Ras yr Iaith Third Edition; Welsh-language race nears return

Ras yr Iaith is back again this year bigger than ever with over 15 communities from across Wales taking part.

The 2018 Ras yr Iaith will take place between 4 and 6 July with the first day of the race finishing in Aberystwyth with a feast of music for everyone.

Businesses, schools, community groups and clubs can each sponsor a leg for £50, all in aid of supporting the use of Welsh.

This is not an athletic race but a relay race where the language baton is passed from kilometre to kilometre and town to town.

The race vehicle will chaperone the baton between the towns and villages from one end of Wales to the other.

One or several people can run the stretch of the race that your organisation sponsors for £50. All proceeds will be pumped back into our communities in the form of grants to support the use of Welsh.

If you would like to run/participate on behalf of your organisation, contact Cered (Menter Iaith Ceredigion/Ceredigion Language Initiative) at cered@ceredigion.gov.uk to register.

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A celebration of Scottish Gaelic at this year's XpoNorth

Delegates to Scotland’s leading creative industries festival will see and hear about some of the leaders in the Gaelic language at the festival.
XpoNorth 2018 takes place next week throughout Inverness on 27 and 28 June.
The Gaelic Angle on Wednesday will hear from multi-award winning singer and musician Julie Fowlis; Iseabail Mactaggart, director of strategy and partnerships at MG ALBA and Agnes Rennie, manager at Acair Publishing in Stornoway and who is also chair of the community-owned Galson Estate Trust in the North West Of Lewis.
The session will centre around the challenges facing the Gaelic sector and the subject of what makes the Gaelic language and culture so alluring to many around the world. It gets underway at 10am in Eden Court with free Entry.
BBC ALBA: The Showcase, 10 Years On (Thursday 28 June) will see Margaret Mary Murray, BBC ALBA head of service and Iseabail Mactaggart take a look back at the highlights of 10 years of the Gaelic channel which first began broadcasting in September 2008. BBC ALBA: The Showcase will take place at Eden Court at 11.15am with free entry.
Brian O hEadhra, Gaelic arts officer with Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Creative Scotland, will chair Highland Cool (also on Thursday) which will look at the factors which make the Highlands and Islands an attractive creative destination and the challenges and benefits of operating a creative business in the Highlands and Islands. It starts at 10am, in Eden Court, again with free entry.
XpoNorth is funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Support from HIE and its networks has allowed new talent to diversify into new international markets.
Iain Hamilton, HIE head of Creative Industries, said:
‘XpoNorth will once again feature sessions in relation to Gaelic and the creative industries at this year’s festival which will place the language and culture in front of some of the most influential decision makers globally in the creative industries.
‘These sessions are attracting interest from international delegates and we are grateful to MG ALBA, BBC ALBA, Acair and BBC Radio nan Gàidheal for their support of this year’s event.’
XpoNorth 2018 also includes events covering screen, fashion, textiles, digital and technology while the music strand will include Brian O hEadhra and Fiona Mackenzie who will be amongst those performing at venues across the city.
The team from BBC Radio nan Gàidheal’s Rapal music programme will also be recording various performances for future broadcast while presenter Derek Murray will be on a panel looking at Scotland’s Radio Sector.
XpoNorth is completely free to attend and accessible to all.

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Speak Cornish Week

Cornish is a language that almost died out. At one point in our history it was almost a mythical language, one that people knew of but hadn't heard spoken. It is a beautiful language, full of character and historical relevance. Speak Cornish week is a celebration of our language. It is uttered by us all every day when we say we're going to Portreath, or if we shout 'Oggy oggy oggy' at a rugby match, we are speaking a language that people have mistakenly labelled as dead. Well it is not only alive but thriving and this is a chance to enjoy some fabulous events and learn a short phrase to share with others.


Among the events this year:

- Awen Ceremony Gorsedh on June 24th: charming Awen cereminy. Awen is a Celtic word meaning a 'flowing spirit', the essence of life sustaining links between people, cultural life and community. In the Gorsedh Kernow Awen ceremony, the 3-rayed Awen symbol signifying Furneth (Wisdom), Gwir (Truth) ha Kerensa (Love) is a catalyst for a deeply moving part of the ceremony, where two elders of the community, who have lived a full life, hand over to two children of the community the Gorsedh Kernow “Book of Life”, a piece of lime wood beautifully sculpted in the form of an open book, representing the passing of wisdom from one generation to another in the presence of the Grand Bard and members of the College of Bards.

