Comments on: The Assembly 10 years on http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/the-assembly-10-years-on Plaid Assembly Member for South Wales West including Aberavon, Bridgend, Gower, Neath, Ogmore, Port Talbot and Swansea Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:13:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Anonymous http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/the-assembly-10-years-on/comment-page-1#comment-3133 Anonymous Fri, 15 May 2009 17:07:20 +0000 http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/?p=964#comment-3133 I would have to agree with Macsen comment. Even though i support devolution fully and have far more trust in AMs than I do in MPs I find Assembly seesions quite boring. Im sure Bethan you would say that Welsh politics is healthier than westminster politics as there is less punch and judy and tribalism but the fact of the matter is thats one of things in my opinion that makes politics more interesting for the general public also i dont much like the public gallery either and i think its pretty awful the way that AMS just sit there looking at there computer screens all the time, its just makes Assembly sessions look realy dull. I would have to agree with Macsen comment. Even though i support devolution fully and have far more trust in AMs than I do in MPs I find Assembly seesions quite boring. Im sure Bethan you would say that Welsh politics is healthier than westminster politics as there is less punch and judy and tribalism but the fact of the matter is thats one of things in my opinion that makes politics more interesting for the general public also i dont much like the public gallery either and i think its pretty awful the way that AMS just sit there looking at there computer screens all the time, its just makes Assembly sessions look realy dull.

]]> By: Oxford Working Class Bookfair http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/the-assembly-10-years-on/comment-page-1#comment-3114 Oxford Working Class Bookfair Mon, 11 May 2009 11:43:37 +0000 http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/?p=964#comment-3114 South Wales working class heroes to be remembered at Oxfordshire event. Working class militants from the Rhondda such as Noah Ablett were leaders of the Ruskin College Strike, they went on to found radical education networks in S.Wales and write a radical socialist manifesto - The Miners Next Step http://www.whatnextjournal.co.uk/Pages/History/Nextstep.html 1ST OXFORD WORKING CLASS BOOKFAIR Saturday 20 June, 11 am - 6 pm Ruskin College, Walton Street, Oxford www.oxfordworkingclassbookfair.blogspot.com oxfordworkingclassbookfair@googlemail.com We cordially invite YOU to visit the 1st ever OXFORD WORKING CLASS BOOKFAIR! There will be books, talks, workshops, short films and more books and magazines . . . We plan to recover/reclaim some of the hidden history of Oxford, with its gallery of rogues, rebels and revolutionaries, to touch upon some topics of contemporary relevance to the man & woman on the street today, provide quality entertainment, discuss the big issues past and present & hopefully have a real good time to boot! - All in a relaxed and warm atmosphere! The range of local groups invited includes; political groups, Trade Unions, community groups, campaign groups, booksellers and history societies. If you would like to have a stall email us at the address above! The event will include a commemoration of the hundredth anniversary of the 1909 RUSKIN COLLEGE STUDENT STRIKE, a pioneering student uprising for independent working class education, that saw students breakaway to form a radical education and self-help networks based on an alternative progressive view of what education could be. They argued that it wasn't enough for the working class to have limited extended access to higer education, but rather that they needed a fundamentally different kind of education, curriculum & pedagogy to meet their needs and the needs of the class. They were involved in the PLEBS LEAGUE (a grassroots education iniative) and set up an anti-capitalist education network of CENTRAL LABOUR COLLEGES, many of the leaders of the student uprising were miners and trade unionists who went on to be authors of THE MINERS NEXT STEP, a classic text of rank & file trade unionism and syndicalism. Along the way, we will learn the story of the RED SHIRTS, a group set up at Ruskin College to sabotage the attempts of Oswald Mosely's fascist BLACK SHIRTS to get a base in 1930s Oxford & consider how we fight against fascism & racism today. There will also be sessions on culture, trade union & labour history, feminism/women's liberation, ecology & climate, war & empire etc. More information about speakers, events and other happenings planned will appear on our page shortly - watch this space! Sponsors include the local I.W.W and trade unionists. South Wales working class heroes to be remembered at Oxfordshire event.
Working class militants from the Rhondda such as Noah Ablett were leaders of the Ruskin College Strike, they went on to found radical education networks in S.Wales and write a radical socialist manifesto – The Miners Next Step
http://www.whatnextjournal.co.uk/Pages/History/Nextstep.html

1ST OXFORD WORKING CLASS BOOKFAIR
Saturday 20 June, 11 am – 6 pm
Ruskin College, Walton Street, Oxford
http://www.oxfordworkingclassbookfair.blogspot.com
oxfordworkingclassbookfair@googlemail.com

We cordially invite YOU to visit the 1st ever OXFORD WORKING CLASS BOOKFAIR! There will be books, talks, workshops, short films and more books and magazines . . .

