T. Vidler's presentation on a Pressure group

1. Cymdeithas yr laith Gymraeg The Welsh Language Society

2. Cymdeithas yr laith Gymraeg Based in Aberystwyth, made of mainly volunteers and, 3 full time members. Bethan Williams is the current chairsperson. They are a promotional pressure group, promoting use of the Welsh language. They would also be classified as an ‘outside’ group, working against current gov’t policy, and occasionally committing illegal offences in protest. Every year elected officials sit in the ‘Senate’ and decide on all activity of the group. An official can be nominated from anyone with the group.

3. Aims Cymdeithas yr laith Gymraeg believe that the Welsh language should be a official language of Wales. The 1993 Welsh Language Act declared that Welsh should be treated on an equal basis with English, they argue that this is not being acted upon. Due to Welsh not being an official language, the language loses European grants.

4. Campaigns Celebrating Welsh – Umbrella organisation promoting the language New Language Act – Campaigning for a New Language Act incorporating Welsh as an official language Welsh Essential – Reversing the current system of bilingualism in English to bilingualism in Welsh, making Welsh the dominant language in certain aspects. Property Act – Act that proposes policy that makes house renting or buying easier for the people of Wales, combating rising house prices. Education – All levels of education should be taught in the medium of Welsh as well as English. Digital Future – Saving the Welsh language channel SC/4 and promoting the use of Welsh in more media, including the internet Gwreiddiwch in the Community – Building sustainable communities in urban and rural Wales

5. Methods On Sunday the 6th March 2011, 2 protesters to the cuts to the station S4/C, broke into Tory MP, Jonathan Evans office in Whitchurch, Cardiff. Slogans were graffitied conveying messages regarding keeping S4/Can independent station, opposing the proposal to merge it with the BBC to save costs. The two accused of the crime are currently on bail. In terms of fines and prison sentences, Cymdeithas are one of the largest protest groups, since the suffragettes, with over 1000 members having been accused in court for various forms of minor criminal damage.

6. Success? After campaigning for Welsh radio and television Radio Cymru was created in 1977, however the conservative government in 1979 announced they would not keep to their election promise of a Welsh television station. More campaigning ensued regarding the lack of Welsh television resulting in the emergence of S4/C, a Welsh language television station. As well as achieving it’s aims of Welsh broadcasting, since the groups birth in 1963, Welsh road signs were implemented across the country.