South African Government to Recognize and Award Africa Action’s Jennifer Davis December 10, 2009 "The Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo is awarded to foreign nationals (Heads of State and Government) and other foreign dignitaries. It is awarded for her contribution to the anti-apartheid struggle, the field of education and commitment to human rights. Click here to read more about Jennifer Davis and the Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo..."
Advocacy Groups Decry Profiteering by Vulture Funds in Liberia December 2, 2009 "Urgent: A London court recently awarded two Vulture Funds a $20 million judgment against Liberia. This amount of money represents the country’s entire education budget and 150% of their spending on health in 2008..."
Rally Outside of Ugandan Embassies to Call for an End to the Proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill November 19, 2009 "Today, people in NYC and Washington, DC are responding to a call to action by our allies from SMUG (Sexual Minorities of Uganda), and rallying outside of Ugandan embassies to call for an end to the proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill that's being considered by the Ugandan Parliament. Click here to learn more..."
Request for Civil Society Participation in IMF Study on FTT November 12, 2009 "Today Africa Action and civil society partners delivered a letter to Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, regarding financial transactions taxes (FTT). Click here to read the letter and learn more about FTT..."
New Report Identifies Priorities and Price Tag for President Obama’s Leadership on Global Health October 23, 2009 "Members of the media are invited to a special teleconference call and join Africa Action with Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, UN Special Advisor on the Millennium Development Goals, Director of Columbia’s Earth Institute, Dr. Peter Mugyenyi, director of Uganda’s Joint Clinical Research Center, and The Hon. Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) Thursday, October 29, 2009, 10:00 AM ET. Click here for RSVP information..."
Annual Fall Meetings Begin: Criticism Continues to Mount Towards World Bank/IMF Policies October 6, 2009 "This week Istanbul, Turkey is hosting the IMF/World Bank Annual Fall 2009 meetings. In addition to the protests in Istanbul, Africa Action highlights the 5th Annual Southern Africa Social Forum (SASF), which begins in Maseru, Lesotho. Africa Action calls for IMF reform and greater civil society participation poverty reduction strategies..."
Statement on Kennedy Road Informal Settlement October 5, 2009 "Over the past weekend, civil society partners reported to Africa Action that Abahlali baseMjondolo, a grassroots movement campaigning to improve the living conditions of poor people, was attacked in one of it's most prominent settlements in Durban by an armed militia. Click here to read Africa Action's statement and a video by S'bu Zikode, President of Abahlali baseMjondolo..."
Tens of Thousands of Schoolchildren Nationwide Will Protest Poverty and Child Labor-Tainted Cocoa during Third Annual Reverse Trick-or-Treating this Halloween October 1, 2009 "Kids across all 50 U.S. States and Canada will urge nearly a quarter million households to shift purchasing to Fair Trade certified chocolate, coffee, etc by handing Fair Trade chocolate to adults..." Break the Silence: Condemn the Violence! September 29, 2009 "This week in West Africa, human rights activists are reporting that over 157 people were killed in Conakry, the capitol of Guinea. Africa Action calls for the U.S. to work the the African Union, the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) and civil society organizations in the region so to protect human rights activists and advance democracy and rule of law in Guinea..."
Setting the Message Straight: Civil Society Delivers Statement to Dr. Eric Goosby, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator September 25, 2009 "We, the undersigned 60 civil society organizations and networks of people living with HIV and TB, working in 28 countries across Southern Africa and the world, write to express our dismay at your statement that a target of achieving universal access for HIV prevention and treatment in Southern Africa by 2015 is ‘unrealistic’ because the resources required to enable this will not be found...." Africa Action Calls for a U.S. Contribution of $1.050 billion for Fiscal Year 2010 September 24, 2009 "This letter, endorsed by Africa Action and over 20 other organizations, was sent to each member of the House and Senate Appropriations State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs and subcommittees as well as to the Chair and Ranking Members of the full appropriations committees..."
Leading Zimbabwean Movement Organizer and Women's Rights Group Win 2009 RFK Human Rights Award September 18, 2009 "Africa Action is honored to have played a role in the nomination and award of such prestigious recognition given to a deserving leader, Ms. Mahlangu and her outstanding human rights organization, Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA). Read the RFK Center for Justice & Human Rights press release here..." Go > Tickets on Sale Today: Just Words Benefit Concert for Peace and Justice in Africa September 17, 2009 "The Africa Action benefit concert, Just Words for Peace and Justice in Africa, will feature the 2008 Wammie Award Winners from The Washington Area Music Association Chopteeth, other local favorites including John Stone Reggae & Regg'go, as well as some of the best socially conscious poets, spoken word and hip-hop artists in the nation. Click here to see the poster [PDF]..."
Zimbabwe Global Political Agreement: One-Year Forward September 15, 2009 "Today marks the one-year anniversary of the Global Political Agreement that gave birth to Zimbabwe’s unity government. Africa Action calls for the new unity government to fulfill its obligations as outlined in the agreement..."
