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."
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Myfanwy works with Breakthro’ Llanelli to win cash promise from County Council
Following concerns raised by members of the Breakthro’ Llanelli group, Dr Myfanwy Davies, Plaid Cymru’s Westminster candidate for Llanelli, and Breakthro’ sponsor, supported committee members when they met with Robin Moulster the Senior Principal Officer for Learning Disabilities on Friday. The group which supports social activities for children and adults with learning disabilities also helps them integrate in to society. Last year Carmarthenshire County Council asked the group to separate its activities for children and adults leading to doubling staff costs with no additional income. Myfanwy raised the issue of funds for the group and asked for a meeting with a senior official at the County Council. At the meeting which was eventually held last Friday, Myfanwy and the committee members described the range of activities that Breakthro undertakes and their value to the children and adults. They also explained how the shortfall of £5,000 in funding would mean that the group could not continue after this year. Myfanwy and committee members were delighted that Mr.Moulster pledged £1,500 in funding immediately and also promised to try to find funds to meet the remaining funding gap.
Speaking from her campaign office in Llanelli, Myfanwy said:
“I’m delighted that the Council has decided to support the important work that Breakthro’ in Llanelli does. Social activities might not seem to be a priority but they are the chance for many of these young people to have a social life. The young people also have tasks in Breakthro’ like organising rotas, collecting funds and in some cases learn skills like DJ-ing and sitting on committees. The skills the young people learn help them integrate and nobody who has seen them raising funds in the town centre would say that they are not happy and confident in each other’s company”
“We still have some way to go to address the rest of the funding gap. As ever, we will be raising money for the activities but alongside that, we’ll be working to find those with the County Council and others to restore the money that will allow us to pay a part-time wage to our convenor who is currently working for free”.
Speaking from her campaign office in Llanelli, Myfanwy said:
“I’m delighted that the Council has decided to support the important work that Breakthro’ in Llanelli does. Social activities might not seem to be a priority but they are the chance for many of these young people to have a social life. The young people also have tasks in Breakthro’ like organising rotas, collecting funds and in some cases learn skills like DJ-ing and sitting on committees. The skills the young people learn help them integrate and nobody who has seen them raising funds in the town centre would say that they are not happy and confident in each other’s company”
“We still have some way to go to address the rest of the funding gap. As ever, we will be raising money for the activities but alongside that, we’ll be working to find those with the County Council and others to restore the money that will allow us to pay a part-time wage to our convenor who is currently working for free”.
Sunday, 15 March 2009
Myfanwy calls on Westminster Government to scrap ID card scheme to save schools and hospitals
Responding to the news that Wales may face a £500 million cut in public spending next year, Dr Myfanwy Davies, Plaid Cymru’s Westminster candidate for Llanelli, has backed local teacher Aerona Edwards in calling on the Westminster Government to abandon its controversial plan to introduce ID cards. Myfanwy and Mrs Edwards are calling on Gordon Brown’s Government to redistribute the money to protect basic services like education and health.
Speaking from her campaign office in Llanelli, Myfanwy said:
“The ID card scheme goes way beyond establishing a secure ID card. It will be more extensive than anything existing in another country and will give the Home Secretary unprecedented powers over an individual’s actions. Scrapping the scheme is clearly the right thing to do.
“The Government’s confused response to the financial crisis also means that public services face a huge cut in Wales next year. Given that the Government’s own figures showed the cost of the ID card scheme would be £5.5 billion, scrapping it would release funds that we desperately need to protect our jobs and public services like schools and hospitals”.
“In terms of introducing direct and unaccountable power over its citizens this government has shown itself to be more destructive than even the Thatcher government was. They have to stop putting their own narrow priorities first and take action now to protect the public services all of us need and deserve”.
Aerona Edwards a former secondary school teacher from Cleviston Park, Llangennech added:
“It's hard to imagine what a cut of 500 million would do to schools in Wales. Cuts in education put children's chances in life at risk and they affect the most vulnerable children most. Gordon Brown’s Government has admitted that ID cards won’t stop terrorists. The scheme is completely unnecessary and it won't work. I would ask Gordon Brown to reconsider because we so badly need the money for our schools”.
Helen Mary Jones’ initial press release on spending cuts to Wales: http://www.plaidcymru.org/content.php?nID=101;ID=1128;lID=1
The ID card plans will allow the, Home Secretary to cancel or require surrender of an identity card, without a right of appeal, at any time. For more information see: http://www.no2id.net/
Speaking from her campaign office in Llanelli, Myfanwy said:
“The ID card scheme goes way beyond establishing a secure ID card. It will be more extensive than anything existing in another country and will give the Home Secretary unprecedented powers over an individual’s actions. Scrapping the scheme is clearly the right thing to do.
“The Government’s confused response to the financial crisis also means that public services face a huge cut in Wales next year. Given that the Government’s own figures showed the cost of the ID card scheme would be £5.5 billion, scrapping it would release funds that we desperately need to protect our jobs and public services like schools and hospitals”.
“In terms of introducing direct and unaccountable power over its citizens this government has shown itself to be more destructive than even the Thatcher government was. They have to stop putting their own narrow priorities first and take action now to protect the public services all of us need and deserve”.
Aerona Edwards a former secondary school teacher from Cleviston Park, Llangennech added:
“It's hard to imagine what a cut of 500 million would do to schools in Wales. Cuts in education put children's chances in life at risk and they affect the most vulnerable children most. Gordon Brown’s Government has admitted that ID cards won’t stop terrorists. The scheme is completely unnecessary and it won't work. I would ask Gordon Brown to reconsider because we so badly need the money for our schools”.
