Wednesday 30 July 2014

Yr Aflonyddwch Mawr expresses our protest and solidarity with the Basque People on hearing of 20 pro-Independence activists being sentenced to prison-


Yr Aflonyddwch Mawr expresses its protest and solidarity with the 20 Basque pro-independence left leaders and activists sentenced to jail and 111 social clubs and bars confiscated by Spanish Special Court.


Last evening dozens of protests took place across the Basque Country against the Spanish state's latest attack on the pro-independence movement. 20 leaders and activists have been sentenced to up to 3 years in jail and 111 "herriko taberna" or "people's bars" (which are pro-independence bars, bistros, social clubs, meeting points, cultural hubs...) have been confiscated.
The process begun 12 years ago with dozens of arrests and the closing down of the mentioned bars. More protests have been called for the weekend.

JOIN NEW SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT WITH BASQUES IN WALES HERE :

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Welsh-Basque-Solidarity/614255438671658

Tuesday 29 July 2014

Free Breton Political Prisoner Enguerrand Delanous


Enguerrand Delanous a young dad of 23 years from Nantes, activist and opponent of the proposed airport in Notre-Dame-des-Landes, was sentenced to a year in prison  for being at the 22 February 2014 demonstration in Nantes against the airport.

Smoke was reportedly discovered in his DNA

Nearly 200 people were injured during the event, some serious, and some twenty were charged.

He writes from his cell to us by his commitment.

"I accepted the proposal that was made to me to join the NPA and supported by Breizhistance list primarily for show, despite the the ban on demonstrations in Nantes for 3 years and the ZAD , They cannot silence me.

Ironically, I do not believe in the possibility of real change through the ballot box.

History has shown us that it is above all the fight in the street tips the  balance of power between the people and their rulers.

Nevertheless, the elections shall be at least one thing, they force (some) media - be it a short and brief moment - to leave their permanent bias, allowing other voices to speak.

Yr Aflonyddwch Mawr calls for immediate release of Enguerrand Delanous.


Source: http://www.bretagne-info.org/2014/05/15/lettre-de-prison-denguerrand-militant-anti-aeroport-et-prisonnier-politique-candidat-aux-elections-europeennes-sur-la-liste-npa-gauche-independantiste/

August Campaign on the Mawr - Duke of Beaufort Get Out of Cymru



HISTORICAL NOTE 1

THE ORGIN OF DUKE OF BEAUFORT LORD OF THE GOWER

Later on the king's officers of the newly organized county of Carmarthen repeatedly claimed jurisdiction over Gower, thereby endeavouring to reduce its status from that of a lordship marcher with semi-regal jurisdiction, into that of an ordinary constituent of the new county. 

De Braose resisted the claim and organized the English part of his lordship on the lines of a county palatine, with its own comitatus and chancery held in Swansea Castle, the sheriff and chancellor being appointed by himself. 

The inhabitants, who had no right of appeal to the crown against their lord or the decisions of his court, petitioned the king, who in 1305 appointed a special commission to enquire into their alleged grievances, but in the following year the de Braose of the time, probably in alarm, conceded liberal privileges both to the burgesses of Swansea and to the English and Welsh inhabitants of his "county" of English Gower. 

He was the last lord seignior to live within the seigniory, which passed from him to his son-in-law John de Mowbray. 

Other troubles befell the de Braose barons and their successors in title, for their right to the lordship was contested by the Beauchamps, representatives of the earlier earls of Warwick, in prolonged litigation carried on intermittently from 1278 to 1396, the Beauchamps being actually in possession from 1354, when a decision was given in their favour, till its reversal in 1396. It then reverted to the Mowbrays and was held by them until the 4th duke of Norfolk exchanged it in 1489, for lands in England, with William Herbert, earl of Pembroke. 

The latter's granddaughter brought it to her husband Charles Somerset, who in 1506 was granted her father's subtitle of Baron Herbert of Chepstow, Raglan and Gower, and from him the lordship has descended to the present lord, the Duke of Beaufort.