- Yeth an Werin on June 27th: There are yeth an werins on this night.
8.30pm at The Bridge Inn, Redruth
7.30pm at The Blue Anchor, Helston


-An Gov and Flamank Ceremonies on June 27th
An Gov at 7pm: Welcome at the Statue
7.30pm: Commemoration at the plaque by the church.
8pm: Entertainment at the Parish Hall.
​
Flamank Commemoration at 7.30pm at the Flamank Plaque, junction of Lower Bore Street with Higher Bore Street, Bodmin.

- Gool Kernewek Festival
​1st July 10am - 4pm
Heartlands, Robinson's Shaft, Dudnance Lane, Pool, Redruth, Cornwall, TR15 3QY

Source

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15 Students submit their maths exam in Breton language, with the risk that their exams will not be marked

They argue for the right to use either French or Breton. Collected in the collective Bak e Brezhoneg, students in high school Diwan de Karaez, where courses are in Breton, also want to use their language when completing their exam copy. As West France explains, some of them decided Friday 22 June to write their mathematical tests in their regional language anyway. "The Rector opposes a categorical refusal, without making a solution. We will do without their permission," says Ismael Morvan, a student.

About fifteen of classmates have decided to do the same and without doubt accept the possible consequences of their actions. "We risk having zero, the risk of not having our baccalaureate, but we take it to cause the cause," says Ismael Morvan, who said this decision was taken "three weeks ago." "The important thing was that our parents know, because they are the ones who pay for our studies. It's not a rebellious act, but a thoughtful act, "he explains.

Source

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Strong numbers for Div Yezh Breizh

The network, shose chairman is Rémi Toulhoat, has 75 local associations, 23 local collectives and 960 contributors. 7,500 students are part of the network, including 3,100 in kindergarten, 3,345 in elementary, 810 in high school and 230 in high school. 163 schools were involved, 19 colleges and six high schools, in 99 municipalities hosting at least one site or a bilingual school. These numbers are constantly increasing.

The association, created in 1979 in Rennes under the name APEEB - became Div Yezh in 1996 then Div Yezh Breizh in 2014 - has four missions:
- to act for the Breton language by accompanying and defending the parents and their children for the access to the Breton language;
- communicate to the general public;
- represent and carry the voice of the parents of public school students and, finally,
- support the network of associations.

The association will celebrate its fortieth anniversary in 2019.

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Welsh language minister criticised for English-only leadership bid website

The Welsh language minister, Eluned Morgan, has been criticised after launching an English-only website to canvass opinion about a possible leadership bid.
The website features a Google Translate button that, at the time of writing, did not work.
Eluned Morgan AM is among the favourites to become a candidate for the leadership of Welsh Labour and, subsequently, First Minister of Wales.
She said today that she had not decided whether she was going to run, but had launched a website, Beyond the Bubble, and Facebook group, to canvass opinion about the future direction of the country.
Heledd Gwyndaf, chairman of Cymdeithas yr Iaith, said that the new website was a “disgrace”.
“If the Minister for the Welsh language doesn’t follow best practice language policies, what is the point of her?” she asked.
“Is this what she wants with her weak Welsh language law, to allow more English-only websites? She goes on and on about promoting and persuading people to use Welsh rather than regulating, but she can’t even persuade herself. It’s ironic that her actions prove once again the need for strong legislation.
 
“The main aim of Eluned Morgan’s proposed Welsh Language Bill is to de-regulate: weaken people’s language rights for the benefit of rich companies and organisations.
“She doesn’t hide that. In the health field, she’s folded to the interests of the rich establishment at the expense of the most vulnerable in our society. She favoured pharmaceutical companies and vested interests over kids and dementia sufferers, people without power or a voice.
“If Eluned Morgan becomes First Minister, we fear that the de-regulation and unfairness would be bad, yes, for the Welsh language and its users, but also other groups. Would she weaken other workers’ rights for the sake of big business? There’s a big question mark over her values and her suitability to be First Minister.”

Nation Cymru

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Petition : Enact a Gaelic Languages Act; equal status for Irish, Scottish Gaelic & Welsh

The Welsh Language Act 1993 recognises that language on a UK-wide basis and status not enjoyed by Irish or Scottish Gaelic. The UK Government agreed to an Irish Act as part of the St Andrew's Agreement 2006. A UK 'Gaelic Languages Act' would be non-sectarian and give Gaelic the same status as Welsh.

