CoBER - What and Why

In our increasingly interdependent world, where economic and political power shifts from the historic industrial and former colonial powers to the newly developing economics of the east a Europe divided against itself makes ever less sense. How can our small independent sovereign states, competing against each other, individually protect our interests or our values; our respect for human rights; our belief in the worth of the individual and of the societies we create? In a world of giants our disunity makes us weak.

Europe's heritage includes a self-destructive and shaming addiction to war and cruelty, whilst over the years we have also involved other continents in our national squabbles. CoBER works with others to bring the peoples together in constructive association whilst respecting our mutual rights to our own particular identifies.

" Europe is not a melting pot of cultures and languages. Real European citizenship means to respect the diversity of languages and cultures within the EU." Bojan Brezigar, former President of the EU-supported European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages

Unity need not lead to uniformity. We must respect difference - the right of others not to be the same as we are; we must accept that a diverse society is richer than a uniform one.

Europe needs to guard its cultural diversity as the source of her artistic, philosophical, scientific and technological inventiveness, but also needs to forge new structures to enable these different elements and traditions to come together for the common good.

This diversity is under continuous and growing threat from political and commercial pressures over which, individually, we have little control..

European experience everywhere shows that a strong sense of cultural identity encourages social cohesiveness and collective teamwork and is a powerful tool for economic and social regeneration. Support for Cornwall's reviving language, her flag and culture, her many festivals old and new, all help to show the social solidarity she has to build on, including both native and new residents.

CoBER believes that Europe would be poor without Cornwall or her other regions. Brittany and Alsace have each their own character and identity. The flamenco dancers of Spain's Andalucia are no more typical of the Basques with their unique language and sporting traditions or the bagpipe players of Galicia than. the Beefeaters or Pearly Kings of London are of Wales, Scotland, Cumbria or Cornwall.

For over 2000 years Cornwall has been a part of this rich patchwork of cultural and regional diversity. Like most regions, she has a mixed heritage; her still-living Celtic roots mark her off from the rest of SW Britain, whilst the mixture of Irish, Latin, Norman and English elements, her long-established network of trade contacts, her geography and history give her a uniqueness within the Celtic world.

We call to mind our Tristan and Iseult stories, the speakers, singers and actors in our Celtic language; our bands and choirs; gig rowers; wrestlers; hurlers; festivals like Flora Day or the 'Obby 'Oss, but there is more.

Her mineral wealth her fish-rich seas, her soils have inspired the inventiveness of her people to the benefit of the whole world. Not by chance was Cornwall a cradle of the industrial revolution. Our importance to mining is famous; our farmers pioneered equipment new breeds and crop rotations; the Manx and Irish adopted Cornish-style fishing boats ( described in the international exhibition of 1883 as the world's best of their type.) We still build and equip the best modern boats.

Now changing economic, commercial and industrial circumstances challenge us again as, with other regions of Europe, we adjust to a knowledge-based post-industrial society.

The EC and its successor EU commissioned reports on Europe's cultural diversity and have taken steps to preserve and enhance this heritage, eg with the European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages, which helps support Cornish, and to the all-party Inter-Group on Minority Languages and Cultures, which CoBER has twice addressed.

In 1988 CoBER petitioned the European parliament to investigate the effects of EU policies on Europe's regional diversity, using Cornwall as a case-study. Backed by local government at every level, this petition was cited in the Laroni Report of 1992 and was consulted for the Killilea Report of 1994. (Perhaps it helped inspire para 4 of Art 128 of the Maastricht Treaty; " The Community shall take cultural aspects into account in its action under other provisions of this Treaty. ") ( this is now part of the EU's Draft Constitution.)

CoBER has supported the European Centre for Training and Regional Cultures and the Federal Union of European Nationalities and helped found the Fédération Européenne des Maisons de Pays ( a network promoting local cultures.) and contributed in 2000 to its Multilingual European Guide of Cultural Communities.

The Council of Europe promotes democracy and human rights amongst its 46 members to create a people's Europe of c800 million. Its Cultural Routes programme forges links across national and regional borders to help Europe live for ordinary people, not just the business and political sectors. The first was the network of pilgrim ways to Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia (NW Spain.) Through Bredereth Sen Jago, ( The Cornish Society of St James) CoBER, and Cornwall County Council, our St Michael's Way, from Lelant to St Michael's Mount, was opened in 1994 as part of this network. CoBER seeks partners for other routes.

The Bude Canal, the Mineral Tramways, Parks and Gardens, popular festivals and rites and our maritime heritage are examples that are being or could be considered for future projects. CoBER has a comprehensive library to back up these projects and serve general searchers of knowledge on European affairs.

This work is important for international relations; enhances Cornwall's international profile and develops her cultural tourism, boosting her economy.

Through the petition and the Cultural Routes programme, CoBER acquired influential friends for Cornwall, in the European Parliament, the Council of Europe and elsewhere, We have taken councillors and others to conferences and other events to spread knowledge and understanding and we have arranged exhibitions.

We have a growing reference library on a range of European matters for students, schools, journalists, politicians, business people, cultural activists and so on. We give talks and help with seminars etc on European topics.

Contact CoBER by email: [email protected]

Index

CoBER is a limited Company Registered in England & Wales No 3083136, Registered Office, 7,West Street,Liskeard, Cornwall, GB