CORNISH-L Archives

From:
Subject: Re: [CON] Re: [CON-GEN] Cornish History Questions
Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2001 06:57:16 EDT

Hi William,

One of the reasons why the Welsh & other Celtic nations within the British
Isles are afforded or soon to be afforded Language Minority Rights. Once
again Cornwall has been left out, Mr. Blair and pals have seen fit not to
include Cornwall even though the European Government does, what this means is
the final nail in the coffin for our Cornish culture and language. If you or
other listers want to do something please read the article snipped below, and
write letters.

If I am not correct in anything I have posted here please reply privately and
we can discuss the situation. Reply to not the e-mail
address in the article, unless you specifically want to write to the author
of the article.

______________________________________________________________________________

_________________

CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION



LANGUAGES CHARTER DISCRIMINATES AGAINST CORNISH.



The British government has ratified the European Charter for Regional
or Minority Languages, thereby granting additional protection to Irish,
Gaelic, Welsh, Scots and the dialect Ulster Scots.



The Charter, which is the responsibility of the Council of Europe
in Strasbourg, will come into effect on July 1, committing the UK
government to protecting and preserving indigenous minority languages
on its territory.

Ironically, the British government has excluded the Cornish language
which is one of the most vulnerable. In doing so it has demeaned one
of the fundamental moral principles that inspired the languages protection
in the first place.

The situation of the Manx language is also somewhat ambiguous but
the Manx government is likely to be pressed to commit itself to the
provisions of the Charter, and given positive moves in re recent years
this is likely to be achieved.

Paradoxically, as the British language Eurocrats in London withhold
any status for Cornish under Part 2 of the Charter the Scots and Ulster-Scots
dialect (spoken in N. Ireland) will be allowed full minority language
protection. The move, thought to have been taken to avoid, allegations
of discrimination (principally from those in Ulster), simply compounds
the discriminatory nature of the British governments stance on Cornish.

All League National branches should protest, without delay, to the
British government (forward letters to British PM, Tony Blair, at
10 Downing Street, London). Protests should also be sent to the Secretary
General of the Council of Europe, (Palais de l'Europe. BP 431 R6,
F-67006 Strasbourg Cedex, France).

Protests should be direct and to the point. Avoid copious background
information. League Secretaries should also contact National language
organisations, urging support.



Bernard Moffatt

Secretary General

Celtic League
31/03/01



The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries of the
western British Isles and Brittany. It works to promote cooperation
between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political,
cultural and environmental matters. It targets human rights abuse
and monitors all military activity within these areas

TEL (UK)01624 627128 MOBILE (UK)07624 491609

Internet site at (http://www.manxman.co.im/cleague/index.html)

http://homepages.enterprise.net/mlockerby/clint/clint.html

news at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league

This thread:

• [CON] Re: [CON-GEN] Cornish History Questions by "Wallace Mosman" <>
  • Re: [CON] Re: [CON-GEN] Cornish History Questions by "Steve & Lori" <>
  • [CON] Re: [CON-GEN] Cornish History Questions by "John Coles" <>
    • Re: [CON] Re: [CON-GEN] Cornish History Questions by William Nakia Yelland <>

  • Re: [CON] Re: [CON-GEN] Cornish History Questions by