REMEMBER NEWPORT RISING 1839 - 2009: What's New? A New Charter! or just a remix?

.

Unfortunately I could not get down to Newport for any of the commemorative events but have been informed that last Saturday at a Chartist Convention in Newport a new People's Charter was launched. From what I was told it all sounds the usual sort of well intentioned ''left stuff'' that comes from such gatherings that are prone to attract a lot of progressive reformers with bag loads of social conscience and concerns as Plaid AM Leanne Wood.

.

The problem is we have heard all this before coming out of Social Forum Cymru and just where are they these days? it strikes me that any new people's Charter coming out of Newport's Chartist Convention 2009 should have had more in common with CHARTER 88 who are still in existence. Plus Charter 88 does allow space for devolution within it's 10 demands, so at moment my first response to this Newport people's Charter is that it's more or less SFC ideas in a remix and, in such a way so as to allow Plaid's Left to indulge themselves with Labour and other Welsh Left elements. Of course it will all come to nothing and be no more than a reformers statement of wishful thinking and not of radical intent towards action. Not least most obviously much will be set aside by participants as the 2010 BGE and 2011 Assembly Elections, plus Referendum on more powers for the Assembly approaches.

.

However, lets not overdo the scorn or be too critical as despite my not seeing these contemporary 'Cymric Chartists' being able to advance their worthy intentions other than via politics and political action, some good may arise out of it all. But I suspect it will be someway down the road and, will have to wait until the dust settles following the 2010 and 2011 elections aforementioned. Just maybe, if these new Welsh Chartists can keep their 'act together' then just maybe therein are the foundations of a Welsh left of centre Radical Republican Front aka Democratic Alliance against the Tories in Wales. Maybe, if following these elections Labour in Wales does really bad and Plaid Cymru right wing elements consider a getting into bed with the Tories in the Assembly to sustain a 'One Wales' Coalition, then what? Maybe real radical left elements in both Plaid and Welsh Labour will see it is time to set up a WELSH PROGRESSIVE PARTY, that way is not so 'wishy washy' way for a new Welsh Charter with real radical intent to head in direction of, maybe? think on it!

.

For further details on Chartist Commemorations see below links.

.
Home (chartistcymruorg)
2009-10. This website provides a hub for Chartist commemoration activities in ... The Newport Chartist Mural commemorates the Chartist March on Newport, ...sites.google.com/site/chartistcymruorg/Home - Cached - Similar

.
BBC - South East Wales Historical Figures - John Frost
Pay tribute to John Frost, leader of the Chartist Rebellion in Newport. ... He is commemorated in Newport by John Frost Square, which has a mural depicting ... Newport, on 31st October 2009 from 9.30am til 5pm will give a range of views ...www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/halloffame/.../johnfrost.shtml - Cached - Similar
.
Chartist Newport's Page - Chartist Network Cymru
Posted on March 18, 2009 at 10:00am —. Chartist Newport ... Blackwood to commemorate the 169th anniversary of the Newport Chartist Rising of 4 November 1839 ...chartistnetworkcymru.ning.com/profile/ChartistNewport - Cached - Similar
.
3 Chartism - a set on Flickr
Chartism marks modern Newport's birthright and the signs of Chartism are ... Chartist Tower, Newport by ArtNewport · Commemorating Chartism by ArtNewport ...www.flickr.com/photos/.../sets/72157594558292036 - Cached - Similar
.
Newport (Gwent), South Wales Tourist Information on AboutBritain
On the banks of the River Usk with its own Cathedral and Castle, Newport has ... Chartist Murals - Mosaic mural off John Frost Square which commemorate the ...www.aboutbritain.com/towns/newport.asp - Cached - Similar
.
Newport Rising - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nevertheless the imprisoned Newport Chartists were regarded as heroes and ... proudly commemorate the rising and local activities are often held to mark the anniversary ... This page was last modified on 5 September 2009 at 18:06. ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_Rising - Cached - Similar
.
Gethin Gruffydd.
.