The power of Facebook politics

Pan wnes i fy araith byr ar ddyled myfyrwyr fe wnes i dynnu sylw at y ffaith bod HSBC wedi cyflwyno polisi newydd o orfodi graddedigion i dalu ffioedd ychwanegol ar gyfer eu cyfrifau myfyrwyr. Wedi hynny, fe ddechreuwyd grwp ar Facebook, ' Stop the great HSBC Rip Off', ac mae'r banc wedi datgan heddiw ei fod wedi rhewi y system newydd o ffioedd ychwanegol i'r myfyrwyr sy'n graddio eleni ac i ad-dalu graddedigion am yr arian maent wedi colli ers mis Gorffennaf. Mae hyn yn fuddugoliaeth i'r myfyrwyr, ond mae'n bwysig bod UCM ac UCMC yn parhau i fonitro cynlluniau'r banciau fel nad yw graddedigion yn darganfod fod polisiau anffafriol yn cael ei cyflwyno.

Roedd UCM wedi trefnu protest yn erbyn HSBC oedd i fod i ddigwydd wythnos nesaf, ond nawr maent wedi gohirio'r protest. Ai diolch i Facebook yw hwn am ehangu'r neges, ac ai Facebook a'r we fydd yn ennill protestiadau y dyfodol i'r fath grwpiau? A fydd na gyfnod yn y dyfodol pan fydd protest stryd yn rhywbeth hanesyddol, na fydd yn cael ei ddefnyddio fel modd effeithiol o gyfathrebu? Amser a ddengys!

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When I did a short debate on Student debt at the Assembly a few months ago, I mentioned in it the fact that HSBC were prooposing to withdraw its free overdraft facility in July, landing students with unexpected interest on their accounts. Following this, a group was set up by NUS on Facebook titled 'Stop the Great HSBC Graduate Rip-Off!' to campaign against such charges. Today, the bank announced a u- turn on this policy, and has vowed to freeze interest on overdrafts for recent graduates and repay interest paid since July. This is of course a success for the student movement, but its still important for NUS and NUS Wales to monitor the policies of such banks so as to ensure that students' accounts and graduate accounts are protected.

NUS were in the process of organising a demonstration against HSBC, set to happen next week, but it has been called off due to HSBC's sudden u-turn. Is this all thanks to the power of Facebook, and the ability to spread the campaign to a wider audience at a far faster pace than by other means, and will the website be the shining light for the success of such campaigns in the future? Perhaps we could see the day when street politics and protest will be a thing of the past.

SA1 Jog 5/9/07

I am taking part in Childline's SA1 Jog in Swansea on the 5th of September.

Please go to the website www.justgiving.com/bethanjenkins to sponsor me!

All the money goes straight to Childline, and it is a secure site.

Thank you!

Bethan

Rwyf yn cymryd rhan mewn 'Jog SA1' yn Abertawe ar y 5ed o Fedi.

Plis ewch i'r wefan www.justgiving.com/bethanjenkins i rhoi arian nodd i mi!

Mae'r arian yn mynd yn syth i Childline, ac mae'r wefan yn ddiogel.

Diolch!

Bethan

Is Cameron regretting his 'hug a hoody' headline?

I haven't blogged for a few days, sorry. I don't want to lose interest in blogging but its becoming quite hard to motivate myself. I'm sure I'll be back in the swing of things once the new term at the Assembly has started. I'm going to London for a few days tomorrow- to meet some friends and to have a rest before Plaid Conference.... and before I am too busy to have a social life!

Since I last blogged the shooting of Rhys Jones in Liverpool has dominated the headlines. I wasn't shocked by the news following other similar incidents, both in Liverpool and in London, but it was another reminder of the growth in gun crime, especially amongst young people.

I've read many an article on the attack- mostly in the Independent, who have been careful not to go down the 'anarchy in the UK' route which Cameron has hinted at in the last few weeks. The articles rightly concentrate on the issues leading to such crimes- the fact that there are a lack of youth facilities in many areas across the UK that could deter young people from becoming part of such gangs, and the relative poverty of the young people involved. This doesn't make the crimes acceptable, but we cannot merely blame it on 'the parents', or listen to unfounded claims that 'there is no discipline in schools nowadays.'
We need to take a hard look at ourselves and question why such events are taking place here, whereas other European countries lag behind us in such unpopular league tables of statistics.

New laws are not the answer, neither is the idea of banning young offenders from driving, but we need to see the Government put faith in local, grassroots initiatives, and invest in local policing. It doesn't help to scaremonger as many newspapers do, but there is a fine line between appearing soft on crime and enforcing rigid laws that will not be adhered to.

The Government's reaction has been to announce the creation of drop off zones where illegal guns can be handed in anonymously. This could be seen as a desperate attempt at a solution, or a concerted effort to address the situation. Personally, I would like to wait and see the detail before passing judgement, but considering that other policy initiatives such as ASBO's have proved to be a failure in the past, I am a little sceptical.

