Niall McCarsten's blog

Wales on Line are reporting that the Welsh Language  Society (Cymdeithas Yr Laith) have followed through on their declaration, made the latter part of last year, to take non-violent action against the Welsh government unless policies are put into place to protect the Welsh Language (See 8 October 2013 Transceltic Blog – “Welsh Language Society Throws Down Gauntlet).

The French news Site RFI reported last month that the French Government have pledged 2 Billion Euro to Brittany ostensibly as economic aid. The article describes the governments "Pact For the Future Of Brittany": "The government's Pact for the Future of Brittany promises 2 Billion Euros in aid to help workers declared redundant, restructure agricultural to make it more environmentally friendly and boost the region's economy."  The governments plan has met with mixed reaction from Brittany's trade movement groups and the Breton assembly barely approved with stiff opposition: "...right wing and centrist MPs and councillors opposed the Pact and boycotted the signing ceremony."

The website "SouthWalesArgus" reports under the headline "Warning To Councils Over Welsh Schools",  that the Welsh Language Group, "Rhieni Dros Addysg Gymraeg"  (RhAG) have called on local Councils in Wales to "take ownership of their duty"  under the provisions of the Welsh Government's "Schools Standards and Organisation Act".  This legislation, passed in January of this year, places a statutory requirement on local education authorities to submit a "Welsh in Education Strategic Plan" to Cardiff for review and approval.

The website "This Is Cornwall" reports that the Cornish Language Fellowship (Kowethas) have obtained funding for Cornish language children's books utilising innovative fund raising techniques on the internet: "Kowethas is a charity, that works to promote the use of Cornish in everyday life.

The Celtic League report that the Kernow (Cornwall) branch of the League have sent a letter to Eric Pickles MP, The Secretary of State for Communities, calling on the British Government to include Cornish "..as a distinct group under the terms of the Europe Framework Convention For the Protection of National Minorities".

The Party For Cornwall (Mebyon Kernow) is poised for an electoral breakthrough in representation on Cornwall County Council.  In an article on the Mebyon Kernow (MK) party conference held in the Cornish town of Truro, the website "This is Cornwall" quotes the noted Cornish historian Dr. Bernard Deacon. Dr Deacon is based at the Institute of Cornish Studies at the University of Exeter and is the author of several works on Cornish identity,  including "Mebyon Kernow and Cornish Nationalism". Dr. Deacon stated:

Hello. How are you.  Do you speak Cornish ?

The web site "This is Cornwall" reports that a "census" of Cornish speakers will be conducted now through November 22, 2013 by "MAGA - Cornish Language Partnership". A spokesman for the organisation is quoted as follows: "With no census question (UK Government Census) and no other method of recording usage of the language, we are all groping in the dark for answers. Five years ago MAG conducted a survey which, although not comprehensive, gave us some very useful information. But five years on we feel it is time for a new survey."

The Scottish government have announced an investment of a half million pounds over a two year period to develop infrastructure supporting Scots Gaelic medium education in the Western Isles of the Outer Hebrides. Alasdair Allan, who is Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland's Languages, is quoted in an article on the STV News website in making the announcement: "The demand for Gaelic education in the Western Isles continues to grow, as it does in Scotland.

The National Savings & Investment  (NS&I) bank is the subject of an application for  Judicial Review filed by the Welsh Langauge Commissioner Meri Huws.  The suit is response to the NS&I decision to discontinue offering bank services in the Welsh language.

The website of the "The Tablet", a British Catholic Weekly which has been published continually since 1840, reports that the Roman Catholic Diocese of Vannes, located in southern Brtittany, has announced its intention to incorporate the Celtic tongue of Brittany into it's liturgical texts, hymns, catechism lessons and information services.  This is a further sign of the strengthening movement to preserve, protect and promote the Breton language.