Mair Williams's blog

Tributes have been paid to historian Dr John Davies, who has died aged 76. As reported on BBC News Wales he was 'an author, broadcaster and teacher, he wrote what many consider to be the definitive book chronicling Wales: 'A History of Wales'. This work tracks the development of Wales from its earliest days to modern times.

Tributes have been paid to broadcaster, folk singer and Welsh language activist Dr Meredydd Evans whose death has been announced. As reported in the Welsh Daily Post newspaper: 'Known as Merêd he was a collector, editor, historian and notable performer of folk music of Wales written in the Welsh language.

An interesting video from "No Heart Without Language". We wish them the best in their endeavours.

Recent consultations which have taken place throughout the county of Pembrokeshire (Welsh: Sir Benfro) in the south west of Wales have shown increasing demand for education to be provided in the Welsh language. At the present time of the 61 primary schools and eight secondary schools in Pembrokeshire, 41% provide some form of Welsh medium provision. The preliminary consultation found that 73% of people in Pembrokeshire thought there was a general need to increase provision in order to make the Welsh language accessible to all children. 

As reported in Welsh newspaper the Daily Post:

'Bank customers are being asked to send in their complaints about a lack of Welsh services to the Language Commissioner.

Meri Huws said today that she will conduct a statutory review of Welsh language services offered by banks in Wales.

Under the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011, she has the power to do anything she thinks appropriate to promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language.

The Spanish government continues to show its undemocratic credentials to the world. A range of recent laws passed by Madrid has  banned many forms of public protest. Now the goose stepping Spanish state is threatening Catalonia's regional government in Barcelona with prosecution. This is because they had the audacity to demand their democratic right to decide on self determination. This Spanish government continues to act like a dictatorship and should be ashamed of itself.

As reported on the BBC:

Sea Waters around Skomer (Welsh: Ynys Sgomer)  the island off the west coast of Pembrokeshire (Welsh: Sir Benfro) will today (12 Dec) become part of Wales’ first Marine Conservation Zone. Skomer is already a national nature reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Protection Area. The sea around Skomer is an important home and feeding ground for a wide variety of marine life such as the rare Manx Shearwaters and the large colony of Atlantic Puffin.

Opponents of the Welsh Government’s Planning Bill are meeting today (12 Dec) in the Welsh town of Rhayader (Welsh: Rhaeadr Gwy) to organise a nationwide campaign against proposed legislation that will damage local communities and the Welsh language. A number of groups are forming an alliance over concerns that the Bill will see more centralised decision-making. This in turn will lead to big new housing developments that will fail to protect Welsh speaking areas.

How can anyone not be outraged by the so called Islamic State of ISIL. Lets not mince words here, these people are scum! Anyone that has seen their trail of destruction and murder across Syria and Iraq can be nothing but disgusted. Our sympathy and support goes to all of the minority peoples that have suffered at the hands of this revolting organisation.

Yesterday in Ireland, as reported in the Irish Times, Labour Deputy Prime Minister Joan Burton was trapped in a car for two hours after being surrounded by demonstrators protesting against water charges. She had to be rescued by Garda Síochána officers (Police) and the Public Order Unit when her vehicle was trapped within a large angry crowd in the Jobstown area of west Dublin.