By Rob Laker, History Masters Researcher, Swansea University (student placement with WCIA’s ‘Peace Heritage’ programme).

[efsbutton size=”” color_class=”” align=”left” type=”link” target=”false” title=”Download Printable PDF Booklet” link=”https://www.wcia.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/The-1935-Peace-Ballot-in-Wales-by-Rob-Laker-WCIA-Peacemakers-Feature.pdf”]

The 1935 Peace Ballot was a UK wide poll of Britain’s electorate designed to measure the public’s opinions regarding the key debates in international relations at the time. Despite lacking government sponsorship, the Ballot received extraordinary attention across the United Kingdom – nowhere was engagement higher, however, than in Wales, which quickly came to be recognised as a leading light in the cause of internationalism.

“1,025,040 people in Wales voted in the Peace Ballot of 1935… 62.3% of eligible registered voters”

Between the wars, a new form of outward-looking patriotism had become an important part of Welsh national identity, as ordinary people worked actively to create a Wales which existed at the centre of the international community. Local branches of the Welsh League of Nations Union were active in every corner of Wales, running cultural events such as ‘Daffodil Days’ – the since forgotten annual custom of selling daffodils in aid of the League – and coordinating networks of local activists. This pride in their nation’s role in the quest for international harmony manifested itself in Welsh responses to the Peace Ballot, producing an overwhelming endorsement for the cause of internationalism.

The UK Ballot

By the end of 1933 it seemed that the international order was unravelling: the World Disarmament Conference had failed to produce results, Germany had withdrawn from the League of Nations, and the organisation had proved itself unable to resolve the Manchuria Crisis.

Internationalists in Britain, however, were anxious that the government remain committed to the League, and so the League of Nations Union set about organising the Peace Ballot in order to demonstrate the British people’s unwavering commitment to internationalism. Between the end of 1934 and the middle of 1935, half a million volunteers canvassed door to door, collecting ‘yes’ or ‘no’ responses on five key questions:

1)    Should Great Britain remain a member of the League of Nations?

2)    Are you in favour of all-round reduction of armaments by international agreement?

3)    Are you in favour of an all-round abolition of national military and naval aircraft by international agreement?

4)    Should the manufacture and sale of armaments for private profit be prohibited by international agreement?

5)     Do you consider that, if a nation insists on attacking another, the other nations should combine to compel it to stop –

       a) by economic and non-military measures?

       b) if necessary, military measures?

Despite being independently conducted, the Ballot – which received 11.6 million responses nationwide – has been described as Britain’s first referendum, and was highly effective in stimulating engagement with the key issues dominating international politics. The poll did not disappoint its organisers, for the result was an emphatic endorsement of internationalist policies from the British public.

• An astonishing ninety-seven percent of voters felt that Britain should remain in the League
• while ninety-four percent believed that it should outlaw the arms trade

Read more

• ‘Arming All Sides’: A Vote for Peace – Campaign Against the Arms Trade
• ‘The Politics of the Peace Ballot’ – New Histories Magazine (2012)

The Welsh Case

In Wales, the organisation of the Ballot fell solely on the shoulders of the Welsh League of Nations Union (WLNU), a challenge which it took up with great enthusiasm. Vast reserves of internationalist sentiment, which permeated every corner of Welsh society, were an important part of interwar society. To believe in Wales was, in this period of salient hope, to actively pursue the cause of peace, thereby locating the Welsh as a ‘force for good’ at the crux of global anxieties.

Google Map of Communities who organised Daffodil Days between 1925-39, collated by Rob Laker for his feature article on Daffodil Days of the WLNU . Zoom, or click on pins, to find individual communities. Further info on local activism can be gleaned from Welsh League of Nations Union reports (digitised by WCIA on People’s Collection Wales).

As a result, Lord David Davies (who co-founded the Welsh League of Nations Union with Rev Gwilym Davies) was determined that Wales should produce a spectacular result in the Ballot which he viewed as the very ‘essence of democracy’.

Drawing upon a committed network of volunteers across Wales, supplemented by an army of canvassers (paid at the personal expense of Lord Davies), WLNU representatives went door to door in nearly every Welsh town and village collecting responses.

• Read more on the growth of networks of community activism through ‘Daffodil Days’ 

The responses proved to be an affirmation of Wales’ internationalist credentials, as over one million adults voted in the Ballot – which at the time, represented 62.3 percent of the Welsh electorate (24 percent higher than the average across Britain as a whole).

As of 6^th June 1935, the top twelve constituencies in Great Britain with the highest percentage turnout were all in Wales, in some of which over eighty percent of the total electorate responded to the ballot (RH).

In a few cases, turnout was particularly spectacular. In Llanerfyl (Montgomeryshire), for instance, all 304 of its adult inhabitants responded to the poll, likely a testament to the zeal of local activists.

Turnout was in fact much higher in villages than in large towns across the board, and despite hosting the headquarters of the Welsh League of Nations Union, Cardiff produced some of the lowest turnouts of the poll.

We can interpret this as evidence that the success of the Ballot in Wales rested not just in the League’s popularity, but in the strength of Welsh community activism. It is highly likely that organisers in villages such as Llanerfyl (Montgomery) and Nantlle (Gwynedd) were able to achieve a 100 percent response rate because they operated in a tight-knit community, allowing them to rally support face-to-face, one neighbour at a time, in a way which proved more difficult in larger cities.

It is worth noting, however, that despite the strategy of going door-to-door in their local communities, activists were still able to obtain phenomenal results from many larger towns. In Port Talbot, for example, 82.8 percent of the town’s 27,000 adults voted.

Viewed in this light, the results of the Ballot are a testament to the strength and scale of the local networks upon which the Welsh League of Nations relied upon for support.

The way in which Welsh people voted also reflects the strength of their commitment to internationalism. In fact, just 1.7 percent of voters in Wales wanted to leave the League – around half the national average – while Welsh voters were consistently more often in favour of disarmament.

Wales had proved itself a ‘special case’. As historians such as Helen McCarthy have noted, the League of Nations Union was the largest ‘League themed’ society of any in Europe and easily enjoyed the most popular support. It is not unreasonable then, in light of the disparity between Wales and the rest of Britain in Ballot responses, to conclude that…

“in 1935 the Welsh ‘were the most ardently internationalist nation in Europe’.”

Digitised Wales Peace Ballot Records

• View WCIA’s 1935 Peace Ballot Archive on People’s Collection Wales

This collection draws together leaflets, voting forms, campaigner bulletins, articles and analysis by the Welsh League of Nations Union for the 1935 Peace Ballot - a national canvass of public opinion on Peace in the context of the then-escalating European Arms Race. Although the Peace Ballot was an initiative by the UK League of Nations Union, Wales set out explicitly to 'lead the way' and 'top the polls,' to demonstrate the strength of feeling in favour of peace, 16 years after the end of WW1.

The bulletins gave a detailed breakdown of progress on the Ballot, returns from each county of Wales (with comparisons to England), and analysis / encouragement from key figures in Wales' Peace movements. The bulletins carried motivational 'Opinion Pieces' from leaders of Wales Peace movements, such as Gwilym Davies and David Davies; and in depth analysis of the returns received from constituencies all over Wales

Later bulletins and introduction of 'YMLAEN / ONWARD' newsletter, explore implications of the results for Wales' peace building movements, and impact upon domestic and international political affairs - in particular, the meeting of the 1936 League of Nations in Geneva, which was regarded as a failure on the part of national governments. A poster graphic illustrates the UK-wide results, and Wales' leading place within the polls - with 5 of the top 10 constituency returns being Anglesey, Aberdare, Swansea East, Rhondda West and Merthyr Tydfil.

1935 Peace Ballot – Briefing for Households	1935 Peace Ballot – Canvassers’ Briefing	‘Peace Calls for Plain Answers to Simple Questions’ – 1935 Media Article	Bulletin 2, Jan 22 1935	Bulletin 3, Feb 6 1935
Bulletin 4, Mar 9 1935	Bulletin 5, Apr 9 1935	Bulletin 6, June 7 1935	Bulletin 7, Oct 1935: ONWARD	YMLAEN / ONWARD Bulletin, May 1936

Outcomes for Britain

The will of the people was unequivocal – Wales and Britain wanted to remain in international circles – what this meant, however, remained open to interpretation.

The organisers of the Ballot presented the result to the prime minister and his cabinet, but it quickly became clear that, due to the binary nature of responses, that the format of the Ballot was a poor vehicle for dictating policy.

‘Remain may have meant remain’, and ‘disarm may have meant disarm’… but the Ballot gave no sense of the scale or manner of which these aims should be pursued.

