{"id":16270,"date":"2016-02-16T21:45:07","date_gmt":"2016-02-16T21:45:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jacothenorth.net\/blog\/?p=16270"},"modified":"2016-02-17T00:03:36","modified_gmt":"2016-02-17T00:03:36","slug":"yes-cymru-launch-rally-20-02-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jacothenorth.net\/blog\/yes-cymru-launch-rally-20-02-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"YESCymru Launch Rally 20.02.2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

While I’m getting myself sorted after the enforced lay-off (and also watching PSG v Chelsea), here’s something to be going on with, something I’m happy to endorse and promote.<\/p>\n

Happy because I have argued for many years that devolution is a dead-end or, as the press release below refers to it, the “crumbs of constitutional change”. (With it becoming clear in recent months that even these ‘crumbs’ are now in danger of being reclaimed.)<\/p>\n

The alternatives facing Wales are stark: either we have independence or else we continue to allow third-rate politicians to feel important doing nothing more than doling out funding while Wales is in truth run by civil servants and others following a counter-devolution strategy that will eventually see Wales assimilated into England.<\/p>\n

What you’ll find below is information on YESCymru and that organisation’s launch rally on Saturday.\u00a0The first part takes the form of answers sent to\u00a0Gair Rhydd,\u00a0<\/em>which I understand is a magazine produced by Cardiff students. (That right?)<\/p>\n

The second part is the press release issued for Saturday’s rally, listing the speakers and giving other information including contact details.<\/p>\n

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What is the organisation? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes Cymru aims to help gain independence for Wales, in order to improve the way our country is governed. We believe in an inclusive citizenship, which embraces and celebrates the fact that everyone who chooses to make Wales their home \u2013 regardless of their background \u2013 are full citizens of the new Wales.<\/p>\n

Our group will promote independence for Wales through a range of activities, including educational activities and materials, and events aimed at engaging communities throughout Wales to make the case that Wales, like so many other nations throughout the world, would be better running its own affairs, as part of a wider European and international family. Our organisation is open to all who believe in independence for Wales.<\/p>\n

Who is it set up by? Is it a party political?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes Cymru was set up by a number of individuals and established as a grass-roots movement. We held our first rally prior to the Scottish referendum in Cardiff, where around a 1,000 people attended supporting Scottish Independence. Last year we held a Rally in Cardiff prior to the General Election in support of Welsh \u201cHome Rule\u201d.<\/p>\n

Yes Cymru’s aim is to build a community led, cross-party grass roots movements to work towards an independent Wales. We welcome contributions and membership from all sections of society and the political spectrum in order to help achieve this goal, and help create a united Wales wide approach to raising the issues concerned with Independence. In the past members from Plaid Cymru, Welsh Labour, Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Welsh Green Party have spoken at our events.<\/p>\n

The organisation has just been opened to members at the end of last year, and our membership is now nearing 100. Our 1st AGM will be held in Cardiff on 20th February where officers to the central committee will be elected from our membership.\u00a0 Full details will be made public following our AGM, and published on our website.<\/p>\n

This is the principle Plaid Cymru was set up, how is this movement any different?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes Cymru is different to Plaid Cymru as we are a cross-party non-party grass roots movement which aims to inform people and facilitate debate within Wales, aiming to gain support from across the political spectrum. We are not a political party. Our supporters are members of several political parties, and none.<\/p>\n

Will you achieve anything considering the polls?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Polls have put the desire for an independent Wales at various levels over the years, depending on the exact question asked, and the options provided. Prof. Roger Scully of Cardiff University’s Wales Governance Centre puts support of Welsh Independence at around 10-15% Like those campaigning for independence in Catalonia, Corsica, Scotland and many other nations, we recognise that this is not something we can achieve overnight. It is worth mentioning that in 2009-2011 the Yes vote in Scotland was consistently polling at just over 20%, it is know just under 50%.There has never been an independence campaign in Wales, and the case has never been made. We aim to rectify that.<\/p>\n

Fundamentally self-determination and independence is a fundamental right of all peoples throughout the world, and as such we are determined to help bring about an independent Wales which would best serve all the citizens of Wales.<\/p>\n

At our official launch in Cardiff on February 20th, Liz Castro will be coming over from Catalonia to speak. Liz is an Author, Publisher, and Executive Committee member of the ANC (Assemblea Nacional Catalana – the grassroots movement for Catalan independence)\u00a0 responsible for International Affairs.<\/p>\n

Last year, Liz Castro received the most votes during the elections for the National Secretary of the ANC. The ANC has over 80,000 members and over 150,000 followers on twitter and a similar number of page likes on Facebook.<\/p>\n

*<\/strong><\/h1>\n

PRESS RELEASE \u2013 09\/02\/16 – YesCymru<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vision for an independent Wales not crumbs of constitutional change<\/strong><\/p>\n

YesCymru\u2019s aim is to gain independence for Wales to improve the way our country is governed. Many are talking about UK independence from the European Union, and about Scottish independence, but what about Wales? The recent Daily Mail<\/em> headline asked \u201cWho Will Speak for England?\u201d<\/em>. With Scottish independence all but inevitable, the question for us when such momentous changes are taking place is \u201cWho will speak for Wales?\u201d.<\/p>\n

YesCymru has been open to members since the beginning of the year. The official launch will be held at 2.00pm on the 20<\/strong>th<\/sup><\/strong> February 2016 followed by our first AGM, at The Old Library, The Hayes, Cardiff.<\/strong><\/p>\n

YesCymru will campaign for independence through direct political engagement and activities as seen in Scotland and Catalonia. We should not underestimate the pace of change and appetite for independence once it is on the political agenda.<\/p>\n

At our official launch in Cardiff on February 20th, Liz Castro will be travelling from Catalonia to speak. Liz is an Author, Publisher, and Executive Committee member of the ANC (Assemblea Nacional Catalana – the grassroots movement for Catalan independence) responsible for International Affairs. Last year, Liz Castro received the most votes during the elections for the National Secretary of the ANC, which has over 80,000 members.<\/p>\n

YesCymru spokesperson, Iestyn ap Rhobert, said:<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery generation we are told that Wales is too poor to be independent, but every generation under Westminster rule sees Wales getting relatively poorer. We encourage the people to be ambitious for Wales. If independence is good enough for Ireland or Denmark, it\u2019s good enough for Wales.<\/em><\/p>\n

Like those campaigning for independence in Catalonia, Corsica, Scotland and many other nations, we recognise that this is not something we can achieve overnight. Between 2009 and 2011 the Yes vote in Scotland was consistently polling at just over 25%. It is now nearing 50%. There has never been an independence campaign in Wales, and the case has never been made. We aim to rectify that.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The speakers at the rally will be:<\/p>\n