There are decades when nothing happens, and weeks when decades happen.

The peoples of the Arab world, and therefore the rest of us, are now living through those weeks - described in words used by the Russian revolutionary Lenin a century ago.

Revolution is back on the agenda, on the front page of the New York Times even, at just the time when globalised capitalism is mired in its deepest economic crisis for generations and the seemingly almighty power of US imperialism is being demonstrated to be anything but. ....

Galloway, 56, will launch his election campaign in Glasgow today.

He said: "In 2007, more than 40,000 people voted Labour with their second vote to no effect because the party did not get any seats on the list.

"So my main pitch is to Labour supporters. I would like also to appeal to former Lib-Dem voters who feel betrayed by the coalition.

"Thirdly, I would like to appeal to SNP supporters who like the party's Labourish policies but don't favour breaking the country up.

"That's why coverage of the far-left parties is misguided - because I'm not fishing in the same pond as them."

PressTV : Hundreds of volunteers have set off from London in vehicles packed with medical aid in an attempt to break the Israeli siege of Gaza. The Viva Palestina convoy will link up with more activists in Europe and the Middle East over the next few weeks. International agencies say the economic blockade on Gaza has caused a humanitarian crisis in the terrortory. Roshan Muhammed Salih reports from London.

THE chairman of Tory youth group Conservative Future in South Wales was forced to resign yesterday, over a web post in which he said he wished George Galloway was dead.

Grant Tucker, who was appointed in February to lead the organisation for Conservatives under the age of 30 in the region, stood down after the former Respect and Labour MP demanded a police inquiry and called for him to be suspended.

A spokeswoman for the Welsh Conservatives said that Mr Tucker, a student at Coleg Gwent who co-ordinated campaigns for two Conservative Parliamentary candidates earlier this year, had intended his comment as a “flippant remark” but recognised it was also “deeply offensive”.

His post was left on his Facebook page on which he referred to a video of Mr Galloway’s television appearances and said: “I really would like to see George Galloway dead.”

Kevin Ovenden, a representative of Viva Palestina, was on the main ship of the Freedom Flotilla when Israeli soldiers descended onto the deck – he spoke from Turkey to Siân Ruddick

We organised and successfully delivered more than $5 million worth of humanitarian aid to the beleaguered people of Gaza. Three huge convoys,
hundreds of vehicles, scores of volunteers, medical equipment, drugs, through dozens of countries, past cheering crowds but also in the teeth of opposition from the governments of some countries.
But it doesn't end there. It cannot. While the illegal siege continues it's our duty to do what we can to pierce the blockade and help relieve the suffering Palestinians. Which is why we're launching Viva Palestina Arabia now.

You are closest to it, you feel it in your hearts, which is why I am asking you to help me, Viva Palestina Arabia and the starving, battered, but indomitable people of Gaza.

Please.

George Galloway

Following the party's disappointing showing in the recent local and general elections, Mr Galloway hit back at the "gross distortions and lies" that the party was finished.

Mr Galloway rebutted the BBC suggestion that the party had no money following the departure of its biggest donor, stating: "These are false claims. Azmal Hussein is Tower Hamlets Respect chairman not national chairman," he said.

"And if you check, you will see he is not a major financial backer of the party.

"The party will continue to be funded in the same way as before - by small donations from supporters and members. They are not rich in money but rich in commitment and spirit."

Mr Galloway promised to instigate legal action if the BBC did not issue a retraction.

In the run-up to a bitterly fought election, where Mr Galloway finished third in Poplar and Limehouse behind eventual Labour victor Jim Fitzpatrick, suggestions were raised that Respect was merely a "Muslim party."

But Respect Bethnal Green and Bow candidate Abjol Miah dismissed the suggestion and said that voters were different depending on what part of the country you go to.

"Yes, in Tower Hamlets we have predominantly Bangladeshi and Muslim members but that reflects the local circumstances. Respect members in Manchester and further north are for example mainly white."

Mr Miah defended the record of councillors in the area, crediting them with pushing up social housing provision to 35 per cent.

"However this is still lower than former mayor Ken Livingstone's target of 50 per cent in the capital and that is due to new Labour," he said.

Mr Galloway praised local Respect councillors for opposing the opening of strip clubs in the area and insisted that Respect would be part of any campaign to defend public services from the coalition government's cuts.

"Working people have already paid enough for the crisis," and those responsible should pay, he said.

Asked whether Respect would align with Labour in opposition to defend the public from any cuts, Mr Galloway added: "Whoever comes to its side, we will be there."

Subject: Yes we can.... 60,758 voted YES and 39,857 voted NO


Well done to everyone who worked hard and made it happen.....

The work has just begun! Will update you in the next few days