This left little room for nuance, and instead general opinion was measured without details of its practical implementation. The failure of Ballot organisers to frame the poll’s questions within the myriad complexities of Britain’s international position, made integration of the Ballot’s result into policy making both confusing and impractical – and so the consequences of the Ballot in Britain’s foreign policy are hard to identify.

The Ballot may have failed to significantly influence policy, but the strength of the poll lay in its ability to measure popular opinion. It demonstrated that an overwhelming majority of the population supported Britain’s active involvement in the League of Nations, even if there was no uniform vision of what that involvement should look like.

Across Britain, League of Nations Union branches enjoyed a surge in membership and enthusiasm for the League which, despite the Abyssinia Crisis and the aggression of Hitler, was maintained right up until the outbreak of the Second World War.

UK wide returns against the 5 questions posed by the Peace Ballot.

 

Outcomes for Wales

The Welsh League of Nations Union had a very clear idea of what the result should mean for Wales. For Gwilym Davies (Organiser of the WLNU) the result of the Ballot was ‘the vindication of the democratic right of a free people’ and a demonstration of the ‘notable achievements’ of Wales in the cause for world peace.

• Click here to read Gwilym Davies ‘Bulletin No.6’, and to see how towns and villages across Wales voted in the Ballot.

In a bulletin on the subject of ‘facing the future’, Davies called for the ‘Welsh million’ to be converted into one hundred thousand new members across Wales. While this roughly eight-fold increase failed to materialise itself,

the WLoNU organisation more than doubled in size, reaching 27,545 paid members by 1937 – the highest at any point in the interwar period.

Clearly then, far from being a fleeting spike of interest, the Peace Ballot was the source of revitalisation of Wales’ identity as an international nation.

• Click here to view the WLNU 1935-36 Annual Report ‘Wales and World Peace’ to see how the Peace Ballot featured in the wider work of WLNU, and reflected in their membership figures.

Furthermore, the setbacks suffered by the League of Nations in the mid and late 1930s – instead of leading to disenchantment – only made people in Wales more determined that the principles they had committed to in the Peace Ballot should be upheld. This wave of enthusiasm for peace through internationalism was carried right through to the outbreak of war in 1939 and beyond, later providing the support structures and the much of the personnel for the creation of the United Nations.

One such example is Gwilym Davies himself, Director and co-founder of the WLNU, who not only became president of the Welsh National Council of the United Nations Association, but is considered to be a key architect in the creation of world education & scientific body UNESCO.

Temple of Peace: Headquarters befitting a ‘Booming’ Movement

One of the most striking and longstanding results of the Peace Ballot in Wales is the Temple of Peace and Health, which was opened in Cardiff in 1938.

Envisioned by Lord Davies as ‘a memorial to those gallant men from all nations who gave their lives in the war that was to end war’, construction of the building was started in 1937 at a time when the organisation was rapidly expanding.

It was felt that, in light of the precarious international situation, it was more important than ever for Welsh internationalism to have a headquarters which suitably reflected its growing influence. Thus rose the Temple – a bastion of peace, intended to make good the sacrifice of those who fell in the ‘war that was to end war’.

• View ‘The Great and the Good’ – an account of the opening of Wales’ Temple of Peace.

Today the Temple of Peace still stands – an enduring legacy of the Ballot’s success. The organisations it now houses continue to work in the spirit of the Ballot’s organisers, inheriting the desire that Wales should be at the centre of the international community.

The WCIA – Welsh Centre for International Affairs, founded in 1973, is the modern iteration (the ‘grand daughter’, via UNA Wales) of the Welsh League of Nations Union. WCIA continue the work and vision of WLNU, and the million Welsh people who voted in the 1935 Peace Ballot, to build a better, more peaceful world.

WCIA, like their predecessors, believe that Wales is a nation which can create real and lasting change in the wider world. It is for this proud tradition – driven by the dedication and commitment of local people across Wales – that the galvanising effects of the Peace Ballot should be remembered today.

Blog article and research by WCIA Research Intern Rob Laker, on placement with Wales for Peace from Swansea University History Dept over Summer 2019 with ongoing research through 2020. Drawing on materials from the National Library of Wales and Temple of Peace Archives; and Annual Reports of the Welsh League of Nations Union 1922-45 on People’s Collection Wales, digitised by WCIA (with support of Swansea doctoral student Stuart Booker) for open access research. Final edit by Craig Owen, Wales for Peace.

Rob Laker, WCIA Archives Intern

Published on 25th March, in a fast changing international situation.

As the COVID Pandemic of 2020 has reached ‘lockdown’ for the UK and many other nations, the need for our communities – and community of nations – to work together has never been greater. Wales and the World are inextricably linked through global health: pandemics know no borders – and information is international. In an age of social media we are intertwined, and interdependent; we are Humankind.

Kindness, compassion and clarity will help us to face this world crisis, and support the most vulnerable, through cooperation and humanity – from the local to the global. Over coming weeks, WCIA will be sharing (via WCIA’s website, Twitter and Facebook feeds) ‘stories of solidarity’, links to reliable information / updates, and examples of inspiring civil society, individuals and community leadership from around the world.

View WCIA’s ‘Global Perspectives’ Blogs

 

Wales amidst a Global Health Crisis

Wales and Welsh communities must do all we can within a crisis of global proportions – and requiring global solutions. Summarised below are quick links to key sources of information and updates from around the world; ways that people can take action in local to global solidarity; learning from our heritage; and stories of solidarity from individuals around the world.

Quick References and Information Sources

UK & Welsh Government, NHS and Voluntary Sector

• Welsh Government Coronavirus Homepage; COVID latest updates & devolved policy (see First Minister Mark Drakeford’s address to the nation at bottom of article)
• Volunteering in Wales – How Can you Help with Coronavirus? Volunteer Registration, Finding Projects, Seeking Volunteer Help; WCVA COVID Updates and Guidance for
• UK Government & Statutory Guidance – Coronavirus Homepage; Foreign Office Travel Advice; Key Worker Guidance; Universities UK Guidance
• Volunteering across the UK – Guardian Article ‘Coronavirus and Volunteering: How can I help in the UK?’; NCVO guidance and resources to charities, voluntary organisations and volunteers during the covid-19 pandemic.
• NHS Public Information (National Health Service): UK COVID Homepage; NHS Wales Direct; Public Health Wales updates; UK COVID Symptom Tracker App (contributing to research data collection);

Global Health Bodies & Cooperation

• 

  UN COVID Dashboard

  World Health Organisation (WHO) homepage; COVID19 ‘Global Dashboard’;

• WHO Africa COVID Home; Updates; Africa Dashboard
• United Nations Homepage; Coronavirus Pandemic Global Overview; COVID19 UN FAQs; UN Women Gender Equality & COVID; UNESCO Global Schools Updates; UNESCO Coronavirus Education Blog
• European Union: European Commission Coronavirus Response; ECDC Updates (European Centre for Disease Control); ECDC Dashboard
• United States John Hopkins University (Baltimore) COVID Dashboard (global and US) and Coronavirus Resource Centre; Federal Govt Response ; CDC (Centre for Disease Control).

Reference Resources and Useful Articles

• Wikipedia – Coronavirus Pandemic homepage (updated daily)
• Chatham House updates – UK Thinktank on International Affairs
• ‘The World After Coronavirus’ – Yuval Noah Harari thought piece, Financial Times 20 March 2020.
• ‘Beyond Coronavirus – What’s keeping aid workers up at night’ – New Humanitarian, 24 March 2020
• ‘If Covid-19 is not beaten in Africa it will return to haunt us all’ – thought piece by Prime Minister of Ethiopia & Nobel Peace Laureate Abiy Ahmed, FT, 25 March 2020
• ‘Global perspective needed to act on root causes of Covid-19‘ – Middle East Moinitor, 30 March 2020 (though piece connects lessons from history, climate crisis and COVID cooperation)
• ‘How COVID-19 might help us win the fight against Climate Change‘ – thought piece, World Economic Forum, 31 March 2020
• Worldometer COVID Tracker (cases / deaths / recovered)
• Our World in Data – Comparison of Data Sources on COVID, March 19 2020

WCIA and the Temple of Peace & Health

As with all venues and workplaces, the Temple of Peace is closed throughout the shutdown period and WCIA staff have been working from home since Monday 16th March (though as with many in this challenging time, our capacity is limited).

• Venue bookings, and all WCIA events, have been postponed until the COVID situation becomes safer.
• WCIA are sharing Stories of Solidarity (see below) from around the world; and useful resources (such as home learning and means to take action) via WCIA’s Twitter and Facebook social media feeds.
• WCIA are supporting international volunteers on placements through UNA Exchange to self-isolate if in UK, and to find passages to their home countries where possible / appropriate.
• Hub Cymru Africa and the Wales Africa Health Links Network are offering guidance to local linking organisations and charities supporting or whose work is affected by COVID.