HISTORICAL NOTE 2 
ON BEAUFORT FAMILY


THE 'BEAUFORT BUNCH' NO FRIENDS OF CYMRU:

After Richard II was deposed by Henry Bolingbroke in 1399, the new king rescinded the titles that had been given to the counter-appellants, and thus John Beaufort became merely Earl of Somerset again.

Nevertheless, he proved loyal to his half-brother's reign, serving in various military commands and on some important diplomatic missions.

It was John Beaufort who was given the confiscated estates of the Welsh rebel leader Owain Glyndŵr in 1400, although Beaufort could not effectively come into these estates until after 1415.

In 1404 he was Constable of England.

The Beaufort's ran into trouble during the English Civil War but had their estates reinstated and extended by Charles II and we find the Beaufort's on the Mawr  and in  Swansea and in Gwent.

This English aristocratic family have a long history of landownership in Wales and around Swansea and when Swansea was suffering a cholera epidemic for lack of fresh water some 200 years ago they asked the then Duke of Beaufort for Land for a reservoir for fresh water but he refused.

Ultimately it took an Act of the British Parliament to get the Land off him to give the people of Swansea fresh water.





See Also:


Sunday 27 July 2014

Wales for Gaza in Cardiff 26th July 2014 "This is our South Africa moment. This is the moment Palestine went mainstream. Adam Johannes Speaking




"This is our South Africa moment.
This is the moment Palestine went mainstream.
Palestine is the anti-apartheid movement of the 21st century.
It is the civil rights movement of our generation"

Adam Johannes Speaking at the historic 5000 strong march for Palestinian freedom in Cardiff yesterday

Unfortunately a few reports have appeared that rather than focus on 5000 people marching in a spirit of unity instead zoom in on an incident that took place yesterday, that many who marched won't have been aware of, to give a completely misleading impression of our historic march that does not reflect the experience of most of the few thousand people on the streets yesterday

The protest didn't 'turn violent' rather it was the victim of violent and criminal behaviour. We are still gathering testimony, but from what I personally witnessed and other testimony it appears that what occurred was the most outrageous behaviour many of us have ever witnessed in Cardiff, from two pubs, a small group of hardcore racists chanted racist abuse, threw beer over Muslim demonstrators and hurled glasses and chairs at the march. There were many young children and babies present and it is lucky none were hurt.

Demonstrators spontaneously held back people who quite naturally wanted to respond to such disgusting behaviour from racists made more confident perhaps in the poisonous atmosphere created by UKIP and others. It was a testimony to the discipline of demonstrators that no major confrontation took place.

The march continued peacefully and ended in a rally. The actions of half a dozen racists must not be used to detract from the actions of 5000 people marching for Palestine in an incredible spirit of unity: Whatever anyone says - we all know this was a significant march, we all know that it was a peaceful march, we all know that there will be even bigger protests to come and we all know that Palestine will be free.

It's no mystery. We're making history. We're winning victory...
Saturday's march was historic.

There has never ever been a march of this size in support of Palestinian freedom in Wales.

I have seen estimates of 5000 people marching. Thanks to everyone who made it happen. The carnage over the last fortnight is galvanising a new global solidarity movement of unprecedented breadth, depth and determination. The next step is protesting on Thursday at 5.30 at the offices of BBC Wales in Llandaff to call for BBC national coverage to start telling it like it is. Event page will be created soon. We are also showing a documentary film, 'Roadmap to Apartheid' on the parallels between apartheid in South Africa and Israel on Tuesday at 6.30pm in the Unite Building on 1 Cathedral Road.

Words by Adam Johannes, Cardiff Stop the War Coalition & Organiser of Wales


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Friday 25 July 2014

The Real NATO Agenda



On 4th-5th September, NATO meets in Newport, South Wales. Supposedly meeting to strengthen partnerships and forge alliances around issues of national security and protection of vital resources, this video reveals, for the first time, the Real NATO Agenda.

Tuesday 22 July 2014

The Justice Department of Senedd Glyndwr welcomes you to the hanging of Highway Land and Resource Robber "Bad Beaufort"

    

Monday 21 July 2014

Scottish Republican Socialist Movement statement on Gaza




The Scottish Republican Socialist Movement condemns the Israeli state's brutal onslaught on the 1.8 million people living in the densely populated Gaza strip.

