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The Island Games are biannual international multi-sports events organised by the International Island Games Association (IIGA). Competitor teams each represent different island communities (with one team from the peninsula of Gibraltar) which are IIGA members. The next games were due to be in Guernsey in July 2021. Now organisers of the Island Games have postponed the 2021 event and said they were uncertain when the next competition would be held because of the effects of the coronavirus outbreak. The 2023 games are due to be held in Orkney.

The struggle to protect Welsh from the adverse effects of continued migration into Wales is reaching a boiling point. Concerns steadily mount over the threat posed to the Welsh tongue by property development in Welsh speaking areas. For years the danger posed to the Celtic language of Wales wrought by property development in Welsh speaking areas has been a principle concern to language activists and is again in the forefront of news on the Welsh language.

The Scottish government has announced that it will look again at the proposed controversial hate crime legislation in Scotland. This follows a significant backlash over threats to freedom of speech that would have been the result of the legislation being introduced in its current form.

If you want a tip on how to effectively socially isolate during this Covid-19 pandemic follow the example of the Loch Ness Monster (Nessie). She has been doing it for centuries. Even though there are plenty of people who would like to meet her, she keeps her distance. A new survey by a holiday website has revealed that Loch Ness is one of the top ten small wedding destinations in Scotland.

NatureScot (Scottish Gaelic: Buidheann Nàdair na h-Alba), formerly known as Scottish Natural Heritage, is the public body responsible for Scotland's natural heritage, especially its natural, genetic and scenic diversity. They have now issued a warning that Scotland's wildlife is increasingly at risk from non-native species. NatureScot says there are more than 180 species, including 122 plants and about 60 animals, which pose threats such as killing wildlife or damaging habitats.

It appears to many that the drive to curtail free speech at the present time is being driven by the liberal/left. There are many dangers in this approach. The desire to prevent reading or hearing anything that you disagree with is not appropriate to the Western democratic approach. We all get irritated and sometimes angry with what some others might say or write. However, does that mean that we are not prepared to tolerate another viewpoint? Surely if someone feels that a particular viewpoint is wrong then they should have the confidence in their own viewpoint to argue against it.

We thank 'Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg' and 'The National' for coordinating the following information:

"The rural housing crisis is threatening our future, claim activists from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, the Isle of Man and Cornwall who have united in a cross-border plea over the survival of Celtic languages.

In an appeal aimed at authorities in each of those countries and territories, culture groups say housing market pressures and public policy is putting their languages at stake.

These include Scots Gaelic, Irish, Welsh, Manx and Cornish.

Julian German, the Leader of the Cornwall Council, has condemned the British Government for slashing funding for Cornish Language initiatives. The latest move by London against the Cornish Language is in violation of the UK commitment to minority languages under the "Framework Convention for Minority Languages". 

The Gaelic Rights group Misneach have mounted a campaign to pressure the Scottish Government to classify discrimination against Gaelic and Gaelic Speakers as a “Hate Crime”.

The group submitted a response to the “Hate Crime and Public Order Bill, calling for the term “Minority Language” to be included in the text of the legislation.

The Gaelic Language group Misneachid is dedicated to the promotion of the use of Gaelic in all aspects of daily life.

The Welsh Governmnent have launched a survey to identify which groups are volunteering in the wake of the Coronavirus shutdowns and which are using the Welsh language in these efforts.

Eluned Morgan, Minister for the Welsh Language, said: "Volunteering through the medium of Welsh and the resulting opportunities to use Welsh in the community has been the backbone of the Welsh language and also play a vitally important role in promoting it."

From the Welsh Government's Web Page: