2007 marks the 10th anniversary of the narrow "Yes" vote by the Welsh people for the first democratically elected body to represent Wales since the time of Owain Glyndwr.
It's also marks a new year for people in Wales to go to the polls in May and vote on a whole range of issues, ranging from Health to the status of the Welsh language.
A key plank that this election will be fought on is the whole issue of climate change and the developing energy crisis that is forcing governments the world over to re-evaluate their dependence on fossil fuels and look to cleaner, renewable alternatives.
Yet we have a Labour Assembly administration in this country that refuses to discuss the single biggest and most important energy project ever undertaken in Welsh history. The Welsh electorate will be accorded the right to see the trees being cut down by National Grid for it's pipeline project, while the Assembly denies any responsibility for the wood.
Under Section 121 of the Government of Wales Act, the Welsh Assembly has a constitutional obligation to "promote suatainable development in all it does". It's one of only 3 government in the world to have such a requirement built in.
Yet all the way along the route of this pipeline, our National Assembly and it's Members have publicly denied having any responsibility for this project, while privately working to facilitate it. Footpaths have been closed, community-owned woodlands have been chopped down, common land is being compulsory purchased, and a Geopark and UNESCO World Heritage Site sits on the brink of destruction. So much for section 121.
You've gotta ask the question: when the sea level rises and drowns our beaches, where will these guys find the sand to bury their heads?
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