Press release: 'Work for Wales' campaign

On Sunday 29th July, Plaid Cymru Youth, the youth and student wing of Plaid Cymru, will launch its ‘Work for Wales’ campaign.

The campaign will draw attention to the dangerous reality that almost a quarter of 16 to 24 year-olds in Wales are unemployed, and to call on the Welsh Government to act now to reverse this worrying statistic which goes against the UK trend. A petition to the National Assembly calling on the Welsh Government to do more to tackle youth unemployment will be launched the same day.

The campaign will be launched at Plaid Cymru’s Summer School which takes place this weekend at the Urdd Camp in Llangrannog.

Plaid Cymru Youth National Chair Cerith Rhys Jones said:

"Because of the Welsh Government’s lack of action and the Westminster coalition government’s destructive policies, thousands and thousands of young people in Wales are without jobs. There is a grave danger that their generation will become a lost generation.

"Unfortunately, the Welsh Government would rather use the Westminster Government’s misguided policies as a means to score political points. The lives and jobs of Wales’s young people are not a political game, so we are calling on the Welsh Government to act urgently to put effective and positive schemes in place in order to create work for Wales."

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood AM added:

"The figures for youth unemployment are shocking and should act as a catalyst for urgent and direct action from the Welsh government. 23.7% of 16 to 24 year-olds in Wales are out of work; this is unacceptable.

"Youth unemployment is crushing too many hopes and dreams - it is already stifling too many communities, many of which are yet to recover from previous recessions. Plaid Cymru Youth are absolutely right to prioritise campaigning for jobs and opposing the scourge of youth unemployment. I therefore fully support the petition launch as part of the 'Work for Wales!' campaign."

- ENDS -

Contact Cerith Rhys Jones (cerithrjones@live.co.uk) for more information.

Plaid gives you the right to use any of our high-resolution pictures at www.flickr.com/plaidcymru for your publication or online use.

Datganiad i'r wasg: Ymgyrch 'Gwaith i Gymru'

Ddydd Sul y 29ain o Orffennaf, bydd Plaid Cymru Ifanc, adain ieuenctid a myfyrwyr Plaid Cymru, yn lansio ymgyrch ‘Gwaith i Gymru.’

Pwrpas yr ymgyrch fydd dwyn sylw at y gwirionedd brawychus bod bron iawn chwarter o Gymry rhwng 16 a 24 oed yn ddi-waith ac i alw Llywodraeth Cymru i’r gâd i weithredu er mwyn atal y sefyllfa ofidus hon sydd yn groes i’r tuedd Prydeinig. Lansir deiseb i’r Cynulliad Cenedlaethol yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i wneud mwy i taclo diweithdra ymysg pobl ifainc ar yr un diwrnod.

Caiff yr ymgyrch ei lansio yn ystod Ysgol Haf flynyddol Plaid Cymru y’i chynhelir y penwythnos hwn yng Ngwersyll yr Urdd, Llangrannog.

Meddai Cerith Rhys Jones, Cadeirydd Cenedlaethol Plaid Cymru Ifanc:

"Oherwydd llwyr ddiogi Llywodraeth Cymru a pholisïau distrywgar y llywodraeth glymbleidiol yn San Steffan, mae yng Nghymru filoedd o bobl ifainc sydd heb waith. Mae perygl mawr mai cenhedlaeth goll fydd eu cenhedlaeth nhw.

"Yn anffodus, mae’n well gan Lywodraeth Cymru ddefnyddio polisïau ffôl Llywodraeth San Steffan fel modd o ennill pwyntiau gwleidyddol. Nid gêm gwleidyddol yw bywydau a swyddi pobl ifainc Cymru, felly rydym yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i weithredu ar frys i ddodi cynlluniau effeithiol a phositif ar waith er mwyn creu gwaith i Gymru."

Ychwanegodd Leanne Wood AC, Arweinydd Plaid Cymru:

"Mae’r ffigurau ynghylch diweithdra ieuenctid yn ddychrynllyd a dylent weithredu fel catalydd am weithdrediad brys ac uniongyrchol gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae 23.7% o bobl rhwng 16 a 24 oed yng Nghymru heb waith; nid yw hwn yn dderbyniol.

"Mae diweithdra ieuenctid yn difetha gormod o obeithion a dyheadau – mae yn barod yn tagu gormod o gymunedau, a nifer o hwythau heb eto ymadfer wedi dirwasgiadau blaenorol. Mae Plaid Cymru Ifanc yn llygad ei lle’n blaenoriaethu ymgyrchu dros swyddi ac yn erbyn diweithdra ieuenctid. Rwyf felly’n llawn gefnogi’r ddeiseb y’i lansir fel ran o ymgyrch 'Gwaith i Gymru!'"

- DIWEDD -

Cysyllter â Cerith Rhys Jones (cerithrjones@live.co.uk) am ragor o wybodaeth.

Mae Plaid Cymru yn rhoi’r hawl i chi ddefnyddio unrhyw rai o’n lluniau ar www.flickr.com/plaidcymru i’w cyhoeddi neu’u defnyddio ar-lein.

Ry'n ni'n newid! We're changing!

Mae'n falch iawn gen i gyhoeddi ar ran y Pwyllgor Gwaith bod CymruX wedi ail-frandio ac o hyn ymlaen, Plaid Cymru Ifanc fydd enw ein mudiad. Plaid Cymru Ifanc yw mudiad ieuenctid a myfyrwyr Plaid Cymru a chydag enw a logo newydd, rydym yn awyddus i sicrhau bod Plaid Cymru Ifanc yn fudiad pwysig o fewn y teulu'r Blaid. Mae'r gwaith yn dechrau'n awr!

Bydd ein cyfrif facebook yn cau cyn hir felly sicrhewch eich bod wedi 'hoffi' y dudalen facebook newydd sef facebook.com/PlaidCymruIfanc.

Rydym wedi diweddaru'n cyfrif twitter hefyd, felly os y'ch chi'n ffan o drydar, gwnewch yn siwr eich bod yn dilyn @plaidifancyouth.

Bydd y blog hwn hefyd yn cau cyn hir a'r gobaith yw y byddwn yn cyfuno'r blog ynghŷd â'r holl wybodaeth am Blaid Cymru Ifanc ar feicro-wefan ynghlwm wrth wefan Plaid Cymru. Cadwch lygad am ragor o wybodaeth!


I am very happy indeed to announce on behalf of the NEC that CymruX has re-branded and our movement will now be known as Plaid Cymru Youth. Plaid Cymru Youth is the youth and student movement of Plaid Cymru and with a new logo and a new name, we are eager to make sure that Plaid Cymru Youth is an important movement within the Plaid Cymru family. The work starts now!

Our facebook account will shortly be deactivated so please make sure that you've 'liked' our new page at facebook.com/PlaidCymruIfanc.

We've also updated our twitter account, so if you're a fan of tweeting, be sure to follow @plaidifancyouth.

This blog will also be closing in the near future with a view to combining the blog element and the more traditional 'website' element on a micro-site attached to the Plaid Cymru website. Keep an eye out for more information!

Cerith Rhys Jones
Cadeirydd Cenedlaethol / National Chair

Etholiadau

Gan Emyr Gruffydd, Is Gadeirydd a Chydlynydd Materion Ewropeaidd Plaid Cymru Ifanc

Ymddiheiriadau am bostio hwn mor hwyr. Mae wedi bod 'da fi ar y cyfrifiadur ers sbel ond fe anghofiais ei uwchlwytho i'r blog. Mae'r cynnwys braidd yn ddiweddar, ond gobeithio y byddwch yn mwynhau darllen 'ta beth!

Mae'r wythnosau diwethaf wedi bod yn rhai diddorol o ran etholiadau yma yn Ewrop. Rhaid llongyfarch rhai o'n cymrodyr, a chydymdeimlo gydag eraill. Er engrhaifft, prin ydy'n gobeithion y bydd y llywodraeth newydd yng Ngroeg yn mynd i newid sefyllfa y miloedd o Roegwyr hynny sydd allan o waith a sy'n dibynnu ar barseli bwyd bob dydd. Gobeithiwn y bydd Syriza yn lais cryf i'r Groegwyr hynny yn y senedd yn Athen, yn brwydro i gadw gwasanaethau iechyd ag addysg sylfaenol i'r tlotaf yn y wlad. Gobeithio hefyd y bydd y llywodraeth yn mynd i'r afael â phroblemau enbyd yn strwythyr gwleidyddol y wlad, sydd wedi gadael i'r banciau a'r cyfoethog fodoli heb dalu trethi ers blynyddoedd lawer.

