Bethan Jenkins AC/AM South Wales West

Plaid AM for South Wales West Bethan Jenkins will meet with Chief Superintendent Tim Jones at Bridgend Police Station on Monday (12/01/09) to discuss local policing matters and concerns raised by constituents.

Plaid AM , Ms Jenkins said:

” It is vitally important that I meet with all the key players in the communities I represent to find out what is happening on the ground, and to raise issues from constituents with the Police Authority in the area. Some of the main issues are crime and vandalism, but many constituents from the Maesteg area are unhappy that the Police Station there closes at 5pm, and that their calls are redirected to other offices as far away as Pontypridd. I will be raising such issues with Chief Superintendent Tim Jones.’

Bethan Jenkins added:

“ I fully recognise the hard work that the Police carry out in the borough, especially the important role that they play in PACT meetings locally. The community safety teams are effective, but I still believe that there is more need for Police presence on the streets, especially at night when many people feel vulnerable, and seek assurances from their local Police service.”

ENDS

Chair of the Assembly Cross-party group on Eating Disorders, Bethan Jenkins AM has launched a competition for members of the public to submit pictures of what they consider to be real beauty in order to challenge the pressures on people to join the size-zero culture that leads many to eating disorders.

The competition, run in conjunction with Dove Self Esteem, will conclude during Eating Disorders Awareness Week (February 23rd – 27th) when the top 40 photographs will be displayed at the Senedd building. A panel of judges including the Welsh International Rugby referee Nigel Owens, Amanda Protheroe- Thomas, Madeleine Brindley ( Western Mail Health correspondent) will take part, and the winners will be announced at the event on the 25th of February. The winner will be awarded £150 and the two runners up will receive £100 each. A blog called www.eatingdisorderswales.blogspot.com is being launched to show details of the competition and to showcase blogs from sufferers, past sufferers and those involved in the campaign in Wales in the run up to the event. There is also a flickr page so that people can upload their own photos at www.flickr.com/groups/truebeauty_gwirharddwch/

Speaking from the Senedd today, Ms Jenkins said:

“These days we are surrounded by loads of images of stylised, stereotypical beautiful people. More and more, they all look the same. But they don’t seem to match up to the beauty we can see in everyday life in our families and friends.

“Unfortunately for some, consuming media that shows a narrow view on beauty can lead to negative feelings about personal body image and then on to eating disorders. It’s estimated that at least 10,000 people in Wales have serious eating disorders issues.”

Martin Staniforth from the Dove self-esteem fund added:

“Let’s do something about those stereotypical images. Let’s celebrate the diversity of human’s shapes by sharing a more realistic view as to what “true beauty” means. Perhaps you might see it in a smile. Or in the way that someone volunteers help. In the way that someone perseveres in sport. Or the way they stand with confidence.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Key Dates:

Competition opens on Thursday the 8th of January 2009.
Competition closes on Monday 16th February 2009.
Display will be in the Senedd building on Wednesday 25th February from 10.30am.
Winners will be announced at 6pm in the Senedd building.
Competition details:
Entrants can post a photo (A3 size) with their idea as to what is “true beauty” to Bethan Jenkins AM, National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff, CF99 1NA.
Photos can be emailed to truebeauty09@gmail.com or gwirharddwch09@gmail.com.
Blog- www.eatingdisorderswales.blogspot.com
Flickr- www.www.flickr.com/groups/truebeauty_gwirharddwch/
40 photographs will be selected for display in the exhibition in the Senedd.
The public and a judging panel will select which photos they think best represent “true beauty” in an intriguing, personal and creative way.
There will be a prize for 1st, 2nd and 3rd position sponsored by Dove Self Esteem.
Terms & conditions: each photo should include a person; rights to use 40 exhibited photos in publicity; no responsibility accepted for damage or loss; only 1 submission per person; photo must have been taken in the last 12 months, it may be sent on jpg format or via post to Bethan Jenkins, 75, Briton Ferry Road, Neath, SA11 1AR , person photographed must be 16 or over.

Panel of Judge (more will be revealed on the blog)
Nigel Owens- Welsh International Rugby Referee
Amanda Protheroe-Thomas- presenter.
Bethan Jenkins AM (Chair, Cross Party Group on Eating Disorders)
Martin Staniforth (Dove Self Esteem Fund)
Madeleine Brindley (Western Mail Health Editor)
Emma Healey (beat Cymru)

Plaid AM for South Wales West Bethan Jenkins has today (5/01/09) tabled a statement of opinion, calling on the Welsh Assembly Government to make a public statement condemning the Israeli attacks on Gaza, and to echo International demands for a ceasefire.

Speaking today, Ms Jenkins said:

“I am urging all Assembly Members to sign my statement of opinion, calling on the Welsh Assembly Government to make a public declaration in opposition to the Israeli attacks on Gaza, and to echo the calls made by the International community for a ceasefire’.

Bethan Jenkins added:

“Support for an end to Israel’s attacks has garnered attention Worldwide, with protests in many towns and cities, including Swansea and Cardiff. The air bomb attacks by the Israeli government on Gaza are totally unacceptable. Innocent people are dying, and support for injured civilians is limited due to the inability of aid organisations to access the area.

The Welsh Assembly Government should condemn such actions by Israel, and declare such a stance publicly.’

ENDS

The Statement of Opinion will not be live on the National Assembly for Wales website until the 12th of January 2009.

Exact wording of the Statement of Opinion-

‘ The National Assembly for Wales calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to make an urgent public statement condemning the Israeli government’s attacks on Gaza, and calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to echo demands made by the International community for an immediate ceasefire.’

Datganiad Barn

‘ Mae Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru i wneud datganiad brys i’r wasg yn condemio ymosodiadau llywodraeth Israel ar Gaza, ac yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru i efelychu gofynion y gymuned rhyngwladol am gadoediad yn syth.’