Key note speaker: Sligo Public Meeting

http://www.solidarityscotland.org/ Tommy Sheridan of the organisation Solidarity : A new movement for socialism in Scotland Below is a statement taken from the solidarity website We share a historic responsibility to provide people in Scotland with a socialist alternative to the pro-market agendas of New Labour, Tories, Liberal Democrats and the SNP. Many working class voters are so disillusioned with politicians that they do not vote at all. The war in Iraq and Afghanistan continues its deadly course and Lebanon lies in ruins; this is the latest stage in a regional conflict at the root of which lies the same free-market agenda that has devastated working class communities the length and breadth of Scotland. Immigrant communities are under attack, Islamaphobia is on the rise and our civil liberties continue to be undermined. The scale of anger and disillusionment with New Labour is growing and the need for that socialist alternative is more urgent than ever. Sadly, the SSP is no longer able to play that role. We agree it is now only possible to take the socialist movement forward by immediately launching a new political party that will become, in time, the broad party of socialism in Scotland : bigger, better and bolder than that which has gone before, a fresh movement with an attractive, pioneering, and inclusive spirit, welcoming to all who join, irrespective of ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation or disability. We will demonstrate SOLIDARITY WITH those fighting against low pay and oppression. SOLIDARITY AGAINST poverty and discrimination in all its forms. SOLIDARITY FOR an independent socialist nuclear free Scotland. Our new party will be A campaigning movement against social injustice and poverty, for a decent living wage and pensions for all, against hospital closures and local service cuts, for empowered communities and trade union rights, in opposition to racist discrimination and bigotry and all forms of oppression, for our civil liberties, and for public ownership and democratic control of our major industries, land and assets. A democratic movement for an independent socialist Scotland, a modern pluralist republic that harnesses our collective energies, talents and wealth for the benefit of all our citizens while safeguarding and respecting individual freedom in all its aspects. A workers movement that will support trade unionists and all workers in struggle, fighting for the rights of workers in Scotland and internationally whether or not they are already organised in a trade union, for the repeal of all anti-trade union laws. An anti-war movement opposing all imperialist wars wherever they occur and the current occupations of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine. A grass roots movement that will be active in campaigning around the issues that matter in all parts of Scotland, from the borders to the Northern Isles, from the Hebrides to the oil rigs of the North Sea, in our streets, in our communities and our workplaces, reaching out to people, and engaging in constructive political debate. An environmentalist movement campaigning against new nuclear power stations and for the removal of Trident nuclear missiles from the banks of the Clyde, campaigning positively for massive investment in renewable technologies, and a truly integrated and modern publicly owned transport system, for environmental justice for all. A young peoples movement that aspires to be the natural political home for young people, supporting campaigns for a decent minimum wage, free education and affordable housing. An internationalist movement committing ourselves to solidarity with working and oppressed peoples in struggle across the globe, engaging with and supporting international resistance to capitalism, neo-liberalism and globalisation. A socialist movement that fights for the redistribution of wealth from big business and the millionaires to working class people and their families. We call on everyone who shares our vision to join us.

Seriously. No matter who you support, VOTE.

I briefly interviewed Dunlap and Jackie Broyles (a former presidential candidate himself) of Red State Update on Saturday at the Obama and McCain forum at Saddleback Church in Orange County, CA. All audience members at the event were handpicked supporters, and answers of both candidates were scripted ahead of time. The outright exclusion of third-party and independent candidates can only be interpreted as an endorsement of both Obama and McCain by the church. As a way to bypass the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates, which has the illegitimate power to exclude any presidential candidate who isn't a Democrat or Republican, Jackie and Dunlap suggested we hold our own debate and even offered to moderate it for us. They also add that past presidential hopefuls who were unfairly taken out of the running by big business could be invited as well. What do you think?

The Party Election Broadcast of Solidarity, Scotland's Socialist Movement - founded by Tommy Sheridan MSP and Rosemary Byrne MSP. This PEB was released to coincide with the Scottish Elections of 2007. Directed and written by Peter "My Name is Joe" Mullan and other supporters of Solidarity. Solidarity is commited to an independent, socialist Scotland, free from poverty, inequality, privilege and Monarchy. The party stands shoulder-to-shoulder with working people in the struggle for decent pay and conditions, against war, racism, and global capialism - FOR red-blooded Socialism in an independent Scotland.

This is my response to Macho Sauce's Republican video. In this video I am: agains the war against going green for gay marriage for the 2nd amendment For teaching safe sex in school

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (Kurdish: Partiya Karkerên Kurdistan or PKK, also called KADEK, Kongra-Gel, and KGK[3]) is a militant Kurdish organization founded in the 1970s and led by Abdullah Öcalan until his capture in 1999. The PKK's ideology was founded on revolutionary Marxism-Leninism and Kurdish nationalism. The PKK's goal has been to create an independent, socialist Kurdish state in Kurdistan, an area that comprises parts of southeastern Turkey, northeastern Iraq, northeastern Syria and northwestern Iran; where the Kurdish population is claimed to be in the majority. These states oppose any such change.[citation needed] The PKK has been labelled[clarify], by Turkish sources, as an ethnic secessionist organization that uses terrorism and the threat of force against both civilian[4][5] and military targets for the purpose of achieving its political goal. The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization internationally by a number of states and organizations, including the United States,[2][3] NATO and the European Union.[4] More than 37,000 people have been killed "since PKK launched its armed independence campaign in 1984".[

Amina Mangera, Greenwich and Lewisham Amina described herself as an independent socialist. She is concerned that both sides are behaving badly and that public emails don't help. She expressed concern that the result will be the election of BNP candidates to the GLA. She said there is not a left / right split in Respect, and most branches don't want a split. She is worried they are not being listened to.

Mehdi Zana - "La Espaldal Mundo " adli belgeselden Mehdi Zana, 1940'ta Diyarbakır'ın Silvan ilçesinde doğdu, iş hayatına ise ilkokulun hemen ertesinde, terzicilikle atıldı. 'Bekle Diyarbakır' adlı anı kitabında, siyasal bilinçlenmesinde terzihanenin önemini anlatıyor. 1963'te ise Türkiye İşçi Partisi'ne (TİP) katıldı, iki yıl sonra TİP Silvan ilçe Başkanı oldu. Cezaevleriyle de bu yıllardan sonra tanışmaya başladı. 1978 mahalli seçimlerinde Diyarbakır Belediye Başkanlığı'na bağımsız olarak seçildi. Kesintili de olsa toplam 16 yıl cezaevinde yattı. Yaklaşık sekiz yıl İsveç'te yaşayan Mehdi Zana, 15 Ekim 2004'te Türkiye'ye döndü. **************************************** Mehdi Zana (* 1940 in Silvan/Provinz Diyarbakir) ist kurdischer Politiker und der Ehemann von Leyla Zana. 1963 wurde er Mitglied der Arbeiterpartei der Türkei (TIP). 1978 stellte er sich als unabhängiger Kandidat zur Wahl für das Amt des Bürgermeister der kurdischen Großstadt Diyarbakir und gewann die Wahl. Nach dem Militärputsch 1980 wurde er verhaftet, gefoltert und verbrachte viele Jahre im Militärgefängnis Nr. 5 in Diyarbakir, der „Hölle Nr. 5". Insgesamt saß er 16 Jahre im Gefängnis. Zana lebte lange im schwedischen Exil. ****************************************** Mehdî Zana (*1940 li Farqîn/Parêzgeha Amedê) siyasetmedarekî Kurd e. Di sala 1963'î de dibe endamê TİP (Partiya Karkerên Tirkiyê) û him têkoşîna çînên bindest, him jî ya gelê Kurd dide. Di sala 1978'î de wekî endamekê serbixwe tevlî hilbijartinên şaredariya Amedê dibe û biserdikeve. Heya rûdana destdayîna artêşa Tirk a desthilatdariyê di sala 1980'î serokatiya şaredariya Amedê dike. Di cûntaya 1980'î de tê girtin û zîndanîkirin. Ew zêdetirî 16 salan li zîndanê de dimîne. Di pêvajoya reş a Zîndana Amedê de ew jî li wir e û rastî hemî êşkenceyên hovane û barbarî tê. Piştî derketina wî ya ji zîndanê derdikeve derveyi welêt û tê Ewropa. Li ser daxwaza Tirkiyê Swêd û Elmanya serîlêdana wî ya penaberiyê napejirînin û ew li ser xebatên parêzeran li Frensayê mafê penaberiyê werdigire. Heya sala 2004'î li menfîtiyê dimîne. Niha li Amedê dijî. Mehdî Zana bi Leyla Zana re zewiciye û bavê 2 zarokan e. ****************************************** Mehdi Zana (1940 in Silvan, Turkey - ) is a former Kurdish politician. Zana started to work as a tailor in Silvan after he graduated from elementary school. In 1963 he became a member of Workers Party of Turkey (TİP). Two years later he became the head of the party's Silvan branch. In 1978 he was elected as the first independent socialist mayor of Diyarbakır. After 1980 Turkish coup d'état, he was imprisoned in the Military Prison of Diyarbakır. He was incarcerated for 16 years. After his release he had lived in Sweden and Germany until he returned to Turkey in 2004. After his incarceration he refused to speak Turkish again and only spoke in his native Kurdish. Mehdi Zana has been married to politician Leyla Zana since 1975 and the couple has two children.