Mae bron deufis wedi pasio ers etholiadau i senedd Schleswig Holstein bellach, lle'r ennillodd y Sydslesvigsk Vælgerforening, neu'r SSW, 3 sedd ac un sedd yng Nghabinet y llywodraeth glymblaid yno, rhwng y Blaid Ddemocrataidd Sosialaidd, y Gwyrddion, a'r SSW. Mae'r blaid yn draddodiadol yn sefyll dros hawliau Daniaid a Ffrisiaid Gogledd yr Almaen. Llongyfarchiadau mawr iddynt oddi wrth bawb ym Mhlaid Cymru Ifanc, ac i'n chwaer adain ieuenctid, yr SSWUngdom am eu holl waith caled.

Canlyniadau etholiadau Seneddol Ffrainc

Mae etholiadau Senedd Ffrainc hefyd wedi bod yn hynod ddiddorol i'w dilyn yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf. Fel y bydd rhai ohonoch eisioes yn gwybod, cynhelir etholiadau yn Ffrainc dros bythefnos, gyda'r ddau ymgeisydd sy'n cyrraedd y brig yn wynebu ei gilydd wythnos yn ddiweddarach. Bu'n rhaid i mi edrych dros y canlyniadau yn 'Le Monde' gyda chrib fan, gan mai fel 'rég'. (régionaliste) neu 'nat' (nationaliste)yn unig y byddai'n chwaer bleidiau yn cael eu rhestru, a ddim wrth eu henwau. Dydy'r broblem o gael eich anwybyddu gan y wasg ddim yn un sy'n unigryw i ni yma yng Nghymru felly!

Llydaw
Crewyd hanes yn Llydaw gyda Paul Molac o'r UDB yn cael ei ethol gyda 51% o'r bleidlais, fel rhan o gytundeb rhwng yr UDB, y Blaid Sosialaidd (PS) a'r Gwyrddion (EELV). Fe fydd Paul yn eistedd gydag EELV yn y senedd ym Mharis. Mae hyn yn newyddion arbennig i bob un sy'n credu mewn datganoli pellach o fewn y wladwriaeth Ffrengig, a Paul yw'r unig aelod seneddol i gael ei ethol dros blaid o'r fath - Gwynfor Evans Llydaw, efallai! Gobeithio y bydd Paul yn llais dros Lydaw, ei phobl, ei hiaith a'i diwylliant, ac yn nraenen yn ystlys yr élite gwleidyddol Ffrengig sy'n gwrthwynebu Llydaw unedig.

Corsica
Yn Nghorsica, fe gyrhaeddodd y PNC, Plaid Genedlaethol Corsica, yr ail rownd mewn dau allan o bedwar o etholaethau'r ynys. Gilles Simeoni a Jean-Christophe Angelini oedd yn cynrychioli'r Blaid. Fodd bynnag, colli i'r UMP, plaid Nicolas Sarkozy yn yr ail rownd oedd yr hanes i'r PNC. Rhaid llongyfarch y PNC am gyrraedd yr ail rownd am y tro cyntaf mewn hanes - y tro cyntaf i blaid o'r fath gyrraedd yr ail rownd heb orfod gwneud cytundeb a phleidiau fel y PS neu EELV. Mae gan Blaid Cymru Ifanc gysylltiad agos gyda ieuenctid y PNC, gan y daeth un ohonynt draw i'n cynorthwyo yn yr etholiadau lleol ym mis Mai. Llongyfarchiadau iddynt am wneud mor dda a phob hwyl y tro nesaf.

Gwlad y Basg
Cafwyd canlyniadau diddorol yng Ngwlad y Basg hefyd, gyda chenedlaetholwyr yn ennill dros 11% o'r bleidlais yn Biarritz ac yn cyrraedd 8% yn Oloron-Sainte Marie. Mae'r ffaith i tua 13,000 o bobl bleidleisio dros bleidiau cenedlaetholgar yng Ngwlad y Basg yn galonogol, yn wyneb y fath wrthwynebiad hanesyddol i ieithoedd a diwylliannau lleiafrifol o fewn y Wladwriaeth Ffrengig.

Martinique a Caledonia Newydd
Etholwyd dau aelod seneddol o ynys Martinique, yn y Caribi, sy'n gefnogol o annibyniaeth i'r ynys. Fodd bynnag, colli yn yr ail rownd oedd hanes Jean Pierre Djaiwe, o'r Front de Libération Kanak Socialiste, sy'n brwydro dros anibynniaeth i frodorion Caledonia Newydd, gyda 47.45% o'r bleidlais yn erbyn 52.55% i'r ymgeisydd ar y dde unedig.

Mae'n amlwg felly bod tipyn o waith yn dal i'w wneud yn Ffrainc i'n chwaer bleidiau, ond rhaid llongyfarch pob un ohonynt am eu hymdrech, ac yn enwedig i Paul Molac, o'r UDB, am ei fuddugoliaeth. Gourc'hemmenoù, Paul!

Digwyddiadau

Ymddiheuriadau am bostio mor fuan! Roeddwn am ddod a dau ddigwyddiad i'ch sylw chi y mae Plaid Cymru Ifanc yn falch o'u cefnogi.

Ddydd Sadwrn yn dod, 26 Mai 2012, mi fydd Plaid Pride yn ail-lansio yng Nghanolfan Celfyddydau Chapter ar Heol y Farchnad, Caerdydd, am 14.00. Sefydlwyd y grwp yn ystod Cynhadledd Wanwyn Caerdydd 2010 a chynhelir digwyddiadau blynyddol ym Mardi Gras Caerdydd Cymru.

Pwrpas y cyfarfod hwn fydd aildrefnu'r grwp cyn digwyddiadau'r haf yn dod a'r Gynhadledd Flynyddol yn yr hydref. Byddwn yn trafod ymgynghoriad Llywodraeth y DG ar briodasau sifil cyfartal, trefniant y group, a digwyddiadau y bydd Plaid Cymru yn ymwneud ag hwy (e.e. Mardi Gras, Pride Abertawe). Mae diwrnod y cyfarfod yn digwydd ar ddiwrnod Eurovision, felly bydd dirprwyaeth yn mynd i ganol y ddinas wedi'r cyfarfod i fwynhau!

Ddydd Gwener 1 Mehefin 2012, byddwn yn cefnogi'r bobl y tu ol i Ddiwrnod Gweriniaethol Bae Caerdydd wrth iddynt lansio deiseb yn erbyn y Lluoedd Arfod yn recriwtio yn ysgolion Cymru. Y Deyrnas Gyfunol yw'r unig wladwriaeth yn yr Undeb Ewropeaidd sy'n caniatau i hwn ddigwydd; dro ar ol tro'r ydym wedi gweld y fyddin yn rhoi cyflwyniadau yn ysgolion er mwyn ceisio recriwtio'n pobl ifainc ni i'r Lluoedd Arfog. Yn aml, mae'r bobl ifainc hynny'n teimlo mai'u hunig opsiwn mewn bywyd yw ymuno a'r Fyddin neu byw ar fudd-daliadau, a chredwn ninnau nid iawn mo hynny. Mi fyddaf i'n rhoi araith fer, felly dewch draw i arwyddo'r ddeiseb a chael trafodaeth am y mater.

Bydd y cyfarfod am 19.00 yn y Deml Heddwch a Iechyd ar Rodfa'r Brenin Edward VII yn ardal Parc Cathays, Caerdydd.

Yna, ddydd Mawrth 5 Mehefin, bydd y grwp yn cwrdd eto yn Mischief's ar James Street ym Mae Caerdydd am 19.00 er mwyn rhoi cyfle arall ichi arwyddo'r ddeiseb ac i glywed pobl arall yn siarad (nid fi'r tro hwn) gan gynnwys Mike Jenkins, tad yr AC Plaid Cymru dros Orllewin De Cymru, Bethan Jenkins.

