by Luke James
Cymru X Chair
Since I became involved in Cymru X in 2008 I have been in a handful of members of the Cymru X executive to stand in any students' union elections.
Last year at Swansea University I was encouraged by a Labour student to stand as a part time officer and was duly elected General Secretary.
I've also been successful in the National Union of Students' (NUS) UK conference delegates’ elections and last week was elected to serve as full time Education Officer for the next academic year.
But for the records I missed out in the NUS Wales delegates’ elections, so it wasn't all good times.
And I would stress that I have fought these elections, not as a Cymru X or Plaid Cymru candidate, but independently and with only our union members’ interests in mind.
But the point is, if it wasn't for the encouragement of a Labour student, who comes from an organisation where to fight for the top positions in every students' union is a minimum requirement, I might not have thought about standing.
If you ask me, for a youth movement of the second largest political party in the country with the talented people we have within our ranks, our record on contesting students’ union elections is embarrassing.
That’s why starting with this years students’ unions executive elections we will be encouraging our members to stand for positions in their unions, independently and to serve their members, but with the values and passion they bring to Plaid Cymru and with the support of Cymru X.
And to those people who dismiss student politics – students’ unions represent a huge amount of people and uphold the right to education amongst other things.
And from a Plaid perspective if you want to see a generation of trained and motivated activists ready to take on our opponents in the battle of ideas, door to door - then this is the place to start.
Dros Gymru!
Showing posts with label Swansea Uni. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Swansea Uni. Show all posts
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Sunday, 18 October 2009
Victory over fascists in Swansea
by Luke James, Cymru X Vice-Chair
Swansea stood united yesterday to send 60 fascist protesters packing from our streets.
Members of of the Cymru X Swansea University branch joined a peaceful demonstration in Castle Square, the heart of Swansea city centre, to stop the 'Welsh Defence League' from holding a demonstration there.
Myself and Bethan Downes (Cymru X Abertawe Secretary) centre with other Swansea students.
Demo
The fascist 'Welsh Defence League' could be seen 'mobbing up' like hooligans at a pub facing onto the square.
Despite this intimidation the Unite Against Fascism demonstation didn't move an inch and held Castle Square all day to prevent the facists from taking centre stage.
Our flag not yours! - Cymru X member shows fascists they don't speak for Wales.
When the WDL tried to move in they were opposed and the police stepped in and kept them penned outside the sheep shop opposite the square for an hour before they were marched to the trainstation and dispersed.
Whilst held in the street the fascist WDL gave Nazi salutes, chanted rule britannia and burnt an anti Nazi flag.
The counter demonstration and everyone present showed that when opposed Nazi's will get nowhere, and our streets belong to the whole community and not small minded rascists.
Rhyddid,Tegwch,Cymuned
At the demo I took along the Welsh republican tricolor and had a couple of questions about what it was about and what it stood for.
The green is for freedom, the white for equality and the red for community. Rhyddid, tegwch, cymuned.
That is what Cymru X and Plaid Cymru are all about, which is why I took the tricolor to fly alongside Y Draig Goch.
And I believe the tricolor represents our national future and the community of communities we are trying to build, our vision for a inclusive Welsh Republic.
Lighter moments
Although it was a day where passions ran high there were some very amusing moments.
Throughout the day UAF supporters had been playing bongo drums to keep up the atmosphere, this continued despite tensions rising when we faced down the fascists.
At one particuarly intense moment in the stand off when the police were moving people back, the ever indomitable Aled of Swansea Uni Gym Gym and Cymru X Abertawe turned round to a drummer and said "butt, try sticking in a counter rythem."
Which he did and to be fair it sounded a lot better.
Result
As a result of our actions yesterday the WDL have called off their Newport demonstration. You can read more about that @ http://welshramblings.blogspot.com/
Da iawn to everyone who went and stood their ground against fascism yesterday. Dal dy dir!
Cymru X Prifysgol Abertawe/Swansea University facebook group
cymruxabertawe@hotmail.com
Swansea stood united yesterday to send 60 fascist protesters packing from our streets.
Members of of the Cymru X Swansea University branch joined a peaceful demonstration in Castle Square, the heart of Swansea city centre, to stop the 'Welsh Defence League' from holding a demonstration there.
Myself and Bethan Downes (Cymru X Abertawe Secretary) centre with other Swansea students.
Demo
The fascist 'Welsh Defence League' could be seen 'mobbing up' like hooligans at a pub facing onto the square.