The SRSM is appalled by the death of over 300 Palestinians.  Over 70% have been civilians and over 30 of them have been children.

The SRSM calls for an end to this slaughter.

We also call for the withdrawal of the Israeli army form Palestinian territories and an end to the development of settlements in East Jersusalem and on the West Bank.

And finally we send solidarity greetings from Scottish Republicans to the Palestinian people in their struggle for national liberation.

Alan Stewart
SRSM International Officer.

Wednesday 16 July 2014

Long Live the ideals of Scottish Communist John Maclean - Vote Yes to Democracy on September 18th in Scotland




Recently released Government  Papers show that Basil Thompson head of British Military Intelligence believed MacLean most dangerous man in Britain and stated that he would smear both MacLean and Pankhurst by spreading rumours that they were mad. 

These papers also show that at least two members of the newly formed CPGB Central Committee were British Intelligence Agents.

See Also:




18th September 2014 the Scottish Independence vote : Vote for Democracy vote Yes

Monday 14 July 2014

Red Block Against The NATO Summit at Newport in September

Announcing the creation of the Red Block Against the NATO Summit in Wales




Tjen Folket (Serve the People) from Norway, Aflonyddwch Mawr ( Great Unrest ) from Wales and Revolutionary Praxis from Nottingham (UK) announce the creation of the RED BLOCK.

The RED BLOCK will  march on the NATO Summit at the Celtic Manor Golf Club Just outside Newport in South Wales on Thursday September 4th 2014.
 
The US President Obama and new Norwegian Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg will be at the planning meeting plus others
.

Thursday 3 July 2014

Jim Sillars on why Scotland needs it own currency



A Social Democrat I can agree with Jim Sillars on Scottish Currency -  not fear mongering and smearing like George Galloway on Hugh MacDiarmid.

Wednesday 2 July 2014

A Welcome Home to John Maclean by Christina Mackie, Kilmarnock 1917


 
 
 
Come along, my comrades, join in the

glad refrain,

And give him a right good welcome,

back to the world again.

With such a pilot at the helm, our mental

ship to steer,

We’ll face the stormy elements without a

flinch or fear.

But John has gone from us awhile, to

have a peaceful rest,

And wander by the silvery sea with them

that love him best:

So wait until summer with its flowery

season pass,

Then rally round our hero-stern fighter

for his class.

His children went to bed each night, to

dream about their dad:

His wife sat down beside the hearth, so

lonely and so sad,

And listened for his footsteps; but, alas,

‘twas all in vain,

For prison walls were strong and high

that guarded John MacLean.

And we, the rebels, who took part in this

outrageous fray,

Congratulates ourselves that we have surely

won the day.

So let us raise the people’s flag, wherever

we may roam,

For all, the Clyde deported men are now

at Home, Sweet Home.

We smile, and ponder o’er the farce that

memorable day,

When wise men of the ruling class did

meet in great display,

To hail the mighty conqueror; but he

could not subdue,

The men who claim the right to think and

speak as men should do.

And so they set themselves the sham

affairs to spoil:

In dongarees and faces grim, and horny

hands with toil,

They marched along from street to street,

their purpose to make known;

The freedom of the city they transferred

from GEORGE to John.

Now let us stop this bloody game and

hush the cannon’s roar,

And beat the swords to ploughshares and

practice war no more.

The nations of the earth shall then be free

from shot and shell,

Free from this ghastly horror, reckoned

the mouth of hell.

Here let us pledge ourselves anew, with

heads uncovered swear,

In all the fights for Freedom we will

gladly take our share.

And surely we must triumph in this most

noble plan:

To usher in the Social State, the Brother-

hood of Man.

SOURCE: http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/Pages/SRSMPoemAWelcomeHomeToJohnMacLean.aspx


  Read :http://democracyandclasstruggle.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/john-maclean-most-dangerous-man-in.html


         

                                                          

Tuesday 1 July 2014

Idris Davies "Who loves not the land of his birth"




Who loves not the land of his birth

Should hide himself in the earth

Who loves not these derelict vales

Is no true son of eternal Wales.