Internationalism in Action: Taking a Global Stand

How are internationally-minded individuals in Wales able to contribute to understanding and combating the COVID crisis in any way… on top of looking after themselves and their loved ones in a lockdown? WCIA will be gathering and sharing actions and ideas of people Wales and world-wide via our social media channels, and here:

Community Action

• Mutual Aid UK – Local organising to support the most vulnerable in our communities.
• Sign up to the Symptom Tracker App to help scientists slow the outbreak.
• Join ‘Clap for our Carers’ at 8pm 26th March to thank our NHS staff.
• Join Côr-Ona, the Facebook choir for singers and musicians in isolation.

Global Learning

• Home learning ideas are being shared via Twitter
• Fair Trade Activities for Home Learning
• ‘Size of Wales’ fun home learning resources
• ‘A Country a Day – Sudan‘ – home learning
• UNESCO Distance Learning Tools; and How to talk to your child about Coronavirus

Global Action

• UN – ideas for Solidarity in Time of Coronavirus
• Contribute to UN / WHO COVID19 Solitary Response Fund

Global Partnerships

• Find out about Wales Africa Health Links near your community and on Facebook
• Although international volunteering placements are mostly suspended during the COVIUD crisis, search how you could volunteer through UNA Exchange for community projects worldwide including in health.
• Learn about the Global Happiness Report, which ranks worldwide wellbeing to guide future development.

Global Perspectives: Stories of Solidarity

At the WCIA, we understand that the outbreak of COVID-19 is difficult for so many people across the world. In uncertain times like these, it is heartwarming to see communities uniting in solidarity, and even song in some cases. We are reaching out to people worldwide to share global perspectives on COVID-19, recognising the global nature of the issue, and some of the similarities and differences of experiences in different countries. We want to identify and share the positive stories emerging from the situation as a source of inspiration for people in these challenging times.

Personal ‘Stories of Solidarity’ from across the world, mapped.

Learning from the Past: Heritage of Cooperation

Not since the ‘Spanish Flu’ pandemic of 1918-1920, has the world experienced something of the scale the world is facing today in COVID19. Affecting as many lives globally as World War 1 itself, “Spanish flu” (so called, ironically, as Spain was the only WW1 nation that allowed uncensored reporting on it to save lives), ended up infecting 500 million – of whom 17-100 million died, making it the world’s worst epidemic since the ‘Black Death’ Plague of 1331-1353. In Wales, between 8,700 and 11,400 people are thought to have died.

• How the Spanish Flu epidemic devastated Wales in 1918 (BBC Article, 12 Oct 2018)
• What the 1918 Flu teaches us about Coronavirus (Guardian, 11 March 2020)
• The Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918 (Historic UK,
• A Historian’s View: Coronavirus and the Epidemic of 1918 (New Yorker, 25 March 2020)
• Spanish Flu and Pandemic Propaganda (Prospect Magazine, 19 March 2020)

Alongside Tuberculosis, the combined impact of World War One and Spanish Flu inspired the creation of Wales’ Temple of Peace and Health – home to WCIA today, and opened in 1938 as a beacon for the nation’s efforts to end the scourge of tuberculosis, and secure sustainable peace through global cooperation – initally through the work of the WNMA (Wales National Memorial Association for Eradication of Tuberculosis) and WLNU (Welsh League of Nations Union).

After World War 2, these movements evolved to support creation of the NHS (National Health Service) and the United Nations – two of humanity’s greatest achievements in facilitating cooperation for the common good. In the words of the Temple’s founder, David Davies:

“A ‘Temple of Peace’ is not of bricks and mortar: It is the spirit of man. It is the compact between every man, woman and child, to build a better world.”  

Has a generation taken our grandparents’ inheritance for granted? Over recent decades, support for and resourcing of these ‘institutions of humankind’ has fallen, health services and social care have suffered strident Austerity cuts, and many nations – the UK and US in particular – have turned inwards and away from the very bodies that enable international cooperation in times of crisis.

The COVID Pandemic will seriously test – and potentially reverse – many of these policy approaches. Working in global cooperation and solidarity with others, we will owe it to a generation who lose their lives, to come through this crisis to build a better world.

 

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford addresses the nation on 23 March.  

Over the first week of August 2024, WCIA and Academi Heddwch brought debates of world peace to the world of Wales’ National Eisteddfod, hosted by Rhondda Cynon Taff this year in venues around Pontypridd (with a ‘maes’ / main field in Ynysangharad Park) over 3-10 August 2024.

Much focus of discussions and campaigns on current affairs centred on the conflict in Palestine and Israel, particularly for organisations participating in the Peace Tent; whilst the shocking riots that broke out across the UK following the killings in Southport prompted a strong response from Welsh Civil Society, with WCIA leading a ‘Wales Statement of Solidarity and Togetherness‘ signed up to by many organisations over Eisteddfod Week.

During the week, the opening speech for the Eisteddfod itself, from Archdruid Professor Mererid Hopwood (Secretary of Academi Heddwch) conveyed a powerful peace message. The peace heritage story of Wales’ Women’s Peace Petition, exactly a century ago in 1924, proved a popular catalyst for inspiring action – with talks not only on the Maes but in local churches and community spaces.

Women’s Peace Petition Centenary and Academi Heddwch

Academi Heddwch and the Women’s Peace Petition team held an extensive events programme over Eisteddfod week, with a number of talks on the Eisteddfod Maes (Peace Tent and Societies Tent), a creative workshop in Storyville Books, and a talk in partnership with Cytun (Churches in Wales) on the 1925 Welsh Churches Peace Petition.

Peace Tent programme

The ‘Peace Tent’ on the Eisteddfod Maes is a much-loved annual fixture of the week-long programme, with a heritage itself stretching back to the 1920s (when the Welsh League of Nations Union had a major presence and involvement in Eisteddfodau). The tent now is co-ordinated between CND Cymru (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament), Cymdeithas y Cymod, and Academi Heddwch supported by and involving a range of organisations. There was a particularly large gathering in the Peace Tent on the Wednesday for the event ‘From Wales to Gaza: solidarity with Palestine’ (see below). CND Cymru also marked Hiroshima Day on 6th August with a Remembrance event ‘Cofio Hiroshima’.

Visitors to the Peace Tent were asked to take the name of a child from Gaza who had been killed in the recent conflict, and copy the name and age of the child onto a long piece of cloth (below) in brightly coloured textile pens.  They took the slip of paper with the name of the child away with them as an act of remembrance.  This was a simple and moving action, illustrating the extent of the tragedy in Gaza and our grief and indignation at the loss of so much young life. 

Palestine Solidarity Campaign Cymru organised a number of discussions and public events over the course of Eisteddfod week, focusing on the present conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the Occupied Territories.

Heddwch ar Waith were promoting via the Peace Tent, their campaign and working groups on mapping militarism in Wales, and developing peace ambassadors across local authority areas:

‘Heddwch ar Waith’ / ‘Peace Action Wales‘ is a project funded by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust to raise awareness of militarism in Wales and to grow a Wales-wide network of people (including young people) working to create a more peaceful and cohesive society also had a presence in the Peace Tent and held events in Pontypridd itself.  People interested in being involved in this network can do so by contacting heddwcharwaithgmail.com.

Yma o Hyd

Welsh singer Dafydd Iwan dedicated a rendition of his much-loved song ‘Yma o Hyd‘ to the victims of the Palestine conflict, with a performance that roused the whole Eisteddfod Maes.

Datganiad Cymru o undod a chydberthynas – Wales statement of solidarity and togetherness

We were shocked by the violent attack that took place in Southport last week and are deeply saddened by the murder of young girls as well as the injuries inflicted on the other victims.  Our sympathies are with the victims, their families and friends. 

Cawsom ein syfrdanu gan yr ymosodiad treisgar a ddigwyddodd yn Southport yr wythnos ddiwethaf ac rydym wedi ein tristau’n fawr gan lofruddiaeth tair merch fach yn ogystal â’r anafiadau a achoswyd i’r dioddefwyr eraill. Cydymdeimlwn â’r dioddefwyr, eu teuluoedd a’u ffrindiau.

The tragic attack in Southport has been used as a vehicle to incite hatred and to attempt to divide communities through the spread of disinformation and lies. The violence, racism and Islamophobia that this has caused does not represent who we are, nor the opinions of the vast majority of the people of Wales.  

Mae’r ymosodiad trasig yn Southport wedi’i ddefnyddio fel cyfrwng i ysgogi casineb ac i geisio rhannu cymunedau trwy ledaenu gwybodaeth anghywir a chelwydd. Nid yw’r trais, yr hiliaeth ac Islamoffobia y mae hyn wedi’u hachosi yn cynrychioli pwy ydym ni, na barn y mwyafrif helaeth o bobl Cymru.

It is not right that people are afraid to attend the mosque for fear of attack, it is not right that a child faces racist slurs from their peers because of the colour of their skin and it is not right that a man threatens a woman for wearing a hijab. These things are happening on streets in Wales. We can do better than this.  

Nid yw’n iawn fod pobl yn ofni mynd i’r mosg rhag ofn ymosodiad, nid yw’n iawn fod plentyn yn wynebu anfri hiliol gan ei gyfoedion oherwydd lliw eu croen ac nid yw’n iawn fod dyn yn bygwth menyw am wisgo hijab. Mae’r pethau hyn yn digwydd ar strydoedd Cymru. Gallwn wneud yn well na hyn.

We stand in solidarity with people experiencing racist hatred, Islamophobia and discrimination. We stand against behaviour which would seek to separate neighbour from neighbour or cast a shadow of otherness on any group of people. 

Rydym yn sefyll mewn undod â phobl sy’n profi casineb hiliol, Islamoffobia a gwahaniaethu. Rydym yn sefyll yn erbyn ymddygiad a fyddai’n ceisio gwahanu cymydog oddi wrth gymydog neu daflu cysgod arallrwydd ar unrhyw grŵp o bobl.

Wales has a strong and proud history of welcome, diversity and inclusion. If Wales is to help address the great challenges we face – climate and nature emergency, widening economic inequality, war and other injustices – then we need a society that is built on kindness, connection and respect.

Mae gan Gymru hanes cryf a balch o groeso, amrywiaeth a chynhwysiant. Os yw Cymru am helpu i fynd i’r afael â’r heriau mawr sy’n ein hwynebu – newid hinsawdd, tŵf anghydraddoldeb economaidd, rhyfel ac anghyfiawnderau eraill – yna mae arnom angen cymdeithas sydd wedi’i hadeiladu ar garedigrwydd, cysylltiad a pharch.

We ask all people of Wales to value one another and to remember that our strength comes from our openness compassion, and a willingness to come together as friends, neighbours, and colleagues – we are all humans on this one planet we share regardless of skin colour, religious belief or nationality.  

Gofynnwn i holl bobl Cymru werthfawrogi ein gilydd a chofio bod ein cryfder yn dod o’n didwylledd, ein tosturi a’n parodrwydd i ddod at ein gilydd fel ffrindiau, cymdogion a chydweithwyr – rydyn ni i gyd yn fodau dynol ar yr un blaned hon rydym ni’n ei rhannu waeth beth fo lliw’r croen, cred grefyddol neu genedligrwydd.

We all want a fairer and more peaceful world – this can only be achieved if we choose togetherness over division, dignity over dehumanisation, love over hate, kindness over cruelty.   

Rydym ni i gyd eisiau byd tecach a mwy heddychlon – dim ond os ydym yn dewis undod dros raniad, urddas dros ddad-ddyneiddio, cariad dros gasineb, caredigrwydd dros greulondeb, y gellir cyflawni hyn.

As you walk the streets of Wales today, please be kind, smile, say hello and remember: ‘we have far more in common than that which divides us’. 

Wrth i chi gerdded strydoedd Cymru heddiw, byddwch yn garedig, gwenwch, dywedwch helo a chofiwch, ‘mae gennym lawer mwy yn gyffredin na’r hyn sy’n ein rhannu’.

Cefnogir gan – Supported by:

Abergavenny & District Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Aberystwyth Nature Connection & Forest Bathing

Academi Heddwch Cymru

Adferiad

Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales

Amgueddfa Torfaen Museum

Amnesty International UK / Cymru

Amnesty Monmouthshire

Anglesey Sea Zoo Marine Conservation Centre

Artes Mundi 

ArtISan Avenue

Asylum Justice

Asylum Matters

Awel Amen Tawe

Benthyg Cymru

Beth Winter former MP Cynon Valley

Bethan Sayed former MS 

Bevan Foundation

Cadwch Gymru’n Daclus – Keep Wales Tidy

Caerphilly for Palestine

CAFOD South Wales

Campaign for National Parks

Canolfan y Dechnoleg Amgen – Centre for Alternative Technology

Cardiff Civic Society

Cardiff People’s Assembly

Cardiff Quakers

Cardiff Reading Room

Cardiff Stop the War Coalition

Cardiff Women’s Aid

Cardigan Extinction Rebellion

Care & Repair Cardiff & the Vale

Care & Repair Cymru

Care & Repair Monmouthshire & Torfaen

Care & Repair Powys

Caredig Ltd

Christine Chapman former AM for Cynon Valley

Circular Newport

Citizens Cymru Wales

Climate and Community

Climate Cymru 

Climate Shop

Clynfyw Care Farm

CND Cymru

Coastal Housing Group

Colegau Cymru

Common Cause Foundation

Community Housing Cymru

Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services

Crynwyr Cymru – Quakers in Wales

Cwtch Mawr

Cyfarfod Crynwyr Rhanbarth De Cymru – South Wales Area Quaker Meeting

Cyfarfod Crynwyr Tyddewi 

Cymbrogi

Cymdeithas Cludiant Cymunedol | Community Transport Association  

Cymdeithas Eryri Snowdonia Society

Cymdeithas y Cymod

Cymdeithas Ymddireidolaethau Datblygu Cymru – Development Trusts Association Wales

Cymdeithas yr Iaith

Cymorth Cristnogol Cymru / Christian Aid Wales

Cymorth Cymru

Cymru Queers for Palestine

Cynnal Cymru – Sustain Wales

Dant y Llew CIC 

Datblygiadau Egni Gwledig (DEG)

Derek Walker – Comisiynydd Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol Cymru – Future Generations Commissioner for Wales

Disability Labour

Disability Wales

Displaced People in Action (DPIA)

Diverse Cymru

Dolen Cymru Lesotho

Egni Cooperative

Extinction Rebellion Cymru

EYST Wales 

Faith in Families

FareShare Cymru

Ffair Jobs CIC

Ffotogallery Wales Ltd

Ffynnone Community Resilience

Foothold Cymru

Forest Bathing – Shinrin Yoku Guided Sessions

Friends of the Earth Pontypridd

Glitter Cymru 

Global Justice Now

Grange Pavilion CIO

Green Squirrel CIC

Growing Space Pontypridd

Gwyrddni

Hay Community Resilience Initiative

Hay Public Library.org

Heddwch ar Waith (Peace Action Wales)

Heddwch Nain / Mamgu (Grandmother’s Peace)

Heledd Fychan MS

HOME4U CARDIFF

Human Rights Stakeholder Group (HRSG) Wales

Institute of Welsh Affairs

Jill Evans former MEP

Learning Disability Wales

Llanw

Maindee Unlimited

Mick Antoniw MS

Monmouthshire Housing

Morning Star

MS Society Cymru

National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) – Wales

National Theatre Wales

Natur Pontypridd

Neo

Newport Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Nkechi Allen Dawson (Race Council Cymru)

Nomad Reading Darllen Nomad C.B.C.

North Wales Housing Association

Oasis One World Choir

Our Food 1200

Oxfam Cymru

Pete’s Shop Limited

Platfform for Change

Remembering Srebrenica Wales

Repair Cafe Wales

Rhondda Cynon Taf Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Rhondda Cynon Taff Trades Union Council

RSP Sprinkler Systems

Seas The Opportunity Ltd

Size of Wales | Maint Cymru

Skills and Volunteering Cymru (SVC)

Social Farms & Gardens Cymru

Stop Climate Chaos Cymru

Stop the War Cymru

Stori Cymru

Sub-Sahara Advisory Panel

Sustainable Wales

Tai Pawb

Tai Tarian

Tempo Time Credits

The Bottega Project CIC

The Canopi CIC 

The Co-production Network for Wales

The Fabulous Facilitator 

The Mentor Ring

The One Planet Centre

The Sustainable Studio 

The Welsh Centre for International Affairs

Thomas Dunn – Advisor Climate Cymru

Tir Natur

Tir Pontypridd

Torfaen Access Forum

TPAS Cymru

Trans Pride Cardiff

Trawsnewid

Trivallis

Undod Chwith Cymru

Urdd Gobaith Cymru

Valleys to Coast

Wales Council for Voluntary Action

Wales Somaliland Community

Wellbeing Economy Cymru

Welsh Labour Grassroots

Welsh Refugee Council

WEN Wales

Wild Roots Kitchen & Bar

Y Siop Fach Sero CIC

Zoë Binning Ltd.

Over Spring 2023, WCIA have been proud to participate in a UK-wide programme initiative ‘Our Heritage Our Stories‘, managed through Glasgow University alongside a range of partners, and funded through the AHRC (Arts & Humanioties Research Council).

