The Light

A Tribute To Human Kindness

a Lifeline from Britain to Gaza What happens after the bombs stop falling? Does a country under siege for fourteen month period, go back to the way it was? Do children stop crying for their dead parents,

do mothers stop weeping for their lost children? Where do they live, now that their houses are destroyed, and how do they survive after loosing almost everything?

Many have already forgotten about Palestinian cries for help. The Media started looking for a new story, as soon as the country no longer had illegal weapons tearing apart their homes, and killing their children.

What people don't realize is that now, the people of Gaza are pulling out the bodies, from underneath the ruins left by Israeli army. Dead are still being counted, and the homeless shiver in the cold of winter.

In Palestine's darkest hour George Galloway a member of the British House of Commons, took a step forward, and awakened the world, not to forget the people of Gaza.

Leaving on February 14, 2009, with 300 extraordinarily kind people of several ethnicities and faiths, George Galloway, lead his convoy which consists of a fire engine, 12 Contributed by Shahista Dharsi The convoy is already supported by the Stop the War Coalition, which organized the largest demonstrations in British history,

as well as the Anglo- Arab Organization, several British trade unions and a large number of Muslim organizations. Fundraising for the convoy is taking place all over Britain.

Also accompanying the convoy is Yvonne Ridley, who, along with a team from Press TV, has ambulances, a boat and trucks packed with medicines, cash, tools, clothes, blankets and gifts for children living under the Israeli blockade.

Traveling through several countries, France, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt raising the banner of Palestine, as symbol of solidarity, and trying to arouse consciousness, for the people in Palestine still suffering through immense hardship. The convoy will go through Rafah and into Gaza, some thirty days after it's departure.

The message due to be delivered is an important one, "We truly care and we've driven across continents to prove it". For the rest of us it surely signifies the goodness of human nature and the strength of people power, which if correctly directed, can move mountains.

traveled with the convoy since Day One. As she was driving through the snow-capped mountains of eastern Algeria, she described the experience, thus far, as "absolutely amazing" and said that everywhere they journeyed they were greeted by smiling well wishers carrying goodwill letters addressed to the people of Gaza. They have also been overwhelmed with gifts of money, bottled water and food.

a brand new van to replace one that had broken down and insured it as well. In Morocco, a private individual erected a marquee and prepared on a feast for all consisting of 22 lambs. And after refueling in Algeria, they were astonished to discover that an Algerian businessman had picked up the entire fuel tab; which was no small sum.

GregGallowaymadethis statement," The time for talking is over and the time for action is now. The Viva Palestina convoy has struck a chord with thousands who wish to express their solidarity with the people of Gaza.

But we need more money to purchase the aid so desperately needed by a people living under siege."

Donations are still needed; every penny goes to the convoy already on its way to Palestine. You still have a chance to help those who cannot alone help themselves. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said "God is not merciful to him who is not so to humankind. He who is not kind to God's creation and to his own children, God will not be kind to him."

These self-sacrificing individual's confidence in the seemingly impossible has already produced a miracle. Their sincerity has melted the hearts of Moroccan and Algerian politicians who agreed to open their common border, which closed since 1994, something the then US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice tried to achieve, but failed.

Their commitment to people who are less fortunate has been commendable. How many of us would dig into our own pockets and convince our families, friends and complete strangers to do the same so that we could take off in the middle of winter on a mission with an unknown time period, and unsure of the welcome we would receive on the way?

These individuals had no idea where they would sleep or shower or how they would get back home once they had donated their vehicles. They have found that acts of kindness are rewarded by other acts of kindness.