Who curses not the vandals crime

Is the simple pawn of lust and time

Who learns no lesson from history

Sleeps in the slough of slavery


IDRIS DAVIES


 "I am a socialist.

That is why I want as much beauty as possible in our everyday lives, and so I am an enemy of pseudo-poetry and pseudo-art of all kinds.

Too many 'poets of the Left', as they call themselves, are badly in need of instruction as to the difference between poetry and propaganda ...

These people should read William Blake on Imagination until they show signs of understanding him.

Then the air will be clear again, and the land be, if not full of, fit for song."

Idris Davies

Gwyn Thomas visits Dylan Thomas' Laugharne



See Also : http://greatunrest2012.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/red-dylan-social-vision-of-dylan-thomas.html

Dylan Thomas reaching beyond the grave to defend Hugh MacDiarmid against slanders of George Galloway.

The People's History of Scotland reviewed by Stephen McGinty in the Scotsman




SUPPORT in Scotland for Irish independence was once so strong that explosives were illicitly manufactured in the chemistry department of Glasgow University while an armed gang tried to free an IRA commander from a police wagon, according to a new book.

During the early 1920s when Ireland was fighting for independence from Britain, towns across Scotland with a sizeable Irish population collected rifles, revolvers and dynamite, which were then smuggled across the Irish Sea.

Hard on the heels of the Queen’s historic visit to Northern Ireland marking the new era of peace, Chris Bambery’s A People’s History of Scotland by, to be published this week, casts a new light on the tense and violent troubles that took place in Glasgow during the early 1920s.

Irish immigrants set up clandestine IRA companies in their local towns and sourced gelignite and gunpowder from quarries, coal pits and shale mines. On eight separate occasions raiding parties broke in and robbed the Glasgow munitions works. On one occasion a gang even held up the crew of a Royal Navy gunboat which was being repaired at Finnieston dockyard and stole arms. An IRA volunteer is quoted in the book saying: “Our job was to raise money and obtain guns which were then smuggled to Ireland.”

The book also reveals that Seamus Reader, the commander of the Scottish IRA, was able to slip into the chemistry department of Glasgow University where he manufactured explosives which were then despatched to Dublin.

However, the most violent incident took place on 4 May 1921 when an armed gang of IRA volunteers tried to break free Frank Carty, an IRA commander, who had been arrested in Glasgow after previously breaking out of jail in Derry. Carty was being driven under armed guard in a police van from the Central Police Court to Duke Street Prison when the gang attacked, shooting dead a police inspector and seriously injuring a detective sergeant. The gang tried to shoot off the locks on the van but were unsuccessful and fled.

A dozen IRA members were later charged with conspiracy and murder but the jury in Edinburgh found the charges “Not Proven”. Eamon de Valera, the president the Irish Republic from 1919 to 1922, later said of Scotland’s assistance: “The financial contribution to the Irish struggle from among the Scottish communities was in excess of funds from any other country, including Ireland.”

Yesterday author Chris Bambery said: “We need to know our history good and bad… The Irish community, many second and third generation, were still quite ghettoised and had strong links to the old country. There was also a great deal of radicalisation, not only on account of the 1916 uprising in Ireland but as a consequence of the First World War. There was a young generation of much more militant Republicans emerging in Scotland among the Irish community. In Scotland it became much more about securing military supplies and smuggling them over to Ireland as well as providing rest and recuperation and safe house for Republicans who were fleeing.”

Historian Sir Tom Devine said: “The IRA had some support at the time in the west of Scotland. Indeed, senior commanders from Ireland were said to have conducted reviews on Fenwick Moor of their followers by moonlight. There were abundant supplies of gelignite from Scottish mines secured by Irish miners which were regularly ferried across the Irish Sea and also a fair amount of gun-running. Help was also given in the form of fundraising, with Coatbridge in particular later congratulated by De Valera.

“Most Irish immigrants to Scotland came from Donegal, Sligo and Cavan, ‘border’ counties where anti-partition feelings were very strong. Not to be forgotten either was the fact that many young men from the ‘Scoto-Irish’ communities were battle-hardened veterans of the Great War.”

Source: http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/books/scottish-support-for-irish-independence-in-1920-s-1-3460189