Am wybodaeth bellach ar ail-lansiad Plaid Pride, wele: https://www.facebook.com/events/223736867741113/

Am wybodaeth bellach ar ddigwyddiad Diwrnod Gweriniaethol Bae Caerdydd yn y Deml heddwch, wele: https://www.facebook.com/events/345406628860121/

Am wybodaeth bellach ar ddigwyddiad Diwrnod Gweriniaethol Bae Caerdydd ym Mischief's, wele: https://www.facebook.com/events/394532667237096/

Y mae Plaid Cymru Ifanc yn falch o allu cefnogi'r holl ddigwyddiadau hyn, a gobeithiwn y byddwch yn gallu ymuno a ni i roi'ch cefnogaeth chithau hefyd.

Cerith Rhys Jones
Cadeirydd Cenedlaethol

Events

Sorry for posting two days in a row! I just wanted to draw your attention to two events coming up, which Plaid Cymru Youth is proud to be supporting.

This Saturday 26 May 2012, Plaid Pride will host its relaunch at the Chapter Arts Centre on Market Road in Cardiff at 14.00. The group was launched at the Cardiff Spring Conference in 2010 and annual events have been held at the Cardiff Wales Mardi Gras.

The purpose of this meeting is to reorganise the group before this summer's events and the annual party conference. Items for discussion will include the UK government's equal civil marriage consultation, group organisation, and activities in which Plaid Pride may be involved in 2012 (e.g. Cardiff Wales Mardi Gras, Swansea Pride). The meeting date coincides with the Eurovision song contest being held that evening - there will be a delegation into the City Centre afterwards!

On Friday 1 June 2012, we will be supporting the people behind Cardiff Bay Republican Day as they launch a petition against military recruitment in schools in Wales. The United Kingdom is the only country in the European Union that allows this to happen, and time and again, we have seen the military giving presentations in schools to recruit our young people into the Armed Forces. Often, those young people feel that their only option in life is to join the Forces or live on the dole, and we believe that is wrong. I will be giving a short speech at the event, so come along to sign the petition and have a frank discussion about this issue.

The meeting's at 19.00 at the Temple of Peace and Health on King Edward VII Avenue in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff.

Then on Tuesday 5 June 2012, the group will meet again in Mischief's Café Bar on James Street in Cardiff Bay at 19.00 to give you another opportunity to sign the petition and to hear some different people speaking (not me, this time) including Mike Jenkins, father of Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales West, Bethan Jenkins.

For more information on the Plaid Pride relaunch, go to: https://www.facebook.com/events/223736867741113/

For more information on the Cardiff Bay Republican Day event at the Temple of Peace, go to: https://www.facebook.com/events/345406628860121/

For more information on the Cardiff Bay Republican Day event at Mischief's, go to: https://www.facebook.com/events/394532667237096/

Plaid Cymru Youth is proud to be supporting all of these events, and we hope that you'll be able to join us to give your support too.

Cerith Rhys Jones
National Chair

To be or not to be - The President's Club

I was recently asked my view on an institution of Plaid Cymru's which has existed for a good number of years now, The President's Club.

It is possible that many party members and readers of this blog will have no idea of what the President's Club is; in essence, it is the status given to party members who pay a monthly membership fee of £20 or more. Members of the club enjoy a special reception at the Eisteddfod and at Annual Conference, an opportunity to attend a special event with a guest speaker, and a personal Christmas card from the President of Plaid Cymru.

I admit that the President's Club isn't something to which I've given much thought. Personally, I am not a member of the club, and never have been. As a student, I simply can't afford to give the party £20 a month but I hope that my contribution to the party in terms of the work I do for it, not only as Chair of Plaid Cymru Youth, but also on various campaigns and at election time, makes up for what I cannot give financially.

It was put to me that the President's Club isn't fair, as it excludes those who cannot afford to give much to the party financially, and I accept that. The person with whom I was speaking suggested that if we want to build a society of equals, why do we need a special club like this in the first place, because surely it goes against all our principles? After all, our party's constitution states that one of our core aims as a national movement is

to build a national community based on equal citizenship, respect for different traditions and cultures and the equal worth of all individuals, whatever their race, nationality, gender, colour, creed, sexuality, age, ability or social background.

I'd like to briefly set out my view on the President's Club. I do find myself feeling slightly uncomfortable that there should be some sort of 'special club' for those in Plaid Cymru who can afford to give more money to the party than others; I find that to be something rather more suited to the unionist parties which we so vehemently oppose.

Having said that, Plaid Cymru is extremely fortunate in that we have hundreds, if not thousands, of committed activists all across Wales who play such a vital role in the development and promotion of the national movement, and it is only right that the party appreciates them, even if it is only with a couple of receptions and a Christmas card. Plaid Cymru activists are by no means half-hearted in their work for our party, so they deserve our thanks.

The problem is that the President's Club does not recognise their contribution - it only recognises those who give in financial terms.

Having said all of that, I am lucky to be in a position to know how the party works, to know the challenges that it faces, and the difficulties involved in running a national movement such as ours with only a limited number of staff at HQ, who, I have to say, work extremely hard for the cause. I imagine that it would be terribly difficult for the party to keep a record of all those who give so much to this party in non-financial terms, and it would be costly to thank them with three such events every year.

Of course, Dr Eurfyl ap Gwilym's internal review made reference to getting closer to party members - for there to be a better connection and relationship between party officials and staff in HQ and our activists on the ground - but I would suggest that it would be beneficial for the party to find a mechanism for officially appreciating hard-working party activists. I think the internal report by Dr ap Gwilym goes a long way in doing this, by raising the possibility of party members being invited to HQ to see how the party works, and of course, all party members are allowed to attend conference.

So, being that the party is working with a view to developing and strengthening the relationship between the party in central office and the activists at grassroots level, and also the fact that it would be very difficult to include hard-working party activists in some sort of club, I am not of the view that the President's Club ought to be scrapped.

I know this blog has been a bit dry, but I thought that I'd better clarify my position on it, as I'd been asked by a party member.

Cerith Rhys Jones
National Chair

For more information: http://www.english.plaidcymru.org/presidents-club-1/

Homelessness In Wales

On a slightly different note this week, I would like to focus on the issue of Homelessness in Wales.

The last few years of recession have had a serious impact on the lives of so many people, across Wales and further afield, and this impact can be seen vividly in the rise of homelessness. In 2011 figures suggest that Homelessness in Wales rose 11% on the previous year.

In Swansea, the number of people “seeking help” with regards to homelessness was 2,945. Since these figures only contain those who sought help we must assume that the real figures for homelessness are indeed higher still.

While The Times Rich List reports record earnings for the 1%, people in Wales are being forced from their homes and onto the streets, all the while the Con-Dem government asks us to believe that we are all in this together.

The BBC recently aired a documentary that followed the lives of a number of homeless men and women on the streets of Swansea. I would recommend it to anyone. Making people aware of this issue is a necessity. However, awareness alone will not solve our concerns.

We need to call on the government in Westminster and in the Bay to do more, to do much more! To help and support our nation’s most vulnerable. There are plenty of charities in Wales that do excellent work to help those most in need, for example The Wallich and Shelter Cymru.

However, with such a dramatic increase in homelessness and less money being raised through donations in these tough times, such charities find themselves swimming against the tide. It is with this in mind that Zachary Ripley, Rhodri Schelewa-Davies, and I decided to walk the 177 mile Offa’s dyke national trail, which runs along the border of Wales and England.

We will be camping along the way for 14 days and nights and we are doing so to raise money for 'The Wallich.' So please check out our page, share it with friends and donate.

Any contributions will be greatly appreciated.

Glenn Page
Press and Communications Officer

To donate, please go here: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=RhodriZacharyGlenn&isTeam=true

Figures obtained from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-17303892

You can watch Swansea living on the streets here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01db84y

The Wallich:
www.thewallich.com

Shelter Cymru:
http://www.sheltercymru.org.uk

Better luck next time!

We didn’t win in Cathays but I am happy to say that we beat the Conservatives.

