I've now added an "Independence Index" page in the top bar which will include my current and future posts relating to nationalism, devolution or Welsh independence categorised by subject matter. It also includes a list of future blogposts I'm yet to write and an expected date for when to expect them.
Building regulations were devolved to the National Assembly on December 31st. Environment Minister John Griffiths (Lab, Newport East) hopes it will...
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Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Sunday, 29 January 2012
Linking north and south Wales by rail
Before I'm accused of being a fantasist, this is a "money no object" idea, not a serious proposal. I need to make that crystal clear. And if you think this post is long - just wait until next week!
The Challenge
The economic difference between the lowland east Wales and the highland west Wales is stark. In the latest figures,...
Thursday, 26 January 2012
The Plaid Leadership Candidates
Before I'm asked why I didn't pay as close attention to the Welsh Conservative leadership election last year, I'd say that it was because it was debated largely internally within the Tories and predictable. Obviously I'm going to have a keener interest in who runs Plaid than any of the other parties. That doesn't mean that...
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
The Wire and Wales
Despite being labeled the hand-wringing Guardianista's favourite TV show, I don't think there's ever been a grittier depiction of post-industrial decay than HBO's The Wire. Created by former journalist David Simon - with assistance from past members of the Baltimore Police Department - what starts out as a bog-standard police procedural, ends up becoming a wider examination of a society that's lost its way.
It's a society that's lost its sense...
Sunday, 22 January 2012
Science in Welsh schools
Wales has been a branch manufacturing outpost for the best part of 40 years. With ever increasing global competition in terms of wages, production costs and skills – Wales needs to adapt faster than ever before and start to think hard about the quality of the products we produce. If we want Wales to attract, create and...
Thursday, 19 January 2012
Peacocks in crisis : An opportunity for "new capitalism"
Peacocks faces an uncertain future, but could it be the
test bed for the UK Coalition's recent drive for a "new, responsible capitalism"?
(Pic : BBC)
In one of the biggest blows to the Welsh economy since the collapse of Hyder in 2001, clothing retailer Peacocks entered administration yesterday, threatening as many as...
Monday, 16 January 2012
Sustainable - what does it actually mean?
The Welsh Government is one few in the World that has a legal obligation to pursue "sustainable development" and it underpins all its policies. This has many benefits, but also many drawbacks.
As Grangetown Jack posted recently, one of the areas successive Welsh Government's can point to considerable progress in is the environment – in particular waste management. The recent push by Environment Minister John Griffiths (Lab, Newport East) to get...
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
Calling Salmond's bluff or Unionist browbeating?
The UK Cabinet met yesterday and the at-some-point-but-we-don't-know-yet referendum (Owen : Alex Salmond has just announced it'll be held in autumn 2014, which I imagine was most people's guess) on Scottish independence was high on the agenda. There are several lines from my last post "Saving the Union – impossible without unity?" that might be relevant and reinforce my own view that creating a New Union – one based on sovereignty at a lower level...
Sunday, 8 January 2012
Saving the Union - Impossible without unity?
Carwyn's new relationship with the UK
Back in November, the First Minister gave the Welsh Politics Annual Lecture at Aberytwyth University on devolution (more on this at Borthlas, Welsh Ramblings and Click on Wales). In his speech he said that should the Scottish people vote for independence, then Wales's relationship with the rest of the UK would need to be reformed or reworked.
Carwyn Jones outlined three "tests" that he believes are key considerations...
Thursday, 5 January 2012
More than just a game - missed opportunities for the Welsh economy?
Video games have come a long way since the arcades of the 1980s. Far from being a pastime for spotty geeks hunched over a bleeping screen in darkened rooms (ahem), it's now a mainstream medium. Last year the computer games market was estimated to be $74billion and in 2008 UK sales amounted to $6billion – one of the largest markets in Europe.
Indeed the games industry is estimated to have become the leading form of entertainment globally sometime...
