Alastair Kneale's blog

Those nations and regions that we see engaged in the struggle for greater autonomy and self determination around Europe and the world are often faced with force, intimidation and suppression. Catalonia is an obvious current example of a people suffering this fate. However, the organisations and local political representatives seeking greater degrees of self determination, have the aspiration to provide a better life for their people, to protect their culture, distinct identity, and to provide social improvements and better living conditions.

Two prominent Catalan independence leaders, Jordi Sanchez of the Catalan National Assembly, and Jordi Cuixart of Omnium Cultural, were imprisoned on Monday night (16 October). They have been sent to prison by Spain's National Court while they are investigated for alleged crimes of sedition. Omnium immediately condemned the ruling as "intolerable in a democratic society". On Twitter they said: "The mobilisation continues, they won't be able to imprison an entire people!". The imprisonment of two of the best-known Catalan independence leaders has provoked outrage in Catalonia.

This item from Yn Commeeys Celtiagh - Celtic News Mannin draws attention to the recent anniversary of the Windscale Fire at the nuclear plant (now renamed Sellafield) on the English Cumbrian coast which borders the Irish Sea. The Windscale fire of 10 October 1957 was the worst nuclear accident in British history, ranked in severity at level 5 out of a possible 7 on the International Nuclear Event Scale. At the time, the British government released only sketchy details of the accident and minimized its seriousness.

News from the Celtic League:

‘Shocked and dismayed’ - General Secretary Writes to Spanish Ambassador

John Callow is of Manx descent and is a writer, screenwriter, and historian, specialising in Seventeenth Century politics and popular culture. He is the author of a number of books and has appeared in numerous television programmes. On November 4th he will be launching his new book : Embracing the Darkness - A Cultural History of Witchcraft (IB Tauris). The event will take place at the Museum of Witchcraft & Magic in the Cornish fishing port of Boscastle (Cornish: Kastel Boterel). 

Since the beginning of Catalonia's bid for a referendum on independence, the Spanish Government has made every effort to prevent it. As the date for the referendum approached the Spanish state mounted a disgraceful degree of repression. During the period leading to the vote on 1st October 2017 the Spanish police force arrested 15 Catalan Government officials. The Spanish Civil Guard then searched a number of newspaper offices without warrants and large amounts of referendum material was seized.

Media Release from Culture Vannin:

The Cooish is back!

The Cooish, Manx Language Festival, returns this October after a few years’ absence and in a very different format to previous years.

Re-launching, thanks to the work of the Yn Chruinnaght committee and with support from the Manx Language Development Office for Culture Vannin, this year will see a two-day series of events on the 20th and 21st of October.

Nearly 900 people were reported to have been hurt yesterday after riot police stormed polling stations, dragging out voters and firing rubber bullets into crowds. Intimidation by the Spanish state did not prevent millions of Catalans managing to cast their ballots, however, others were forcibly stopped from voting as schools housing ballot boxes were raided by police. On a day that saw the reputation of Spain in absolute tatters, the bravery of the Catalan people stands in stark contrast to the cowardly and abusive behaviour of the Spanish national police and paramilitary Civil Guard. 

News from the Celtic League:

A Catalan Member of Parliament (MEP) I used to know posted on Twitter this morning:

“Spanish police using violence against Catalan voters. Don’t ever call it a democracy again #CatalanReferendum"

There is strong support from those in the Celtic nations for the democratic right of the people of  Catalonia to hold a referendum on independence from Spain. This has been clearly stated by the Scottish government and progressive nationalist parties in the Celtic nations of Brittany, Cornwall, Isle of Man, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The Celtic League has also been clear in its support for the right of the Catalan people to determine their own future.