Despite not being an official national holiday, the first of March is our opportunity to celebrate our existence as a nation.
On our national day, it’s important that we remember our history. A history that throughout the years has been eventful. The Welsh have given their all to contribute to Britain’s riches – at times, our communities have paid the ultimate price, sending young men and women to fight in unfair, imperial wars. Thousands of people throughout our history have suffered because of the heavy industry which has scarred our landscape, which has made a select few very rich but has the communities of Wales in derelict poverty.
We remember those who have shaped modern Wales; men and women who have given their lives to fight against fascism; trade unionists and workers who have worked tirelessly to build a welfare state that serves our people; language activists in the 1970s who were determined to see the language live; and generations of inspiring nationalists who have refused to see Wales wither away and die. We fondly remember this week of two heroes who did so much to shape the destiny of our nation, the late Dr. John Davies and Dr. Meredydd Evans.
In the twenty-first century, Wales has changed beyond all understanding. We now have a National Assembly and so many important institutions which define us as a nation.
But our unacceptable levels of poverty and the low quality of our democracy raise barriers to our national progress. Plaid Cymru Youth are determined to build and create a society which is self-confident enough to resist the countless attacks that Wales suffers. In Plaid Youth’s National Conference on the 21st of March, you have the opportunity to shape our vision for a better Wales, and become a part of a movement which refuses to see Wales suffer for longer.
Today is the day to renew our commitment to Wales, by pledging to fight for our freedom.
Plaid Cymru Youth National Executive Committee
