Alcohol

Cafodd bwriad llywodraeth Prydain i fynd i’r afael â sbri-yfed trwy wahardd gwerthu diodydd rhad mewn tafarnau ei groesawu gan un o arweinwyr Undeb yr Annibynwyr. Mae hyn yn dangos bod y llywodraeth yn cydnabod – o’r diwedd - bod gor-yfed yn broblem enbyd, dywedodd y Parchg Beti-Wyn James, cadeirydd Adran Teulu’r Undeb. Ond gobeithio mai'r cam cyntaf yw hyn, meddai. Mae angen deddfu hefyd i osod isafbris ar alcohol sy’n cael ei werthu’n afresymol o rad mewn archfarchnadoedd.

The UK government’s plan to combat binge-drinking by banning all-you-can-drink promotions in bars has been welcomed by a Welsh chapel union leader. This shows that the government has recognised – at last – that binge drinking is a very serious problem, said the Revd Beti-Wyn James, who chairs the Family Department of the Union of Welsh Independent chapels. But this should be the first step, she said. Legislation is also needed to set a minimum price on unreasonably cheap alcohol sold in supermarkets.

Prifysgol Bangor University

Byddai cau pump o Adrannau Prifysgol Bangor yn tanseilio addysg trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg ac yn ergyd drom i ysgolheictod, yn ôl tri o arweinwyr Cristnogol Cymru sy’n galw ar Gyngor y Brifysgol i wrthod y cynllun. Mae Ysgrifenyddion Cyffredinol y Presbyteriaid, y Bedyddwyr a’r Annibynwyr yn poeni’n arbennig am ddyfodol yr Adran Diwinyddiaeth ac Astudiaethau Crefyddol. Mewn cyfnod pan mae angen dealltwriaeth glir o Gristnogaeth draddodiadol Cymru yn ogystal a chrefyddau lleiafrifol eraill, mae’n rhyfeddod fod Prifysgol Bangor hyd yn oed yn ystyried diddymu’r Adran, meddai’r tri mewn llythyr at Is-Ganghellor y coleg. Mae disgwyl i Gyngor y Brifysgol drafod dyfodol yr Adrannau cyn diwedd y mis hwn.

Closing five departments at Bangor University would undermine Welsh-medium education and be a serious blow to the nation’s scholarship, according to three Welsh Christian leaders, who are calling on the University Council to reject the plan. The General Secretaries of the Presbyterians, Baptists and Independents are particularly concerned about the future of the School of Theology and Religious Studies. At a time when a clear understanding is needed of traditional Welsh Christianity as well as other minority religions, it’s incredible that Bangor University should even consider closing the department, the three say in a letter to the college’s Vice-Chancellor. The University’s Council is expected to discuss the departments’ future later this month.

Christian Aid / Cymorth Cristnogol - Haiti

Christian Aid has launched a £1m emergency appeal for victims of the Haiti earthquake. Thousands of people are already feared dead and many more are believed to be critically injured. Countless are thought to be homeless.

The quake, measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale, struck 15km southwest of the capital Port-au-Prince just before 5pm local time yesterday, and was shortly followed by two strong aftershocks of 5.9 and 5.5.

Launching the appeal, Dame Anne Owers, Chair of Christian Aid, said: ‘I visited Haiti in recent months with Christian Aid and was deeply concerned about the level of poverty there. It is one of the poorest places on earth.

‘This latest disaster is going to cause untold suffering and hardship, particularly in communities with very little to fall back on. There is an urgent need for emergency supplies, including food, shelter and medicine.

‘In the longer term, rebuilding is going to require massive international assistance. I appeal to people and to governments to give what they can.’

Nick Guttman, head of Christian Aid’s humanitarian division, said today: ‘The situation in Haiti is very, very serious due to the strength and shallowness of the earthquake and its proximity to the capital Port-au-Prince.

‘Most of the buildings and infrastructure in Haiti are very fragile. Many people have been killed by falling debris and there are still many more trapped under the rubble, in desperate need of assistance.

‘Hundreds of offices, hotels, houses and shops have collapsed, the presidential palace lies in ruins, and many churches have also been completely destroyed.

‘The Christian Aid office itself has also collapsed and three people, including Christian Aid staff, had to be rescued from the rubble. Thankfully they are safe but communications to the country are very difficult since the city is without electricity and the telephone network has broken down.

‘The absolutely critical humanitarian needs now are obviously search and rescue, much of which is initially being carried out by local people and organisations, shelter, clean water and medical assistance.’

