Dragon's "I"

Dragon's Eye on the BBC turned to the independence word yesterday and as I watched the debate between Eluned Morgan MEP and Adam Price MP I immediately thought of the analysis of the new web site made by Welsh Labour Euro candidate Lisa Stevens earlier this week:

“I am left to wonder who it appeals too, apart from a few hard core nationalists and the leadership ambitions of Adam Price. The web site appears as a thinly veiled way of promoting Adam Price’s leadership ambitions given his prominence in its content”.

Why was I reminded of this?

Well Adam's response to the opening question about the web site was "I want to see......." with a quick adding of Plaid Cymru later in the sentence.

I am not the first to comment that Adam must be so frustrated at being at the London end of the M4, and has to wait for Rhodri Glyn to step down before he can bring his challenge to Ieuan in the Bay.

Justice for Colombia Wales

Worth a shout today is the launch of Justice for Colombia Wales that will be hosted at UNISON's Cardiff HQ. "Colombia is the most dangerous country in the world for trade unionists; thousands have been murdered in recent years simply for campaigning for better working conditions for their members". Launch events like this help to highlight the situation and to provide support and solidarity to those who need it most.

www.justiceforcolombia.org

"100" and out?

Well Wales on Sunday seem to think I am a new press guru with Welsh Labour. Sort of! Blogging has been light of late, but this week I took up the post of Welsh Policy Officer with the Labour Party and am initially carrying a communications role as our new team of staff is assembled and settles down. Heavens knows whether this involves some shaking up but the Party will be focused on building a platform of policies that take us through the European elections this June, the Westminster election of xxxxxx (answers on a postcard please) and then the Assembly elections.

I know politics is a serious matter, with important issues at stake - ask Adam Price and Plaid Cymru about that, whoever has the biro! - but I do think we all should also enjoy ourselves when appropriate.

How many more blog postings - who knows? But the Policy and Communications Officer might occasionally feel the need to express a few opinions of his own....

A bottom feeding fish

It seems my beloved Baggies have gained the habits of a fish that must feed at the bottom of the sea. In spite of several other teams insisting on giving us a chance to susrvive, we keep deciding to let in more goals than we score. A basic problem at all levels of football I have found!

Oh well hope springs eternal.

Still a better game than the silly egg chasing which kicked off this weekend. What is the point of a ball that doesn't even bounce properly?

Tokyo bound!

In a slightly surreal start to 2009 I found myself Tokyo bound to talk to the Japanese Institute of Architects about town planning. Some may know that in addition to my union and political activities I have been in 'town planning' for some 25 years. My experience, and ability to present ideas, seems to mean I have knowledge/ skills to help "enlighten" (thats what the polite leter says) others about planning.

Fingers crossed that I can blog you some stories about the coming weeks experiences. Remarkable.

Of linked interest - will I be delayed by Heathrow protests?
My carbon offset costs £41.90 - I intend to find out how BA use this money.

Intermintent!

Like West Brom premier league wins my blogging is intermittent at the moment - some might say moribund! As matters settle down in the New Year then a return to blogging will take place. Not only football survival, but Welsh Labour's leadership debate, the euro elections - let alone the sad state of affairs in Gaza.

Moral questions

The season of goodwill and some Church people decide to lash out on moral questions. This one caught my eye as clearly those women are a subversive bunch and I am not sure on what moral basis people seek to wreck the unity of a Church based on gender. But that is their business not mine. The musings over the work of the Labour Government are worth a reflection, but perhaps they should worry more about the work of the Church. Any criticism on our work around poverty is I feel deserving of considered reflection - but the Bishops took on the feel of a Christmas rant.

Cyfarchion y tymor - Season's Greetings

Well with some form of sahopping lunacy overcoming the nation can I wish you all the best for the Season.

Of course three points off the Spurs tomorrow would help lighten the footballing mood. And not long before all the transfer window speculation kicks in.

Will 2009 be the year when the 'credit crunch' bursts the bubble of Premiership football finances???

Helo!! - Olympic football team

Yes I'm still alive if a little slack on the blogging front. However today I ended up on Radio Cymru debating a British team for the 2012 Olympics. Why I'l never know, I assume they were short of contributors!!

Seems like a bit of harmless fun to me - but there is big football politics in the background it seems.

Oh well better let Tony Mowbray he is not lined as Olympic manager yet, and Scott Carson that he is not yet the Olympic number one.

But would it really be such a bad thing for the 2012 Olympics .......

Point off Pompey

That's okay and nothing to complain about but we must now take three of Sunderland to keep hope alive for New Year. But new manager syndrome... ???

Exploring political ideas

Huw Lewis AM has posted some interesting thoughts based on his speech to the Institute for Political Affairs. See here.

