language should be transferred from London to Cardiff.
Ffred Ffransis appeared before Llanelli Magistrates' Court at 9.45am this morning. This Court Case arose from a protest held by Cymdeithas yr Iaith in Cardiff back in January 2001. Ffred was ordered to pay a £50 fine and £50 costs following the protest calling for a New Welsh Language Act in Queen Street, Cardiff.
Cymdeithas members painted slogans calling for a New Welsh Language Act on shop windows in Queen Street. The police van arrived to take away arrested members, but a number of the other protesters tried to stop the police van as they were all taking joint responsibility for the actions. Ffred was arrested for obstructing the Police and was consequently ordered to pay a total of £100 by Cardiff Magistrates Court.
Today at the Urdd Eisteddfod, Cymdeitahs yr Iaith will present signatures and the wishes of the people of Wales for a strong language measure to the Assembly Government.
Hundreds of people have signed the walls during the last year, and Cymdeithas calls upon the Legislative Committee No. 5 (Welsh Language) to demand more powers in relation to the Welsh language to Wales.
The Legislative Committee is expected to submit a report on the Welsh language LCO to the Minister for Heritage by June 5th.
Bethan Williams, Chair of the Welsh Language Act Group within Cymdeithas said:
"With Europe's biggest youth festival on their doorstep, the Legislative Committee must be urged think about these young people's linguistic rights so they can have the chance to choose to live through the medium of Welsh. We will be presenting road signs with messages inscribed on them to the Assembly because if the LCO isn't broad enough the Government will be choosing to block the way to the Welsh."
"There isn't a moral reason why the full powers in relation to the Welsh language should not be transferred to Wales. The people of Wales should have the right to decide on the Welsh language, not London. Our message to the Legislative Committee is 'Demand more for the young people of Wales!"
Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg are campaigning for a language measure which will make the Welsh language official in Wales, a series of rights to Welsh throughout every sector, and creation of a Welsh Language Commissioner to regulate the measure.
On Friday, May 29th at 12pm, Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg will open the register of the proposed Welsh Language Coleg Ffederal (Welsh College) at the Urdd's maes to emphasise it belongs to everyone, and invite prospective students to register with the Coleg.
As we await the Robin Williams' report to the Education Minister on a model for the Welsh language Coleg Ffederal, Cymdeithas yr Iaith look forward to the establishment of this instistution which will fund Welsh medium higher education and invites school pupils and prospective lifelong learning students to register on a course they wish to see provided in Welsh by the Coleg.
Menna Machreth, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, said:
'We expect students will be able to register with their geographical higher education institution as well as with the Welsh language Coleg Ffederal if they take a course funded by the Coleg. By opening the register in the Urdd 2009, we aim to build the momentum towards establishing this new institution. Right from the start, students and lecturers must feel ownership over the Welsh language Coleg Ffederal.'
Children and young people who have been visiting the Cymdeithas stand during the week have been taking part in a competition to design a coat of arms for the new Welsh language Coleg Ffederal.
Menna Machreth said further:
'This is an opportunity for future students and lecturers to commit to the vision for Welsh medium higher education. The aim of the Coleg is to create a national Welsh medium academnic community, through a structure which will have an independant funding stream.'
Over 300 people attended a Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg demo outside the Senedd building in Cardiff Bay today. The rally was arranged to draw attention to the fact that the LCO on the Welsh language in its present form does not go far enough.
Menna Machreth, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg said:
"The Order as it stands now will not make the necessary changes to the every day lives of the people of Wales. All legislative powers concerning the Welsh language should be transferred from Westminster to Wales. We are pleased that so many prominent people in Wales have expressed their support for our demands by agreeing to speak at the rally or by adding their names to an advert supporting the rally."
Hywel Teifi Edwards who also addressed the rally said:
"It is us the Welsh people who created the language problem, and it is us, the Welsh people, through our Senedd who will solve that problem."
TV presenter Angharad Mair told the crowd during the rally:
"I'm calling on people like myself who have been lucky enough to benefit from prosperous careers in Wales through the medium of Welsh - thanks to years of brave campaigning by others, to show their support for this important cause to safeguard the future of the Welsh language. It's imperative that we tell our members of parliament, who have been elected to represent us that we feel strongly that the only place where it's morally just to make decisions on language matters is here in Wales. We need a new progressive law to give the Welsh language full equal status in Wales to safeguard its future for the next generations."
Jake Griffiths, Leader of the Wales Green Party said:
"The Welsh language is a wholly welsh issue and with the continuing devolution of powers to the Welsh Assembly it is only right that full law making powers over the Welsh language rest in Wales with the Welsh Assembly rather than in Parliament."
Another speaker at the event, Catrin Dafydd, said:
"With ten years of devolution behind us, the time has come, to ensure that we are allowed to legislate on a matter which is unique to Wales in our own country. The Welsh language belongs to all those who have chosen to make Wales their home, and it is these people and their government who should have the right to decide on the future of that language and no one else."