I didn’t manage to get down the votes per candidate in Cathays last night but I’ve tallied up the votes per party:

1. Labour - 3345 - 3 Lab elected
2. Liberal Democrats - 3087 - 1 LD elected
3. Green Party - 2221
4. Plaid Cymru - 950
5. Conservatives - 835
6. Independent - 139

As for the national result for Plaid Cymru, there’s no escaping the fact that it’s disappointing. Plaid Cymru lost some fantastic councillors and it’s disappointing that in some places, there were hard-working local champions from Plaid Cymru barely holding onto their seats, or not getting elected. It really does make you wonder how that can be, when the people they’re up against do nothing for their communities.

There is a possible answer to be had in that Plaid Cymru was the only party that ran this local election campaign in the way that local election campaigns ought to be run. The clue’s in the title - it ought to be about LOCAL issues. Unfortunately, the British parties decided to use this LOCAL election to fight WESTMINSTER battles. Couple that with the influence of the British press and hey presto, what have you got? People up and down the country wanting to use this vote - which ought to be a vote on local issues - as a protest vote.

Perhaps Plaid Cymru was silly not to join in with the extreme coalition-bashing. Perhaps we ought to have set ourselves up as the real alternative to the Con Dems, and asked the people to vote for us in order to send a message to David Cameron and Nick Clegg.

Politically speaking, that would probably have been the right thing to do. But we can take pride in the fact that we were the only party to run this campaign properly. Even if that means that Plaid Cymru had a disappointing night, I’m glad that that’s how we did it. We were fair and honest.

I really am desperately sorry for the Plaid Cymru councillors across Wales who lost their seats, and for the candidates who didn’t get elected. I know that they won’t give up though, because despite how cheesy it may sound, in Plaid Cymru, you don’t get politicians. You get real, local champions, and one disappointing evening won’t stop those people from showing Labour up over the next five years.

On the flip side, there are some positives. I’m pleased that Plaid Cymru has retained two councillors in Cardiff, and I know that Neil McEvoy and Lisa Ford will continue to do a fantastic job in Fairwater.

And then of course, as Chair of Plaid Cymru Youth, I am over the moon that two of my members have been elected as Councillors. Mair Rowlands will do a brilliant job in Bangor, and of course my good friend and colleague Rebeca Lewis won fantastically against the Labour incumbent in Trebanos, Neath Port Talbot.

I am tremendously proud of you both and want to wish you the best of luck for your five years as councillors. I know you’ll do a brilliant job representing your constituents, and will show Labour up for who they really are.

Overall, it’s a dim picture, but having said that, there’s a silver lining to every cloud. Our task for the next five years is to hold Labour to account and show the people of Wales that Plaid Cymru is the only real party of Wales and the only party that really cares about local communities up and down our country.

In the words of a wise woman - YMLAEN!

Cerith Rhys Jones
National Chair, Plaid Cymru Youth

Diwrnod Gweithredu | Day of Action

Ddydd Sadwrn 21 Ebrill 2012 - penblwydd Mrs Windsor - fe gynhaliodd Plaid Cymru Ifanc ddiwrnod gweithredu, yn ymgyrchu gydag ymgeisyddion y Blaid yng Nghathays a Phenarth. Cawsom ddiwrnod da o daflenni ac ymgyrchu yn y dau ward, lle mae gan y Blaid chwe ymgeisydd ifanc. Yng Nghathays, mi ein Cadeirydd Cenedlaethol Cerith Rhys Jones yn sefyll wrth ochr ein Is-Gadeirydd Cenedlaethol Emyr Gruffydd, ein Swyddog Cyfathrebiadau Cenedlaethol Glenn Page, ac Andrew Pearc. Ym Mhenarth, mi fydd ein Swyddog Polisi Cenedlaethol Osian Lewis, a'n Cyn-Gadeirydd, sydd bellach yn Llywydd ar Undeb Myfyrwyr Prifysgol Abertawe Luke James, yn ymgyrchu i ennill y ward oddi wrth y Ceidwadwyr. Fe ymunodd arweinydd newydd Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood AC, gyda ni am sesiwn o daflenni ar brif ffordd siopa Caerdydd, Heol y Frenhines, lle'r oeddem oll yn hapus gyda'r ymateb addawol a gafwyd gan siopwyr Caerdydd.

On Saturday 21 April 2012 - Mrs Windsor's birthday - Plaid Cymru Youth hosted a Day of Action, campaigning with our candidates in Cathays and Penarth. We had a great day leafleting and canvassing in the two wards, in which Plaid will be fielding six young candidates. In Cathays, our National Chair Cerith Rhys Jones will be standing alongside our National VC Emyr Gruffydd, our National Comms Officer Glenn Page, and Andrew Pearce. In Penarth, our National Policy Officer Osian Lewis and former Chair, now President of Swansea SU, Luke James, will be heading up Plaid's campaign against the incumbent Conservatives. The new Leader of Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood AM, joined us for a leafleting session on Cardiff's main shopping street, Queen Street, and we were all pleased with the positive reaction shown by Cardiff's shoppers. Lluniau / Photos © Kirsten Whitney

A Proper Voice for Young People

This is my first ever blog so I hope you blog addicts approve of it! I will be taking a break from Election talk and will be looking at Funky Dragon.

I have for a long time believed that the Young people of Wales lack a proper, professional and serious forum in which they can voice their concerns and ideas. At the moment the closest thing that young people in Wales have to a proper Youth Parliament is Funky Dragon, an organisation which in my view has had varying degrees of success and lacks credibility. It lacks proper resourcing and funding from the Welsh Government and has not made a big impact amongst young people.

What we need in Wales is something similar to the Scottish Youth Parliament which has run interesting and engaging campaigns and is an organisation which is generally taken seriously by young people and politicians alike!

Members of Plaid Cymru's youth wing have taken the lead in highlighting this issue in the past. Our current chair Cerith Rhys Jones not so long ago highlighted some of the problems with Funky Dragon on S4C. We must now progress the issue and press for a reformed body that young people in Wales will actually take seriously and will want to participate in.

In about 3 weeks time voters across Wales will face local Council elections. This made me realise, who elects the Youth Representatives that make up Funky Dragon and where do they get their mandate to represent Young people?

At the moment local youth forums elect people to represent them on the “National Council”. The first problem I see is that how many people know that these Youth Forums exist and attend their meetings? In order to really have a more meaningful impact and mandate, why doesn’t Funky Dragon engage with Schools and Colleges and find a way for a much broader spectrum of young people to engage in their organisation?

A complete rebrand is required and in particular changing the name is a must! I can only assume that the name Funky Dragon was chosen to try and make it sound cool and fun, however I think it has the opposite effect. I have friends who have been involved with Funky Dragon and are often too embarrassed to tell other people that they belong to an organisation with that name.

Young people want to feel that they are being taken seriously and are treated with respect. A proper Youth Parliament could be leading the campaign against higher tuition fees, Votes at 16, Gay marriage which a lot of young people in the LGBT community feel strongly about, Climate change and the list goes on!

I don’t like comparing Wales to Scotland much but in this case I think we in Wales could really learn from the SYP or Scottish Youth Parliament which has run campaigns on many of the topics above.

YMLAEN!

William Thomas
Non-portfolio Officer

Darlledu ein llwyddiant. Broadcasting our success.

Fe ddarllenais i erthygl Rhuanedd Richards yn y Ddraig Goch ac o ni'n gyffrous ac yn hyderus am neges y Blaid. Llawn pethau cadarnhaol a neges glir i fynd â ni mewn i'r etholiadau lleol. Yn fy marn i, nid oedd y neges hynny wedi cael ei gyfleu yn y darllediad newydd. Mae llawer o bobol dyddiau hyn yn cysylltu'r Blaid gyda hunaniaeth Cymreig a Chymru, does dim angen neulltio darllediad cyfan i hunaniaeth. Dyma ddyfyniad gan gyd aelodau o Blaid Cymru pan ofynnwyd iddynt beth y byddent wedi bod yn well i weld:

"Byddai’n well gennym ni glywed neges am gymunedau Cymru a Chymru ei hun yn sefyll yn gadarn am yr hun rydym yn ei drysori – yn erbyn ymosodiadau SanSteffan i’n trysorau cenedlaethol ni. Clywed am yr ysbryd cymunedol sydd dal gennym ni fan hyn yng Nghymru. Byddwn ni ond wedi hoffi Darllediad Gwleidyddol a fyddai’n dangos bod gan Blaid Cymru hanes o amddiffyn y pethau anniriaethol, anfesuradwy hynny sydd yn diffinio’n Cymru ni fel gwlad unigryw, ac roeddwn yn meddwl y byddai gan Blaid Cymru y soffistigeiddrwydd i wneud rhywbeth felly, ac nid fel y gwelswn y darllediad gwleidyddol.” 

