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"Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon"-"A nation without a language is a nation without a heart" Welsh Proverb

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Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Plaid Cymru leader seeks move to Welsh referendum on independence | UK news | theguardian.

 

Plaid Cymru leader seeks move to Welsh referendum on independence

Leanne Wood wants devolution replaced by a new constitution written by the people!

Leanne Wood, leader of Plaid Cymru

Leanne Wood, leader of Plaid Cymru, wants a system of self-government determined by the Welsh people. Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian

The leader of the Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru has called for devolution in Wales to be scrapped and replaced by a system of self-government determined by the country's citizens.

In what is being seen as the most significant intervention on the future shape of government in Wales made by a Plaid leader since the creation of the Welsh national assembly 15 years ago, Leanne Wood said a new constitution should be written and led by the people of Wales.

In recent years Plaid's leadership has tended to speak about independence as a longer-term aspiration, but with the Scottish referendum putting the issue centre-stage across the UK, Wood said independence ought to be regarded as "normal" and it ought to be up to the people of Wales to decide what powers or decisions are shared with others rather than London deciding what powers the Welsh assembly should have.

Speaking at University College London, Wood said Plaid would now produce a white paper on its plans. She said: "For too long, independence in the Welsh context has been treated as a pipe-dream, as an aspiration so distant it has been seen as unrealistic and unworkable. I want to elevate the debate and I can reveal that Plaid Cymru will shortly be publishing plans to begin the debate on Wales's future."

Wood said a future Plaid Welsh government would seek an agreement with the UK government to devolve the Welsh constitution – including the right to hold binding referendums – to the Welsh assembly. She said this would give the chance for the people of Wales to write their own constitution. "I would be eager for the new process to be people-led, not politician-led.

"Wales's constitution should be written and led by the people of Wales. A citizen-led constitution would help us reinvigorate the politics of Wales generally, it would put power back in the hands of the people rather than with a small elite."

If those constitutional changes were made, the people of Wales would be empowered – if they wanted it – to seek a referendum on independence.

She made it clear that she wanted an independent Wales to continue working closely with other parts of the UK. "We support the establishment of an independent Wales in order to join the international community, not to somehow retreat into an inward-looking isolationism," she said.

"Independence is not an end in itself. It is the beginning of a period of endless opportunity. Above all, independence is normal."

Plaid Cymru leader seeks move to Welsh referendum on independence | UK news | theguardian.com#_=_#_=_

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

The Roman attack on Anglesey 60AD

 

The Roman  attack on Anglesey 60AD<br /><br />Anglesey’s strategic importance was clearly significant. It was a place of refuge for dissenters, and had considerable agricultural and mineral wealth, but the main incentive for the campaign seems to have been the desire to destroy the druids last major outpost .  The Romans  legions XIV and XX  attacked Mona with a level of brutality and ferocity rarely seen elsewhere in their conquest of Britain, such was their determination to wipe out the druids.  It is thought that the Romans crossed the Menai Straits at low tide, when there was only a narrow strip of water between Anglesey and the mainland.  Although they were initially cowed by their superstitions, urging from their commanders soon led them to inflict a bloody slaughter on the the defending Deceangli force , making especially sure to kill the druids, destroy their sacred groves, and cover their altars with the blood and entrails of British captives. Before the victory over the Deceangli can be secured, however, Paulinus is forced to abandon the campaign and rush his troops eastwards to deal with the massive rebellion led by queen Boudicca. <br /><br />The attack is documented by Tacitus.<br /><br /> "Ranks of warriors lined the Anglesey shore, urged on by their women, shrieking like furies, dressed in burial black, while druids, with arms outstretched to heaven, cursed the invaders."<br /><br /> "The legionnaries doffed their clothes and swam naked across the Menai Straights to do battle with the druid-led Celts".

The History of Wales

The Roman attack on Anglesey 60AD

Anglesey’s strategic importance was clearly significant. It was a place of refuge for dissenters, and had considerable agricu...ltural and mineral wealth, but the main incentive for the campaign seems to have been the desire to destroy the druids last major outpost . The Romans legions XIV and XX attacked Mona with a level of brutality and ferocity rarely seen elsewhere in their conquest of Britain, such was their determination to wipe out the druids. It is thought that the Romans crossed the Menai Straits at low tide, when there was only a narrow strip of water between Anglesey and the mainland. Although they were initially cowed by their superstitions, urging from their commanders soon led them to inflict a bloody slaughter on the the defending Deceangli force , making especially sure to kill the druids, destroy their sacred groves, and cover their altars with the blood and entrails of British captives. Before the victory over the Deceangli can be secured, however, Paulinus is forced to abandon the campaign and rush his troops eastwards to deal with the massive rebellion led by queen Boudicca.

The attack is documented by Tacitus.

"Ranks of warriors lined the Anglesey shore, urged on by their women, shrieking like furies, dressed in burial black, while druids, with arms outstretched to heaven, cursed the invaders."

"The legionnaries doffed their clothes and swam naked across the Menai Straights to do battle with the druid-led Celts.