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about Celtic League
The Celtic League is an non-governmental inter-Celtic organisation working to promote cooperation between the six Celtic Nations of the western British Isles and Brittany.

aims of the Celtic League
The fundamental aim of the Celtic League is to contribute, as an international organisation, in the struggles of the six Celtic Nations to secure or win their political, cultural, social and economic freedom. This includes:
Fostering co-operation between Celtic peoples.
Developing the consciousness of the special relationship and solidarity between them.
Making our national struggles and achievements better known abroad.
Campaining for a formal association of Celtic Nations to take place once two or more of them have achieved self-government.
Advocating the use of the national resources of each of the Celtic countries for the benefit of all its people.

By Celtic Nations we mean the peoples living in Brittany, Cornwall, Ireland, Isle of Man, Scotland and Wales.

The Celtic League campaigns on a broad range of issues. We have highlighted economic exploitation and social matters. We have vigorously campaigned to rectify human rights abuses and taken a particular interest in the treatment of political detainees in the Celtic countries over the past forty years.
On the cultural side, we publicise the activities of national organisations such as those working to sustain the Celtic languages.
We project a vigorous publicity profile, using the media in the Celtic countries and internationally.
A feature of the League's effort over four decades has been to aid local communities.
We have also developed a specialised programme aimed at monitoring the impact of military activity on the Celtic areas from both a social and environmental perspective.

The Celtic League has six national branches: Alba, Breizh, Cymru, Éire, Kernow and Mannin. There are also branches in Canada, USA and England. The international branch has a membership which is worldwide.


CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION

 Join the free Celtic League mailing list on Yahoo Groups
or read sample postings below:

 sample1
ANGLO-FRENCH NUCLEAR DEAL MAY STILL GO AHEAD

The Celtic League have learned in the last few days that the British
- French nuclear power plant deal which was reported in the British
media to have 'fallen through' may still go ahead.

A source in the French nuclear industry has said talks are still taking
place and it appears the reported 'difficulties' over the deal
simply be a negotiating ploy on the part of the French over the financial
arrangements surrounding the take-over of existing nuclear sites.

The Celtic League who have consistently opposed the Anglo-French nuclear
power plant detente welcomed the news it had run into difficulties.
However our pleasure at the tribulations surrounding the deal may
have been premature.

Related articles on Celtic News at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2721-Series of leaks highlight nuclear danger
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2542-Brits and France in 'Unholy entente atomique'

J B Moffatt
Director of Information
Celtic League
21/08/08


 sample2
"WE HAVE BEEN NICE FOR TOO LONG" - GENERAL SECRETARY

"We have been nice for too long". This was the view of Celtic League
General Secretary, Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, when addressing the Leagues
AGM in Dublin at the weekend on the situation surrounding self-determination
for the various Celtic countries.

He posed the question:
"What of the overall situation? The situation has progressed a little
this year in some of the Celtic countries, but:

- In Eire partition seems to be accepted for the indefinite future
even by Sinn Fein
- In Cymru greater autonomy seems to be the sidetrack Plaid has gone
down.
- In Alba the agenda is moving on.
- In Breizh any small concession would be seen as progress.
- In Mannin the government thinks they have as much independence as
they need and Mec Vannin is very much a stifled voice which only occasionally
gets a full airing of its views.
- In Kernow it seems not becoming part of an English 'Region' would
be seen as progress.

We need to talk up the 'freedom agenda' in all the Celtic countries.
The current status quo is perhaps being taken for granted too much.
Why not talk of independence, freedom and self-determination - and
anything else which can impinge on the current colonial mindset -
because this is what we are aiming for.

After all, what are we bequeathing to our children - another generation
of servitude? It is time we used more emotive language - we have been
nice for to long.

Over the next few years in Western Europe there will be referendums
in the Basque Country (In 2009 if the Spanish don't stamp it out),
in Alba (2010), in Catalonia (2014) and probably Flanders, but what
about the other Celtic countries? How far do they have to go to reach
that stage? We should be pushing this agenda and it is never too late
to start."

He also further highlighted the position in Mannin saying:
"The Manx Government seem to be quite happy still with remaining in
Great Britain and a Crown dependency. As our Director of Information,
Bernard Moffatt, stated in a recent radio iterview:
- Its sad really how the second Celtic country to achieve independence
might be Scotland - (and not the Isle of Man)"

J B Moffatt
Director of Information
Celtic League
18/08/08


 sample3
IRELAND - DETENTION CENTRE HANDCUFF CASE - DEPARTMENT RESPOND

The Department for Justice, Equality and Law Reform are remaining
tight-lipped over an incident in which a child was handcuffed at a
juvenile detention centre. The League wrote to the Minister for Justice,
Mr Dermot Ahern TD, in May expressing concern about the issue saying
that the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (Riyadh Guidelines)
may have been breached.

The Department have responded (see below) saying the issue is being
investigated. However, they have failed to give an assurance that
there would be no repetition of the use of handcuffs and therefore
the League will have to consider asking if the Council of Europe (CPT)
and the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child will pursue
the issue.

11 August, 2008
Dear Mr Moffatt,
I am directed by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform,
Mr. Dermot Ahern, T.D., to refer to your correspondence of 26 May,
2008.
The Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS) is an executive office of the
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform with responsibility
for providing strategic leadership and for driving reform in the area
of youth justice through a co-ordinated approach to reducing youth
offending. The Irish Youth Justice Service remit includes responsibility
for children detention schools.
The Irish Youth Justice Service has developed a Serious Incident Policy
in conjunction with the children's detention schools.
The incident you refer to is being fully investigated under this process.

Related articles on Celtic News at:

J B Moffatt
Director of Information
Celtic League
18/08/08


 sample4
UNSAFE NIMROD STILL USING MANX AIRPORT

It is an accident waiting to happen as RAF Nimrod aircraft continue
to use Ronaldsway aircraft on the Isle of Man for training purposes.
One of the controversial aircraft was spotted using the commercial
airport on Friday 15th of August.

Despite a clear warning from the assistant deputy coroner for Oxfordshire
Andrew Walker who recommended that every aircraft in the fleet, based
at RAF Kinloss in Forres, be grounded immediately until they are safe
to fly, the Manx government prefer to accept MoD assurances about
the aircraft's safety.

Mr Walker found (following an inquest into the deaths of 14 servicemen
killed when a Nimrod reconnaissance plane exploded in mid-air in Afghanistan)
that the plane suffered a serious design flaw which meant that it
"has never been airworthy" since its release to service more than
30 years ago.

The Celtic League alerted the Islands Chief Minister to the safety
concerns in May however despite confirmation by the MoD recently that
the safety flaw which caused the Afghanistan crash was endemic to
the Nimrod fleet the Manx government refuses to instate a ban on its
use of Manx facilities.

Related articles on Celtic News at:

J B Moffatt
Director of Information
Celtic League
18/08/08