Christian Aid’s Caribbean Regional Manager Judith Turbyne said the Christian Aid building was relatively robust but was still destroyed. Loss of life in poorer communities is expected to be very high.

‘One of the key issues in Haiti is the weak state and the lack of resources at the state’s disposal,’ she said.

‘There will be a national response, but it is unlikely to be sufficient. There will be a huge need for a concerted response on behalf of the relatively large aid community in Haiti.’

Christian Aid partner organisations in Haiti, Veterimed and Koral, are very experienced in emergency response work, and will be working round the clock to meet the urgent humanitarian needs.

Those wishing to donate on on-line should go to www.christianaid.org.uk/haiti-appeal

For further information, please contact Branwen Niclas, Media & Communications Manger, Christian Aid Wales – 07888 997024

Winter Clean

Clearing the office despite the snow.

Clirio'r swyddfa er gwaetha'r tywydd.

Roots

Had a good meeting today with my colleague Rhian Linecar concerning the possibility of developing Welsh language Roots materials. It was good to welcome Rosie from Roots to Cardiff.

Cafwyd cyfarfod da heddiw gyda fy nghydweithiwr Rhian Linecar yn trafod y posibilrwydd o ddatblygu deunydd Cymraeg o Roots. Braf oedd cael croesawu Rosie o Roots i Gaerdydd.

Aled Edwards

Llywelyn ap Gruffudd

Had a great day on Sunday speaking at the memorial service of Llywelyn the Last at Cwm Hir Abbey. Really enjoyed the carol service on the Lightship today and wish Monica and Peter Mills well as they move back to England.

Cytun held a meeting of its International Committee today.

Cefais ddiwrnod braf ddydd Sul yn pregethu yng ngwasanaeth coffa Llywelyn ein Llyw Olaf yn Abaty Cwm Hir. Roedd y gwasanaeth carolau a gafwyd ar fwrdd y Goleulong heddiw yn fendithiol a dymunwn yn dda i Monica a Peter Mills wrth iddyn nhw ddychwelyd i Loegr.

Cynhaliodd Cytun gyfarfod o'i Bwyllgor Rhyngwladol heddiw.

Aled Edwards

John Roberts - Trawsfynydd

Last night, Thursday 10th December 2009, a unique bilingual Mass was held in a small Church in Dolgellau, launching a year of celebrations for Saint John Roberts, of Trawsfynydd, who was executed 400 years ago at Tybyrn. Present at the Mass were Bishop Edwin Regan, the Dolgellau Nuns of the Carmelite Order and Father Joshy, the Parish Priest who originates from India and who is learning Welsh. Father Joshy also took part in the opening service at this year’s National Eisteddfod in Bala. The year of celebrations will run from the 10th of December 2009 until the 10th of December 2010. The sequence of events taking place throughout the year will lead up to a landmark event to be held in Westminster Cathedral, London on 17th July 2010 where, for the first time ever, the Head of the Catholic Church, Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols, and Head of the Anglican Church, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, will unite with Wales’ religious leaders to celebrate the life of one of Wales’ Saints.

Neithiwr, 10 Rhagfyr, cynhelwyd Offeren unigryw dwyieithog yn Eglwys fechan Dolgellau i lansio blwyddyn o ddathliadau Sant John Roberts, o Drawsfynydd, a gafodd ei ddienyddio 400 mlynedd yn ôl yn Tybyrn. Yn presenol yn yr Offeren oedd Esgob Edwin Regan, lleianod Urdd y Carmeliaid yn Nolgellau a’r Offeiriad Plwyf, y Tad Joshy, sy’n wreiddiol o’r India, ac wrthi’n dysgu Cymraeg yn rhyfeddol. Y Tad Joshy oedd hefyd yn traddodi’r fendith yn y gwasanaeth agoriadol yn yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yn y Bala eleni. Bydd blwyddyn y dathliadau yn rhedeg o 10 Rhagfyr 2009 hyd 10 Rhagfyr 2010. Bydd cyfres o ddigwyddiadau yn nes ymlaen yn y flwyddyn yn arwain at ddigwyddiad hanesyddol yng Nghadeirlan Westminster yn Llundain fis Gorffennaf 2010 lle, am y tro cyntaf erioed, bydd pennaeth yr Eglwys Gatholig, Archesgob Westminster Vincent Nichols, a phennaeth yr Eglwys Anglicanaidd, Archesgob Caergaint Rowan Williams, yn uno ag arweinwyr crefyddol Cymru i ddathlu bywyd un o seintiau Cymru.