The U.S.A. Branch of the International Committee for the Defense of the Breton Language sends its words of support to Yannig Baron for his courageous action to bring attention to the pressing need for the expansion of bilingual schooling in Brittany.
We strongly support the work of Bretons to develop the Diwan immersion schools as well as bilingual programs in both the public and Catholic schools. We are saddened that France, which boasts of its support for minority languages and cultures worldwide, has been so slow to act in support of the languages and cultures within its own borders.
The small level of real support the French government gives to Breton language schooling is shameful. It is even more shameful that Yannig Baron feels he has no other recourse but to risk his life with a hunger strike as France continues to block resources that would give the children of Brittany a real opportunity to learn the Breton language.
Professor Lenora A. Timm, President of the U.S. ICDBL, Department of Linguistics, University of California, Davis, California Dr. Lois Kuter, Secretary of the U.S. ICDBL, and Editor of Bro Nevez, Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
Board of Consultants:
David Brûlé, Chairman, World Language Department, Amherst Regional Schools, Millers Falls, Massachusetts Professor Richard Herr, Professor Emeritus, Department of History, University of California, Berkeley, California Kathi Hochberg, French Department Chairman, Harrison High School, Harrison, New York Dr. James W. Kerr, Retired U.S. Regular Army officer, Easton, Maryland Natalie Novik, MA, Anchorage, Alaska David Pugh, Bannalec, Brittany Professor Gregory T. Stump, Department of English/Linguistics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky