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On 9th June 2014 a successful Annual General Meeting of Mec Vannin was held on Mannin (Isle of Man).  It was a lively meeting with a full agenda that discussed a range of important national issues. On an international matter Mec Vannin also confirmed its support for Scottish independence wishing Scotland’s Yes campaign every success in the forthcoming referendum in September.

In the words of The Sunday Times, there is an English army working against Scottish Independence and the celebrity author J.K. Rowling has declared herself a leader of this army.  There are multiple news reports this week covering Rowling’s statement on her opposition to a YES vote.  Her views are backed up by a £ 1,000,000 ($1.7 Million) donation to the forces urging a NO vote on independence.

When there is a Celtic team playing in the FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) Football World Cup then the choice of who to support for me is an easy one. It can be one of the Celtic nations of Scotland, Republic of Ireland or Wales. At this stage Cornwall, Brittany and Isle of Man are not separately affiliated to FIFA. Although the Isle of Man (Ellan Vannin/Mannin) did get through to the final of the ConIFA (an umbrella body for teams outside of FIFA) World Cup final in Sweden this year.

A new opinion poll commissioned by the Daily Record  shows the Yes and No to Scottish independence vote is now within touching distance. The Survation poll has sent the anti-independence campaign and its supporters in the English based media into a spin. The new poll shows support for independence up two points when compared to a similar one four weeks ago, while support against has dipped by three. This puts Yes on 39% with No on 44%.

The Boston Globe in an article under the headline "Fulbright Funding Folly”,  levels criticism against the Obama administration for cutting funding to an exchange program that brings Irish speaking students and academics to the United States.  The Fulbright Program website describes itself as a program established in 1957 and initially administered by An Bord Scoiláireachtaí Cómhalairte (The Scholarship Exchange Board) which annually awards grants for Irish citizens to study, research, or teach in the U.S. and for Americans to do the same in Ireland.

A report from Welsh Language Commissioner Meri Huws has pointed out concerns raised by Welsh speaking patients about healthcare services provided in their own language.  The report said that 90% agreed that Welsh speakers should have the right to express themselves in Welsh when dealing with health services wherever they live in Wales. This is after a wide disparity was found in different parts of the country when patients sought to access care in their own language. The report found that just 28% of Welsh speakers’ previous experiences with primary care were through the medium of Welsh.

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This just published in Kernow:

Following complaints received regarding several videos posted on 'YouTube' which could be regarded as offensive to the Cornish National Minority, a formal complaint together with supporting material and UK Government and FCPNM references was sent to the Headquarters of 'YouTube' which is a subsidiary of Google LLC, 901 Cherry Ave, San Bruno, California 94066, United States.

Yesterday marked just 100 days to go until the referendum on Scottish independence. There will obviously be an increased media focus on the campaign in the weeks ahead. With all to play for, the pro-independence Yes supporters have continued to present a positive case for Scottish independence. They highlight the economic, cultural and social benefits that would result from an independent Scotland.

The Celtic nation of Ellan Vannin (Isle of Man) which is also known as Mannin reached the final of the ConIFA World Football Cup in Sweden.  On the 8th June they lost a close match, which went to penalties, against Countea de Nissa and congratulations go to them. The Manx team started the competition as 250/1 outsiders and exceeded all expectations coming runners up in the competition. There was a big welcome for the footballing heroes when they landed at the Island’s Ronaldsway Airport.