As we face the twin crises of the recession and rapid environmental change, Plaid Cymru’s Dr. Myfanwy Davies and Nerys Evans AM hosted a one-day conference with experts from a range of fields aiming to develop solutions on each level of government. The conference was held at the National Botanical Gardens on Saturday.
Key points made were:
• Wales has excellent resources to produce sustainable food and energy
• These industries support good long-term jobs
• The policies of councils, the Welsh Assembly and Westminster could increase the market available for local food and energy
• The relationships of supermarkets to suppliers need to be regulated
• Communities need to have a better deal when selling locally produced energy on the national grid
• Communities need to make their own decisions on which sustainable technologies to develop
Speaking from Llanelli, Dr. Myfanwy Davies, Plaid’s candidate in Llanelli for the next Westminster election said:
“As a party we have been committed to sustainability for decades, we are fully committed to acting upon the points raised at this important conference. It is clear that the recession and the wider environmental crisis are linked to patterns of consumption that create huge inequalities of wealth and that make our jobs uncertain”.
“We have seen an increase in joblessness of 80% in Llanelli over the past year. Those jobs were lost because it is too easy to relocate and because we do not have policies in place that mean we are able to buy local goods in preference to those shipped from the other side of the world”
Adam Price, MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr added:
“We all need to change the way we think and the way we live to respond to the environmental and financial crisis. There is a lot we can do as individuals, but essentially we need bold actions from politicians. I was very pleased to see so many experts and organisations come to the conference and I would urge people concerned about crisis facing the environment to get involved politically and start making their points from inside the political parties”.
Monday 27 April 2009
Wednesday 22 April 2009
Plaid pays tribute to local volunteers who lost their lives in the fight against facism
Last Wednesday saw the 70th anniversary of the Spanish Civil War where people from Wales, including Llanelli, volunteered to fight against fascism in Spain. Local AM Helen Mary Jones and Plaid Cymru’s Westminster Candidate for Llanelli, Dr Myfanwy Davies have been looking back at the proud tradition that Llanelli has in resisting fascism.
Plaid’s Helen Mary Jones commented:
“Taking part in the march and rally against the BNP a few weeks ago brought back a real reminder of Llanelli’s proud tradition in resisting fascism, not only at home but also abroad. A large numbers of Welshmen, including Llanelli, travelled to the continent to fight for what they knew was a battle for the freedom of us all.”
The Spanish Civil War started after an attempted coup d’etat committed by parts of the army against the government of the Second Spanish Republic. The war devastated Spain from July 17,1936 to April 1, 1939 with the victory of the rebels and the founding of a dictatorship led by the Nationalist General Francisco Franco for the next 36 years.
Plaid Cymru’s Westminster candidate for Llanelli, Dr Myfanwy Davies added:
“We are immensely proud of the fact that we have outside the Plaid Cymru office in Llanelli the official plaque that commemorates the brave volunteers who left the area to fight and eventually die in Spain in the war against fascism. Unfortunately, today’s fight against facism continues, and is even harder with fascists such as the BNP attempting to present themselves as a normal political party. There is no place in our communities for their politics of hate.
”The BNP's attitude to disabled people as a burden on society and their denial of the most basic women's rights - including protection from rape and domestic violence - means they cannot be accepted as part of ordinary politics. I can't imagine what it would be like to be a disabled person or an abused woman who would have to go to a BNP councillor or representative for help with their problems.”
There is a national memorial to the volunteers from Wales who participated in the Spanish Civil War outside the South Wales Miners Library, but there is no memorial that names of all who bravely went overseas to fight for democracy.
Plaid’s Helen Mary Jones commented:
“It’s right and proper that we remember, as we do every year, about those soldiers who so bravely fought against fascism in the 2nd World War. But we should also remember that before then, there were volunteers who could see what was coming, and went to resist fascism in Spain. Fellow Plaid Cymru member Leanne Wood AM has recently raised the issue of the need for a national memorial to be installed in the Senedd to commemorate those who those who participated and died in the war, and I fully support this call.”
Both Helen Mary and Myfanwy are eager to remind people that we owe the freedom that we enjoy now, not only to the soldiers of the 2nd World War, but also to the volunteers who lost their lives in the Spanish Civil War. We should never forget them.
Plaid’s Helen Mary Jones commented:
“Taking part in the march and rally against the BNP a few weeks ago brought back a real reminder of Llanelli’s proud tradition in resisting fascism, not only at home but also abroad. A large numbers of Welshmen, including Llanelli, travelled to the continent to fight for what they knew was a battle for the freedom of us all.”
The Spanish Civil War started after an attempted coup d’etat committed by parts of the army against the government of the Second Spanish Republic. The war devastated Spain from July 17,1936 to April 1, 1939 with the victory of the rebels and the founding of a dictatorship led by the Nationalist General Francisco Franco for the next 36 years.
Plaid Cymru’s Westminster candidate for Llanelli, Dr Myfanwy Davies added:
“We are immensely proud of the fact that we have outside the Plaid Cymru office in Llanelli the official plaque that commemorates the brave volunteers who left the area to fight and eventually die in Spain in the war against fascism. Unfortunately, today’s fight against facism continues, and is even harder with fascists such as the BNP attempting to present themselves as a normal political party. There is no place in our communities for their politics of hate.
”The BNP's attitude to disabled people as a burden on society and their denial of the most basic women's rights - including protection from rape and domestic violence - means they cannot be accepted as part of ordinary politics. I can't imagine what it would be like to be a disabled person or an abused woman who would have to go to a BNP councillor or representative for help with their problems.”
There is a national memorial to the volunteers from Wales who participated in the Spanish Civil War outside the South Wales Miners Library, but there is no memorial that names of all who bravely went overseas to fight for democracy.
Plaid’s Helen Mary Jones commented:
“It’s right and proper that we remember, as we do every year, about those soldiers who so bravely fought against fascism in the 2nd World War. But we should also remember that before then, there were volunteers who could see what was coming, and went to resist fascism in Spain. Fellow Plaid Cymru member Leanne Wood AM has recently raised the issue of the need for a national memorial to be installed in the Senedd to commemorate those who those who participated and died in the war, and I fully support this call.”
Both Helen Mary and Myfanwy are eager to remind people that we owe the freedom that we enjoy now, not only to the soldiers of the 2nd World War, but also to the volunteers who lost their lives in the Spanish Civil War. We should never forget them.
Myfanwy warns against ‘week without benefits’
Dr Myfanwy Davies, Plaid’s Llanelli Westminster candidate has this week warned people on benefits in Llanelli of Government plans to re-organise payments that will mean that they lose 1-2 weeks’ benefits overall.
Gordon Brown’s government wants to reorganise the way benefits are paid so that all are paid the same way. Accordingly from last week the Department of Work and Pensions has moved everyone who receives benefits weekly to receive them 2 weeks in arrears. It is estimated that 2 million people across the UK will be affected and should be informed by letter. People affected will need to respond to the letter to get a loan so that they still have an income while they wait for their payments to be received. Nonetheless, the loan will have to be paid back over 12 weeks meaning that those affected will lose a week’s benefits and in some cases – including widows – people will lose their income over 2 weeks. Some experts who have dealt with benefits claimants over the past week have commented that people find it very difficult to understand the letters sent out and do not realise they need to respond to them.
Despite affecting 2 million of the most vulnerable people in the UK, Gordon Brown’s Government has presented the change as an adminstrative measure. Accordingly there has been no debate on this issue at Westminster. The Department of Work and Pensions was unable to release figures on the expected cost saving of denying these 2 million people their benefits over a 1-2 week period.
Myfanwy has questioned whether it was necessary to change all claimants to receiving benefits 2 weeks in arrears rather than for example changing benefits claimants to receiving payments 1 week in advance. Such a measure would have released spending where it is most needed.
Speaking from home in Furnace on Monday, Myfanwy said:
“I am very concerned that people in Llanelli will not understand that they have to answer the letter in order to ask for a loan. The problem is likely to be more serious as the change is being phased in over 2 years so people may not be aware of it. For people on incomes of 60-70 pounds a week, losing a week or even two weeks’ money will mean that they will struggle to pay for food and housing. Even where people affected get a loan, they will need to pay it back over 12 weeks so thay will be losing 1-2 weeks’ money overall.
“At a time when the Gordon Brown is interested in smearing people through their private lives to mask his poor management of the economy, he and his MPs need to look to their own values. We need to tell him it is not right to target the most vulnerable in our communities and take what little they have.”
Gordon Brown’s government wants to reorganise the way benefits are paid so that all are paid the same way. Accordingly from last week the Department of Work and Pensions has moved everyone who receives benefits weekly to receive them 2 weeks in arrears. It is estimated that 2 million people across the UK will be affected and should be informed by letter. People affected will need to respond to the letter to get a loan so that they still have an income while they wait for their payments to be received. Nonetheless, the loan will have to be paid back over 12 weeks meaning that those affected will lose a week’s benefits and in some cases – including widows – people will lose their income over 2 weeks. Some experts who have dealt with benefits claimants over the past week have commented that people find it very difficult to understand the letters sent out and do not realise they need to respond to them.
