Wed, 16 May 2012 07:33:07 -0800WeeblyMon, 23 Aug 2010 18:33:08 -0800http://www.africaaction.org/8/post/2010/08/debate-on-globalization-threat-or-opportunity.html

Date and Time: August 31, 2010, 12:30 - 2:00 PM
Venue: Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) Conference Room, 1112 16th Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036

Details:  Don’t miss this lively contest of ideas between two opposing perspectives on neo-liberalism and its impact on the Global South.

The IMF’s stated mission is to "foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world." However, there are those who assert that the IMF is actually a destabilizing force within the global economy, while others believe that the countries themselves are to blame for poor economic choices.  Africa Action, TransAfrica Forum, and IPS' Foreign Policy In Focus will host this provocative contest of perspectives and analysis between Rick Rowden, a long-time critic of IMF policy, and Eugene Nyambal, former senior advisor to executive directors at the Board of Directors of the IMF.

Rick Rowden, author of The Deadly Ideas Of Neoliberalism: How The IMF Has Undermined Public Health And The Fight Against AIDS "confronts and challenges the IMF and questions its specific definition of macro-economic stability” - Mike Podmore

Eugene Nyambal, also a former Senior Strategy Officer for Latin America at the International Finance Corporation is the author of Creating Prosperity in Africa: Ten Keys to Get Out of Poverty.  Frannie A. Leautier, Vice President of World Bank Institute says Nyambal’s book “is an honest account written from a perspective of deep knowledge about the continent but embedded in pragmatism that comes from experience of development from different perspectives.”

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]]>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:00:07 -0800http://www.africaaction.org/8/post/2010/07/rwandan-elections-implications-for-peace-and-stability-in-rwanda-and-the-great-lakes-region.htmlRwandan Elections: Implications for Peace and Stability in Rwanda and the Great Lakes Region
A call for Change in US Policy from Supporting Strongmen to Supporting Strong Institutions

President Obama said, in his 2009 speech in Accra, Ghana, that America should support strong institutions and not strong men.  However in the case of Rwanda, this has been no more than rhetoric.  Rwandans, like most Africans, cheered Obama's election, hoping that it might signal a new, more peaceful and cooperative relationship between the U.S. and Africa, but Obama has expanded AFRICOM, the U.S. Africa Command, and now he remains silent as Rwanda's strongman, President Paul Kagame, prepares a sham presidential election to retain his brutal grip on power.

Who: International Humanitarian Law Institute of Minnesota, Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation, Foundation for Freedom and Democracy in Rwanda , Institute for Policy Studies, Africa Faith and Justice Network, Friends of the Congo, Mobilization for Justice and Peace in Congo and Organization for Peace, Justice and Development in Rwanda and Great Lakes Region (OPJDR), and Africa Action.

What: Briefing on the August 9th Rwandan elections and its implications for the Great Lakes Region.
Speakers to include:

            Paul Rusesabagina, Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation

            Peter Erlinder, International Humanitarian Law Institute of Minnesota

            Pascal Kalinganire, Organization for Peace, Justice and Development in Rwanda and Great Lakes Region (OPJDR)

            Claude Gatebuke, Rwandan Activist
 

When: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Where:  National Press Club
              529 14th Street, NW
              13th Floor, Lisagor Room
              Washington, DC 20045

For more information about the Press Conference, please call 202-584-6512 or email rwandaelections@gmail.com. Visit www.friendsofthecongo.org or www.afjn.org for more details.]]>Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:24:40 -0800http://www.africaaction.org/8/post/2010/07/an-exit-from-debt-the-need-for-fair-and-transparent-arbitration-for-sovereign-debt-in-africa-and-beyond.htmlOn behalf of Africa Action and the Jubilee USA Network, New Rules for Global Finance, Institute for Policy Studies, and TransAfrica Forum, you are cordially invited to: 

An Exit from Debt – The Need for Fair and Transparent Arbitration for Sovereign Debt in Africa and Beyond
When:   Thursday August 5th, 12:00-2:00 pm
Where:  United Methodist Building
Conference Room 3
100 Maryland Avenue, NE

Come join a discussion with esteemed colleagues from the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) and the United Nations Development Program.

