liberation

Liberation.
Vol.52 N.1 March 2009

Lifeline for Gaza Leaving
London on Saturday 14th February 2009 and arriving on about 9th March in GazaGeorge Galloway MP, Yvonne Ridley and hundreds of British volunteers are driving an aid convoy of over 100 donated vehicles packed with practical aid to Gaza leaving from outside the Houses of Parliament, London on Saturday the 14th February. This remarkable convoy will be over a mile long and carry a million pounds of aid raised in just four weeks.

Volunteers will drive the donated vehicles from all over Britain to Westminster on Valentine’s Day to form the convoy which will then drive almost 5,000 miles together through France, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt where they will cross the border at Rafah into Gaza on the 2nd March.

The convoy includes a fire engine, 12 ambulances, a boat and trucks filled with medicines, cash, tools, clothes, blankets, and shoe-boxes filled with gifts for children. All this and more has been by donated by communities across the country. George Galloway said, “Noone will send a vehicle that is not filled with items including pyjamas, clothes and blankets. Millions of people in this country care deeply, and we are going to show that.”
Each person travelling on the convoy is a self-financed British volunteer. The vehicles will be left with the people of Gaza; volunteers will fly home to the UK.

Thousands of pounds cash has been fundraised and collections for donated goods and fundraising events are still taking place all over Britain.
The effort is being coordinated by the campaign group Viva Palestina and is supported by the Stop the War Coalition, the Respect Party, the Anglo-Arab Organisation, several British trade unions and a large number of Muslim organisations.

George Galloway MP and journalist Yvonne Ridley will lead the convoy from London across France and Spain then North Africa to enter Gaza via the Rafah crossing.
Please help us by making a financial contribution to help purchase further aid in Egypt. In their darkest hour the people of Gaza must not be forgotten. Viva Palestina!

A message from George Galloway
More than 1,300 dead – more than 400 of them children – and still they are dragging bodies from the ruins. The death toll in Gaza is rising, while the world’s leaders and media look away in search of a new story.
We will not look away. The Palestinians in Gaza need our help now, just as they did when Israel’s bombs and illegal weapons were dropping. Thousands of people have contacted me to say that they have marched, cried at the television pictures and feel helpless in the face of the suffering.

That’s why I have launched a major initiative in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
I will be leading an aid convoy from London to Gaza leaving on 14 February and travelling through France, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and through Rafah and into Gaza. It will bring material aid and raise the banner of Palestine in all the countries that we visit. The convoy should take about 16 days to reach Gaza.
The convoy will be led by a British fire engine, ambulances, and many trucks full of practical aid given by the various communities in Britain.

Ambulances from Stirling will join a fire engine from Manchester
It is quite an undertaking, which I anticipate will have a high public profile throughout its journey and on its arrival in Gaza, god willing, some 30 days later.
The convoy is already supported by the Stop the War Coalition – which organised the largest demonstrations in British history – as well as the Anglo- Arab Organisation, several British trade unions and a large number of Muslim organisations. Fundraising for the convoy is taking place all over Britain.

We urgently need your help.
Publicity: Please tell your family, friends and workmates about Viva Palestina. Join our Facebook Group and then ask your friends to join.

Money: please organise fundraisers, collections, donations which the convoy will get directly to the people of Gaza.
Cheques should be made payable ‘Lifeline for Gaza’ and sent to Lifeline for Gaza
c/o Flat 6, 1-2 Bowling Green Place, London SE1 1YL.

Check previous journals:
Vol. 52 N.6 January 2010 / Vol. 52 N.5 November 2009 / Vol.52 N.4 September 2009 / Vol.52 N.3 July 2009 /
Vol.52 N.2 May 2009 / Vol.51 N.6 December/January 2009 / Archives

Incorporating the Movement for Colonial Freedom