OHOS’ funding has enabled WCIA to run a weekly programme of Wednesday afternoon ‘Archiveathons’ drop-in sessions over May to July 2024, and to recruit a group of student placements (via Cardiuff University), supported through the Temple Friends network.

Students have been able to progress a range of projects (see links below) ranging from digitisation of WCIA’s Hidden Histories publications, to researching the heritage of refugee and sanctuary movements in Wales.

The OHOS programme is supporting heritage bodies UK-wide in moving ‘Towards a National Collection‘ – identifying ways to pool the resources, knowledge and digitised materials produced by heritage and community organisations throughout the 4 nations, to reach the widest possible audiences through using AI (Artifical Intelligence) to connect collections. As one of WCIA’s student placements suggested, ‘a google for heritage’!

WCIA are a small organisation in a big project – why? WCIA’s contribution to OHOS aims to share practice and ideas that can be adapted and adopted by other small organisations in similar circulstances. How can small bodies with minimal staffing. harness the energies of volunteers and community goodwill to contribute towards preserving and understanding the UK’s rich heritage? How can we digitised and integrate our materials into nationally accessible programmes, portals or partnerships, so that they can be found beyond our usual spheres of reach? In a world where websites and online resources are replaced every few years, how can digital materials be conserved and accessible 10-20-50 years hence?

Find out more about the outputs of WCIA’s OHOS project, and the experiences of our Temple Friends and student placements below:

WCIA’s part in OHOS project

Student Placements May-July 2024

Temple Friends Heritage Volunteering

Maryam Ginwalla has recently completed a student insight placement with WCIA, through Cardiff University’s Centre for Student Life. Here she reflects on her work experience, and shares some of her outputs.

From May to July 2024, I had the opportunity to volunteer with the WCIA in the Temple of Peace to work on a project that was very meaningful to me. The team at WCIA allowed me to incorporate my own interests and areas of my other volunteering into my project with them, which I am very thankful for. My role was an insight into the Peace Heritage of Wales, for which I researched Wales’ links with refugees and sanctuary movements.

I started my project by outlining my key ideas, deciding which communities I was going to focus on. I originally was going to do a timeline, however the WCIA website already has a timeline of refugees in Wales, dating back to WW1. Instead of expanding the already existing information of the refugee groups on the timeline, I instead decided to focus on communities that weren’t on the timeline but are still predominantly large communities across Wales. This led me to choose the Yemeni, Ukrainian, Palestinian, Bangladeshi, Kurdish and Sudanese communities.

Most of my time doing this project was spent researching about the different communities, and I created a list of questions for myself that allowed me to stay on track when doing my research. These questions also meant that I was including a similar range of information across my research, making it consistent. After I had researched and written it out, I then uploaded it all to the WCIA editing page, where I learnt how to create hyperlinks that were embedded in my texts, along with creating buttons to go onto a separate page.

This insight opportunity has been extremely valuable, as I study history at university and have really enjoyed learning about how the Temple of Peace archives their material and also digitise it. My project has also allowed me to learn more about my interests and combine it with a form of history- researching the histories of these marginalised communities and their link within Wales is extremely relevant to future histories that will be written about the diverse community across Wales.

I want to extend a huge thank you to the team at WCIA and the Temple of Peace for being so welcoming and inviting us along to many events within the Temple, such as Temple Tours, helping to restore the National Garden of Peace and going through the archives in the attic! This project specifically wouldn’t have been possible without the help of Craig Owen and Sam Mutter, as instead of making me do any project, they helped to create one for me out of my interests.

Rhiannon Day, MA International Public Relations and Communications, Cardiff University.

Rhiannon has been undertaking an internship supporting the updating and digitisation of WCIA’s Hidden Histories feature articles, being uploaded as PDFs to People’s Collection Wales for long-term access into the future, with printed versions at the Temple of Peace, so that these publications remain beyond the lifespan of the existing WCIA website. This work is part of WCIA’s contribution towards ‘Our Heritage Our Stories‘, who have kindly funded this internship.

Learning from the Placement

After completing my undergraduate degree in International Studies last year in Canada, I knew that I wanted to get involved in the work of internationalism particularly related to Wales when I arrived to start my Master’s degree at Cardiff University. This role with the Welsh Centre of International Affairs not only fulfilled my desire to get involved in the community, but also to use my undergraduate degree in a meaningful way, applying my knowledge and skills to real-world projects focusing on peace and cooperation. Overall, this internship has not only provided me with digital content management skills, but also gave me insights into the rich history of Wales and the impactful work of the WCIA and the Temple of Peace in Cardiff.

One of my primary responsibilities as the Digital Heritage Intern was to edit and repackage the Hidden Histories work done by insights, interns, and staff of the WCIA in the past. To start, I conducted a comprehensive audit of the WCIA’s content, detailing the specific tasks needed for each piece of work: the length, status of content on a scale of 1-3, the bilingual status, the content included in each story, and a ‘to-do’ list for each piece. Because of the nature of the content, there was a lot of work to be done to ensure that each piece of work had not only working links and up-to-date information, but also making sure that the edits that were being done were protected from future website updates that may affect the content. Following the audit, I designed a new logo for the Hidden Histories project, ensuring it reflected the essence of the initiative. After many conversations with the staff at the WCIA, a few Procreate tutorials, and some trial and error, the new logo is a bilingual graphic of the Temple of Peace facade, tying the pdf’s into a cohesive compilation of content. I then created a template for each of the pieces, incorporating the new logo on the title pages, graphics, and overall organisation to maintain a consistent and professional look throughout. My next step was to prioritise each piece of content by its usage frequency, identifying the ‘most-used’ materials to focus efforts effectively. Throughout the process, I ensured all content remained engaging, interesting, and appropriate for the WCIA’s audience. Additionally, I developed a systematic approach to document the procedures and templates, keeping detailed spreadsheets and timetables with notes, making the project easily reproducible for future interns, ensuring its sustainability and continued success.

Not only did this experience give me insights into the organisation needed to conduct a project like this one, but it also gave me informative insights into the rich history and culture of peace in Wales, allowing me to get further involved into my new community. I am incredibly grateful for the time and support that Craig, Sam, Chris, and the rest of the team at the WCIA showed me over the past few months, and am excited to see the work that will be done following this project. If you take anything out of reading this post, take this as an encouragement to visit the People’s Collection of Wales website, and take a perusal of the pdf’s available on the WCIA website. This organisation is a wealth of information, it’s just up to you to take a gander!

To cohesively bring these stories into a collection to be uploaded to the People’s Collection of Wales in order to protect and preserve this work for future generations has been an incredibly fulfilling task, allowing me to contribute to the ongoing legacy of work at the WCIA. This internship has been a professional milestone filled with learning opportunities and insights into Wales, and I am more than grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such a meaningful project. I look forward to seeing and reading the hidden histories yet to be uncovered by future interns.

Outputs

The birthday of the NHS – on 5th July – has been marked with a call to establish an NHS Wales history website that recognises those who pioneered the creation of a pilot national health service in Wales, decades before the full NHS was officially established by Aneurin Bevan in 1948 in the aftermath of World War Two. 

The call comes from Aneira Thomas, the first baby to be born on the NHS, and Emma Snow, author of a new book outlining how a National Health Service began in Wales before the Second World War, which inspired Aneurin Bevan the create the UK-wide institution. They celebrated the NHS’ Birthday at the Temple of Peace and Health in Cardiff, where they were joined by Julie Morgan, MS for Cardiff North, and former Deputy Minister for Social Services.

The story is recounted in Emma Snow’s new book ‘The First NHS‘ , which describes how Wales developed a ‘national health service’ 38 years ahead of its rollout across Britain, in the WNMA – the Welsh National Memorial Association, headquartered at the Temple of Peace and Health in Cardiff – which was purpose-built for this mission. 

Emma describes how the full NHS put in place by Nye Bevan in 1948 adapted the model developed in Wales from 1912 onwards, through the efforts of a Montgomeryshire ‘Friendly Society’ leader, her great-grandfather John Tomley, and many contemporary colleagues. From 1945 to 1948, the by then well-established WNMA was co-opted by Aneurin Bevan to act as the ‘transitional authority’ charged with bringing together the new NHS in Wales, becoming in effect on the ‘appointed day’ NHS Wales itself, with its headquarters in the Temple of Peace and Health. 

Emma Snow calls for an NHS Wales history website and resources to be developed, arguing that the NHS’ history in Wales is not on the compulsory Curriculum for Wales and does not yet appear in any Welsh school history textbooks.  “For example,” Emma said, “the new history textbook for 11-14 year olds mentions health, yet does not even mention Nye Bevan or Betsi Cadwaladr – who have NHS health boards named after them – let alone other people and organisations involved, such as the founders of the WNMA itself.  More research is needed, and deserved, to uncover these hidden health heroes and include them on the curriculum for all children and young people in Wales.”

