Africa
Africa news in the U.S. today is written in words like refugees, rape, village destroyed, hundreds die. Oxfam International reports that fifteen years of continuous conflicts have cost African nations $284 billion in gross domestic product. Guns pour in from outside and a growing element of today’s U.S. policy is based on “U.S. Fighting Terrorism Through Security Partnerships in Africa.” Yet many Africans see foreign pursuit of scarce resources, and international finance, trade and debt systems as major causes of conflict. They believe more U.S. military training or base construction will not build more security. Instead they want development policies that challenge hunger and poverty, build sustainable agriculture and food security, provide health care and education (often made too expensive by international trade and finance rules). Join expert Africa activists in interactive workshops on U.S. policy towards Africa, examine causes of conflict, conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Share ideas on the movement to cancel Africa’s $200 billion plus debt burden and other strategies for building true security for Africa.