"Dim trafod polisi, prin iawn oedd y sôn am amcanion craidd y blaid. Y frawddeg ‘Os ydych chi’n Gymry dylech chi fod yn pleidleisio i Blaid Cymru’ ond yn ein gwneud ni’n hollol rwystredig.”

Mae Adam Jones o blog banw yn ychwanegu:

"Mae na le i weld diben darllediad Plaid Cymru, hynny yw ei fod e'n ceisio creu rhyw ymdeimlad o Gymreictod i ennill cefnogaeth, ond does dim sylwedd na pholisiau i'r darllediad yn hytrach mae fel bod pwy bynnag oedd yn gyfrifol am y ffilm yn ceisio dynwared rhyw dechneg spielberg a troi gwleidyddiaeth yn rhyw ddiwydiant ffilmio. Diolch i dduw bod 'da ni bobl da yn ymgeisio ac yn ymgyrchu ar lawr gwlad i ennyn cefnogaeth, achos yn gelain mae'r neges yn ein darllediad 'Beth yw Cymru' neu 'Ble mae'n polisi' yn fwy addas efallai?"

Byddwn i, ynghyd ag eraill yn awgrymu newid mewn neges i gyd-fynd â neges etholiad Rhuanedd. Mae rhaid i ni ganolbwyntio ar y llwyddiannau a lledaenu'r addewidion y manifesto. Fel mae Rhuanedd yn dweud mae rhaid i ni ganu clodydd ein hunain trwy sôn am yr hyn rydym wedi cyflawni ar lefel lleol megis y rhai isod:

• Cyhoeddi help gwerth £4 miliwn i 30,000 o bensiynwyr gyda threth y cyngor yn 2010-11; 

• Cynyddu'r arian a roddwyd i gynghorau lleol o 3.2%; 

• Sicrhau bod cynyddiadau yn Nhreth y Cyngor yng Nghymru ar ei hisaf ers dros ddegawd;

Yn y dyfodol mewn bwysig y rydym yn ei roi dros y ffordd yr ydym yn wahaniaethu o bleidiau eraill a pham Plaid Cymru yw'r blaid gorau a dim ond o Gymru. Bwysleisio ein cyflawniadau a llwyddiant mewn cynghorau ar draws Cymru gyfan. Yna gallwn fynd ymlaen gyda hyder ac agwedd gadarnhaol.

                                                           ***********


I recently read Rhuanedd Richards article in The Welsh Nation and i was excited and confident of Plaid's message. Full of positivity and a clear message to take us into the local election. In my opinion, that message did not come across in the new party political broadcast. Many people these days connect Plaid with identity and Wales, there is no need to dedicate a whole broadcast to identity. Here's a quote from fellow Plaid members when asked what they would have preferred to see:

"I'd prefer to hear a message of Wales' communities and Wales as a whole standing up for what they value - against assaults on these values hailing from Westminster. Of an ideal of community spirit that we we still have in Wales. I'd just like a PPB that highlighted that Plaid has a history defending those intangible things of immeasurable value what define Wales for the distinct nation that it is, and that the party has a level of sophistication that is quite dismissed in the PPB I just saw." 

"No talk of policy, barely any talk of core beliefs. The phrase 'if you're Welsh you should be voting Plaid Cymru' just leaves me slapping my forehead in utter disbelief."

Adam Jones from blog banw added:

"There’s room to see where the motive was behind Plaid Cymru’s PPB, which is that it portrays a feeling of Welshness in order to attract support, but there wasn’t any substance to it and no policies were mentioned in the broadcast. Instead it feels that those whom are responsible for the PPB are trying to create some kind of film, some kind of Spielberg strategy of turning politics into a film industry. We’re lucky however that we have great people on the doorstep campaigning across Wales to attract new support, because I’m afraid our political broadcast will fall on deaf ears. ‘What is it to be Welsh’ or perhaps more adequately named ‘Where’s our policy?"

I, along with others would suggest a change in message to correspond with Rhuanedd's election message. We have to concentrate on our achievements and let people know our manifesto promises. As Rhuanedd said we need to blow our own trumpet over our local achievements and here's a couple to name a few:

• announced £4 million to help 30,000 pensioners with council tax in 2010-11;  

• increased the amount of money given to local councils by 3.2%;  

• kept council tax increases in Wales the lowest for more than a decade.

In future, it's important we put over how we differ from other parties and why Plaid Cymru is the best and only party of Wales. Emphasizing our achievements and success in leading councils across Wales. We can then go forward with confidence and a positive attitude. Ymlaen.


Branwen Alaw Evans

Plaid Cymru Ifanc - Cangen Bangor

Gan Mair Rowlands, Ymgeisydd dros y Blaid ym Mangor

Mae’n gyfnod cyffrous ym Mangor ar hyn o bryd gyda cangen myfyrwyr Plaid Cymru yn ail gychwyn yma a hefyd gyda’r ymgyrch etholiadau lleol, lle mae 2 ohonom sy’n aelodau Plaid Cymru Ifanc, Illtud Jones a minnau (Mair Rowlands), yn sefyll yn Ward Menai Bangor. Mae’n dda gweld cymaint o ymgeiswyr ifanc yn sefyll, ac mae gennym griw da o fyfyrwyr ym Mangor sydd wedi bod yn helpu gyda’r ymgyrch.

Mae Menai Bangor yn cael ei gynrychioli ar hyn o bryd gan ddau gynghorwr y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol. Roedd Plaid Cymru yn agos ati yn yr etholiadau lleol diwethaf, ac gan fod gan y ward boblogaeth uchel o fyfyrwyr gallwn ddisgwyl gostyngiad mawr yn y gefnogaeth i’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol. Mae’n rhaid i ni ysgogi cefnogaeth ar draws y ward, ac os ydym am gynyddu y nifer sy’n pleidleisio oedd dim ond yn 19.34% nol yn 2008, mae’n rhaid i ni gael y myfyrwyr allan i bleidleisio trwy bwysleisio bod Plaid Cymru yn blaid a fydd yn ymladd ar eu ran.

Roeddem yn ddigon lwcus i gael cwmni Leanne Wood arweinydd newydd Plaid Cymru ym Mangor nos Lun. Roedd pawb yn gyffrous iawn i’w chael hi yno - roedd o’n hawdd iawn siarad â hi, ac mae hi’n bendant yn apelio at bobl ifanc. Bu trafodaeth ddiddorol iawn ynglŷn a pob math o faterion; materion lleol, sefyllfa’r economi a diweithdra, Wylfa B, ynni adnewyddadwy a llawer mwy cyn i ni fynd allan i ganfasio. Mae’n rhaid i mi gyfaddef bo fi heb gael llawer o brofiad blaenorol o ganfasio ond roedd cael Leanne yna gyda ni yn hwb mawr. Roedd yr ymateb gan y mwyafrif yn gadarnhaol a chefnogol, ac roedd y ffaith bod Leanne yno gyda ni wedi creu argraff.

Gyda dim ond ychydig dros bythefnos i fynd tan ddiwrnod yr Etholiadau rydym am wneud popeth a allem i ledaenu neges Plaid Cymru a pwysleisio fod pleidlais i’r Blaid yn bleidlais dros Gymru well!

Mae cangen myfyrwyr y Blaid ym Mangor wedi trefnu gig sy’n arwain i fyny at yr etholiad fydd ar Nos Wener y 27ain o Ebrill am 8pm - noson o adloniant gyda Crash Disco, Rosary a Yr Ayes yng Nghlwb Rheilffordd Bangor i godi arian i’r Blaid ac i Eisteddfod yr Urdd Glynllifon. Y gobaith ydi y gallwn ddenu criw ifanc newydd i ymwneud â’r Blaid gyda’r math yma o ddigwyddiadau. Mi fyddai’n wych pe byddai modd trefnu digwyddiadau fel hyn ar draws Cymru i ddenu mwy o aelodau ifanc.