Plaid Cymru MP Adam Price also addressed the rally.
The Conservative Party and Liberal democrats sent letters of support confirming that they agree with Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg that all legislative powers concerning the Welsh language should be transferred to Wales.
Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg has welcomed the publication of the Welsh Assembly Government's Welsh Medium Education Strategy but warns that WAG has not made it clear that Welsh is an essential educational skill.
This Welsh Medium Education Strategy has appeared following the publication of a number of other strategies such as Learning Pathways Transformation Period 14 -19 ' as well as guidelines for Local Authorities concerning the reorganisation of primary education.
Ffred Ffransis, Education Campaign spokes-person for Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg said:
"The National Assembly treats the Welsh language as an appendix or an 'add-on' to their other education policies, and not as integral part of the education of every individual. In their Strategy for Local Authorities they insist that Welsh medium education is a central consideration in their education policies, but the National assembly has not adopted this principle itself as is witnessed by their marginal treatment of the Welsh Language in their measure Learning Pathways 14 - 19 ' and their guidelines for reorganising primary education."
The campaign to broaden the scope of the LCO will reach its climax on Saturday, May 16th when Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (The Welsh Language Society) will hold a Rally outside the Senedd in Cardiff Bay at 2pm.
Cymdeithas yr Iaith have been informed that members of the Welsh Affairs Committee in Westminster will meet with the Legislation Committee No. 5 (Welsh Language) on Monday 18th of May so the Rally will be a timely reminder of Cymdeithas' calls.
Menna Machreth, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith, said:
"Since the LCO was announced, a strong consensus has emerged from across the political parties in the Assembly and the wider community, calling for the full powers in relation to the Welsh language to be transferred to the National Assembly of Wales, instead of being content with the limited scope of the current draft of the LCO."
"If the powers are limited, then Westminster will be blocking the way forward for the Welsh Language by preventing the Assembly from passing a comprehensive Welsh language measure."
Speakers in the Rally will include Adam Price MP, Hywel Teifi Edwards, Angharad Mair (Wedi 7) and Catrin Dafydd (author).
Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg held a picket at the Morrisons store on Saturday May 9th, to call for a right to work through the medium of the Welsh language. Ieuan Wyn Jones, AM for Anglesey, has also given his support to Mr David Evans, a former employee of Morrisons, Holyhead, who was banned from speaking Welsh in the workplace.
Mr David Evans, who has now left his post because he could not tolerate the situation any further, has contacted his union, 'Union of Shop and Distributive and Allied Workers' and they are investigating on his behalf.
Osian Jones, Cymdeithas yr Iaith's North Wales Officer, said:
"It's appalling that Morrisons deny their staff basic human rights. It's time for the Assembly Government to establish the right to work in the medium of Welsh or incidents of preventing the Welsh language will happen again."
"We call on the Government in Westminster to transfer all the powers over the Welsh language to Wales so that the Assembly Government can protect the dignity of individuals like David Evans in the workplace."
A full page advertisement promoting a Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg rally, which will be held outside the Senedd building in Cardiff Bay on Saturday May 16th, will appear in the Welsh press tomorrow (Thursday 7th). The advertisement includes the names of numerous prominent Welshmen as well as language activists, all of whom contributed towards the cost of the advertisement. The advertisement supports a demand from Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg that FULL legislative powers for the Welsh language should be transferred from Westminster to Wales.
Catrin Dafydd, speaking on behalf of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg said:
"We greatly appreciate all the contributions that has made this advert possible. All the contributors have expressed their support for our demands which is that the LCO on the Welsh language in its present form is inadequate and that ALL legislative powers for the Welsh language should be transferred from Westminster to Wales."
Even though a Conservative member who is scrutinising the LCO on the Welsh Language in the National Assembly has made rather negative comments, Paul Davies the Conservative spokesman on Education and the Welsh language has declared that he agrees with Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg that all powers concerning the Welsh Language should be transferred to the National Assembly in Cardiff.
Paul Davies AM said:
"I agree with Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg that legislation concerning the Welsh language should be made in Wales. I also believe that the scope of the LCO should be enhanced, and that there should be no limits on the powers transferred, so that full powers relating to the Welsh language are devolved to the Welsh Assembly. The content of any Language Measure is something that can be discussed in the future. The debate at the moment has to do with who should have the responsibility for legislation, and it is the belief of Welsh Conservatives that legislation should be made in Wales. That is why we support the demand that all powers concerning the Welsh language should move from Westminster to Wales."
Cymdeithas yr Iaith welcomes the report released today by the welsh Affairs Committee and is pleased to see the Committee have recognised the Welsh Assembly should have the powers to legislate on the Welsh language. 
Over 300 people attended a Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg demo outside the Senedd building in Cardiff Bay today. The rally was arranged to draw attention to the fact that the LCO on the Welsh language in its present form does not go far enough.