Julie Morgan, MS for Cardiff North, and former Deputy Minister for Social Services, said: 

“Here in Wales, we are all very proud of our Welsh connection to the NHS, with Nye Bevan setting it up in 1948. It is fascinating to find out the full story of how Wales played even more of a role in setting up the NHS that we thought. It is vital that children and young people in schools, as well as health and social care patients and staff, can find out about all our Welsh NHS health heroes and celebrate them. I fully support the call for a new NHS Wales history website, for Welsh NHS history to be added to the Curriculum for Wales and textbooks, and for more research into Welsh health history. As a start, Aneira and Emma’s books should be stocked in all Welsh secondary school libraries.”

Both Emma Snow and Aneira Thomas have written about the history of the NHS in Wales:

Emma Snow, ‘The First NHS’ – https://www.amazon.co.uk/First-NHS-Tomleys-Modern-Healthcare/dp/1399038168

Aneira Thomas, ‘Hold On Edna’ – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hold-Edna-heartwarming-story-first/dp/1913406318

12 Mehefin 2024

Mae tîm WCIA yn pryderu’n fawr am y frwydr ddyddiol enbyd dros oroesi i bobl sy’n byw yn Gaza, gan gynnwys gwystlon Israel sydd yn cael eu dal gan Hamas. Ar 26 Mai, ddyddiau yn unig ar ôl i’r Llys Cyfiawnder Rhyngwladol (ICJ) gyhoeddi mesurau dros dro newydd a orchmynnodd Israel i ddod â gweithrediadau milwrol i ben yn Rafah ar unwaith, trawodd cyrchoedd awyr Israel wersyll pebyll ar gyfer pobl wedi’u dadleoli yng nghymdogaeth Tel al-Sultan o Rafah, ‘parth diogel’ dynodedig, gan ladd dros 45 o bobl Palestina ac anafu 249, llawer ohonynt yn blant. Cafodd mesurau dros dro newydd y Llys Cyfiawnder Rhyngwladol eu gwneud mewn perthynas â’r achos a ddygwyd i’r Llys gan Dde Affrica, yn cyhuddo Israel o dorri ei rwymedigaethau o dan y Confensiwn Hil-laddiad. Wythnos yn ddiweddarach, fe wnaeth ymgyrch gan Israel i ryddhau 4 gwystl o wersyll ffoaduriaid Nuseirat ladd mwy na 270 o bobl Palesteina, ac anafu mwy na 600 o bobl..

Prin y gallwn ddychmygu’r ofn cyson sydd wedi cael ei deimlo gan bobl sy’n byw yn Gaza dros yr 8 mis diwethaf, y boen o golli teuluoedd cyfan, y sâl a’r clwyfedig heb unman i droi am gymorth, mamau sy’n methu ag addo i’w plant y byddant yn eu cadw’n ddiogel, dim bwyd, dim dŵr glân, dim cartref. Mae holl hanfodion sylfaenol bywyd wedi cael eu tynnu i ffwrdd oddi wrthynt. Does ryfedd fod rhai pobl yn galw Gaza yn ‘uffern ar y ddaear’. Yn ei ddiweddariad diweddaraf ar y sefyllfa, dywedodd World Food Programme “Mae oedolion a phlant y tu hwnt i flinedig yn sgil cael eu dadleoli’n gyson, newyn ac ofn.”

Mae’r dioddefaint i deuluoedd yn Israel yn parhau hefyd, galar annioddefol ar ôl i’w hanwyliaid gael eu lladd gan derfysgwyr Hamas ar Hydref 7fed, a’r ansicrwydd dyddiol enbyd am les y rhai sydd yn cael eu dal yn wystl gan Hamas, a’r ofn ynghylch sut mae anwyliaid yn cael eu trin a’r boen o beidio â gwybod p’un a ydynt yn fyw neu’n farw.

Mae’n rhaid i hyn stopio nawr.

Mae’n annheg iawn disgwyl dial yn erbyn holl boblogaeth Palesteina am weithredoedd terfysgwyr Hamas, neu i ystyried cymunedau fel ‘difrod anuniongyrchol’. Mae hefyd yn annheg rhoi’r bai ar ddinasyddion Israel a chymunedau Iddewig ar draws y byd, am weithredoedd llywodraeth adain dde bresennol Israel. Mae casineb gwrth-Fwslemaidd a Gwrth-Semitaidd yn cael ei danio gan eithafiaeth a dadl wedi’i phegynnu, ond mae lleisiau dinasyddion a chymunedau ar ddwy ochr y gwrthdaro yn hanfodol i gyflawni cydfodolaeth heddychlon – ac yn y pen draw, datrysiad dwy wladwriaeth ar gyfer y tymor hir.

Rydym yn cymeradwyo’r gwaith ymgyrchu ac eiriolaeth diflino dros heddwch a chyfiawnder, yng Nghymru ac ar draws y byd gan gymdeithas sifil ac eraill dros yr wyth mis diwethaf, wrth fynnu cadoediad parhaol, ar unwaith. Mae’r ymdrechion hyn yn hanfodol i geisio atal y farwolaeth a’r dinistr, cael digon o gymorth i bobl sydd ei angen yn daer, a rhyddhau’r gwystlon yn ddiogel.

Rydym yn sefyll mewn undod â phob dioddefwr erledigaeth a thrais. Mae’n rhaid i ni wneud popeth o fewn ein gallu i ddiogelu hawliau dynol cyffredinol pawb, ac i sicrhau bod y rhai sydd mewn sefyllfaoedd o bŵer yn glynu at gyfraith ryngwladol.

Mae dadansoddiad newydd Global Protection Cluster yn adrodd bod dros 5% o boblogaeth Gaza o 2.10 miliwn naill ai wedi cael eu lladd, eu hanafu, neu ar goll. Mae Swyddfa’r Cenhedloedd Unedig ar gyfer Cydlynu Materion Dyngarol (UNOCHA) yn amcangyfrif bod bron i 85% o boblogaeth Gaza bellach wedi’u dadleoli, dywed Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd nad yw’r system iechyd yn Gaza prin yn goroesi, ac mae’r IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) yn nodi bod newyn ar fin digwydd, wrth i 1.1 miliwn o bobl, tua hanner poblogaeth Gaza, brofi “ansicrwydd bwyd catastroffig”. 

Mae Cydlynydd Arbennig y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar gyfer Proses Heddwch y Dwyrain Canol, Tor Wennesland, wedi galw am ddychwelyd ar unwaith i gynnal trafodaethau, rhyddhau gwystlon a chadoediad dyngarol yn Llain Gaza, wrth i ymosodiad milwrol Israel waethygu dioddefaint dynol yng nghanol tensiynau rhanbarthol cynyddol. Dywedodd: “Mae dirfawr angen gorwel gwleidyddol ar Balesteiniaid ac Israeliaid. Hebddo, nid oes llwybr cynaliadwy allan o’r dioddefaint rydym yn ei weld bob dydd.”

Ar ôl galw am gadoediad ym mis Tachwedd y llynedd, yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf, mae Aelodau’r Senedd trawsbleidiol wedi lleisio galwadau am gydnabyddiaeth i gydnabod Gwladwriaeth Palesteina ar unwaith, fel cam cyntaf mewn proses i alluogi llwybr i heddwch parhaol a datrysiad dwy wladwriaeth. Maent yn ymuno â Norwy, Sbaen ac Iwerddon, tri allan o dros 140 o’r 193 o aelod-wladwriaethau’r Cenhedloedd Unedig, i gydnabod Palesteina fel gwladwriaeth.

Er gwaethaf Penderfyniadau Cyngor Diogelwch y Cenhedloedd Unedig a dyfarniad y Llys Cyfiawnder Rhyngwladol yn galw am fynediad dyngarol heb rwystr, nid oes unrhyw arwyddion o welliannau ar gael cymorth dyngarol i mewn i Gaza – mewn gwirionedd, mae mynediad dyngarol wedi dirywio yn ystod y misoedd diwethaf. Ym mis Ionawr, fe wnaeth Llywodraeth y DU ac eraill oedi cyllid i UNWRA, asiantaeth y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar gyfer ffoaduriaid Palesteinaidd, yn dilyn honiadau gan Lywodraeth Israel fod staff wedi bod yn rhan o ymosodiadau Hamas ar 7 Hydref. Yn sgil rhyddhau adroddiad annibynnol sy’n bodloni gofynion Llywodraeth y DU i adfer cyllid, mae cyrff anllywodraethol y DU wedi ysgrifennu at y Prif Weinidog yn galw ar i’r DU adfer a chynyddu cyllid i UNWRA. Mae’r llythyr hefyd yn tynnu sylw at y ffaith “Y bydd gwadu’r cyllid i UNRWA ond yn arwain at fwy o farwolaethau, ar adeg pan mae’r Llys Cyfiawnder Rhyngwladol wedi tanlinellu’r angen i atal y risg o hil-laddiad a chyflawni anghenion dyngarol enbyd Palesteiniaid.”