Mehdi Zana - "La Espaldal Mundo " adli belgeselden Mehdi Zana, 1940'ta Diyarbakır'ın Silvan ilçesinde doğdu, iş hayatına ise ilkokulun hemen ertesinde, terzicilikle atıldı. 'Bekle Diyarbakır' adlı anı kitabında, siyasal bilinçlenmesinde terzihanenin önemini anlatıyor. 1963'te ise Türkiye İşçi Partisi'ne (TİP) katıldı, iki yıl sonra TİP Silvan ilçe Başkanı oldu. Cezaevleriyle de bu yıllardan sonra tanışmaya başladı. 1978 mahalli seçimlerinde Diyarbakır Belediye Başkanlığı'na bağımsız olarak seçildi. Kesintili de olsa toplam 16 yıl cezaevinde yattı. Yaklaşık sekiz yıl İsveç'te yaşayan Mehdi Zana, 15 Ekim 2004'te Türkiye'ye döndü. **************************************** Mehdi Zana (* 1940 in Silvan/Provinz Diyarbakir) ist kurdischer Politiker und der Ehemann von Leyla Zana. 1963 wurde er Mitglied der Arbeiterpartei der Türkei (TIP). 1978 stellte er sich als unabhängiger Kandidat zur Wahl für das Amt des Bürgermeister der kurdischen Großstadt Diyarbakir und gewann die Wahl. Nach dem Militärputsch 1980 wurde er verhaftet, gefoltert und verbrachte viele Jahre im Militärgefängnis Nr. 5 in Diyarbakir, der „Hölle Nr. 5". Insgesamt saß er 16 Jahre im Gefängnis. Zana lebte lange im schwedischen Exil. ****************************************** Mehdî Zana (*1940 li Farqîn/Parêzgeha Amedê) siyasetmedarekî Kurd e. Di sala 1963'î de dibe endamê TİP (Partiya Karkerên Tirkiyê) û him têkoşîna çînên bindest, him jî ya gelê Kurd dide. Di sala 1978'î de wekî endamekê serbixwe tevlî hilbijartinên şaredariya Amedê dibe û biserdikeve. Heya rûdana destdayîna artêşa Tirk a desthilatdariyê di sala 1980'î serokatiya şaredariya Amedê dike. Di cûntaya 1980'î de tê girtin û zîndanîkirin. Ew zêdetirî 16 salan li zîndanê de dimîne. Di pêvajoya reş a Zîndana Amedê de ew jî li wir e û rastî hemî êşkenceyên hovane û barbarî tê. Piştî derketina wî ya ji zîndanê derdikeve derveyi welêt û tê Ewropa. Li ser daxwaza Tirkiyê Swêd û Elmanya serîlêdana wî ya penaberiyê napejirînin û ew li ser xebatên parêzeran li Frensayê mafê penaberiyê werdigire. Heya sala 2004'î li menfîtiyê dimîne. Niha li Amedê dijî. Mehdî Zana bi Leyla Zana re zewiciye û bavê 2 zarokan e. ****************************************** Mehdi Zana (1940 in Silvan, Turkey - ) is a former Kurdish politician. Zana started to work as a tailor in Silvan after he graduated from elementary school. In 1963 he became a member of Workers Party of Turkey (TİP). Two years later he became the head of the party's Silvan branch. In 1978 he was elected as the first independent socialist mayor of Diyarbakır. After 1980 Turkish coup d'état, he was imprisoned in the Military Prison of Diyarbakır. He was incarcerated for 16 years. After his release he had lived in Sweden and Germany until he returned to Turkey in 2004. After his incarceration he refused to speak Turkish again and only spoke in his native Kurdish. Mehdi Zana has been married to politician Leyla Zana since 1975 and the couple has two children.