The independence mindset

Some people in Plaid Cymru have been calling for a more aggressive stance from our politicians on independence for a long time, most notably an alumnus of this youth wing, Adam Price. It seems that since our sister party's landslide victory last year, that view has been adopted by most in the party, and certainly since the overwhelming endorsement it received in Llandudno last year by the membership, we as a party have been significantly more vocal on the issue.

Although I am certain of my support for an independent Wales, I do not share the view of the majority in our party that we should be moving the independence campaign into top gear just yet. It has been inspirational to witness the SNP's success in Scotland and I believe we have a lot to learn from them, but simply copying and pasting their rhetoric on independence would be a mistake. There are many reasons why Scotland is constitutionally so far ahead of Wales, not least the manner in which it was united with England and its success in preserving a distinct education system, legal jurisdiction and civil society. Wales was not united with England, it was assimilated into England, along with all aspects of civil society. Wales' distinctiveness was almost exclusively cultural for the best part of half a millennium. It is understandable therefore, that civil society in Wales has taken its time to build itself into the intrinsic role within Welsh governance that it now plays.

These differences are such that the SNP have been able to include in their manifestos and indeed, in their programmes of government, a promise to hold a referendum on independence. Only once do I remember any senior figures within Plaid Cymru mentioning such referenda in Wales, and even then it was a promise to hold one after we manage to become the biggest party in the Assembly in two consecutive elections. It begs the question therefore, why are we pushing the independence campaign to the forefront of our message at a time when a Plaid Cymru government would do nothing to deliver on that message?

In my opinion, we need to design that “roadmap” that Elin Jones promised in her leadership campaign. We need to know exactly what we are campaigning for. Simply saying, “We support independence… but not yet” is not good enough. We need to be campaigning for the first step on that road map, something that we could include in our manifesto. In doing that, we would be able to argue effectively, that what we are doing is advancing down a path towards a level of prosperity that would make independence a viable option. If we are going to reach our shared goal of setting our country free from the British puppet strings, we need to make this a priority after the election on May 3rd.

***************************************************

Mae rhai ym Mhlaid Cymru wedi bod yn gofyn am agwedd mwy ymosodol gan ein gwleidyddion ar annibyniaeth ers amser maeth, yn fwy nodweddiadol na phawb yw alumnus o’r mudiad ieuenctid hwn, Adam Price. Mae hi’n ymddangos, ers canlyniad gwefreiddiol ein chwaer-blaid y llynedd, fod y barn hynny wedi’i fabwysiadu gan y rhan fwyaf yn y Blaid, ac yn enwedig ers y cefnogaeth llethol cafwyd yn Llandudno llynedd gan yr aelodaeth, rydym ni fel plaid wedi bod yn llawer mwy lleisiol am y peth.

Er fy mod i’n gadarn fy marn o blaid annibyniaeth, dydw i ddim yn rhannu barn y rhan fwyaf yn y Blaid y dylem rhoi annibyniaeth ar flaen y gad yn ein hymgyrch presennol. Rydym ni gyd wedi ein hysbrydoli gan lwyddiant yr SNP yn yr Alban ac yr wyf yn credu bod gennym lawer i’w ddysgu ganddynt, ond bysai eu copïo gair wrth air yn gamgymeriad. Mae yna lawer o resymau pam fod yr Alban yn gyfansoddiadol mor bell o’n blaenau. Un o'r prif resymau yw natur yr undeb rhwng yr Alban a Lloegr a llwyddiant yr Albanwyr i ddal ymlaen at eu system addysg, awdurdodaeth gyfreithiol a’u cymdeithas sifil. Ni fu undeb rhwng Cymru a Lloegr. Gorchfygu Cymru y gwnaeth Lloegr, gan gynnwys pob agwedd o'n cymdeithas sifil. Mi 'roedd Cymru'n wahanol i Loegr o ran diwylliant yn unig am bron i hanner mileniwm. Mae hi'n ddaelladwy felly, bod gwasanaeth sifil yng Nghymru wedi cymryd ei amser i ddatblygu mewn i'r rol ganolog y mae yn eu chwarae heddiw o fewn proses llywodraethu Cymru.

Mae'r gwhaniaethau yma mor ddwys, y bod yr SNP wedi gallu cynnwys addewid yn eu manifesto, ac wrth gwrs, yn eu rahglenni llywodraethu, i gynnal refferendwm ar annibyniaeth. Dim ond unwaith yr wyf yn cofio aelod uwch yn y Blaid yn son am fath refferendwm, ac mi oedd hyd yn oed yr aelod hynny yn son o fewn cyd-destyn o Blaid Cymru'n llwyddo ennill mwy o seddi nac unrhyw blaid arall, ddwywaith yn olynol. Ac felly, mae'r cwestiwn yn codi, pam gwthio'n hymgrych am annibyniaeth mewn adeg lle bysai llywodraeth Plaid Cymru yn gwneud dim byd i wireddu'r ymgyrch hynny?

Yn fy marn i, mae angen dylunio'r "map" hwnnw yr oedd Elin Jones yn son amdano yn ystod ei hymgyrch arweinyddol. Mae angen i ni wybod yn union am beth yr ydym yn ymgyrchu. Dydy dweud yn syml, "rydym yn cefnogi annibyniaeth... ond ddim eto" ddim yn ddigon da. Mae angen i ni allu dadlau yn effeithiol mai yr hyn yr ydym yn ei wneud yw symyd Cymru fyny llwybr tuag at lefel ffyniant mor uchel, bod annibyniaeth yn opsiwn go iawn i'r niferoedd. Os ydym am gyrraedd ein nod o rhyddhau ein cenedl o ddwylo'r Saeson, wedyn mae rhaid i ni wneud dylunio'r map yma yn flaenoriaeth ar ol Mai y 3ydd.


Osian Lewis

Diwrnod Gweithredu | Day of Action

Ar Ddydd Sadwrn yr 21ain o Ebrill, bydd Plaid Cymru Ifanc yn cynnal Diwrnod Gweithredu. Bydd nifer ohonom ar y Pwyllgor Gwaith yn treulio’r diwrnod yn ymgyrchu yng Nghaerdydd. Mae 4 aelod o Blaid Cymru Ifanc yn ymgeisyddion yn ward Cathays, ac mae’n dda gen i’i ddweud bod nifer helaeth o ymgeisyddion ifainc gyda Phlaid Cymru ar draws y wlad. Mae’r etholiad hwn yn hollbwysig i Blaid Cymru ac i’r wlad; dyma’n cyfle ni i ethol byddin o bencampwyr lleol i amddiffyn cymunedau ledled Cymru a’u gwasanaethau cyhoeddus.

Bydd Llywydd EFAy, sef adain ieuenctid Cynghrair Rhydd Ewrop, y blaid y mae Plaid Cymru’n perthyn iddi yn Ewrop, yn ymuno â ni yn y Brifddinas ar yr 21ain. Os hoffech chi ymuno â ni, byddwn yn cwrdd am 10.30 y.b. o flaen Undeb Myfyrwyr Prifysgol Caerdydd ar Blas y Parc. O’r fan honno, byddwn yn canfasio o amgylch Cathays hyd nes 13.00, pan gawn cinio. Yna, am 14.30, byddwn yn symud i lawr i Benarth i helpu canfasio lle mae Osian Lewis, sy’n aelod o’r Pwyllgor Gwaith, a Luke James, sy’n gyn-gadeirydd ar fudiad ieuenctid y Blaid a nawr yn Lywydd ar Undeb Myfyrwyr Prifysgol Abertawe, yn ymgeisyddion dros y Blaid.

Os nad ydych chi’n gallu ymuno â ni yng Nghaerdydd, ‘dw i’n eich annog i ymgyrchu yn eich cymuned leol chi. Mae’n bwysig dros ben ein bod yn lledaenu neges y Blaid yn ystod yr etholiad hwn lle bynnag, pryd bynnag ac at bwy bynnag y gallwn!

