On Saturday the 24th of October, Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg are to hold their General Meeting and Annual Rally in the Welsh Language Centre in Merthyr Tydfil, titled A Revolution in the Valleys. The General Meeting will begin at 10.30am and the Annual Rally at 2pm.Menna Machreth, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith said,"We were very pleased to receive a invitation by our members in Merthyr to hold our 2009 General Meeting in the town. Merthyr has played a key part in Welsh history, however, the emphasis of the meeting will be on the future not the past of the South East communities, hence the theme Revolution in the Valleys.""We will be discussion many motions put forward including one regarding the housing development in Bodelwyddan a whether we should support communities' campaign against Tesco coming into their local area. We will also introduce Cymdeithas' new Communications Officer, Colin Nosworthy."
Dafydd Wigley to speak in the RallyDafydd Wigley who has strong connections with Merthyr Tudfil after working with Hoover, will be speaking at the Rally A New Revolution in the Valleys. Also, Hywel Davies, former editor of the Merthyr Express will be speaking, and author Catrin Dafydd will be discussing the people of Wales right to the Welsh language because it is the language for everybody who lives in Wales. Following the rally, there will be a march to the headquarters of Merthyr County Council where a letter including Cymdeithas' calls will be presented to the Council.Iestyn ap Rhobert, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Glanmorgan Committee, said:"There are a number of councils in the South East that have dragged their feet on issues regarding the Welsh Language, Merthyr Council being a perfect example, with Cymdeithas yr Iaith's members very frustrated at the Council's attitude when leaflets and signs are not produced bilingual. It is not an equal situation if people who wish to see the language must complain every time the Welsh language is ignored. It is especially worrying that Merthyr Council are so passive in their policy to measure the call for Welsh language education in the County.""There has been an unprecedented rise in numbers recieving Welsh medium education, and the general support of the language amongst the non-Welsh speaking population of the South East Valleys. It is high time that authorities recognise this shift, and work with communities to ensure greater possibilities for local communities to use the language in their everyday lives."