• Collins Magalasi, Executive Director, AFRODAD
• Tirivangani Mutazu, Program Officer, AFRODAD
• Gail Hurley, Policy Specialist on Development Finance, UNDP

Greece’s dramatic debt crisis earlier this year drew attention to the failure of the international financial architecture to deal with sovereign debt crises in an orderly, fair, and transparent way.  Yet, Greece’s problem is not new.  Many impoverished nations struggle under crushing debt burdens, risking default or paying debts at the expense of critical domestic needs.   

However positive, past debt relief initiatives were far from a panacea for dealing with entrenched debt challenges for impoverished countries. Many countries struggling with massive poverty were excluded from these initiatives and the underlying issues that created the debt crises remained, and in some cases worsened due to the economic crisis.   

Current frameworks available to countries struggling with crushing debts are modeled with creditors to be both judge and jury, and do not allow for arguments surrounding illegitimate or odious debts. 

This timely roundtable discussion will explore alternative proposals for fair and transparent arbitration, as well as strategize on ways that civil society can influence the renewed debate on how to approach sovereign debt workouts.

Roundtable BiographiesCollins Magalasi is the Executive Director at AFRODAD.  He has served as Commissioner for the Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) for four years and as a member of the Trade Negotiation Team for Malawi for over seven years.  He is also the International Coordinator for the German-Partnership-with-Africa Young Leaders’ Network, a member of the Economists Association of Malawi (ECAMA), President of the Catholic University of Malawi Parents and Guardians Association, and founding member of the Civil Society Action Against Corruption.

Tirivangani Mutazu is the AFRODAD Program Officer responsible for Fair and Transparent Arbitration mechanism on debt campaign (FTA).  He has been with the organization for ten years, half of which have been spend working on the FTA campaign, as a researcher, campaigner, advocate, and lobbyist.  He has presented papers on FTA, regionally and internationally.   
Gail Hurley is a Policy Specialist on Development Finance at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in New York.  She has also worked as a Policy Advisor on sovereign debt issues for the European Network on Debt and Development (EURODAD).  She has extensive research and advocacy experience on developing country debt and has most recently assisted the Government of Jamaica to restructure its domestic debt and the Government of Ecuador to audit its bilateral debt.  ]]>Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:27:28 -0800http://www.africaaction.org/8/post/2010/07/vigil-at-the-white-house-for-darfur.htmlDate: Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Location: Lafayette Park @ The White House - Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC

July 14, represents an important day for the people of Darfur and throughout Sudan. On this day, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against the Sudanese President al-Bashir for his role in orchestrating and perpetrating war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity in Darfur. The indictment of al-Bashir has brought hope to the people of Darfur in particular but also other marginalized Sudanese in the South, East, Nuba Mountain, Blue Nile and the Nubia in the Far North Sudan. It ensures that no one is above the law, one day justice can be achieved and finally that impunity will not be an option in Sudan.

Therefore Sudanese community leaders and human rights activists have decided not to remain silent. We must come together and commemorate this day and call the attention of the international community that they need to live up to their commitment and honor their promise by providing the necessary support to the ICC, reinforce its effort to execute the pending arrest warrant against al-Bashir and hold him accountable for the crimes committed against the people of Darfur.

On July 14, 2008, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), submitted his request to indict Omar al-Bashir, on several counts of crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur. The indictment came as a result of enormous effort by human rights organizations and the advocacy community forcing the U.N Security Council to refer the situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for investigation.

Please join the people of Sudan in their fight for justice. Your support is extremely important to bring justice for the victims of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. We need you to help make this a priority to the leaders of the world. Please come and bring your friends with you to join in bringing Al Bashir to justice!

For more information please contact Jimmy Mulla : jkmulla@gmail.com, Mohamed Yahya: mataryah@gmail.com, Fageeri Taha:fakiritaha@yahoo.com]]>Fri, 02 Jul 2010 06:29:13 -0800http://www.africaaction.org/8/post/2010/07/lunch-time-briefing-with-emile-yx-hip-hop-artist-activist-from-south-africa.html

Africa Action & Foreign Policy In Focus Present:

A Lunch Time Briefing with Emile YX - hip hop artist-activist from Cape Town’s Heal the Hood Hip Hop Youth Project

When:
Friday, July 23, 2010
11:30am - 2:00pm

Where:
Institute for Policy Studies
1112 16th St. NW, Suite 600,
Washington DC 20036

To RSVP, e-mail outreach@africaaction.org

More:
Emile YX is with a delegation from South Africa consisting of both himself and Angelo.  The duo will team with DC-based hip hop artists Kokayi and DJ RBI to create a performance piece which will be performed, recorded and filmed during the visit. Their performance piece will explore contemporary history of youth, politics and hip hop in both Cape Town and DC.

