Thursday and Friday I attended many of the Africa focused workshops – most were very exciting and engaging. They really brought the African perspective into the ideas of the US Social Forum and made delegates think about the US role in issues affecting communities on the African continent.

24 Thursday 10am-12pm

African Unity Towards What? (Pan-Africanism & Nationalism is not enough!) by: University of Kmt

I still haven’t exactly figured out this group and what they do. They run the Kmt Press which publishes books and journals, but all of their sessions that I attended were focused on teaching with an African historical perspective. Their missions states that they are dedicated to educating the new generation of African leaders. Interesting that they are in Detroit and I wonder if they know of the Detroit Public School (DPS) Initiative starting in 1992 where Africa was integrated into school curriculums from math to literature.

24 Thursday 1-3pm

Prioritizing Africa & the African Diaspora Agenda from Detroit to Dakar (D2D) by: Priority Africa Network (PAN)

This People’s Movement Assembly was geared towards bringing African perspectives into the US Social Forum and continue the discussion as preparations are made for the 2011 World Social Forum in Dakar, Senegal. The room was full of delegates from many African countries, Detroit, and US Africa Advocacy groups.

Briggs Bomba, Director of Campaigns at Africa Action, spoke strongly about building solidarity with those most affected in Africa. He said, “corporate led globalization has harshest effects on those in the perifery, the underdeveloped.” He reminded us that all of us the privilege to attend conferences like these and make the policies need to prioritize the communities most affected.

A delegate from South Africa spoke eloquently about the social apartheid of displacement – ideologically, locations, in decision-making and governments; in voting process lack of people power and transformational action, and in the social mainstream. “We cover many issues, but it is the same struggle. We come from different areas, but share common experiences.” (i.e. colonialism)

Some top issues that came out of the PMA:

• Militarization in the Congo (DRC)
• HIV & STDs from Detroit to Africa
• political economy – effects seen in everyday Africa
• African defense (defend communities), liberation (not yet liberated), and autonomy

An exciting and dynamic session that really makes me excited for the World Social Forum in Dakar!

24 Thursday 3:30-5:30pm

The New Africa Command & U.S. Military Involvement in Africa by: African Security Research Project (aka: Daniel Volman)

This session was an interesting overview of AFRICOM by some leading scholars on the topic of US national security interests in Africa. The attendees were less diverse than the Detroit to Dakar session and most people came to learn more because it looked interesting and had studied Africa to some small degree in the past.

Most interesting was when the discussion turned to private military contractors (PMCs) in Africa responsible for fighting wars in Libera, Southern Sudan, and Somalia. A Ugandan delegate actually talked about being trained by PMCs in Iraq to then return and fight the Lord’s Resistance Army in Northern Uganda. Great to hear the perspective of the Ugandan delegate and Dan Volman as well as to see so many people interested in learning more about African issues!

25 Friday 1-3pm

Power-sharing Deals in Africa: Implications for Democracy – The Case of Zimbabwe & Kenya by: Africa Action

This was by far the most organized session that I attended at the US Social Forum. The Africa Action team did an amazing job of gathering great speakers, formatting the session, and bringing people into the room for the discussion. Many African voices were heard from delegates representing Zimbabwe and Kenya.

In both cases of power-sharing, the speakers agreed that the power-sharing deal was a sigh of relief that stopped the fighting and opened their doors to the international community and economy again. However, they also all recognized that power-sharing was a positive in the short-term, but can be positive as in the case of South Africa when Mandela and de Klerk signed a power sharing deal until the national democratic elections.

Here are some take-aways:

• A weak state can and will be manipulated (i.e. Museveni in Uganda – waiting for a similar situation as Kenya and Zimbabwe soon, elections next year)
• “The people” are separated from the power – people-centered in needed
• Power-sharing allows for lessened tensions and time to create national unity towards something better
• Coalition governments show defeat of “people power”

There are a number Africa-related organizations represented at the US Social Forum focused on bringing Africa into the larger US social justice context and ensuring that there are African voices represented. During the June 22-25 conference there will be 14 workshops presented by: Africa Action, TransAfrica, HealthGAP, Support Darfur Project, All African Peoples Revolutionary Party, University of Kmt, Priority Africa Network, Community Alliance for Global Justice, African Security Research Project, Athletes United for Peace, Detroit to Dakar, and International Development Exchange (IDEX). See list below:

24 Thursday (10am-12pm)

• Africa & Pan- Africanism in this hemisphere: fighting neo-colonialism, racism, class, and gender oppression
  • All African Peoples Revolutionary Party @ Cobo Hall – Rm. W2-61
• Building a Pan-African Solidarity Movement in North America
  • Support Darfur Project @ WC3 – Rm. 317
• AIDS isn’t over: Solidarity in the fight for justice for people with AIDS worldwide
  • HealthGAP @ WA – Rm. 1472
• Gender Militarism and US Corporate Violence in Oil Producing States
  • Priority Africa Network (PAN) @ Cobo Hall – Rm. O2-40

24 Thursday (1-3pm)

• Africa Unity Toward What? (Pan-Africanism & Nationalism are not enough!)
  • University of Kmt @ Cobo Hall – Rm. O2-38
• The Politics of Exploiting Need: AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa), the Gates Foundation, & the Food Crisis
  • Community Alliance for Global Justice @ UAW – Rm. Taurus
• Migration & Militarization of U.S. and European Borders: A Comparison & Contrast
  • Priority Africa Network @ Cobo Hall- Rm. O2-40
• Youth-led Activism in NYC’s Public High Schools
  • Support Darfur Project @ WBC – Rm. WB2
• The World Cup, Sports & Social Justice: The Beautiful Game & Beautiful Struggle, Together
  • Athletes for Peace @ WSU S – Rm. 29