Despite this intimidation the Unite Against Fascism demonstation didn't move an inch and held Castle Square all day to prevent the facists from taking centre stage.
Our flag not yours! - Cymru X member shows fascists they don't speak for Wales.
When the WDL tried to move in they were opposed and the police stepped in and kept them penned outside the sheep shop opposite the square for an hour before they were marched to the trainstation and dispersed.
Whilst held in the street the fascist WDL gave Nazi salutes, chanted rule britannia and burnt an anti Nazi flag.
The counter demonstration and everyone present showed that when opposed Nazi's will get nowhere, and our streets belong to the whole community and not small minded rascists.
Rhyddid,Tegwch,Cymuned
At the demo I took along the Welsh republican tricolor and had a couple of questions about what it was about and what it stood for.
The green is for freedom, the white for equality and the red for community. Rhyddid, tegwch, cymuned.
That is what Cymru X and Plaid Cymru are all about, which is why I took the tricolor to fly alongside Y Draig Goch.
And I believe the tricolor represents our national future and the community of communities we are trying to build, our vision for a inclusive Welsh Republic.
Lighter moments
Although it was a day where passions ran high there were some very amusing moments.
Throughout the day UAF supporters had been playing bongo drums to keep up the atmosphere, this continued despite tensions rising when we faced down the fascists.
At one particuarly intense moment in the stand off when the police were moving people back, the ever indomitable Aled of Swansea Uni Gym Gym and Cymru X Abertawe turned round to a drummer and said "butt, try sticking in a counter rythem."
Which he did and to be fair it sounded a lot better.
Result
As a result of our actions yesterday the WDL have called off their Newport demonstration. You can read more about that @ http://welshramblings.blogspot.com/
Da iawn to everyone who went and stood their ground against fascism yesterday. Dal dy dir!
Cymru X Prifysgol Abertawe/Swansea University facebook group
cymruxabertawe@hotmail.com
Monday, 31 August 2009
Conservative Future's 'Erotic Party'
By Luke James
With my press credentials somewhat dented recently I decided to attempt some good old fashioned digging to find the story of the day and provide me with inspiration for this blog.
I failed and ended up on Facebook.
Where I did at least manage to have a little nose at other party’s groups at universities around Wales.
Students attending Swansea Uni’s fresher’s fayre are in for a treat courtesy of Conservative Future, who are apparently hosting an ‘Erotic Party’.
Swansea CF’s Facebook event specifies the type of event as ‘Party – Erotic Party’ and the group is titled ‘Conservative Future Swansea @ Freshers Fayre’ with ‘All hands to the pumps!!!’ as a sub header.
I think it’s safest if all members of the Conservative Future keep their hands where we can see them!
The price to be included in this ‘Erotic Party’ is £5, which must be a little too much for young conservative’s judging by the mere 8 intrepid party goer’s who have confirmed their attendance so far.
But maybe they can get their Conservative Future colleague’s in Cardiff to help out for numbers, perhaps the officer titled ‘Aggressive whip’ in CF Cardiff’s group could ‘submit’ a few names for attendance.
One things for sure, I don’t want to be around when Peter Snow and his Swing-o-Meter start declaring blue gains!
With my press credentials somewhat dented recently I decided to attempt some good old fashioned digging to find the story of the day and provide me with inspiration for this blog.
I failed and ended up on Facebook.
Where I did at least manage to have a little nose at other party’s groups at universities around Wales.
Students attending Swansea Uni’s fresher’s fayre are in for a treat courtesy of Conservative Future, who are apparently hosting an ‘Erotic Party’.
Swansea CF’s Facebook event specifies the type of event as ‘Party – Erotic Party’ and the group is titled ‘Conservative Future Swansea @ Freshers Fayre’ with ‘All hands to the pumps!!!’ as a sub header.
I think it’s safest if all members of the Conservative Future keep their hands where we can see them!
The price to be included in this ‘Erotic Party’ is £5, which must be a little too much for young conservative’s judging by the mere 8 intrepid party goer’s who have confirmed their attendance so far.
But maybe they can get their Conservative Future colleague’s in Cardiff to help out for numbers, perhaps the officer titled ‘Aggressive whip’ in CF Cardiff’s group could ‘submit’ a few names for attendance.
One things for sure, I don’t want to be around when Peter Snow and his Swing-o-Meter start declaring blue gains!
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