2012 Africa Workshops
For decades, African countries have been recipients of “assistance” from international community yet most seem to serve the interests of donors rather than the African people. This section explores issues relating to land grabbing and food security, malaria and the global fund, modern slavery and the extractive industry, and the militarization of foreign assistance to Africa. How do they benefit the people? Is this the kind of assistance that Africa needs? Come join us and explore.
Workshops Coordinator: Aniedi Okure, OP, Director, Africa Faith and Justice Network
Session I – Saturday, March 24, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Breaking the yoke of injustice
This plenary will address the economy and livelihood of Africans in the context foreign assistance and international partners, and explore ways foreign partners can assist in building Africa’s civil society rather than “strong men”. How can we advocate for a global economy that breaks the yokes of injustice, poverty, hunger and dependency? Join us to explore alternative ways to break the chains of injustice that strangles Africa.
Speakers: Aniedi Okure, OP, Executive Director, Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN), Eric LeCompte, Executive Director, Jubilee USA
Session II – Saturday, March 24, 2:15 – 3:45 pm
The Militarization of Aid and the Economy of Militarization
This workshop will examine the increasing militarization of U.S. foreign policy in the African world. We will assess how war and militarization are used to preserve a global political-economic order. We will discuss the role of U.S. private military contractors and the steady flow of U.S. arms and training to repressive militaries, particularly in resource-rich countries. The session will include audience engagement and key action areas for the 99%.
Facilitators: Emira Woods, Co-director, Foreign Policy In Focus, Institute for Policy Studies; Carl LeVan, School of International Studies, American University; Sadia Aden, Somali Diaspora organization;Maurice Carney, Friends of the Congo
The Global Fight Against Malaria: Sub-Saharan Africa & the Global Fund
Malaria, a totally preventable and treatable disease kills about 800,000 people a year. Most victims are children under age 5 and in Africa. This workshop will offer an overview of malaria and its impact on Africa and address efforts to fight against malaria and then explore ways the world is mobilizing to defeat what we need to do to overcome this disease.
Facilitators: Krista Zimmerman, Senior Policy Advisor, Lutheran World Relief; Rev. Clayton Childers, Director of Advocacy, Imagine No Malaria Campaign, United Methodist Church; Gretchen King, Outreach Manager for LWR and the Lutheran Malaria Initiative; Patricia O’Kisare, Legislative Assistant for Mennonite Central Committee
Session III – Sunday, March 25, 11:00 am—12:30 pm
The Next Era of Colonization? Land Grabs and African Food Security
The land rush is on – and Africa is the biggest target. Since the year 2000, rising demand for food, biofuels and natural resources have spurred over 500 million acres worth of global land deals. The prevailing process of these large-scale land acquisitions has threatened the rights, resources and livelihoods of rural people in Africa. Join us to explore the problem and mechanisms to protect land tenure and food rights.
Facilitators: Marie Brill, Senior Policy Analyst, ActionAid USA; Valery Nodem, Director, International Hunger program, Presbyterian Church USA; Speakers: Devlin Kuyek, GRAIN and Farmlandgrab.org; La Via Campesina Africa Regional Representative
Modern Slavery and the Extractive Industry and Global Economy
The workshop will explain the global phenomenon of human trafficking and slavery, with a focus on the problem of slavery within the mining sector of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Ghana. It will also discuss two current legislative efforts to address the root causes of slavery and human trafficking in Africa and around the world: The reauthorization of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000, and H.R. 2759 — The Business Transparency on Slavery and Trafficking Act.
Facilitators: Karen Stauss, Director of Programs, Free the Slaves; Jacques Bahati, Policy Analyst, Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN)