Blogs

In 2017 "The Scotsman" published an article, linked below, highlighting an historical map of the Gaelic language in Scotland which, among other things, illustrates the effectiveness of the British governments persecution of the Gaelic tongue: “Published in 1895, the map which charts the prevalence of Gaelic speaking in Scotland, is the first of its kind. Produced by Edinburgh map company Bartholomew’s, the map contains information distilled from the first census, in 1881, that counted Gaelic speakers in Scotland.”

It's the Isle of Man film festival 2018 and Manx Radio have a promo item here:

https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/lights-camera-action/

There was also a Youtube interview on MTTV last week. The latter inspired me to have my own film festival so I forwent the delights of the local tavern on the weekend and watched an eclectic mix including ‘Hedd Wyn’, ‘Snow Falling on Cedars’ and ‘The dawns here are quiet’ to name but a few.

SOCIAL MEDIA - IT’S NOT ALL ‘BAD’!

The Rally IOM fallout rumbles on with MTTV catching up with rally organiser John Gill. Gill seems laid back and answers all questions put by MTTVs Paul Moulton with ease. Gill is specific and goes into detail about timing, costs and other issues, His stance, which is non confrontational, is in stark contrast to the government interventions including the DHA Ministers outburst I likened to a car crash (no pun) yesterday.

The world-renowned three-day Rally Isle of Man was first held in 1963. Held on public roads, the car race is also part of the British Rally Championship. On Sunday, Rally Isle of Man said they had experienced "insurmountable delays" in securing the necessary road closure orders from the Manx government. This has resulted in the cancellation of the Manx event.

All's well that ends well that ends well. This was the case for Charlie the teddy bear. Charlie Bear, was discovered after fans departed the Electric Fields music festival, which was held in the grounds of Drumlanrig Castle in Dumfires and Galloway (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Phrìs is Gall-Ghaidhealaibh) in southwest Scotland at the weekend. Next to the bear was a book "The Wonderful Adventures of Charlie Bear - My Story." The organisers posted an appeal on social media and shortly afterwards the parent of the child who lost the bear and the book had contacted them.

As the anti-Christ of road racing you would think I would be jubilant that the Motor Rally has been cancelled but no! In one of those traits of the human character I like the rally season. Let's face it you may have the odd diversion or can be delayed an hour or so but basically they get on with it quietly and a great bonus is none of the competitors seem to kill themselves.

The great debate is now engaged as to whose fault it is that Rally IOM has been cancelled organisers blaming the DOI and the DOI saying ‘it wasn’t us what done it’.

The Welsh language is under assualt from the effects of English speaking immigrants into the Welsh language heartlands.  Over the past several years attempts have been made to counter the pernicious effect of Engish speakers taking up residence in Welsh speaking areas. The focus of these efforts has been the use of planning permision to deny approval to property development which is seen to damage Welsh.

We’ve enjoyed a record summer in these Islands so is it global warming? Who knows the jury is out. What is not in doubt is that winter sea ice in the Arctic has seen record lows for the last several years.

The changed environment brings greater pressures for wildlife like the emaciated polar bear illustrated.

I had always understood that the British Army destroyed almost 800 pet dogs on the Chagos Islands AFTER the Islanders had been deported. However this eyewitness reports that the events unfolded before their eyes and to use her words the Islanders thought “they are doing this to the dogs next they will do it to our children”.

The long standing grievance of the Chagossian Islanders about their forced expulsion from their home by the United Kingdom fifty years ago is to be considered by the International Court of Justice. The case is being brought by Mauritius to which the Islanders were deported.