Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Wales Today
Wales stormed into the new millennium with a renewed sense of optimism, buoyed by
its freshly minted National Assembly, with its newly devolved powers, and the major
rejuvenation of its capital city. The world has changed considerably since then, and
Wales hasn't been immune to financial meltdowns and other global catastrophes. The
optimism hasn't completely disappeared, but it has certainly taken a few knocks.
Cohesion Despite Difficulties
Though not as badly affected as other coun-
tries, the UK still suffered considerably with
recession and increased unemployment over
the last few years. And compared with the rest
of the UK, Wales comes out at the bottom of
most economic indicators, making the people
on its margins particularly susceptible to down-
turns and government austerity moves.
In April 2013, 8.2% of the population
(120,000 people) were out of work - a higher
rate than the UK-wide figure of 7.6%. On top
of that, average gross incomes are low: £521
per week, compared with £814 in London.
Even the earnings in Wales' highest paid
county, the Vale of Glamorgan, only just equals
the Scottish average .
Yet when disaffected young people rioted
across English cities in 2011, Welsh cities were
almost completely unaffected. In fact, a 2013
report by the Institute of Economics & Peace
ranked Cardiff and Swansea (combined) as the
most peaceful major urban area in the UK. The
same report placed Wales as by far the least vi-
olent part of the UK, with the lowest rates of
homicide and violent crime, and an overall vi-
Best on Film
How Green Was My Valley
(1941) Acclaimed
adaptation of Richard Llewellyn's novel.
Sleep Furiously
(2008) Award-winning docu-
mentary about life in a Mid-Wales village.
Human Traffic
(1999) An edgy romp through
Cardiff's clubland.
Edge of Love
(2008) Dylan Thomas biopic star-
ring Sienna Miller, Keira Knightley and Mat-
thew Rhys.
Under Milk Wood
(1972) Thomas' play about
life in a fictional Welsh fishing village, adapted
into a film starring Wales' most iconic actor,
Richard Burton.
Best in Print
How Green Was My Valley
(Richard
Llewellyn; 1939) Life in a Welsh mining com-
munity laid bare.
Collected Poems 1934-1953
(Dylan Thomas;
2003) Worth it for
Do Not Go Gentle into That
Good Night
alone.
Rape of the Fair Country
(Alexander Cordell;
1959) Powerful family tale.
A History of Wales
(John Davies; revised 2007)
Comprehensive and fascinating.
Wales: Epic Views of a Small Country
(Jan
Morris, 1998) Lovingly written travelogue.
