Cymdeithas' new call for Welsh speaking communitiesAt 10.30am tomorrow mourning (Thursday 24/11), members of Cymdeithas yr Iaith will be launching their new ‘Welsh is Essential’ proclamation, by raising it on various public bodies in Aberystwyth, Carmarthen and Bangor.

This action will mark a new period of campaigning against public bodies, which service our Welsh-speaking communities. Cymdeithas will call on such bodies to take specific steps in order to make sure that the Welsh language comes to be an essential part of every aspect of their work. This will mean that they change to be institutions that work through the medium of Welsh, and will translate to English that which is necessary for those who do not speak Welsh.Welsh BilingualismThe proclamation refers to this aim as ‘Welsh Bilingualism’. This will mean that we turn on its head, the present system of English bilingualism, which means that County Councils, Public Agencies and Education Collages carry out almost every aspect of their work through the medium of English and rely on translation facilities to maintain a bilingual ‘front’ for the public.Which Areas?By launching the ‘Welsh is Essential’ proclamation, Cymdeithas yr Iaith is not attempting to outline a specific ‘Bro Gymraeg’. Rather than this, the aim is to outline a new linguistic order for public administration in Wales. The goal of ‘Welsh Bilingualism’ is one that every public body could aim towards. However, as a result of regional differences, it is inevitable that some bodies will move quicker than others. At present, we expect those bodies that service our Welsh speaking communities to begin to implement such a policy in order to make sure that the Welsh language is an essential part of every aspect of their work. It could be some time before other areas are in a situation to make the same level of changes.LaunchThis new period of campaigning against public bodies will be launched tomorrow as the ‘Welsh is Essential’ proclamation is raised in three different parts of Wales:Carmarthen – Carmarthen County Council Headquarters.Bangor – at the entrance of Ysbyty Gwynedd in Penrhosgarnedd.Aberystwyth – outside Ceredigion Collage’s offices on Terrace Road in the centre of the town.The proclamation will be raised at 10.30am at all three locations.