Yng Nghymru, mae Comisiynydd Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol, Derek Walker, wedi dweud “Mae gan bawb yr hawl i fyw mewn heddwch, nawr ac yn y dyfodol.” 

Fel cenedl sy’n gyfrifol ar lefel fyd-eang, rhaid i Gymru alw ar y DU i:

• Gynnal ei chyfrifoldeb cyfreithiol a moesol i sicrhau bod Israel yn cydymffurfio â gorchymyn y Llys Cyfiawnder Rhyngwladol i atal ei hymosodiadau sarhaus yn Rafah ar unwaith, ac i sicrhau bod y cannoedd o filoedd o bobl sy’n cysgodi yn Rafah yn cael eu gwarchod. Mae’r ffaith bod y DU yn parhau i drwyddedu arfau i Israel yn herio dyfarniad y Llys Cyfiawnder Rhyngwladol, ac yn gwneud y DU ynghlwm ag unrhyw droseddau rhyfel yn Gaza.

• Atal cyflenwadau o arfau’r DU i Israel ar unwaith, ac yn hytrach, pwyso’n fwy caled am gadoediad diamod, cyn gynted â phosib, i atal mwy o bobl rhag cael eu lladd neu eu hanafu, ac i sicrhau bod yr holl wystlon a Phalesteiniaid sydd yn cael eu dal yn anghyfreithlon yn cael eu dychwelyd yn ddiogel.

• Ddefnyddio pob ffordd o berswadio diplomyddol ac economaidd posibl sydd ar gael iddi i helpu i sicrhau cadoediad parhaol, ar unwaith, i atal y marwolaethau a’r dinistrio, a sicrhau bod yr holl wystlon yn cael eu rhyddhau’n ddiogel.

Gallwch ddod o hyd i ragor o wybodaeth yma: Cymru dros Heddwch yn Israel a Phalesteina: Galwad am Gadoediad  – Canolfan Materion Rhyngwladol Cymru (wcia.org.uk)

Refugee Week takes place UK and Wales-wide from 17 – 23 June 2024. WCIA are delighted to been able this year to support development of bilingual education materials for schools through Schools of Sanctuary and Holocaust Resources Wales, available through the Welsh Government’s ‘Hwb’ resources site for teachers:

• Schools of Sanctuary Resources Pack – English
• Schools of Sanctuary Resources Pack – Welsh
• Hwb Bilingual Resources on Refugees and Sanctuary
• ‘Day of Welcome’ Resources

Refugee Week is the world’s largest arts & culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of people seeking sanctuary from conflict. It’s been running in the UK since 1998 and is always the week around World Refugee Day (20 June). The theme for Refugee Week 2024 is “Our Home”. From the places we gather to share meals to our collective home, planet earth: everyone is invited to celebrate what our Our Home means to them.

Find out what’s happening near you for Refugee Week Wales

This year, WCIA has been working with the Day of Welcome project at Anglia Ruskin University, to make a range of resources available to schools. The resources contain ideas for short input, half, and full-day activities, so there’s lots of scope. You can do as much or as little as you please, and there is no cost involved. You can register to access the resources on the Schools for Sanctuary website and get your learners involved in exciting and thought-provoking activities, to help build a culture of welcome and understanding for seekers of sanctuary in Wales and beyond.

WCIA have also been supporting work with Holocaust Resources Wales, a partnership between the Centre for the Movement of People (CMOP) at Aberystwyth University and the Jewish History Association of South Wales (JHASW) which aims to provide high-quality bilingual teaching resources for use in Welsh schools. HRW currently have five resources available, with four looking at the Kindertransport and one at Treforest Trading Estate near Pontypridd.

• The Holocaust and Wales – Hwb / People’s Collection Wales

A Century of Sanctuary – Reflections from Wales’ Peace Heritage

Wales has a long heritage of solidarity in offering sanctuary to refugees fleeing conflicts around the world.

During WW1, Welsh communities offered sanctuary to more than 4,000 Belgian refugees fleeing the outbreak of conflict in Flanders Fields. In the 1930s, Basque children fleeing the Spanish civil war were welcomed from Carmarthenshire to Denbighshire to Newport and Swansea; and Jewish ‘kindertransport’ fleeing the rise of Hitler prior to WW2, found sanctuary among communities in Powys and Conwy.

• Wales’ Peace Heritage – a Century of Sanctuary

Many refugees returned to their homes, or started lives anew, after these horrific conflicts ended. Many made huge contributions to Welsh society and communities – and some chose to stay and have become a part of the fabric of Welsh society. Successive waves of conflict victims – up to and including today’s refugees from conflicts in Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen and elsewhere – have not only been offered sanctuary, but have contributed to and shaped Welsh society. What can we learn from Wales’ peace heritage of solidarity? Is Wales today a place of peace – and could Wales become the world’s first ‘Nation of Sanctuary‘?

o fis Mehefin 2024

Gyda chefndir mewn rheoli rhaglenni ac arweinyddiaeth yn y sector dyngarol rhyngwladol, yn ogystal â’r trydydd sector a’r sector cyhoeddus yng Nghymru, mae Hayley yn gyffrous dros ben i ymuno â WCIA fel ei Phrif Swyddog Gweithredol newydd. 

Dychwelodd Hayley adref yn 2018 ar ôl byw y tu allan i Gymru am bron i ugain mlynedd yng Ngweriniaeth Canolbarth Affrica, Chad, Gweriniaeth Ddemocrataidd Congo, Gweriniaeth Congo, Ffrainc, Malta, Sbaen a Thwrci. Yn ystod y cyfnod hwn, bu’n gweithio yn y sector preifat ac yn Opera Cenedlaethol Paris, cyn treulio bron i ddegawd yn rheoli adnoddau ac arwain prosiectau gyda Medicins sans Frontieres mewn ardaloedd gwrthdaro ac ôl-gwrthdaro.

Roedd byw ar draws y byd yn caniatáu iddi ddysgu Ffrangeg a Sbaeneg ac Arabeg sylfaenol tra’n cael y fraint o ddysgu’n helaeth am wahanol ddiwylliannau a chyd-destunau, yn ogystal â gweld effeithiau gwrthdaro a chynnwrf, ymfudo gorfodol a gwytnwch anhygoel gan y bobl y gwnaeth hi eu cyfarfod â byw ochr yn ochr â nhw.

Gyda chymysgedd o ryngwladoldeb, gwaith datblygu a phrofiad o weithio yn y trydydd sector a’r gymdeithas sifil, mae Hayley wedi canolbwyntio ar fywyd sy’n llawn awydd i ddysgu am y bobl a’r hanesion sydd y tu ôl i’r penawdau newyddion, ac sy’n llawn chwilfrydedd ynghylch cyfnewid gyda phobl a gweithio i ddod â phobl at ei gilydd ar draws diwylliannau, ac alinio ei gwerthoedd â rhai’r WCIA. Ar hyn o bryd, mae hi’n astudio gradd Meistr rhan-amser mewn Cysylltiadau Rhyngwladol, lle mae ei thraethawd hir yn canolbwyntio ar rwystrau i heddwch.

Wrth ymuno â WCIA, mae Hayley yn dod â’i phrofiad o fyw ar draws y byd a’i chartref yng Nghymru, ac yn cyfuno ei hangerdd dros ddod â’r ddau hyn at ei gilydd. Ar ôl mynd â straeon a chariad at Gymru dramor, mae hi bellach eisiau gweithio gyda chymunedau ac unigolion i gynyddu dealltwriaeth a chysylltedd rhyngwladol ymhellach yng Nghymru. Gyda ffocws ar heddwch, yr amgylchedd, dealltwriaeth ddiwylliannol a dealltwriaeth o’r rhan y gall Cymru ei chwarae yn y byd, mae Hayley yn falch iawn o allu gweithio gyda’r tîm ysbrydoledig yn WCIA, ei phartneriaid a chymunedau Cymru.

Closing date: 13 May 2024

Swansea University, WCIA and the National Library of Wales are pleased to announce the availability of a fully funded collaborative doctoral studentship from October 2024 under the AHRC’s Collaborative Doctoral Partnership Scheme.   

