Kernow Branch of Celtic League report holding successful AGM 2013

The Kernow Branch of the Celtic League has reported holding a successful AGM at the end of October. Joint Convenor of the Branch, Mike Chappell, sets out below some of the issues that were raised at the meeting.

An Kesunyans Keltek Scoren Kernewek – the Cornwall Branch of the Celtic League – has held a very successful Annual General Meeting in Redruth.

Chaired by the Branch President, Councillor Harvey Lander, members elected new Branch Officers for the year ahead, highlighted work that had already commenced in ‘actioning’ resolutions adopted at the recent International AGM held in Cymru and agreed local resolutions for campaign work over the next year.

The Branch has been approached by many people overseas claiming a Cornish heritage and calling for Cornishness to be celebrated in their own countries. Members heard that those in the Alba (Scotland) Branch, who are working towards a Scottish Referendum ‘Yes’  vote,  had called for any help possible in supporting the positive aspects of Scottish Independence, as opposed to the very negative Unionist ‘No’ campaign. It was reported that members of the Cornish Branch travelled to Edinburgh in September in support of the ‘Yes’ Rally attended by 30,000 people. The meeting heard that the eyes of many Peoples throughout Europe were on Scotland and that a ‘Yes’ vote would be likely to lead to a positive result for democracy in these islands and further afield. The meeting reaffirmed its support for a positive result in the 2014 Scottish Referendum and expressed solidarity with those in Scotland campaigning for independence, whilst agreeing to contact the media in order to attempt to provide much needed balance to bias and negative reportage.

Closer to home, the Branch will also be communicating with the Westminster Government and others calling for the Cornish to be properly recognised and to be included in the European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, as set out in the Branch resolution passed at the international AGM in Cymru in October 2013.

Branch members agreed, in common with those in Eire, that the branch should be resisting a revision of Irish history and work towards having next year’s 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War ‘remembered’, but not ‘celebrated’ as called for by some Unionist politicians, because it is believed that the bloodshed of that war was no cause for celebration.

A minute’s silence was observed in memory of the late Tony Piper and the Branch passed a resolution for a permanent memorial to be made to Mr Piper when the planned Cornish National Library and Archive Centre is built in Redruth, in recognition of his contribution to Cornwall.

Speaking at the end of the meeting, newly elected Branch Secretary, Matt Blewett said:

The Kernow Branch is in good hands and is vibrant and well supported. We use social media to our advantage and look forward to the challenges of this 21st century. We will continue to work closely with other allied organisations towards a common goal for Cornwall and the other Celtic Nations.

Councillor Lander said:

It is my pleasure to continue as President of this Branch and I know that the Branch Officers elected are the right people for the job and I have every confidence in them as shown by the meeting this evening.

After formalities had concluded, a social gathering brought the night to a close.

Michael Chappell
Joint Convenor, Kernow Branch, 30/10/13

About the Celtic League

The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on socio-economic issues.

Internet sites at:

• http://celticleague.net
• 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league