Africa Action Statement on Senator Kennedy’s Death August 26, 2009 "This morning Senator Edward M. "Ted" Kennedy died of brain cancer at age 77. Africa Action mourns the death of this extraordinary leader..."
U.S. to Serve over Presidency of UN Security Council August 26, 2009 "Next week President Obama is due to assume the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council. Africa Action calls for the U.S. to support women’s rights by increasing funding for the Gender Advisory Unit and support more female peacekeepers to be trained and deployed..."
Allow Africa to Seize Control of its Destiny; Prohibit Vulture Fund Profiteering in U.S. Courts August 19, 2009 "Congress is taking up the issue with legislation sponsored by Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Congressman Spencer Bachus (R-AL), the Stop VULTURE Funds Act (H.R. 2932). With 19 co-sponsors already signed on, the Judiciary Committee is expected to hold a hearing on this bill in September..."
Building a Better UNAMID July 30, 2009 "Ahead of the anniversary of UNAMID's reauthorization, a joint NGO statement is released highlighting some glimmers of hope and the many gaps and failures that still plague UNAMID two years later..."
Darfur Advocates Call on Special Envoy Gration to Make UNAMID Effectiveness a Top Priority July 27, 2009 "In a letter delivered to U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration this month signed by 36 organizations, Darfur advocates urged General Gration to ensure that the operations of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) are not hindered by the Sudanese government..." Africa Action Honors Nelson Mandela’s Birthday July 17, 2009 "This Saturday, July 18 marks Nelson Mandela's 91st birthday. On this day, Africa Action celebrates his steadfast commitment to human rights in Africa. Read 'Just Africa', Africa Action's blog and follow Michael Stulman as he writes from South Africa about his current work and experience..."
Akwaaba! …Ghana Should Meet Obama With Cautious Optimism July 6, 2009 "This week President Obama will attend the G8 in Italy, followed by a visit to Ghana. This is his first trip to Africa as U.S. President. Africa Action commends that he has prioritized a trip to the Continent so early in his term, but asks that the President think beyond oil, and address the Continent's most urgent challenges..."
Africa Action Invited to Civil Society Leaders conference on Constitutional Reform in Zimbabwe June 29, 2009 "Tomorrow I will start consultations with civil society players on the new constitution, ahead of the Civil Society Leaders Conference on Constitutional Reform, at which I will be speaking. Everyone I have talked to so far, regards the new constitution as the most important project in terms of consolidating Zimbabwe’s transition towards democratization and economic recovery...Read more by Briggs Bomba as he blogs from Zimbabwe about his current work and experience..."
Congress Acts to Tame Prowling Vulture Funds June 18, 2009 "Today Congresswoman Waters introduced the "Stop VULTURE Funds” Act (H.R. 2932) to the House of Representatives. Africa Action commends the leadership shown by U.S. congressional representatives and urge that it receive support by the full House so that it can move forward for Senate review..."
Africa Action Mourns the Loss of Tajudeen Abdul Raheem May 27, 2009 "This week Africa Action expresses tremendous grief over the loss of one of the world’s most renown pan-Africanist. Dr. Raheem was a friend and colleague of Africa Action and his spirit will resound around the world..."
Zimbabwe Human Rights Activists Re-Arrested May 5, 2009 "Jestina Mukoko, Director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, among 17 other Zimbabwe human rights activists, was jailed again this week. Africa Action calls for those responsible for torture and abuse to be held accountable for their actions...For more analysis on Zimbabwe, read The Zimbabwe Elections: A Dream Deferred ..." 100 Days Pass Obama Administration April 30, 2009 "The first 100 days of the Obama Presidency has passed. The tone of U.S. foreign policy has changed. It signifies a break from the failures of the past, but with an economic crisis here in the U.S., it would be detrimental to marginalize U.S. policy towards Africa..." IMF Headed for Failure in Rescue of Global Economy? April 22, 2009 "No Blank Check for IMF Without Real Reforms, Say Activists from Africa & Hard-Hit Latvia..."
April 14th Benefit Concert with Hip-Hop Artist Immortal Technique: Rock to Save Darfur April 6, 2009 "On April 14th, join Africa Action's Briggs Bomba as he emcees this special benefit concert event in New York with hip-hop artist Immortal Technique and DJ Static, raising funds and awareness for Africa Action and other groups working for peace and human security in Darfur and throughout Sudan..."
Leading Members of Sudanese Civil Society Call for National Conference February 4, 2009 - http://www.darfurconsortium.org/ "Today Africa Action stands in solidarity with the Darfur Consortium, and call for a genuine peace process in Sudan that will bring about long-lasting peace and stability in the region..." Africa Action Releases "Africa Policy Outlook" 2009 January 28, 2009 "Today Africa Action released its Africa Policy Outlook for 2009. This annual publication was released one week after the historic inauguration of President Barack Obama..."
U.S. Must Support Peace and Justice In Sudan January 9, 2009 "Today is the 4th anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that sought to end Sudan’s longest civil war and established self-governance in Southern Sudan..."