Unsurprisingly, the Tories have been quick to judge this ' Dad's army' plan from a Government that wants a 'quick fix' to the problem. I would be inclined to say that the last thing we need at the moment are political parties squabbling over who has the best headline grabbing policy. We need to address this issue much more rigorously- look at the incident in its social context, assess why such gangs are ruling the streets, find out where the guns are coming from, and how the police are currently dealing with such issues.

The residents of Croxteth were waiting for an incident like this to happen according to Euan Ferguson of the Observer, who went to the area following the shooting to meet with local people.
We can't wait around any longer. Here in Wales, the Nationaly Assembly must too play a part in tackling this issue head on- to be pro-active in seeking to address youth exclusion and youth crime in Wales.

BBC Network News. The debate continues

As you may have read by now, Adam Price MP has called for the BBC centrally to sit up and take notice of Wales and Welsh issues in its news programming, and I am delighted to have supported these calls on radio today.

Adam is quite right in highlighting the fact that the historic events that have taken place in public life in Wales over the last few months have gone unnoticed at a UK-wide level. The fate of Shambo received far more news coverage than the historic Assembly coalition talks. This is not to undermine the story surrounding Shambo, but to argue that there needs to be a comprehensive strategy in place for the development of stories affecting Wales on network news. Wales, of course, continuse to be side-lined in the UK newspapers, and town names are often misspelled by Journalists who have, more than likely never set foot in Wales.

As Wales matures as a democracy and as a civic society, the BBC continues to live in pre-devolution Wales. It appears the BBC needs to be dragged kicking and screaming into 21st Century, post-devolution Wales. The SNP Executive are calling for broadcasting to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament, and Plaid's long term aim is to transfer the responsibility for the regulation of all broadcasting in Wales to the National Assembly. This includes calling for S4C to come under the authority of the Assembly, making sure that its funding is ring-fenced and secured.

I of course agree that BBC Wales does a wonderful job with the resources it has, but the BBC centrally needs to be in tune with reality on the ground in Wales.

If talks with the BBC prove unsuccessful with regards enhanced provision on network news programmes, then we must develop a comprehensive news programme like that of which exists through the medium of Welsh and on Radio Wales/ Radio Cymru currently. This is an important argument, and one which already has the support of the Audience Council in Wales. If Welsh people pay over £175 million for a television license, then we must see a news broadcasting system which reflects that investment.

Pontardawe Festival/ Gwyl Pontardawe

I've just got back from the Pontardawe Festival's official dinner, and I also watched the festival's parade through the centre of town. The organisers have worked tirelessly to make a successful Festival this year, and alll have devoted time voluntarily to the smooth running of the Festival. It's a little annoying that the weather is so dreadful, but the town is buzzing with people, and there are some great folk and jazz bands playing tonight. It's a great event for the town, and next year will be the Festival's 30th year. I hope we get some sun for that one!

Wales are playing Argentina at Rugby today. I hope that we put in a better performance than our last effort! Good luck to the team!


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Rwyf newydd dod nol o ginio swyddogol Gwyl Pontardawe. Mae'r trefnwyr wedi gweithio'n galed iawn yn creu Gwyl llwyddiannus eto eleni- trefnwyr sydd yn gwneud popeth yn wirfoddol, digon teg iddynt. Mae'n boen fod y tywydd mor ddiflas heddiw, ond mae'r dre yn llenwi da pobl ar y ffordd i'r Wyl, ac mae na nifer o fandiau jazz/ folk gwych yn ware heno. Mae'r digwyddiad yn un o uchafbwyntiau'r tref, a blwyddyn nesaf fydd y dathliad o 30 mlynedd ar gyfer yr Wyl. Gobeithio fydd gwell tywydd i gael blwyddyn nesaf yw'r cyfan weda i!

Mae Cymru yn chwarae yr Ariannin heddiw yn y Rygbi. Gobeithio fydd y perfformiad yn well na'r gem dwetha! Pob lwc i'r tim.

A Levels too easy? Give the poor students a break!

I haven't had much time today to scout the news pages as I've been busy at my Constituency Office in Neath. My Community Officer and Administrative Officer started work on Tuesday and we've had a few teething problems with the phones and printers. Apologies therefore if you have tried to ring and there has been no answer!

It's all sorted now, and ready to go. We can get down to working with local people, and local groups. If you ever want to get in touch the number is 01639 643549. We are going to distrubute leaflets in the area around the office in Melincryddan tomorrow, as a starter initiative to encourage people to use the Office and to pop in for a cup of tea now and again. I can't remember how many times I've walked past Peter Hain's office in Neath, only for the shutters to be closed, so I think creating an open and friendly office is a must for any elected representative.

