Sion MorganWALES must fight to ensure the Welsh language’s survival through the retention of its communities and local services, a new charter demands.
Welsh language campaign group Cymdeithas yr Iaith – aiming to outline a plan to safeguard the use of Welsh in all aspects of modern society – launched Siarter Tynged yr Iaith 2 at the National Eisteddfod.
It comes almost 50 years after language activist Saunders Lewis stirred the blood of the nation with his original Tynged yr Iaith speech.
The 1962 outpouring of emotion and anger on the BBC led to the creation of Cymdeithas and helped pave the way for the election of Plaid Cymru’s first MP, the creation of the Welsh Language Act of 1967 and later Radio Cymru and S4C.
Now Cymdeithas shares its vision of how to secure sustainable Welsh-speaking communities in the new charter.
Campaign chair Hywel Griffiths said: “The charter is a list of detailed and necessary attitudes and policies that need to change.
“Changes such as making the language accessible to everybody in Wales. That every community has the potential to be a Welsh-speaking community and there needs to be hasty discussions to change the planning system in this country to solve the challenges that face our communities, where the language is a natural part of daily life.
“The hope is that this charter will be a tool for communities to put pressure on their own local authorities and the Welsh Government to address their own needs.”
He added: “In the same way that past generations fought for the future of Wales we must also act to ensure a legacy in Welsh education, industry and broadcasting by battling in our own communities.”
The charter outlines the need to stop large developers overpopulating small Welsh communities where there is no need for mass housing and saving local shops, pubs, schools and post offices as well as giving young people more of a voice in our democratic processes.
It also stresses the need to improve Welsh provisions in tourism and transport.
Sel Jones, an avid supporter of the charter, said: “I like to think of our communities like buckets full of water, the water is our local economy and what we are seeing is huge developers and multinational companies putting holes in that bucket and draining away that money.”
He added: “In terms of housing, look at the example of South Wales where 32,000 houses are set to be built in the next 12 years, that is essentially creating a new Welsh county.
“Don’t try and tell me there is a need for that kind of accelerated mass development.
Lewis gave his famous radio speech responding to the 1961 census, which showed a decrease in the number of Welsh speakers from 36% in 1931 to 26%, out of a population of about 2.5 million.
Today the Welsh language remains alive although only 20.8% out of a population of nearly three million speak it.
In 1962, Lewis warned that Welsh would disappear as a living language by the start of the 21st century.
“Restoring the Welsh language in Wales is nothing less than a revolution,” he said.
“It is only through revolutionary means that we can succeed.”
Bethan Williams, chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, said: “It’s time to look afresh at the vision set out in Tynged yr Iaith. Saunders Lewis awoke people in Wales to the dangers that were facing the language; Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg’s intention is to present a challenge to our members and the public and rouse our communities.”
Fonte: WalesOnline.co.uk
El documental analiza esta tresformación vivida por Òmnium a lo llargo de los sos 50 años d'hestoria y entrevista una trentena de protagonistes pa qu'opinen sobro esta evolución.Ente otres voces ta la de la presidenta de la entidá Muriel Casas, l'ex-presidente de la Generalidad Jordi Pujol, pero tamién les de Pep Guardiola, Joaquim Nadal, Lluís Llach, Salvador Cardús, Raimon, Elisenda Paluzié, Josep María Espinàs, Albert Balcells, Martí Boada, Xavier Sardà, Toni Soler y Empar Moliner.