Link

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3,000 rally in defence of Breton language immersion schools Diwan

The demonstration in support of the network of schools Diwan was in Roazhon on May 26th. Under the slogan 'A dazont evit ar Brezhoneg' (A future for Breton). The network celebrates 40 years in critical moments due to the lack of the French state of willingness to train new teachers and calls for "real support to the teaching of the Breton language."

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Samaritans extend opening hours of Welsh language line to support Welsh speakers

Samaritans have launched new opening hours for their Welsh Language Line today, as they increase the level of support available to Welsh speakers.  The Samaritans Welsh Language support line had previously been open 28 hours a week but has now been increased to 49 hours.
Samaritans have also announced their new Welsh Language correspondence service today, in which anyone who needs emotional support in Welsh can send a Freepost letter. Writing a letter can be a more personal, thought-provoking way for you to get your feelings across and Samaritans want Welsh speakers to have this same opportunity.
The dedicated Welsh Language line was first set up in 2010 in order to help Welsh speakers who needed emotional support. With an increase in the demand for the service, Samaritans volunteers have worked to increase the level of support. Today marks an important day for the Welsh Language Line, which will now be open 7 days a week for a total of 49 hours.
Margaret Jones, Chair of the Samaritans Welsh Language Sub Committee said –

“This is fantastic progress for our Welsh Language Support Service and is testament to the hard work of our volunteers. We know that accessing emotional support in your first language is crucial and we hope promotion of the line and our letter writing service will ensure wider outreach in Wales.

We also hope promotion of the service will help attract new Welsh-speaking volunteers. It is vital that we sustain the service and we always need more help”

In order to continue supporting Welsh speakers, Samaritans are using the launch of the new opening hours to recruit for new volunteers.
As a Welsh or English only speaker, there are many ways you can support Samaritans as a volunteer in Wales. Samaritans are known for the support they offer their callers on the phone but they also offer support by email, face to face and through letters. Helping Samaritans in this way is known as being a listening volunteer. However, you don’t have to be a listening volunteer and you can support them in many other ways which can include marketing, fundraising, outreach or a variety of administrative roles.
You can make an amazing difference at Samaritans helping to support people when they need someone to talk to or they are going through a difficult time in their life. Samaritans welcome and value every volunteer, from all walks of life.
To find out more about volunteering at one of Samaritans ten locations across Wales, please email volunteering.wales@samaritans.org or call 02922 406305

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Calls for impact of new housing developments on Welsh language to be assessed

Builders who want to create developments of five or more homes could be forced to assess the impact on the Welsh language before planning permission is given.
At a meeting in Llangefni this morning, members of Anglesey and Gwynedd’s Joint Planning Policy Committee resolved to seek Welsh Government guidance if they can bolster the Joint Local Development Plan.
The plan, which was separately ratified by both authorities last year, proposes where up to 7,184 new homes should be build across Gwynedd and Anglesey in the period up to 2026.
But members of Gwynedd Council’s Scrutiny Working Group on Planning and the Welsh Language, urged the joint committee to adopt further measures that would result in any developments of five or more homes in rural areas and 10 or more in more urban areas, having to hold a public consultation and include a language impact assessment as part of the application.
As part of the already adopted plan, public consultations before submitting a planning application are only mandatory in developments of 10 or more homes and the necessity of language impact assessments depend on the nature of the development.


Cllr Seimon Glyn, who chairs the working group, said: “I understand that when the Joint Local Development Plan was adopted, there were strong feelings on both sides of the argument.
“But there is real concern that if things continue as they are, the percentage of Welsh speakers in Gwynedd will end up hovering over the 50% mark, which is already the situation on Anglesey and could get worse.
“Planning alone isn’t enough to stem the flow of course, but that’s what we’re discussing now and I urge the committee to take on board our recommendations.
“It is possible to change policy, nothing has to be set in stone.”

But while planning officers for both authorities pointed out that there was provision in the adopted development plan for the Welsh language to be used as a relevant planning consideration, most members felt that this did not go far enough.
Planning officer Nia Haf Davies, told members: “There are statutory steps that have to be taken if you want to make changes to the adopted plan.
“This includes annual monitoring of the plan as it is, followed by a statutory review and further consultation.”
“It must be demonstrated why a policy is failing before it can be changed.”
But Cllr Owain Williams responded: “Considering the severity of the situation, I don’t think we can wait.
“The economy is key to the future of the Welsh language, there’s no doubt about that.
“But building five homes in a village of, say 50 people, is a huge development that could potentially have a massive impact on its character.”

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