As 80,000 civil service workers prepared to strike for two days on Thursday and Friday this week, Respect MP George Galloway sent this message to Mark Serwotka, leader of the PCS union, and his members:

"PCS and its 80,000 members in the Department of Work and Pensions have my full support in the action you are taking over pay.

"Gordon Brown's policy of holding down public sector pay below the rate of inflation is a scandal. He is also, of course, the architect of the job losses and privatisations that are blighting the civil service.

"If the consequence were simply the embarrassment he and his hapless government have suffered over the loss of 20 million pieces of personal data, then few would shed any tears.

"But it is leading to worsening services and demoralisation among staff.

"It is in the interests of everyone who relies on those services that the PCS wins this dispute. Every public sector worker in particular should hope that their unions come together to resist these pay cuts, which look like they are going to be with us for some years to come."

The Respect Renewal Conference was a stunning success.

It took place at the Bishopsgate Institute in the City of London on Saturday 17 November 2007. Notification of the conference had first gone out only on Saturday 3 November. In the intervening two weeks hard work by a team of volunteers ensured a wonderfully uplifting day.

This weekend's conference will be an unique event with delegates coming to London from all five continents. They will be calling for the complete end to the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and opposition to any attack against Iran. Delegates will also look at the broader struggle against war around the world and against continuing threats from the US administration. At the final plenary the conference will discuss co-ordinated international anti-war actions for 2008.

To book your ticket phone the Stop the War Coalition on 020 7278 6694 or book online.

Respect MP George Galloway is to speak at that World Against War conference in London on Saturday 1 December. He will be speaking between 10.30am and 11am at the international gathering of the anti-war movement.

Among those issues he will be highlighting is the growing threat of a US or Israeli attack on Iran. He has spoken out continuously about this danger through various media.

Southern Bangladesh has suffered its worst cyclone since 1991. Thousands have died and millions have been rendered homeless.

On Tuesday both ITV and BBC London came to Tower Hamlets Respect chair Azmal Hussain’s restaurant in Brick Lane to interview two Respect members who come from the area worst affected.

The collapse of First Solution at the end of June, owing £2million to 2,000 creditors, has had a devastating impact on the Bangladeshi community in Britain and caused huge hardship to many in Bangladesh. George Galloway and Respect have been in the forefront of the campaign to get justice for the creditors and all their money back. But so far, what's on offer is entirely unacceptable to the people who have lost money.