24 Thursday (3:30-5:30pm)

• International Financial Institutions & Climate Change: Community Impacts in the Congo
  • Africa Action @ WC3 – Rm. 337
• The New Africa Command & U.S. Military Involvement in Africa
  • African Security Research Project @ UAW – Rm. Pres

25 Friday (1-5pm)

• Prioritizing Africa & the African Diaspora Agenda from Detroit to Dakar (D2D)
  • Priority Africa Network @ Cobo Hall – Rm. W2-69
• Educating African People: K12 through Ph.D. levels
  • University of Kmt @ Cobo Hall – Rm. O2-38
• GM Crops – the poisoned chalice: perspectives & victories from South Africa
  • International Development Exchange (IDEX) @ Cobo Hall – Rm. D3-23
• Power Sharing Deals in Africa: Implications for Democracy – The Case of Zimbabwe & Kenya
  • Africa Action @ WSU S – Rm. 261

Rwanda’s Public Health Care Option

With so much debate and controversy over providing adequate health care, one African country is setting an example for both “developed” and “developing” health care systems.

Doctors Without Borders utilizes World Cup to raise HIV awareness

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) is working hard to bring greater attention to the serious cut in funding for HIV/AIDS. The US, especially, is taking heat for its decision to reduce the amount of funding. More:

• South African activists added their voices to the protest
• FIFA World Cup HIV campaign

UNICEF marks Day of the African Child with Somalia

The often unseen side of conflict is the toll it takes on health care systems. UNICEF has done well to raise more awareness for the greater need for investment in health care systems in the war-torn country of Somalia.

Zambia to be more Transparent with Health Donors

In a promising move, the Zambian President Banda told donors that more effort would be put into putting greater transparency and financial management in the Ministry of Health.

World Bank missed the boat on Tuberculosis

Thirteen years of funding a program tasked with advocacy and controlling tuberculosis has lacked serious evaluation and focus. The Change.org Global Health Blog offers greater analysis in how the World Bank has failed in the fight against Tuberculosis.

These are just some of the key highlights from the end of this past week. Follow on twitter: @scoutbanana to get up to date articles related to Health in Africa.

Working together for Health

At the very base of all human development is health. Before you have anything else in this world – you have your health. With your health you are able to do many things: be a productive citizen, attend school, go to work, and any other number of activities that require at least a basic good health and mobility. If you do not have your health, then all this disappears: You are too sick to go to work, to attend school, provide food for your family, grow and develop your community, among other things. Without your health you cannot fulfill the basics for living and therefore cannot improve your situation or that of your community.

Within the international development field, gross national product (GNP) and the global economy are often referenced. This broad macro view of development has contributed to foreign aid/ development failures for many decades. For far too long a macro, “modern” perspective has driven development practice allowing Western institutions and dollars to “intervene” and “develop” the underdeveloped. Gustavo Esteva does well to point out that in order to be involved in development an individual has to recognize that she or he is “underdeveloped.” This term more often signifies something that is not Western or modern, which is extremely problematic for many different peoples of many different cultures.

The paradigm of international development needs to shift from being focused on macro, modern initiatives and instead focus on individuals’ abilities to control and contribute to the development of their own communities. Once these tools are in place, then there will be effective and sustainable development where all needs are met. At the very core of development is health. We must understand that all development springs from the previously stated definition of health.

Development became a field for Western experts to push the ideas of “modern” society on “underdeveloped” [“uncivilized”] populations. Development was an arena focused on exerting power over others and it was very successful. The field of health care was not immune from the macro, modern failures of development practice. There needs to be a significant commitment to reversing the trends of the past to allow individuals and communities greater agency in their own development.[1] Development writer, Alan Thomas states,

The alternative vision, based on the realization of human potential in diverse ways, allows for the immanent development at the level of individuals and communities, which should become ‘empowered’ to develop themselves to their full capacities. However, there is no clear model for how development of this kind might build on itself to create a self-reproducing process of social change […][2]

This alternative vision requires a shift in the paradigms of development from a focus on Western “big plans” and a greater focus on the abilities of individual and communities to provide their own basic needs.

The people have the right and duty to participate individually and collectively in the planning and implementation of their health care.[3]

Especially in relation to health care, people should be able to determine their own level of participation in attaining better health.

[2] Development and Social Change, Alan Thomas, 36.

[3] Declaration of Alma Ata, IV.

After beginning the warmer months of the year with our Summer Staff Launch Party, we will begin a regular writing and updating schedule. We are joined this summer by 2 great interns and a new Editor in Chief for Articulate.

Here is a sneak peak at some of the things we’ll be writing about:

• Weekly update of interesting and uncommonly known “Africa Facts” linked with the work of the Africa Fact Group
• Updates and insight from African Studies courses at Michigan State University
• Some commentary and analysis of the World Cup in South Africa.
• The Week of Health in Africa: After an intermittent hiatus and with a new title, this weekly update will bring together some of the top news and stories about Health in Africa.

Please be sure to join us in the discussions, follow our writings, and contact us if you are interested in writing/ blogging about topics about Africa or Health in Africa.