Despite affecting 2 million of the most vulnerable people in the UK, Gordon Brown’s Government has presented the change as an adminstrative measure. Accordingly there has been no debate on this issue at Westminster. The Department of Work and Pensions was unable to release figures on the expected cost saving of denying these 2 million people their benefits over a 1-2 week period.
Myfanwy has questioned whether it was necessary to change all claimants to receiving benefits 2 weeks in arrears rather than for example changing benefits claimants to receiving payments 1 week in advance. Such a measure would have released spending where it is most needed.
Speaking from home in Furnace on Monday, Myfanwy said:
“I am very concerned that people in Llanelli will not understand that they have to answer the letter in order to ask for a loan. The problem is likely to be more serious as the change is being phased in over 2 years so people may not be aware of it. For people on incomes of 60-70 pounds a week, losing a week or even two weeks’ money will mean that they will struggle to pay for food and housing. Even where people affected get a loan, they will need to pay it back over 12 weeks so thay will be losing 1-2 weeks’ money overall.
“At a time when the Gordon Brown is interested in smearing people through their private lives to mask his poor management of the economy, he and his MPs need to look to their own values. We need to tell him it is not right to target the most vulnerable in our communities and take what little they have.”
Tuesday 21 April 2009
Myfanwy to host Carmarthenshire conference on building a sustainable economy
Dr Myfanwy Davies, Plaid’s Llanelli Westminster candidate and Plaid regional AM, Nerys Evans will host a high-profile national conference on saving jobs and preparing for a green economy. The event which will be held at the Botanic Gardens near Llandeilo will explore how to protect local jobs and businesses from the effects of the recession while building an economy that is sustainable and where decisions are made by local people.
The ‘Sustainable Spring’ conference will focus in particular on developing sustainable food and energy production and improving infrastructure like roads, rail and telecommunications. It is expected that around 150 people will attend including experts and representatives from the environmental sector, industry and the farming unions. With figures recently released showing dramatic differences in the effects of the recession across the UK, the conference will explore why the recession has hit Wales - and particularly West Wales - so much harder than other parts of the UK.
Speaking from her campaign office in Llanelli, Myfanwy said:
“The economic crisis and the environmental crises are closely related. The Brown boom of the last few years was based on consumption that nobody could afford. But once again, it is our communities in Llanelli and Carmarthen that are suffering while Brown protects the bankers.
“The conference is about taking a hard look at the policies that got us here – looking at transport, education and how we use our natural resources – using the powers that we have in the Assembly, Westminster, Europe and our councils to create a stronger, greener economy.
“We will see Wales through but it will be a different economy that comes out of this recession. It will be an economy that puts people ahead of profits and that is sustainable and locally-based. We can offer that change and the conference is about establishing how we can work with experts, environmentalists and industry to deliver that change”.
Nerys Evans AM added:
“We have always believed in developing a sustainable economy in Wales. It is proof of the seriousness with which we take the economic and environmental crises that so many of our front line politicians will meet with representatives from the field for a day to develop an integrated approach to living sustainably. We will see Wales through the crisis but now is the time to make sure we are world-leaders in living and working sustainably."
The ‘Sustainable Spring’ conference will focus in particular on developing sustainable food and energy production and improving infrastructure like roads, rail and telecommunications. It is expected that around 150 people will attend including experts and representatives from the environmental sector, industry and the farming unions. With figures recently released showing dramatic differences in the effects of the recession across the UK, the conference will explore why the recession has hit Wales - and particularly West Wales - so much harder than other parts of the UK.
Speaking from her campaign office in Llanelli, Myfanwy said:
“The economic crisis and the environmental crises are closely related. The Brown boom of the last few years was based on consumption that nobody could afford. But once again, it is our communities in Llanelli and Carmarthen that are suffering while Brown protects the bankers.
“The conference is about taking a hard look at the policies that got us here – looking at transport, education and how we use our natural resources – using the powers that we have in the Assembly, Westminster, Europe and our councils to create a stronger, greener economy.
“We will see Wales through but it will be a different economy that comes out of this recession. It will be an economy that puts people ahead of profits and that is sustainable and locally-based. We can offer that change and the conference is about establishing how we can work with experts, environmentalists and industry to deliver that change”.
Nerys Evans AM added:
“We have always believed in developing a sustainable economy in Wales. It is proof of the seriousness with which we take the economic and environmental crises that so many of our front line politicians will meet with representatives from the field for a day to develop an integrated approach to living sustainably. We will see Wales through the crisis but now is the time to make sure we are world-leaders in living and working sustainably."
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