Saturday, 7th November, 2009.
Forgotten Heroes?
This week saw an oft-forgot anniversary, one on which we should remember with pride the work of our Welsh people.
I asked a few people – right here in Wales – if they knew what we should be celebrating. Very few of them, even friends I’ve known for years, could tell me. The fact that it might have been the night when we civilised British recall the burning of a Roman Catholic a few centuries ago was mentioned a fair few times, of course.
Well, I had to remind them. And, in case you can’t quite remember, I’ll remind you, too.
The Chartist Movement was a good and popular protest. It was a battle – sometimes literally and physically – for freedom and democracy. Violence by the establishment was used against the Chartists.
We must be proud enough to remember Wales’ part in those struggles – proud enough, perhaps, to use our search-engines to find out more about those good people. Google: The Chartists in Wales – that ought to do it.
Better Late
Forgive me for ignoring, a week or so ago, the news about the “trailer park ghettoes” along our North coast. It was only brought to my attention this week.
A great number of the self-unemployed from the big English cities are moving in up there and living in holiday caravans all the year round. Yes, they disappear somewhere for a couple of months if and when the parks close. But they are coming to our land in increasing hordes.
They do not pay Council Tax; they receive Social Security “benefits”; and they know darned well that they are highly unlikely to find work here.
They even claim Housing Benefits!
The trouble is, these people are affecting our holiday-trade. Who wants to hire a ‘van and spend a week among such drop-outs?
Now, local politicians are addressing the challenge. It will take a lot of sorting out, that’s for sure. And it is not just a North Walian situation.
Should we not be strengthening our Welsh Assembly Government so that we could be a little choosier about who we allow to come to live in Wales?
I must point out that I write all this as an immigrant to Wales myself.
A Visitation
Britain’s Prime Minister brought hope and enlightenment to the whole of Wales when he visited Broughton. His words at the Flintshire Airbus factory must have inspired the workers greatly.
Gordon says that the three-hundred-and-forty million quid of our money – yours and mine – which Westminster has lent to Airbus had helped secure its future. So that’s alright, then.
But hang on – “helped secure”? Not “has secured”? From that I gather its future is still in the balance; is still open to the whiles of capitalism.
And yet the man – whose avowed top priority is employment - also said that he is determined to ensure the plant will continue to be the biggest factory in the United Kingdom. I suppose that, as he continues his progress round his realm, he will notice that the place could end up as the UK’s only factory!
Travelling about Wales, I notice how many factories and industries have gone, forever, from our land. When I cross Offa’s Dyke and visit English big, industrial cities, I find the same thing.
Gordon, we in Britain have hardly any production plants left. We have precious little industry with which to combat the still-present Slump. Or has nobody dared tell you that . . . ?
To End On A Brighter Note!
Wales should be pleased at the news that we now have two National Theatre Groups. The Welsh-language based one has been running – successfully – for some time, of course.
Now, an English-language one has been launched, and the two Groups will work together as much as possible.
Wales – dare I keep mentioning it? – is a land which produces much native talent. Look at our performing arts scene, at the number of internationally famous performers. Look, too, at our painters and sculptors. Look at our writers. We can be justly (but humbly) proud of those people.
The new Theatre Group will help more of our talent to flourish.
Archie Lowe