We plan to recover/reclaim some of the hidden history of Oxford, with its gallery of rogues, rebels and revolutionaries, to touch upon some topics of contemporary relevance to the man & woman on the street today, provide quality entertainment, discuss the big issues past and present & hopefully have a real good time to boot! – All in a relaxed and warm atmosphere!

The range of local groups invited includes; political groups, Trade Unions, community groups, campaign groups, booksellers and history societies. If you would like to have a stall email us at the address above!

The event will include a commemoration of the hundredth anniversary of the 1909 RUSKIN COLLEGE STUDENT STRIKE, a pioneering student uprising for independent working class education, that saw students breakaway to form a radical education and self-help networks based on an alternative progressive view of what education could be. They argued that it wasn’t enough for the working class to have limited extended access to higer education, but rather that they needed a fundamentally different kind of education, curriculum & pedagogy to meet their needs and the needs of the class. They were involved in the PLEBS LEAGUE (a grassroots education iniative) and set up an anti-capitalist education network of CENTRAL LABOUR COLLEGES, many of the leaders of the student uprising were miners and trade unionists who went on to be authors of THE MINERS NEXT STEP, a classic text of rank & file trade unionism and syndicalism.

Along the way, we will learn the story of the RED SHIRTS, a group set up at Ruskin College to sabotage the attempts of Oswald Mosely’s fascist BLACK SHIRTS to get a base in 1930s Oxford & consider how we fight against fascism & racism today. There will also be sessions on culture, trade union & labour history, feminism/women’s liberation, ecology & climate, war & empire etc. More information about speakers, events and other happenings planned will appear on our page shortly – watch this space! Sponsors include the local I.W.W and trade unionists.

]]> By: Welsh Politics: Weekly Round-up 10th May 2009 | The Wardman Wire http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/the-assembly-10-years-on/comment-page-1#comment-3113 Welsh Politics: Weekly Round-up 10th May 2009 | The Wardman Wire Sun, 10 May 2009 14:34:31 +0000 http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/?p=964#comment-3113 [...] Bethan Jenkins: The Assembly 10 years on [...] [...] Bethan Jenkins: The Assembly 10 years on [...]

]]> By: SOCIALIST UNITY » A DECADE OF DEVOLUTION IN WALES http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/the-assembly-10-years-on/comment-page-1#comment-3106 SOCIALIST UNITY » A DECADE OF DEVOLUTION IN WALES Thu, 07 May 2009 12:00:49 +0000 http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/?p=964#comment-3106 [...] by Bethan Jenkins AM (Plaid Cymru) [...] [...] by Bethan Jenkins AM (Plaid Cymru) [...]

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/the-assembly-10-years-on/comment-page-1#comment-3102 Anonymous Wed, 06 May 2009 19:21:37 +0000 http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/?p=964#comment-3102 Interesting that you mention HIV Bethan! Agreed the discrimination faced by those living with the virus is no better than it was 15 years ago. Also, at a time when rates of transmission are increasing rapidly in Wales, particularly amongst young, heterosexual women, the only place in Wales offering a free of charge, one hour HIV testing service is facing the very real prospect of having to close this service due to being unable to gain funding. Goes to show how unimportant the issue of sexual health is to the current government. Very sad and extremely short sighted. Interesting that you mention HIV Bethan! Agreed the discrimination faced by those living with the virus is no better than it was 15 years ago. Also, at a time when rates of transmission are increasing rapidly in Wales, particularly amongst young, heterosexual women, the only place in Wales offering a free of charge, one hour HIV testing service is facing the very real prospect of having to close this service due to being unable to gain funding.

Goes to show how unimportant the issue of sexual health is to the current government. Very sad and extremely short sighted.