The South African artists will also participate in a series of educational events IN the DC and Baltimore area. These events will allow the foreign and local artists to share experiences in working with youth from diverse communities. The first of these will be a screening of Emile YX’s “From B-Boys to Being Men”, a documentary film about how hip hop is being used for social development and community empowerment in South Africa tracing back to the pioneering b-boys of the 1980s. The film will be screened at Busboys & Poets on July 21st and Sankofa on July 25th.

The delegation is sponsored by The Artist International Exchange Program with support from Nomadic Wax, DC Commission for the Arts & Humanities, MageeFilms, Heal the Hood, Africa Action, Black Noise, Busboys & Poets, Sankofa, Bloom Bars, Hillyer Art Space, DCrap, One VS. Many, World Hip Hop Market, Fusicology and V.O.I.C.E.S.

Throughout their visit, the South African artists will be meeting with NGOs and think tanks based in the DC area. In this capacity the SA Artists serve as active diplomats to urban youth culture and issues surrounding peacebuilding, human rights, youth empowerment and hip hop culture.

About Nomadic Wax – Nomadic Wax is a fair-trade international record label and production company dedicated to producing and promoting global urban music and media. For more information visit: www.nomadicwax.com.

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]]>Wed, 02 Jun 2010 13:17:00 -0800http://www.africaaction.org/8/post/2010/06/special-movie-screeningthe-dark-side-of-chocolate.html

June 8, 2010
7:00 PM
SEIU (1st Floor)
1800 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20036

In advance of World Day against Child Labor on June 12, join us for a special screening of the new documentary The Dark Side of Chocolate.

Shot in Mali, the Ivory Coast, Geneva and Vevey, Switzerland, Miki Mistrati and U Roberto (Robin) Romano launch a behind-the-scenes investigation into the allegations of child labor and the trafficking of children in the international chocolate industry.

Film director U Roberto (Robin) Romano will lead a discussion following the film screening.

Sponsored by: Africa Action, American Federation of Teachers, Break the Chain Campaign, DC Fair Trade, Foreign Policy in Focus, Freedom Network USA, Global Exchange, Green America, International Labor Rights Forum, Organic Consumers Association

PLEASE RSVP to Tim Newman at tim.newman@ilrf.org or 202-347-4100 ext. 113 and please bring a valid ID with you to the screening.*

For more information about the film, please visit: www.thedarksideofchocolate.org.

]]>Tue, 25 May 2010 12:02:41 -0800http://www.africaaction.org/8/post/2010/05/power-sharing-deals-in-africa-implications-for-democracy-the-case-of-zimbabwe-and-kenya.htmlUSSF 2010 | Another World Is Possible | Another US Is Necessary

For more information on the U.S. Social Forum, visit: http://www.ussf2010.org/

]]>Tue, 25 May 2010 12:01:11 -0800http://www.africaaction.org/8/post/2010/05/international-financial-institutions-and-climate-change-community-impacts-in-the-congo.htmlUSSF 2010 | Another World Is Possible | Another US Is Necessary

For more information on the U.S. Social Forum, visit: http://www.ussf2010.org/

]]>Fri, 21 May 2010 11:17:45 -0800http://www.africaaction.org/8/post/2010/05/congo-independence-50-years-later-the-continuing-pursuit.html

Click to Download the Final Program
File Size:	324 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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Join us for a day of films, cutting edge discussion and an evening reception, featuring Congolese musicians and art to reflect, assess, and celebrate the way toward a truly free and liberated Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Wednesday, June 30, 2010
2:00 pm to 8:30 pm

True Reformer Bldg's Lankford Auditorium
12th & U Street, NW
Washington, DC, USA

On June 30, 2010, the Democratic Republic of Congo will celebrate its 50th year of independence from Belgian colonial rule. Celebrations will take place throughout the globe commemorating this golden anniversary. However, not all Congolese are celebrating. Nor are peace and justice loving people who value and respect a more united and elevated African continent. The ultimate independence and liberation of the Congo has yet to be achieved.