On Saturday 21 April, Plaid Cymru Youth will be holding a Day of Action. Many of us who are NEC members will spend the day campaigning in Cardiff. Four Plaid Cymru Youth members are candidates in the Cathays ward and I’m happy to say that Plaid Cymru has a large number of other young candidates all across Wales. This election is extremely important for Plaid Cymru and for the country; here’s our chance to elect an army of local champion to protect communities across Wales and the local services they value so much.

The President of EFAy, which is the youth wing of the European Free Alliance, to which Plaid Cymru is affiliated in Europe, will be joining us in the Capital on the 21st. If you’d like to join us, we’ll be meeting at 10.30 am outside Cardiff University Students’ Union on Park Place. From there, we’ll be canvassing in the Cathays ward until 13.00, when we’ll stop for lunch. Then, at around 14.30, we’ll move down to Penarth to help canvass with Plaid Cymru’s candidates there – Osian Lewis, who’s a member of our NEC, and Luke James, our former Chair who is now President of Swansea University Students’ Union.

If you’re not able to join us in Cardiff, I encourage you to campaign in your own community. It’s essential that we spread Plaid Cymru’s message for this election wherever, whenever and to whomever we can!

Yng ngeiriau ein arweinydd / In the words of our leader - YMLAEN!

Cerith Rhys Jones
Cadeirydd Cenedlaethol | National Chair

Plaid Cymru Cathays

Nominations for local elections officially closed on Wednesday 04/04/12. In the Cathays ward of Cardiff 3 members of the Plaid Cymru Youth national executive have put their names forward, myself (Glenn Page), Cerith Rhys Jones, Emyr Gruffydd and Andrew Pearce all of whom are under 30 and are active members of Plaid Cymru’s student and youth movement. Elsewhere across Wales numerous young candidates have come forward to represent Plaid Cymru, from Menai-Bangor to Penarth.

In total there are 563 Plaid Cymru candidates hoping to represent our communities from May 3rd, 18 of whom have already been elected unopposed. This constitutes the largest number of Plaid Cymru local election candidates ever put forward, indeed, there is no record of this many candidates standing for Plaid Cymru in any election, a clear indication of the growing support and momentum behind our Party.

Cathays is currently represented by four liberal democrat councillors. If the 2011 local elections are anything to go by we can expect the Lib Dem’s will suffer huge defeats. Indeed, Nick Clegg himself has admitted that the elections are going to be “tough”. Perhaps in Cathays especially, an area populated mainly by students, we can expect a large decrease in Lib Dem support. What we need to do in Cathays is to show disaffected students that Plaid Cymru is a party that will fight for them. We must galvanise support across the ward if we are to increase turnout, which sadly was only 16.35% in 2008.

Regardless of what happens in Westminster these elections are local elections and they should be fought on local issues. In Cathays there are plenty of issues that need our attention. Recycling and litter is still a problem that hasn’t been solved. My sympathies to those of you who have been unfortunate enough to walk through Cathays on a Wednesday morning, you no doubt watched your step. Terraced houses, such as those located off Cathays terrace, are without black containers for their litter bins, with black bins being collected once a fortnight people often resort to storing their litter in their gardens which inevitably attracts rodents. Supplying terraced houses with containers for their back gardens would be a simple yet practical solution, which Myself, Andrew, Cerith and Emyr would support.

One issue that I firmly believe needs our immediate attention is that of student housing, an issue largely ignored by Cathays councillors. Having lived in Cardiff now for almost 3 years I can say with first-hand experience that students are being exploited by letting agencies. Over-priced rent, extortionate late fees and poor service are but some of the realities that students can expect when they leave university-owned accommodation. As a solution I would propose the creation of a support group that could offer independent specialist advice to students on how best to act, whether it is legal advice or simply which company is best suited to their needs.

With just over 3 weeks to Election Day it is vital that candidates, activists and supporters of Plaid Cymru continue to do all that they can to support our communities. Together I have no doubt that we can improve our areas and the lives of ordinary people. We ask that you join with us and support our campaign to help us deliver for you, your family and for your community.

Glenn Page

EFAy General Assembly in Friesland / Cynhadledd Flynyddol EFAy yn Ffrisia

Emyr Gruffydd, Is-Gadeirydd Cenedlaethol / National Vice-Chair

English version below

Yr wythnos diwethaf ces i'r cyfle i gynrychioli Plaid Cymru Ifanc yng Nghynhadledd Flynyddol EFAy, neu Ieuenctid Cynghrair Rhydd Ewrop. Cynhaliwyd y gynhadledd yn Ljouwert, sef prifddinas Ffrisia. Yng Ngogledd yr Iseldiroedd y lleolir Ffrisia, ac mae iddi ei hiaith, ei thraddodiadau a'i senedd ei hunan. Cyhaliwyd y gynhadledd yr un pryd â Chynhadledd Flynyddol EFA, a welodd dros 150 o bobl yn dod at ei gilydd o dros 30 mudiad gwleidyddol o bob rhan o Ewrop.

Roedd y cyfle i gwrdd a nifer o gynrychiolwyr ifanc o bleidiau ar draws Ewrop yn un gwych. Bum yn siarad a chymdeithasu gyda phobl ifanc o Gatalwnia, Fflandrys, yr Alban, Mallorca, Ffrisia, Corisca ac o leifafrifoedd ieithyddol megis Daniaid yr Almaen. Cafwyd cyfle i rannu ein profiadau fel ymgyrchwyr ifanc, gan gymharu technegau ymgyrchu a sefyllfaoedd presennol ein mudiadau ieuenctid. Yn wir, roedd hi'n ddiddorol gweld bod rhai gwledydd ymhell ar y blaen, yn ymgyrchu dros annibyniaeth, (megis yr Alban a Chatalonia) ag eraill dal heb sicrhau statws swyddogol i'w hiaith (fel y Ffrisiaid). I mi, prif fwriad y gynhadledd oedd i ddysgu rhywbeth oddi wrth ein gilydd. Dyliai'r rhai hynny sydd yn dal i frwydro dros statws swyddogol i'w hiaith neu i'w lleiafrif allu dibynnu ar gefnogaeth y gwledydd bychain mwy llwyddiannus o fewn EFAy - y rhai hynny sy'n brwydro dros gyrraedd annibyniaeth, hynny yw.

Roedd y gynhadledd yn diddorol yn ei hun - er hynny, credaf y gallai mwy o amser wedi cael ei rhoi i drafod cynllun gwleidyddol hir-dymor i'r sefydliad, a buasai'n dda bod wedi gweld rhagor o gynigion a thrafodaeth arnynt. Y flwyddyn neaf, buaswn i'n hoffi gweld hyd yn oed mwy o gynrychiolaeth o ystod ehangach o fudiadau gwleidyddol ifanc ar draws Ewrop yn dod i'r gynhadledd, gan ychwanegu at ddyfnder y drafodaeth.

Er hynny, does dim amheuaeth bod EFAy ac EFA yn werthfawr iawn fel mudiadau. Er ein bod ni, er engrhaifft, yn gallu dysgu llawer oddi wrth Gatalwnia, lle mae'r iaith yn ffynnu a'r achos genedlaethol yn blodeuo, neu oddi wrth yr Alban lle y bydd refferendwm dros annibynniaeth yn cael ei chynnal ymhen ychydig flynyddoedd, mae'n hollbwysig nodi ein bod yn medru dysgu oddi wrth y rhai hynny sydd yn dal i frwydro yn erbyn talcen caled iawn. Roedd gweld dycnwch y Ffrisiaid i sicrhau statws gyfartal i'w hiaith a brwdfrydedd Daniaid yr Almaen i ddiogelu eu diwylliant wir yn ysbrydoliaeth i mi fel Cymro ac ymgyrchwr. Mae'n ddigon rhwydd i'n cenhedlaeth ni anghofio am yr aberth mawr a wnaethpwyd i sicrhau llwyddiant ein hachos genedlaethol a'n hiaith heddiw - rhai fel Gwynfor, DJ Davies, Saunders Lewis a Jennie Eirian - a'n bod yn anwybyddu’r ffaith ein bod ni hefyd arfer bod yn yr un sefyllfa â llawer o’n cymrodyr Ewropeaidd heddiw.