Every year without fail since 1922, a Message of Peace and Goodwill has been broadcast to the world in the name of the children of Wales. Emerging in response to the violence of the First World War and in support of international peace, the message elicited responses from young people around the globe. The Goodwill Message linked Wales and the world, and was a key means through which peace activists sought to mobilize children in the cause of peace against the backdrop of international upheaval. Despite having no parallel in modern history, little has been written of the history of the Goodwill Message or the international responses to it.   

This innovative project stands at the intersection of Welsh and international history. Based at Swansea University and the National Library of Wales and working in conjunction with the Welsh Centre for International Affairs, it will utilise the NLW’s rich collections to research the history of the first fifty years of the Goodwill Message, analysing how visions of peace were articulated in the face of international turmoil and questioning how young people appear in the historical record. There will be opportunities to take part in the programme of CDP Cohort Development events and other activities organized for CDP students by the AHRC, as well as training and development provided by Swansea University and the CDP Welsh Culture and Heritage Consortium. 

Eligibility

Candidates must hold an undergraduate degree at 2:1 level and should ideally have, or expect to receive, a relevant master’s-level qualification and/or be able to demonstrate equivalent experience in a professional setting. Suitable disciplines are flexible, but might include History, Politics, International Relations, Welsh. A reading knowledge of Welsh is a requirement for this studentship. If you are eligible to apply for the scholarship but do not hold a UK degree, you can check our comparison entry requirements (see country specific qualifications). Please note that you may need to provide evidence of your English Language proficiency. 

We want to encourage the widest range of potential students to study for a CDP studentship and are committed to welcoming students from different backgrounds to apply. This scholarship is open to candidates of any nationality. 

Funding

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at £19,237 and an enhanced stiped of £600 p.a. Additional research expenses will also be available.

For further information, please visit: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/scholarships/research/history-ahrc-phd-from-2024-rs596.php

By Catherine Duigan, Professor (Hon.) of Environmental Science, Department of Geography and Earth Science, Aberystwyth University.  February 2024.

Address: Bronsiriol, Brynymor Road, Aberystwyth.

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Of course Kathleen Carpenter signed The Petition, clearly and confidently with her best fountain pen, as a testament to her loyalty and humanity. 

As the daughter of Frances Zimmerman, a German migrant to England, World War One shaped Kathleen’s life and identity.

Alongside future soldiers, she did her undergraduate studies at the University College of Wales Aberystwyth, obtaining her B.Sc. in 1910, afterwards taking the traditional path for women into teaching.   

No doubt she would have been aware of the banishment by a mob of Carl Hermann Ethé, a German national and Professor of Oriental Languages at Aberystwyth, in October 1914. The following month a newspaper notice declared that, by deed poll, Kathleen and her sister Bessey had “abandoned” the name of Zimmerman and permanently adopted Carpenter. 

In 1916-18 she taught in Birkenhead High School where the girls made felt bootees for soldiers suffering from trench foot, but German continued to be taught. An important naval area, wartime sentiments had already exploded in May 1915 after the sinking of the RMS Lusitania, with German-sounding shops being looted and burned.

In October 1919 Kathleen returned to Aberystwyth to start her M.Sc. studies on the impact of acid mine waters on the ecology of the local rivers.  As an assistant lecturer she is likely to have taught war veterans who had a reputation for challenging the status quo.

The Petition’s aspiration to influence foreign policy would have intrigued Kathleen, who eventually left Britain to work in several universities in the USA. There she developed her own links with The American Association of University Women who hosted The Petition deputation in Washington DC.

On Wednesday 1 May, WCIA are inviting Temple Friends, volunteers, and students to join in an action packed afternoon as we launch a new heritage project and ‘Archiveathon Challenge’ for summer 2024 – helping explore and digitise materials from the Temple of Peace Archives for future posterity – alongside a range of other volunteering projects under the banner of ‘Temple Friends’.

Find out more and register for…

The Peace Archives digitisation project is part of the UK-wide initiative ‘Our Heritage Our Stories‘, which is seeking to integrate local archives with national collections for future generations. WCIA are grateful to OHOS for contributing seed funding to enable this series of Archiveathons to take place over May-June 2024, enabling WCIA volunteers to take significant strides forward with yet unexplored and undigitising collections, whilst ensuring many thousands of peace heritage resources and hidden histories curated over the last decade, will be available 50-100 years hence as websites and digital technologies move on (as well as institutional knowledge and staff).

This event will see the launch of an exciting range of onsite Temple Volunteering projects, coming under the Umbrella of ‘Temple Friends‘ – the burgeoning network of people and organisations who consider themselves ‘Friends of Wales’ Temple of Peace’: existing partner organisations; ex-volunteers, staff, trustees and ‘alumni’; communities with memorials in the Peace Garden; researchers, educationalists and academics keen to explore the Temple’s rich archives and collections; or individuals with a passion for peace building and who would love to play their part in safeguarding and shaping the future of this iconic building. The Friends are likely to play a key consultative role in the event of any development proposals coming forward affecting future usage of the Temple of Peace & Health, acting alongside WCIA as guardians of the Temple’s founding mission and purpose, as a public space gifted in 1934 to the people of Wales (for 999 years).

Who’s this for?

This will be a open afternon with 3 components, the core session being the participatory workshop for all from 14.00-16.30 (below); with the options to also join a Temple Tour beforehand, and / or the ‘Temple Friends‘ discussion afterwards. We hope this bring together, be of interest and enjoyment to:

• Students starting work experience ‘Insights’ placement projects through Cardiff University over May-June, for which this will be ‘induction day’.
• Supporters of the ‘Temple Friends’ Network keen to be help, shape and be involved in delivery of onsite activities and improvements to the Temple and Peace Garden
• General volunteer and research enquiries, who would like to use the archives or pop in on a more casual basis to help when they can with week to week tasks.

We hope you can join us for Mayday! For more information on the indivdiual parts of the day, please scroll down or visit the individual event pages, from which you can register

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Mayday Events in More Detail

12.30-14.00 Lunchtime Temple Tour

to include the National Garden of Peace (not usually included in lunchtime tours, this will be an experimental ‘trial tour’ integrating the newly-developed peace garden memorials trail). Temple Tours homeage here

14.00-16.30 Mayday ‘Temple Friends’ Placement Projects & Volunteering Workshop

Supported and enabled by OHOS, Our Heritage, Our Stories – will include a talk on the ‘big ambition’ to integrate local archives into National Collections through harnessing power of AI and communities (the sort of professional knowledge insights you won’t get through Youtube!) 

An induction briefing and 121 / group planning session for all individuals who have expressed an interest in volunteering, undertaking archives research, heritage or other onsite projects at the Temple of Peace, this will include:

• Peace Archives: An introduction and overview of the Temple Library, archives and collections, hidden histories recently uncovered – and new histories yet unexplored.
• Towards A ‘National Collection’: short talk from ‘Our Heritage, Our Stories’, who are funding WCIA’s volunteer archiveathons over May to July 2023, to hear about their project’s ‘big aim’ – to integrate local digitised archives into national (Wales and UK) online collections for future generations, 50-100 years hence, through harnessing the power of artificial intelligence – and local communities.
• ‘Archiveathon’: introduction to new digitisation projects on Temple Archives & Collections, that volunteers and Temple Friends can help with over May-July 2024. Participants can have a go straight away, at digitising as yet unexplored materials.
• Project Planning 121s: For Temple Friends, volunteers and student placements interested in leading work on specific volunteering projects over May-June 2023, there will be the opportunity for individual 121 planning and mentoring discussions with WCIA Heritage and Volunteering staff, to finalise detailed plans for following weeks.

Explore WCIA’s Temple Heritage, Archives and Onsite volunteering opportunities, blogs / testimonials from previous placements, and examples of the work they have produced.

17.00-18.00 Temple Friends Meeting

Room 39, Temple of Peace with option to join remotely via Zoom / Teams TBC

Following on from WCIA’s Mayday Volunteering Workshop & Archiveathon (from 14.-16.30) and lunchtime Temple Tour (12.30-13.45) – to which Temple Friends are invited to fully participate – this meeting will give the opportunity to talk through in more detail the development of the ‘Temple Friends’ Network into a new phase of activity.

Discussion

• to what degree various Temple volunteering projects can come together under the banner of Temple Friends
• how individual (or prospective Temple Friends can help, eg through becoming project leaders guiding and mentoring younger volunteers in piecing together contrubutions to wider projects (such as on  the Peace Garden and particular Archives & Collections such as SGI UK or International Volunteering)
• upcoming Events of interest
• communications tools and preferences (eg transitioning to Google Group).

Facilitated by Dr Emma West, this discussion is open to any who see themself as a friend and would like to join in an open discussion – whether having attended a previous meeting or not (including attendees from the earlier Mayday Volunteering Projects session).