Bethan Jenkins AC/AM Blog

I’ve had a busy week. I delivered my short debate on the twitter revolution on Wednesday, and you can read it here. Please let me know what you think, or if you have any ideas of your own about how technology and social media can assist in renewing the democratic process. I’ve had good feedback generally- a few more politicians aware of what’s out there, and a chance to put forward some new ideas on the matter.

Taking the particular theme of the debate I chose to one side for a minute, I have been of the mindset for some time that the slot of the short debate needs to be changed. It has been mentioned on the blogosphere a few times previously. I’ve put forward ideas in our group meetings- asking for a government backbench debate slot, or at least a review of how the slot works in terms of engaging AMs in debate, but there hasn’t been much progress. I spoke with Andrew RT Davies AM this week, who suggested that what could work is for our main sessions in the Assembly to start half and hour earlier for such debates, and it would be voluntary in terms of AMs being present, yet I am not sure what to make of this unless we can be convinced that genuine change will ensue, and that people will be enthused by it. Linking short debates to popular statements of opinions has been another idea, but again, I think we need to build momentum around the debate for change. Perhaps this can be done online? Should we initiate an e-consultation on it? Does it really matter? and so forth…

I have to mention also that a new strategy on eating disorders was released from the Welsh Assembly Government last week. There were complications around its release which meant that it hardly got any coverage. I’m trying to see whether the Government can do a press statement because I really want everyone to know that it is out there now, and that change is afoot.

The first trance of money will go towards recruiting new staff at a primary care level and for training, and those in the field will then put forward plans to develop the tertiary element which will come in to play down the line. I’m really proud of the fact that there is now a framework in place in Wales for those with eating disorders. Now its the role of the cross party group, Beat Cymru and so forth to monitor its implementation, and to ensure that the situation changes for sufferers and their families. Of course, there’s still much more to campaign on from a political point of view. More awareness via the education system and through healthy living networks, and lobby for a specialised  NHS centre to treat those with eating disorders in Wales so that the Welsh NHS does not have to commission private treatment in England. I’m writing a piece for the Western Mail health section on the new framework, but I am conscious of the need to get the message out there to all parts of Wales, and to emphasise that there are no excuses for inaction from here on in.

On Monday I’m taking part in a panel discussion in a Conference on One Wales- two years in organised by the Bevan Foundation and Postif Politics. I think that Darren Millar AM and Lesley Griffiths AM are on the panel- talking about our experiences of being first time AMs, and from a backbench perspective, or course. I’m looking forward to it, in that even though we should not reflect too much on the last two years to the detriment of getting on with the job- I think that its important that we assess where the Government is getting it right, where there are weaknesses, and where progress can be made. I am sure that you have your own views and ideas on the matter. …

Oh, and to finish, I’m supporting Andy Murray to get to the final of Wimbledon this year! Although I bet that he will have a British flag foisted upon him should he win..grrr….

Dyma erthygl dwi wedi sgwennu ar gyfer y wefan Metastwnsh ar fy nadl fer fyddaf yn gwneud y prynhawn yma yn y Senedd.

Y Chwyldro Twitter- yr angen am adnewyddiad democrataidd?

Byddaf yn cyflwyno dadl fer yn y Cynulliad i drafod sut mae defnydd o’r we a thechnoleg wedi esblygu, a’u heffaith ar systemau democrataidd. Dwi ddim am ddweud gormod am gynnwys fy araith, ond rwy’n bwriadu dangos clipiau ar ffilm o sut mae pobl yn cyfathrebu gyda gwleidyddion ar y we, pa mor effeithiol ydyw, a sut medrwn datblygu ar hyn. Dwi hefyd yn awyddus i bobl cymryd rhan yn y drafodaeth ar twitter trwy postio sylwadau gyda #senedd, ac hynny yn bennaf er mwyn i’r drafodaeth fod yn fwy eang nag i gynnwys ni fel Aelodau Cynulliad yn y Siambr yn unig.

Mae twf defnydd o dechnoleg wedi bod yn syfrdanol, yn enwedig yn sgil y modd unigryw y cafodd ei ddefnyddio gan Barak Obama pan oedd e’n sefyll fel Llywydd yr UDA. Mae’r effaith ym Mhrydain wedi bod yn llai hyd yn hyn, ond yr un mor pwysig, gyda tua 10% o Aelodau Seneddol nawr yn dewis defnyddio’r safle rhwydweithio Facebook i hysbysebu eu gwaith neu i gyfathrebu gyda etholwyr yn ol y Gymdeithas Hansard, gyda thwf yn yr aelodau etholedig sydd yn blogio, yn ffilmio clipiau byr ar gyfer youtube, neu yn lawlwytho lluniau i raglennu megis Flickr.

Wrth gwrs mae hyn oll yn gadarnhaol, ond rhaid i gyfathrebiaeth ar y we gan wleidyddion bod yn ddidwyll, a rhaid iddynt cynnal yr ymgais hynny i gyfathrebu gyda etholwyr ar y we. Dyna’r hyn y mae ymchwil gan Hansard yn amlygu- mae’n iawn i aelodau etholedig gael tudalen facebook, neu blog snazzy, ond os nad ydynt yn ei ddefnyddio yn aml fel rhan annatod o’u gwaith pob dydd, yna mae eu heffaith yn pylu.

Yn y drafodaeth, dwi hefyd yn awyddus i ofyn os ydy cyfathrebiaeth gan wleidyddion ar y we yn helpu creu system democrataidd mwy agored a thryloyw? Yn ol Andy Williamson o Gymdeithas Hansard, mae’r ffaith bod Senedd yrAlban wedi rhoi lwfansau Aelodau’r Senedd ar y we wedi sicrhau bod y system yn llawer fwy agored i aelodau’r cyhoedd, a bod y sefydliad felly wedi osgoi y creisis ffydd sydd wedi bod mor amlwg yng nghyd destun San Steffan.

Ac wrth gwrs, rwy’n benderfynol o drafod sut mae pobl yn defnyddio twitter, facebook ac ati i ymgyrchu’n effeithiol, ac i ledaenu ei neges. A yw Confensiwn Cymru Gyfan wedi llwyddo yn yr ymgais hyn, tybed? Pa mor effeithiol ydy ymgais Ty’r Arglwyddi wedi bod wrth gyflwyno ymgynghoriadau ar y we? A yw gwledydd fel Moldova ac Iran wedi defnyddio’r technoleg fel modd o rhoi barn sy’n wrthyn i sefydliadau eu gwledydd, ac a yw hwn wedi bod o werth?…..

Mae hwn yn drafodaeth pwysig a chyffroes, a dwi’n awyddus i bobl sy’n darllen y wefan yma i gymryd rhan.