Felly iawn - mae'n bwysig i edrych i'r Alban am ysbrydoliaeth weithiau - ond dylid cofio nad ydynt yn dal yr atebion i bopeth, wedi'r cyfan!


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Last weekend I had the opportunity to represent Plaid Cymru Youth in the EFAy General Assembly, (European Free Alliance Youth). The conference was held in Ljouwert, the capital city of Friesland. Friesland is situated in the north of the Dutch State, and it has its own language, traditions, and parliament. The GA was held in conjunction with the EFA Conference, which saw over 150 people come together representing 30 different political organisations from across Europe.

The opportunity to meet young political activists from all over Europe was excellent. I met and socialised with young people from nations such as Catalonia, Flanders, Scotland, Mallorca, Friesland, and Corsica and from linguistic minorities such as the Danish speaking minority in Germany. We had the opportunity to share our experiences as young activists, comparing campaign techniques and sharing the present situation of our youth movements. It was quite interesting to note that some countries seem to be well ahead in their national cause (such as the Scots and the Catalans who are campaigning for independence) where other nations are still fighting for equal status for their languages or nations (like the Friesians). I believe that those who are still fighting for equal status or recognition should be able to depend on the support of more successful parties within EFAy – i.e, those who are fighting for independence for their nation.

The conference in itself was interesting- however, I do believe that more time could have been put aside to discuss a long-term political plan for the organization, and it would have been good to see more varied motions and broader discussion. Next year, I would like to see even more representation from youth political organisations from across Europe, adding scope and depth to the discussion.

However, there is no doubt that EFAy and EFA are both valuable organisations. Although we in Wales, for example, can learn a lot from Catalonia, where the language is thriving and the national cause is in full swing, or from Scotland where a referendum on independence will be held in a few year, we must never forget that we can also learn from those nations and minorities who are still battling on the coalface. Seeing the Friesians’ determination to ensure an equal status for their language, and the enthusiasm of the Danish minority in Germany for their culture really inspired me as a Welshman and an activist. It is easy for our generation to ignore the sacrifice made by past generations to advance our national cause - figures such as Gwynfor, DJ Davies, Saunders Lewis and Jennie Eirian – forgetting that we were once in that difficult situation that many of our European comrades are faced with today.

So OK – it is important to look to Scotland now and again for a bit of inspiration – but we must remember that they do not hold the answers to everything, after all!

Llongyfarchiadau! || Congrats!

Mae'n bleser gen i allu danfon neges o longyfarchiadau enfawr i Leanne Wood AC ar ei hetholiad fel Arweinydd newydd Plaid Cymru.

It's a pleasure for me to be able to send a message of congratulations to Leanne Wood AM on her election as the new Leader of Plaid Cymru.

Mae cael Leanne fel Arweinydd y Blaid yn rhoi gobaith imi fod gan y Blaid flynyddoedd disglair iawn o'i blaen a chyda digon o waith, nid wyf yn amau mai Leanne Wood fydd Prif Weinidog Cymru yn 2016.

Having Leanne as Plaid Cymru's Leader gives me hope that the party still has a sparkling future ahead of it and with plenty of work, I have no doubt that Leanne Wood will be the First Minister for Wales in 2016.

Ar lefel bersonol, rwyf i'n edrych ymlaen yn fawr iawn at weithio gyda Leanne tra fy mod i'n Gadeirydd ar y mudiad myfyrwyr ac ieuenctid, ac hoffwn ddiolch iddi am ei charedigrwydd tuag at ein mudiad ni ar hyd y blynyddoedd.

On a personal level, I am very much looking forward to working with Leanne while I am Chair of the student and youth movement, and I would like to thank her for her unwavering support of our movement.

Yn ogystal, hoffwn dalu teyrnged i'r dau ymgeisydd arall - Elin Jones AC a'r Arglwydd Dafydd Elis-Thomas AC. Fe frwydron nhw ymgyrchoedd da iawn wir a does dim amheuaeth yn fy meddwl i y bydd y ddau ohonynt yn aelodau annatod o dîm Leanne yn y Cynulliad.

I would also like to pay tribute to the other two candidates - Elin Jones AM and the Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas AM. They both fought good campaigns and there is no doubt in my mind that they will both form important parts of Leanne's team in the Assembly.

Pob lwc - ymlaen! Good luck!

Cerith Rhys Jones
Cadeirydd Cenedlaethol || National Chair

Daw'r diwedd

Yfory, cyfrir y pleidleisiau yn etholiad arweinyddol Plaid Cymru a dyma ddiwedd ar gyfnod Ieuan Wyn Jones fel Arweinydd y Blaid, swydd y mae ef wedi'i dal ers 12 mlynedd.

Bydd y sawl ohonoch sy'n dilyn y blog hwn yn gwybod mai polisi swyddogol CymruX yw cefnogi ymgyrch Leanne Wood i'w olynu. Os nad ydych chi wedi pleidleisio eto, fe'ch hanogaf i ddewis Leanne fel eich dewis cyntaf i fod yn Arweinydd ac i ddanfon eich papur pleidleisio at Dŷ Gwynfor yn syth fel ei fod yn cyrraedd cyn yfory.

Ond wrth i'r ymgyrch Arweinyddol ddirwyn i ben, hoffwn gymryd moment i dalu teyrnged i Ieuan am ei arweinyddiaeth am dros ddegawd. Y mae wedi arwain ein Plaid gyda sgil ers blynyddoedd, ac wedi bod yn wyneb arbennig o dda i'n mudiad cenedlaethol yn ystod y cyfnod hwnnw. Mae'r teyrngedau a dalwyd iddo o ar draws llawr y Siambr yn ystod ei sesiwn FMQs olaf fel Arweinydd y Blaid ddydd Mawrth yn adlewyrchu'i boblogrwydd.

Ef wnaeth arwain y Blaid i mewn i Lywodraeth am y tro cyntaf ac fe wasnaethodd ein gwlad fel ei Dirprwy Brif Weinidog. Fel Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, fe arweiniodd ni at ddelifro senedd go iawn i'n Cenedl. Ac yn y dyddiau cynnar, roedd yn un o'r bobl wnaeth droi'r prosiect datganoli i mewn i'r llwyddiant y mae heddiw.

Edrychaf ymlaen at ei weld ar ôl-feinciau'r Blaid, yn brwydro dros bobl Ynys Môn ac ys dywedodd Kirsty Williams, gobeithiaf y bydd yn cymaint o drwbl o'r ôl-feinciau ag y mae cyn-arweinwyr eraill wedi bod.

Ar ran mudiad myfyrwyr ac ieuenctid Plaid Cymru, hoffwn ymestyn fy niolchiadau calonog i Ieuan am ei wasanaeth ar hyd y degawdau, a dymuno'n dda iddo wrth iddo ymadael wrth yr Arweinyddiaeth.

Cerith Rhys Jones
Cadeirydd Cenedlaethol

The End is Near

Tomorrow, votes will be counted in Plaid Cymru's leadership election and Ieuan Wyn Jones will cease to be Leader of Plaid Cymru, a post he has held for 12 years.

Those of you who follow this blog will now that official CymruX policy is to support Leanne Wood's campaign to succeed him. If you haven't already voted, I would urge you to select Leanne as your number once choice for Leader and get your ballot paper in the post to Tŷ Gwynfor so that it gets there before the deadline tomorrow.

But as the Leadership campaign draws to a close, I want to take a moment to pay tribute to Ieuan for his leadership for more than a decade. He has led our party with skill for years, and has been a fantastic figurehead for our national movement during that period. I think that the tributes paid to him from all across the Siambr floor during FMQs on Tuesday - his last as Leader - reflect how popular he is.

He led Plaid Cymru into Government for the first time and served our country as its Deputy First Minister. As Leader of Plaid Cymru, he led us to delivering a proper law-making parliament for our Nation. And in the early days, he was one of those people who helped turn the devolution project into the success that it is today.

I look forward to seeing him on the backbenches, fighting for the people of Ynys Môn and as Kirsty Williams put it, I hope he's as troublesome from the backbenches as other former leaders have been.

On behalf of Plaid Cymru's student and youth movement, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Ieuan for his service over the decades, and wish him all the very best as he takes his leave of the Leadership.

Cerith Rhys Jones
National Chair