This event will offer prescriptions to chart a way forward to a free and liberated Congo, and examine its potential role within the African continent as a whole. 

All are welcome. No one turned away but a $10 donation at the door will be much appreciated to help with costs.  Please RSVP to netfa@ips-dc.org. 

To make a donation online, in advance of the event, click here.  Please specify "In honor of: Congo Independence" or "In Memory of: Floribert Chebeya"

Africa Action, Africa Faith & Justice Network, Congo Global Action, Friends of the Congo, TransAfrica Forum, IPS' Foreign Policy In Focus call on you to join us in this stand for justice and human dignity for the sons and daughters of the Congo in particular and Africa in general.

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]]>Thu, 13 May 2010 13:37:34 -0800http://www.africaaction.org/8/post/2010/05/african-liberators-the-founding-patriarchs-and-matriarchs-the-legacies-and-challenges-and-call-to-our-generation.htmlAfrican Liberators - The Founding Patriarchs and Matriarchs: The Legacies and Challenges, and Call to Our Generation

African Liberation Day Symposium and Luncheon Tribute to Dr. Dorothy Height

Date: May 21, 2010
Time: 1:00 to 5:30PM
Venue: United States Congress: Canon Caucus Room at the Cannon Building, Washington, DC
Admission: Free but RSVP BY MAY 15, 2010: 240.706.6885.

The Continental African Union Community Presents:
African Liberators - The Founding Patriarchs and Matriarchs: The Legacies and Challenges, and Call to Our Generation.

Luncheon Dedication to a Founding Matriarch of the Civil Rights: Dorothy Height, the Height of Legacy.

Co-sponsors: Africa Action and TransAfrica Forum.

Background of the African Liberation Day:
African Liberation Day is May 25.

When Ghana became the first African nation to gain independence from Britain in 1957, the poignancy of Africa's liberation  was captured by Dr.  Kwame Nkrumah, as he put it, "the independence of Ghana would be meaningless unless it was tied to the total liberation of Africa."

On April 15, 1958, in Accra, Ghana, African leaders and political activists met for the first Conference of Independent African States. Among the attendees were  representatives of the governments of Egypt (which attended as part of the United Arab Republic), Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, and representatives of the National Liberation Front of Algeria, and the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC). The conference was significant in that it represented the first pan-African Conference held on African soil.

The Conference called for the founding of African Freedom Day, a day to mark the onward progress of the liberation movement, and to symbolize the determination of the People of Africa to "free themselves from foreign domination and exploitation."

Five years later,  another historic meeting was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. On May 25, 1963, leaders of thirty-two independent African States met to form the Organization of African Unity( OAU).  At this meeting, the date of Africa Freedom Day was changed from April 15 to May 25, and Africa Freedom Day was declared African Liberation Day.

The African Union (AU), established in 2002 by the nations of the former  (OAU, is the successor organization to the OAU with greater powers to promote African economic, social, and political integration, and a stronger commitment to democratic principles. The 53 nations of Africa are all members and the AU's headquarters are at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Symposium: Friday May 21: 1pm to 5pm
Today, the early batch of countries that attained  independence in the sixties have reached or are  reaching the half a century anniversary.The Founding Patriarchs and Matriarchs: The Legacies and Challenges, and Call to Our Generation, allows for the examination of the rise of African Liberation and what was  obtained. The symposium addresses three important concepts 1) The concept of the African Personality in relation to African Nationalism; the concept of African Nationalism in relation to socioeconomic development; and the concept of the African Renaissance in relations to self-reliance.

With the participation of diverse academics, diplomats, public and private sector leaders, civil society  organizations, faculties and students, the insightful conversations would highlight and record the works of African liberators and philosophers, and the philosophical basis that guides emancipation. Further, the  discourse will focus on the role of  African Union institutions in meeting the objectives of an integrated Africa and building viable civil societies. The symposium is intended to give a clearer insight on African and global dynamics, mechanisms to foster a  vital African Union, and means through which Africa Diaspora can contribute in addressing developments.

Ultimately, the symposium hopes to enhance knowledge and systems rooted in African perspectives, which will contribute to the Arts and Humanities, public affairs, international relations and their interpretations.]]>