Wide ranging measures

I suppose it is a fact of life that Alistair Darling has a rhetorical style that alllows him to deliver such a significant financial statement in a calm delibeate manner. By all accounts this package is significant and even commentators like Wil Hutton acknowledge the issues involved.

So the pattern is clear the scale of the issues enveloping us all are seen to be so large that some old fashioned recipes are required including spend now, tax later and raising a few more quid off those (2% of tax payers it seems) earning more. Some shortt erm money for low earners, child allowance and pensioners and a VAT reduction all round.

The last measure (VAT) leaves me a little cold but I suppose it is meant to be effective as spending is stimulated. I wait to see.

Anyway in the classic battles of modern politics the "lines" are drawn and Labour is committed to investing/spending out of the crisis, while I remain alittle unclear what the Tories will do - apart from disagree with Labour.

BNP

There is clear disintegration in the extreme right and the leaking of membership names is the latest chapter in tensions that will see some rearranging of power - it has happened before and will happen again.

However the response made by Hazel Blear's is interesting as it comes from a person who has been influencing policies at the centre for some years and therefore bears some responsibility for the problem she describes. Those who have been active in the trade union wing of the Labour movement have not ignored the issues around the far right. For example UNISON have been vigilant and invested significant sums in campaigns against the far right.

So yes Hazel let us bring our Party, our representatives and our movement back in to concerted effort in taking a message and the ideological battle to the BNP and their like.

Oh dear

I must reject a suggestion that the low number of postings reflects the lowly position of my football team! but in reality just a bit busy, and less frequent access to my on line laptop.

But a few stories to pick up over the weekend, after recovering from this bottom of the pile feeling.

Tesco loyalty card - that's alright then!

I understand that George Osborne is a wealthy man but as the Tories shadow Chancellor he clearly wants to stress his common touch. So forget the Bullingdon club this is the man who tells the Times "I have a Tesco loyalty card in my wallet"!!.

Well done George, that makes you as normal as the rest of us then.

I suppose an inquisitive journalist would ask to see the record of transactions on the card and see how often George shops at Tesco's and for what products?

So George how about going on tv and opening up our Tesco purchasing records to the nation. Mine includes too much wine for my own good, CDs, socks pants and food. George's card?

Sky high - help the cause please

For a reason that is beyond me (probably youth and excitement) my son Gareth and his mate Barry are going to sky dive and raise a few quid for a good cause.

If you want to help them reach their target then see here :

and give these young men a few quid for their chosen cause.

Setting the States alight!

Its not just Obama making the headlines in the States this week but the great progress being made by Shan Jones of Y Felinheli, Gwynedd. This week's great news includes her recognition as "Freshman" (??) of the year and recognition for a record setting pace in the goal scoring section.

To quote:

"Jones was honored as the conference freshman of the year as well as being named to the Sun Belt All-First Team. The talented forward ranks 55th in the nation in goals per game and 96th in points per game. Jones leads the Blue Raiders in goals scored, points, shooting percentage, shots on goal, shots-on-goal percentage and game-winning goals.

Despite being in just her first season of collegiate soccer, the Gwynedd, Wales native sits in eighth place in school history for most goals scored in a season and already finds herself in fifth place in school history for most game-winning goals in a career".


Da iawn Shan ymlaen a ti.

Is Tosh watching .........................

Scottish satisfaction

After another break I return with a strange sense of smugness. Not the fact that Obama won (well) and has given one of those occasional, and much neeeded, lifts to the tone of poltics but events in Scotland.

For some strange reason Salmond is one of those politicians who riles me. He projects a smugness that, combined with his nationalist politics, makes me pleased to see some better perspective on the cause of Scottish independence. I supect some focus on day to day challenges may now occupy his mind more than a drive to areferendums.

Then again perhaps now is the time to renew the call once made by Wendy Alexander and demand the independence referendum. As I have said before we live in inter-dependent times, not independent times.

Obama dreaming

Experience of 1997 tells me that not too much faith should be placed in one political figure but it is hard not to get the same feeling of excitement watching and reading the US election coverage. The sight of people queueing for hours to use their vote, many to overcome previous democratic travesties, is a sign to warm the heart. Obama dreaming.

This could indeed be one of those genuine 'historic' moments should the prevailing impression of the media prove true when the votes are counted.

Perverted priorities

The world is facing more events of "catastrophic proportions" and yet, judging by the breakfast news and most newspapers, such suffering is nothing compared to two rude DJs on Radio 2. Through a sleepy blur I think I saw Breakfast news manage a few seconds on the Congo, after several minutes on the DJ issue.

It is a perfect summary of the perverted priorities that have overtaken our media obsessed age. I am sure history will find this perversion of priorities perplexing. It was unwise of my Prime Minister to even get involved in commenting on what has become a self obsessed debate at the BBC.

Let us hope we can focus our efforts on real and catastrophic events in the years to come.