The one news story I couldn't miss today was the yearly A Level results. Well done to anyone reading this that has receieved your results! I really do feel sorry for you with the media story yet again this year leading on 'Are A Levels getting easier?' This was the same story as when I received my results over 7 years ago now! Please, can we not just congratulate our young people instead of criticising them all the time?

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Dwi ddim di cael llawer o amser heddiw i edrych ar beth sydd yn y newyddion oherwydd rwyf wedi bod yn brysur yn fy swyddfa yng Nghastell Nedd. Fe wnaeth fy Swyddog Cymunedol newydd a'r Swyddog Gweinyddol dechrau gwaith yn y swyddfa ar ddydd Mawrth, a da ni wedi cael ychydig o broblemau gyda'r ffon a'r offer yn y swyddfa. Ymddiheuriadau os oes unrhywun wedi bod yn ceisio ffonio, ac heb cael ateb!

Mae popeth yn gweithio'n iawn nawr, diolch byth, ac da ni'n barod am y gwaith caled. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at gysylltu a phobl lleol, a grwpiau lleol, ac os da chi byth am siarad, neu os oes mater o bwys gennych, plis ffoniwch y swyddfa ar 01639 643549. Rydym yn mynd i ddosbarthu taflennu yfory o gwmpas ardal y swyddfa yn hysbysebu ein gwaith yno, ac ennyn pobl i pigo mewn am baned o bryd i'w gilydd.Rwyf wedi cerdded heibio swyddfa Peter Hain ar sawl adeg, ac mae'r swyddfa wastad wedi bod ar gau, ac hwn sydd wedi gwneud i mi sylweddoli bod cael swyddfa agored yn angenrheidiol i unrhyw aelod etholedig.

Un stori yn y wasg nad oeddwn i'n medru anwybyddu heddiw oedd stori canlyniadau Safon A. Da iawn i unrhywun sy'n darllen y blog yma sy wedi derbyn canlyniadau heddiw ma. Rwyf wir yn teimlo piti drostoch bod stori'r cyfryngau eto mor ddiflas a negyddol ynghylch y peth. ' A yw arholiadau Safon A yn mynd yn haws,' yw'r prif stori. Yr un stori a phan wnes i dderbyn fy nghanlyniadau i dros 7 mlynedd yn ol! Plis, fedrwn ni jyst llongyfarch y myfyrwyr am un dydd, yn lle beirniadu pobl ifanc dro ar ol tro?

A National Conversation

Jack McConnell, the Leader of the Labour Party in Scotland has resigned today. Perhaps he is just not ready to put up a fight against the SNP, especially following yesterday's White Paper on Independence.

However, this is improbable given that the opposition parties were quick to issue a joint statement against the SNP's Independence conversation. Could this be a sign that a Rainbow coalition is on the way in Scotland, in a desperate attempt to oust the minority administration of the SNP? I sincerely hope not!

The National Conversation website seems very professionally thought out, and addresses the issues head on. The aim is to create an atmosphere where people can talk about Independence in Scotland, and have a chance to take part in the process of deciding on the country's future.

As the Scotsman duly suggests, the SNP are taking a gradualist approach, partly because they do not have a parliamentary majority, and will struggle to win any vote at this stage. Nevertheless, I believe that a gradualist approach is needed in the debate on Independence, so that there is a concerted effort to pick away at the stereotypes and the myths surrounding Independence, and a clear attempt at outlining the arguments for and against Independence in the cold light of day.

On the issue of holding a referendum on a Scottish Republic, from what I have read, I gather that there would be a follow on referendum on a Republic if the Scots voted for Independence initially. The Queen would continue to have a Castle at Balmoral( lucky her!) Nevertheless, I can't see the Scots agreeing to maintaining the English Monarchy in such circumstances. I may be wrong, but constitutionally it would create tensions- this without even contemplating the effect on Gordon Brown and other Scottish MP's, who, if prevented from sitting at Westminster would deny Labour a majority.

As yet there is no timeline for the Conversation on Independence, but I am sure that the SNP will be spearheading a campaign as part of this White Paper, and will be working at grassroots level to promote a positive outcome to the referendum.

I believe that the One Wales Government should be looking with interest to what is happening in Scotland at the moment. We have the challenge of initiating a referendum on a Parliament for Wales by 2011- of setting up the Convention successfully, and of encouraging people to take part in the debate surrounding additional powers for the Assembly. It will be a challenge, especially with tensions in the Labour ranks, but it is, after all, part of the One Wales agreement, and as far as I am concerned, we must work positively to make a success of the process.

Melodrama in Malta

I am back from my holiday in Malta. The island is lovely, and the weather was just right for the time I was there( it wasn't so hot that I couldn't walk around without feeling faint due to the heat, anyway) But I must say that I wasn't pleased with the hotel or the delayed flights.