Helen Mary Jones’ initial press release on spending cuts to Wales: http://www.plaidcymru.org/content.php?nID=101;ID=1128;lID=1
The ID card plans will allow the, Home Secretary to cancel or require surrender of an identity card, without a right of appeal, at any time. For more information see: http://www.no2id.net/
Thursday, 5 March 2009
Elfyn Llwyd MP will meet with British Legion Officers in Llanelli to discuss support for servicepeople
Dr. Myfanwy Davies, Plaid’s parliamentary candidate for Llanelli, has invited Elfyn Llwyd MP for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy and leader of Plaid’s Parliamentary Party to meet with representatives of the Royal Britsh Legion in Llanelli on Friday 6th March.
The meeting will take place at 2pm in room 4 in the Town Hall. Aerona Stupe, the regional director of the Royal British Legion is expected to be present, along with the chair and officers of the Llanelli branch.
Mr. Llwyd has recently raised concerns about the support provided to service people during and after their time in the forces.
Following a number of cases of ex-servicemen convicted of criminal offences in Wales, Mr. Llwyd tried to obtain figures on the number of ex-service people in prison and received an unsatisfactory reply. He then contacted the National Association of Probation Officers (NAPO) to conduct a survey of its members. Evidence unearthed by the survey indicates that thousands of former armed services personnel who served either in the Gulf or Afghanistan have been convicted of criminal offences and sentenced to a term of imprisonment following discharge from the army*. The results have caused real concern as they suggest that as many as 8,500 former soldiers are currently in custody in the UK - almost 10% of the prison population for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - with over 7000 of those in custody in England and Wales. The case histories show that the majority of ex-soldiers suffered at some stage or another from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and that very few had received any counselling or support at any time after their discharge from the Army.
Elfyn Llwyd who has previously campaigned on Gulf War Syndrome, succeeded in obtaining a debate on support for service people during and after service. As a result of the Westminster Hall debate on 21st of October 2008 , extra psychologists have been sent out to Afghanistan and Iraq and the Government are looking into ways to care for veterans once they return home.
Mr Llwyd said:
"Having come across several incidents where members of the armed forces were committing offences which really were a cry for help, I tabled a parliamentary question which gave a somewhat innocuous answer. I wasn't happy with that because I have witnessed ex-servicemen being sentenced for serious assaults in courts in North Wales and these offences were occurring with worrying regularity.
If this is a matter of resources, then that will not wash**. At a time when serving soldiers must make do with inferior kit, failure to act on the problem will be seen as further evidence that the Government has breached the covenant with the armed services in the most serious way.
Speaking from her office in Llanelli on Tuesday Myfanwy Davies said:
“It is deeply worrying that at a time when the armed forces are recruiting very actively from our communities, they have not been offering the most basic support needed by young men and women who have undertaken this difficult, dangerous and often traumatic task. If proper treatment had been available for these disturbed servicemen, I am convinced that 100s if not 1000s would not have offended. The government is letting them and their families down very badly indeed.
“Elfyn’s work in pursuing this issue and obtaining more psychological support has drawn wide acclaim and I am very pleased that he is coming to Llanelli to meet with representatives of the British Legion.”
The meeting will take place at 2pm in room 4 in the Town Hall. Aerona Stupe, the regional director of the Royal British Legion is expected to be present, along with the chair and officers of the Llanelli branch.
Mr. Llwyd has recently raised concerns about the support provided to service people during and after their time in the forces.
Following a number of cases of ex-servicemen convicted of criminal offences in Wales, Mr. Llwyd tried to obtain figures on the number of ex-service people in prison and received an unsatisfactory reply. He then contacted the National Association of Probation Officers (NAPO) to conduct a survey of its members. Evidence unearthed by the survey indicates that thousands of former armed services personnel who served either in the Gulf or Afghanistan have been convicted of criminal offences and sentenced to a term of imprisonment following discharge from the army*. The results have caused real concern as they suggest that as many as 8,500 former soldiers are currently in custody in the UK - almost 10% of the prison population for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - with over 7000 of those in custody in England and Wales. The case histories show that the majority of ex-soldiers suffered at some stage or another from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and that very few had received any counselling or support at any time after their discharge from the Army.
Elfyn Llwyd who has previously campaigned on Gulf War Syndrome, succeeded in obtaining a debate on support for service people during and after service. As a result of the Westminster Hall debate on 21st of October 2008 , extra psychologists have been sent out to Afghanistan and Iraq and the Government are looking into ways to care for veterans once they return home.
Mr Llwyd said:
"Having come across several incidents where members of the armed forces were committing offences which really were a cry for help, I tabled a parliamentary question which gave a somewhat innocuous answer. I wasn't happy with that because I have witnessed ex-servicemen being sentenced for serious assaults in courts in North Wales and these offences were occurring with worrying regularity.
If this is a matter of resources, then that will not wash**. At a time when serving soldiers must make do with inferior kit, failure to act on the problem will be seen as further evidence that the Government has breached the covenant with the armed services in the most serious way.
Speaking from her office in Llanelli on Tuesday Myfanwy Davies said:
“It is deeply worrying that at a time when the armed forces are recruiting very actively from our communities, they have not been offering the most basic support needed by young men and women who have undertaken this difficult, dangerous and often traumatic task. If proper treatment had been available for these disturbed servicemen, I am convinced that 100s if not 1000s would not have offended. The government is letting them and their families down very badly indeed.
“Elfyn’s work in pursuing this issue and obtaining more psychological support has drawn wide acclaim and I am very pleased that he is coming to Llanelli to meet with representatives of the British Legion.”
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