Just to plug a great blog called 'Our Kingdom': http://www.opendemocracy.net/blog/ourkingdom-theme/philip-hosking/2008/06/27/multinational-and-multicultural-britain

Feel free to leave your thoughts.

Here is a book review of John Angarracks Scat t'larrups Resist and Survive: http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/news/Activist-produces-book-exposing-political-institutions/article-289479-detail/article.html?cacheBust=2zEIQkOY5XA3#addcomment

Here is a summary of the action.

Peter Tatchell kicked of the fun with his fantastic article- Self-rule for Cornwall. Once again a hundred thanks Peter for helping to raise awareness of the Cornish question: Peter Tatchell: Self-rule for Cornwall | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

This was responded to with a terribly sensible piece from Cornish MP Mathew Taylor- Cornwall needs a revolution, not a divorce: Matthew Taylor: Cornwall doesn't need a separate parliament, just genuine local autonomy and fair funding | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

Undoubtedly we need a revolution in our governmental arrangements but why ignore the national minority status issue Mr. Taylor? Do the Cornish not have a right to recognition? A revolution yes but are our Liberal Democrat MPs and LD controlled local government actually doing ANYTHING to bring this about? Last time I looked they had reneged on their promise to campaign for a Cornish assembly and where trying to push an unwanted Unitary authority on to Cornwall. On the same track Dick Coles response on his blog is very illuminating: Cllr Dick Cole: Commenting on Matthew Taylor's views

Finally a synthesis of the above two articles appeared on the Our Kingdom blog under the title - The Case for Cornwall. Only really interesting for the comments it attracted from English nationalists and regionalists: The case for Cornwall | open Democracy News Analysis

Just a bit of info on how to vote for greater Cornish self rule with the new British Library -Taking Liberties- interactive website.

The homepage for the site is here: Taking Liberties :: home

To vote however you must visit the interactive section here: British Library - Taking Liberties

Wait for the flashy intro to pass and then click on the 'UNITED KINGDOM?' option at the top of the page. You will then be given the option of 'Cornish Independence' amongst others. Click on this and you will have some presentations as well as some opinions to vote for. The English devolution option is also worth a look as are many other issues in other sections.

PLEASE COME AND VOTE.

If you missed the live debate on the Laurence Reed show Radio Cornwall you can listen to it here: CFF Cornish Nationalism debate - Radio Cornwall Fri 12th Dec

The two hour debate included guests John Angarrack, Historian, author and Director of Cornwall 2000; Dick Cole leader of Mebyon Kernow and Phillip Payton from the Institute of Cornish studies.

Many Cornish issues were covered including The Duchy, The Cornish Fighting Fund, Cornish recognition, getting Cornish History and language into schools and the Cornish Assembly question.

The radio Cornwall team had been out on the streets of Cornwall asking the public about Cornish identity and whether Cornish history and language should be taught in Cornish schools - the results were very positive.

Callers were then invited to phone in. Nigel Hicks called and spoke on behalf of the Cornish Stannary Parliament, Graham Hart urged people to pledge to the CFF and talked about how he first found out that he was Cornish not English. Other callers included Mike Paynter the deputy Grand Bard of the Gorseth.

I particularly liked the metaphor used by one caller of a large extended family to describe national affinities. For example you can be born into a family (nation) but equally you can be adopted. Additionally the debate between Philip Payton and Dick Cole concerning the Unitary Authority was an interesting start but really needs to be thrashed out. Is the Unitary a solid basis on which to build an assembly or is it a step in the other direction?

Cornwall Forward! an article on the UK democracy blog OurKingdom: Cornwall Forward | open Democracy News Analysis

All comments welcome.

CELTIC LEAGUE PRESS INFORMATION

EQUALITY WATCHDOG PREVARICATES ON CORNISH ETHNICITY ISSUE

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (UK) have told the General Secretary (GS) of the Celtic League that they have still not determined a position over whether the Cornish should be treated as a separate ethnicity.

The EHRC – which emerged out of the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) – told the GS, Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, that they were still seeking legal advice on the issue, but should make a decision within a few weeks time. Over the last six month the GS has been attempting to organise a round table event at the European Parliament in Brussels, to discuss the inclusion of the Cornish under the Framework Convention for the Protection for National Minorities, but has been consistently let down by speakers being `unavailable' to speak at the event, including the Council of Europe, the UK Government and the EHRC.

The EHRC was the latest organisation this week to say that they won't be attending the event, which was scheduled to take place on the 29th September 2009 and was the third rescheduled date this year. The reason the event was previously cancelled and rescheduled was in order to fit in with dates more suitable to invited speakers. It now looks likely that next weeks' date will have to be cancelled yet again, due to a lack of speakers.

The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), which changed its name to the EHRC in 2006, was supportive of the Cornish being included under the terms of the Framework Convention and recommended to the UK Government that they did the same. However when the CRE became the EHRC, the organisation needed to discuss the Cornish issue once again, but so far have yet to come to a decision on the issue.

Among other things, the EHRC is responsible for advising the UK government on issues related to race and ethnicity and so in respect of recognising the Cornish as a distinct ethnic and racial group, it is important that the EHRC come out strongly in favour. A recommendation from the EHRC to the UK government in favour of the Cornish would be especially helpful to the cause. This is especially the case in the run up to the production of the 3rd UK Compliance report to the Council of Europe (which is expected this year), where the UK government is obliged to state any new developments in the implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. In their 2006 Compliance Report to the Council of Europe, the UK Government uncharacteristically singled out the Cornish specifically to say why they should not to be included under the Framework Convention.

The GS is organising the round table on behalf of two Cornish and European youth organisations and with the support of Plaid Cymru's MEP, Jill Evans. Rhisiart Tal-e-bot said:

"There will be a lot of young Cornish people who will be really disappointed if the round table has to be cancelled again, especially at the eleventh hour. Travel arrangements and days off work have already been arranged by some people to attend the round table for the third time this year, highlighting the importance the issue has for them.

"It is very likely now that we may have to reschedule the event again and wait until the EHRC finally determines their position or perhaps we should go back to the drawing board and organise a similar event to put the focus entirely on young Cornish people. Its young people who wanted the event to happen and they are the ones who have most at stake here.

"This is an important issue and needs to be discussed. The reason why we wanted it discussed at the European Parliament is that the issue does not just have relevance for the Cornish, but for other groups that are not included under the Convention by their governments, like the Bretons for example."

The official recognition of the Cornish under the Framework Convention has been a long running resolution for the Celtic League.

Framework Convention for the Protection of national Minorities:

http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/Commun/QueVoulezVous.asp?NT=157&CL=ENG

J B Moffatt
Director of Information
Celtic League

24/09/09

The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works
to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a
broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights
human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on
socio-economic issues.

TEL (UK)01624 877918 MOBILE (UK)07624 491609

Internet site at:

http://celticleague.net
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/