I spent a few hours at the beginning of the holiday negotiating, and finally got a room that didn't look like it was trashed by a failing rock band. However, doom set in when we realised that there is a general water shortage in Malta so we couldn't access water in our room most of the time, and we were not informed of an excruciatingly out of tune cabaret couple who ruined some of my favourite 60's tunes outside the hotel EVERY night. I was greated by a flat rendition of 'The Green green grass of home' EVERY night by a man resembling Pavarotti, but who should have been told years ago that he,unfortunately, cannot sing. The food at the Hotel was a disaster also! I hope you get the picutre...

As you may have guessed I will be writing a letter of complaint to the company. I am bemused that Hotels can get away with advertising themselves as being of a certain standard in the starring system when the quality of services and the general standard does not reflect this one bit. I will be booking with caution next year, that's for sure.

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Rwyf nol o fy ngwylie yn Malta. Mae'r ynys yn brydferth, ac roedd y tywydd yn dda( wel, o'n i'n gallu cerdded o gwmpas heb i'r gwres effeithio arna i gormod ta beth) Ond rhaid dweud, roeddwn i'n llai na blesd da'r problemau da'r taith yno ac yn nol, yn ogystal a'r gwesty.

Treuliais cwpl o oriau ar ddechrau'r gwyliau yn negodu ystafell gwell, a chael ystafell erbyn y diwedd nad oedd yn edrych fel bod methiant o fand roc wedi ei ddinistrio. Er hynny, roedd pethe gwaeth i ddod, pan wnaethom sylweddoli bod problem dwr gyda Malta oedd yn meddwl nad oeddem yn derbyn dwr i'r ystafell yn aml iawn drwy gydol y dydd. Doedd neb wedi dweud wrthym chwaith am y canwyr Cabaret ofnadwy oedd yn dinistrio caneuon gwych o'r 60au POB nos y tu allan i'r gwesty. Roedd dyn allan o diwn a oedd yn edrych fel Pavarotti yn canu 'The green green grass of home' BOB nos, er dyle rhywun fod wedi dweud wrtho'n glen blynyddoedd yn ol na fedra fo ganu. Roedd bwyd y gwesty yn wael hefyd. Gobitho eich bod yn cael darlun clir o'r sefyllfa erbyn hyn!

Wel, dyw e ddim yn sioc felly fy mod i'n barod i ysgrifennu i gwyno. Dwi ddim yn deall sut mae gwesty o'r fath yn gallu hysbysebu ei hun i fod o safon penodol pan nad yw'r cyfleusterau yn adlewyrchu'r safon hynny. Byddaf yn dewis fy ngwyliau yn llawer mwy ofalus y flwyddyn nesaf yn sicr!

I'm going on a Summer holiday!

I'm going on holiday today so I won't be blogging for a week. I'm sure there'll be plenty of issues for you to discuss in my absence. If you miss me already, why not check out my interview with the blogger Normal Mouth and find out all about my views on blogging, and what I would do if I won the lottery...

Tarra, and see you soon!

Rwy'n mynd ar fy ngwyliau heddiw felly ni fyddaf yn blogio am wythnos nawr. Rwy'n siwr y bydd na ddigon o bethau i chi drafod heb fy mhresenoldeb i. Os ydych chi'n gweld ishe fi'n barod, pam ddim mynd draw at flog Normal Mouth lle rwyf wedi ateb ei gwestiynnau am fy marn i o flogio, i beth fyddaf yn gwario arian loteri arno tasen i'n ennill...

Tara, a welai chi cyn hir!

Plaid by-election wins

I've just heard that Plaid has won the two by-elections for Community Council positions in South Wales West and I am very pleased. A big congratulations to Joan Bodman in Glyn Neath for her win, and to Bob Williams in Rhydyfro, Pontardawe. Considering that Peter Hain was out and about on three occasions in Glyn Neath all in all, I think Plaid has worked hard, and has done really well.

The challenge now is to get active for the Council elections next year( or a snap General election in October!)

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Rwyf newydd clywed fod Plaid wedi ennill dau is-etholiad ar gyfer safleoedd ar Gynghorau Cymunedol yng Ngorllewin De Cymru, ac rwy'n hapus iawn am hynny. Llongyfarchiadau mawr i Joan Bodman yng Nglyn Nedd am ennill, ac i Bob Williams yn Rhydyfro, Pontardawe. O feddwl bod Peter Hain wedi bod allan yn canfasio tua 3 gwaith yng Nglyn Nedd yn y dyddie dwetha ma, mae Plaid wedi gwneud yn dda iawn, ac wedi gweithio'n galed.

Y sialens nesaf yn awr yw paratoi at etholiadau'r Cyngor y flwyddyn nesaf( neu etholiad Cyffredinol brys yn yr Hydref!)