Mehdi Zana - "La Espaldal Mundo " adli belgeselden Mehdi Zana, 1940'ta Diyarbakır'ın Silvan ilçesinde doğdu, iş hayatına ise ilkokulun hemen ertesinde, terzicilikle atıldı. 'Bekle Diyarbakır' adlı anı kitabında, siyasal bilinçlenmesinde terzihanenin önemini anlatıyor. 1963'te ise Türkiye İşçi Partisi'ne (TİP) katıldı, iki yıl sonra TİP Silvan ilçe Başkanı oldu. Cezaevleriyle de bu yıllardan sonra tanışmaya başladı. 1978 mahalli seçimlerinde Diyarbakır Belediye Başkanlığı'na bağımsız olarak seçildi. Kesintili de olsa toplam 16 yıl cezaevinde yattı. Yaklaşık sekiz yıl İsveç'te yaşayan Mehdi Zana, 15 Ekim 2004'te Türkiye'ye döndü. **************************************** Mehdi Zana (* 1940 in Silvan/Provinz Diyarbakir) ist kurdischer Politiker und der Ehemann von Leyla Zana. 1963 wurde er Mitglied der Arbeiterpartei der Türkei (TIP). 1978 stellte er sich als unabhängiger Kandidat zur Wahl für das Amt des Bürgermeister der kurdischen Großstadt Diyarbakir und gewann die Wahl. Nach dem Militärputsch 1980 wurde er verhaftet, gefoltert und verbrachte viele Jahre im Militärgefängnis Nr. 5 in Diyarbakir, der „Hölle Nr. 5". Insgesamt saß er 16 Jahre im Gefängnis. Zana lebte lange im schwedischen Exil. ****************************************** Mehdî Zana (*1940 li Farqîn/Parêzgeha Amedê) siyasetmedarekî Kurd e. Di sala 1963'î de dibe endamê TİP (Partiya Karkerên Tirkiyê) û him têkoşîna çînên bindest, him jî ya gelê Kurd dide. Di sala 1978'î de wekî endamekê serbixwe tevlî hilbijartinên şaredariya Amedê dibe û biserdikeve. Heya rûdana destdayîna artêşa Tirk a desthilatdariyê di sala 1980'î serokatiya şaredariya Amedê dike. Di cûntaya 1980'î de tê girtin û zîndanîkirin. Ew zêdetirî 16 salan li zîndanê de dimîne. Di pêvajoya reş a Zîndana Amedê de ew jî li wir e û rastî hemî êşkenceyên hovane û barbarî tê. Piştî derketina wî ya ji zîndanê derdikeve derveyi welêt û tê Ewropa. Li ser daxwaza Tirkiyê Swêd û Elmanya serîlêdana wî ya penaberiyê napejirînin û ew li ser xebatên parêzeran li Frensayê mafê penaberiyê werdigire. Heya sala 2004'î li menfîtiyê dimîne. Niha li Amedê dijî. Mehdî Zana bi Leyla Zana re zewiciye û bavê 2 zarokan e. ****************************************** Mehdi Zana (1940 in Silvan, Turkey - ) is a former Kurdish politician. Zana started to work as a tailor in Silvan after he graduated from elementary school. In 1963 he became a member of Workers Party of Turkey (TİP). Two years later he became the head of the party's Silvan branch. In 1978 he was elected as the first independent socialist mayor of Diyarbakır. After 1980 Turkish coup d'état, he was imprisoned in the Military Prison of Diyarbakır. He was incarcerated for 16 years. After his release he had lived in Sweden and Germany until he returned to Turkey in 2004. After his incarceration he refused to speak Turkish again and only spoke in his native Kurdish. Mehdi Zana has been married to politician Leyla Zana since 1975 and the couple has two children.