]]> By: Peter Black http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/the-assembly-10-years-on/comment-page-1#comment-3101 Peter Black Wed, 06 May 2009 16:20:12 +0000 http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/?p=964#comment-3101 Martin Shipton's e-mails said: Dear Assembly Member, Next week we shall be running a number of articles to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the National Assembly. We would like to run one showing what each AM sees as the three most notable achievements of the Assembly or Assembly Government over the period. I would be very pleased if you were able to send me your list of three by Thursday (April 30). Thanks very much and best wishes, Martin Martin Shipton’s e-mails said:

Dear Assembly Member,
Next week we shall be running a number of articles to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the National Assembly. We would like to run one showing what each AM sees as the three most notable achievements of the Assembly or Assembly Government over the period.
I would be very pleased if you were able to send me your list of three by Thursday (April 30).
Thanks very much and best wishes,
Martin

]]> By: Macsen http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/the-assembly-10-years-on/comment-page-1#comment-3099 Macsen Wed, 06 May 2009 14:15:03 +0000 http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/?p=964#comment-3099 Bethan - the reason the press don't cover the Assembly more often is because it's so boring. There's no public gallery - the public is stuck behind tv screens and you can't even see the whole Siambr - how did the Assembly commission a public gallery where the public are cut out of the proceedures?! The AMs just look at their computer screens and never take any notice of the speaker. There's no heckling or reaction. The speeches are dull as hell - who'd bother spending time crafting a speech to a half empty hall with people looking at their screens? There's no majesty to the place - at the centre of the Siambr there's some lolly-pop or something ... you'd expect the Assembly's crest or something symbolic, there's no Red Dragon flag and the Siambr is surrounded by what looks like MDF - there could be some paintings in the background. Even the old siambr in all it's airport lounge glory had a nice Kyffin paiting and red dragon on the wall. All in all, the Siambr and the Senedd building itself is a celebration of mediocrity and averse to any thing which can elevate intellect, nationality or big ideas. It celebrates 'inclusivity' (lack of political bravery) and the common lowest denominator or Welsh identity. It says much that a useless Children's Commissioner and free bus passes for pensioners are seen as the Assembly's biggest achievents. Heaven help us! Bethan – the reason the press don’t cover the Assembly more often is because it’s so boring.

There’s no public gallery – the public is stuck behind tv screens and you can’t even see the whole Siambr – how did the Assembly commission a public gallery where the public are cut out of the proceedures?!

The AMs just look at their computer screens and never take any notice of the speaker. There’s no heckling or reaction.

The speeches are dull as hell – who’d bother spending time crafting a speech to a half empty hall with people looking at their screens?

There’s no majesty to the place – at the centre of the Siambr there’s some lolly-pop or something … you’d expect the Assembly’s crest or something symbolic, there’s no Red Dragon flag and the Siambr is surrounded by what looks like MDF – there could be some paintings in the background. Even the old siambr in all it’s airport lounge glory had a nice Kyffin paiting and red dragon on the wall.

All in all, the Siambr and the Senedd building itself is a celebration of mediocrity and averse to any thing which can elevate intellect, nationality or big ideas. It celebrates ‘inclusivity’ (lack of political bravery) and the common lowest denominator or Welsh identity.

It says much that a useless Children’s Commissioner and free bus passes for pensioners are seen as the Assembly’s biggest achievents. Heaven help us!

]]> By: David Williams http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/the-assembly-10-years-on/comment-page-1#comment-3098 David Williams Wed, 06 May 2009 12:43:44 +0000 http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/?p=964#comment-3098 Just to add to your comments in the Western Mail and on your blog, to me one of the crowning achievements of devolution is that Wales is the first nation in the world to produce an ASD Strategic Plan. I quite often converse (electronically) with Autism societies in USA, Canada, Australia, NZ, S Africa etc and this is something which has raised the status of our nation in the field. Just to add to your comments in the Western Mail and on your blog, to me one of the crowning achievements of devolution is that Wales is the first nation in the world to produce an ASD Strategic Plan. I quite often converse (electronically) with Autism societies in USA, Canada, Australia, NZ, S Africa etc and this is something which has raised the status of our nation in the field.

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