Celebrating Our Language Conference 2008

On behalf of Celebrating Our Language, I would like to invite you to join our annual conference held at the Urdd Centre in Cardiff Bay on Tuesday, 15th of July 2008. The day will begin at 10.30, with our guests speakers, Dr. Colin Williams, Elin Haf Gruffudd Jones, Glyn Roberts, Elin Maher and the Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas addressing the conference, and Cynog Dafis chairing. There will be light refreshments and food, therefore, to cover costs for the whole day, we will be asking everybody who attends to contriburte £25 made out to 'Mudiadau Dathlu'r Gymraeg.'

The Celebrating Our Language organisation, that includes 16 national organisations and bodies, was founded in the summer of 2007, to liaise in pushing for developments in the field of the Welsh Language in the Welsh Assembly Governments programme. The conference will concentrate on how we can develop the assurance that the Welsh language is secured rights and equal status within Wales.

For further information and registration form contact:
Sioned Haf
Mudiadau Dathlu'r Gymraeg
Pen Roc, Rhodfa'r Mor
Aberystwyth
SY23 2AZ
gwybodaethmdg@gmail.com

Encouraging Welsh language outdoor activities

As part of the Movements to Celebrate Welsh, Menter Iaith Conwy and Wales Young Farmers have worked together in partnership to organise an event to raise the awareness of the Welsh language and encourage more young people to break through in the Outdoor activities world, this is because Welsh speaking trainers in the Outdoor activities is as low as 5% in North West Wales. Bedwyr ap Gwyn who is a Rural Conwy Officer for Menter Iaith Conwy said “Encouraging young people to make more use of the outdoor activities on their door step can open many doors, and we will be working very closely with the young people in order to see an increase in the low percentage figure”.

Ysbyty Ifan Young Farmers are very fortunate to have a taste of the outdoor on Sunday, 12 May, when 14 lucky members will be going white water rafting at Tryweryn in Fron Goch near Bala.



Welsh language movements have united under the banner "Mudiadau Dathlu'r Gymraeg" (Movements to Celebrate Welsh) with the aim of putting pressure on the National Assembly to ensure the implementation of a series of measures that will strengthen the legal status of the Welsh language.

As part of the campaign, each group will hold different events to promote the need for the language to have official status.

Their intention is to celebrate the things that have already been achieved in this area as well as pushing for more legislation.

The 12 organisations that form Mudiadau Dathlu'r Gymraeg are UCAC, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, the National Eisteddfod, Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, Cymdeithas Alawon Gwerin, UMCB, UMCA, RHAG, the FUW, Mudiad Ffermwyr Ifanc, Merched y Wawr and Mentrau Iaith Cymru. Together these organisations have over 50,000 members.

Mudiadau Dathlu'r Gymraeg calls for:
1) Positive steps by the Assembly Government during the Third Assembly to ensure that everybody in Wales can use the Welsh language in all areas of their lives, including:
2) Official status for the Welsh language.
3) Statutory rights for all the people of Wales to use the language in every aspect of their lives.
4) Protect the use of the Welsh language as a community language.
5) Establish the office of a Welsh Language Commissioner to protect these rights.