KEEP PAMBAZUKA FREE AND INDEPENDENT! Pambazuka News 794: Big man fantasies: BRICS, EPAs and Bushmen ------------------------------
13 October 2016 CONTENTS: 1. Features <http://www.pambazuka.net/en/issue.php/current/#cat_1> , 2. <http://www.pambazuka.net/en/issue.php/current/#cat_3>Advocacy & Campaigns, <http://www.pambazuka.net/en/issue.php/current/#cat_3> 3. <http://www.pambazuka.net/en/issue.php/current/#cat_3>Announcement <http://www.pambazuka.net/en/issue.php/current/#cat_3> ------------------------------ *Features* ------------------------------ BRICS fantasies and unintended revelations <http://www.pambazuka.org/global-south/brics-fantasies-and-unintended-revelations>Patrick Bond <http://www.pambazuka.org/taxonomy/term/3429>As the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa meet this weekend for a summit in India, one consistency is observable from all the BRICS elites: A stream of anti-imperialist chatter even when the intent is to assimilate into imperialism. The BRICS’ real agenda is sub-imperialism: five countries’ feet joining those of the US and EU, firmly astride the throats of the world’s poorest people. Why East Africa should reject EPA deal with Europe <http://www.pambazuka.org/global-south/why-east-africa-should-reject-epa-deal-europe>Horace G. Campbell <http://www.pambazuka.org/author/horace-g-campbell>Europe is in crisis, and yet countries in East Africa are ready to sign on a poorly understood trade agreement with the EU whose overall impact will be disastrous for years to come. EPA will favour trade in the direction of Europe and stunt African progress. Tanzania has hesitated and called for public debate. Tanzania should provide the bold leadership required in the region to reject the EPA. DR Congo: On the current debate over a looming crisis of legitimacy <http://www.pambazuka.org/democracy-governance/dr-congo-current-debate-over-looming-crisis-legitimacy>David-Ngendo Tshimba <http://www.pambazuka.org/taxonomy/term/9514>Uncertainty hangs over the date of presidential and legislative elections, yet President Joseph Kabila’s term expires on 19 December 2016 and he is not eligible for re-election. The opposition rejects the possibility of Kabila continuing in office as elections are organized. But there is an alternative. The Congolese can forget about elections and instead imagine a different way of organizing their society away from liberal democracy. Ouattara’s parody of constitutional change <http://www.pambazuka.org/democracy-governance/ouattara%E2%80%99s-parody-constitutional-change>Gary K. Busch <http://www.pambazuka.org/taxonomy/term/6989>Ouattara is trying to achieve in the constitution what he and his rebel allies refused when the change was proposed way back in 2004. There is no sincerity in the current push for constitutional reform. What Ouattara wants is to consolidate state power and make it difficult for anyone else wishing to be president. Ghana Election 2016: Religiosity, austerity, zero-sum politics and democracy triumphalism (Pt.2) <http://www.pambazuka.org/democracy-governance/ghana-election-2016-religiosity-austerity-zero-sum-politics-and-democracy-0>Francisco Kofi Nyaxo Olympio <http://www.pambazuka.org/author/francisco-kofi-nyaxo-olympio>In the second and final part of this essay, the author argues that one cannot deny that democratic constitutionalism has had profound impacts in Ghana – civil society activism is flourishing and inculcation of democratic habits has become a normalcy. But the state of transacting political business among the dominant players has grave consequences for trust, solidarity and social cohesion. Racist of the year, Ian Khama: Not Botswana’s finest <http://www.pambazuka.org/gender-minorities/racist-year-ian-khama-not-botswana%E2%80%99s-finest>Lewis Evans <http://www.pambazuka.org/author/lewis-evans>President Khama says that Bushmen live lives “of backwardness,” “a primitive life of deprivation” and “a primeval life of a bygone era.” According to the head of state, they are innately inferior and it was his government’s duty to “modernize” them, if necessary by force. This has meant opening up Bushmen land to diamond mines and luxury tourist lodges. Guterres' choice as next UN chief is profoundly historic <http://www.pambazuka.org/governance/guterres-choice-next-un-chief-profoundly-historic>Ramesh Jaura <http://www.pambazuka.org/author/ramesh-jaura>Guterres has not only gathered valuable experience as head of the UN Refugee Agency for ten years until December 2015, and as prime minister of his country in critical times, but also as president of the Socialist International. Maps for Africa: Why they matter <http://www.pambazuka.org/land-environment/maps-africa-why-they-matter>John O. Kakonge <http://www.pambazuka.org/taxonomy/term/9676>Given the value of mapping, African governments need to raise funds from different sources, including from their development partners, the private sector, international foundations and other users to support not only the training of qualified cartographers and surveyors but also to procure new equipment and software to assist in the design of quality maps. Political will is vital to curb terrorism financing, money laundering and recovery of Africa’s looted assets <http://www.pambazuka.org/democracy-governance/political-will-vital-curb-terrorism-financing-money-laundering-and-recovery>Hawa Noor M. <http://www.pambazuka.org/taxonomy/term/9718>Africa has lost $1 trillion over the past five decades through illicit financial flows. International mechanisms for getting this looted wealth back exist. While some African countries have often claimed that the existence of tax havens hinders assets recovery efforts, lack of political will has been cited as the key problem. The Birth of a Nation: Revisiting the Nat Turner rebellion of 1831 <http://www.pambazuka.org/pan-africanism/birth-nation-revisiting-nat-turner-rebellion-1831>*Film released during an escalation in racial strife in the United States*Abayomi Azikiwe <http://www.pambazuka.org/taxonomy/term/5740>This film by Nate Parker makes an important contribution to rewriting the actual history of the African people in the U.S. and consequently world studies. Without an accurate understanding of the development of America as the leading imperialist nation in the world it is impossible to design a program for transforming the present conditions of colonialism, neo-colonialism and imperialism. ------------------------------ *Advocacy and Campaigns* ------------------------------ Pardoning Marcus Garvey: Sign Petition <http://www.pambazuka.org/advocacy-campaigns/pardoning-marcus-garvey-sign-petition> M.C <http://www.pambazuka.org/author/mc>Marcus Garvey should be posthumously pardoned for his wrongful conviction for use of the mails in furtherance of a scheme to defraud. During a time when Blacks were seen as second class citizens, Garvey led a mass movement to elevate the Black community through economic empowerment and independence. He was convicted after being targeted by J. Edgar Hoover and deprived of a fair trial. Go to: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov//petition/grant-marcus-mosiah-garvey-po... <https://petitions.whitehouse.gov//petition/grant-marcus-mosiah-garvey-posthumous-presidential-pardon-his-wrongful-1923-conviction> ------------------------------ *Announcement* ------------------------------ Pambazuka Special Issue: Call for Articles <http://www.pambazuka.org/announcements/pambazuka-special-issue-call-articles> *The **Labour Movement in Africa - Prospects and Challenges*The Editors <http://www.pambazuka.org/author/editors> Pambazuka News is preparing a Special Issue on the labour movement and the struggles for Africa's liberation today. The Editors invite articles that examine the movement’s mission beyond agitation for worker rights towards the bigger project of concrete self-determination of the African people. ------------------------------ DONATE AND SUPPORT PAMBAZUKA! <http://www.pambazuka.org/keep-pambazuka-free-and-independent-join-friends-fahamu-today> *Kindly forward this email to family and friends to help spread the message.Thank you for your support.* ------------------------------ Henry Makori and Tidiane Kasse - Editors, Pambazuka News Yves Niyiragira - Executive Director, Fahamu ------------------------------ *Websites: Fahamu.org <http://www.fahamu.org/>, Pambazuka.org <http://www.pambazuka.org/>* Pambazuka News is a publication of FAHAMU SHARE THIS EMAIL <http://us7.forward-to-friend1.com/forward?u=6d0f0a9936a1d73819a5250c9&id=b646521200&e=[UNIQID]> FOLLOW *on* TWITTER <http://twitter.com/FahamuAfrica> JOIN *on* FACEBOOK <https://www.facebook.com/FahamuAfrica>
