ugnet_: An Appeal to the Pan African Association

[RWalker949]

In a recent article, Gamal Nkrumah praised the unity of the South at the recent Cancun WTO summit. He observed that:

"One lesson stands out: unity and solidarity among the poor in international fora is key to their success at the negotiating table. Acquiescence to the demands of the wealthy nations must no longer be taken for granted. The will of the rich and powerful cannot be imposed indefinitely on the poor and powerless."
...
"There is a realisation that solidarity among the poor and powerless counts, that unity works. To maintain momentum, that fusion of interests which is indispensable to lending a voice to the developing world at international fora must be upheld at all costs."  Dr. Gamal Nkrumah, "Cantankerous in Cancun", Al Ahram Weekly,  http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/print/2003/656/in1.htm

Such declarations are very much in line with his father's (Kwame Nkrumah) long time commitment to the ideas of tricontinental unity (that is unity of Africa, Asia, South America/Carribean) and the non-alignment movement.  Although there is no longer a bipolar struggle similar to the Cold War period, tricontinentalism and nonalignment is as vital to our progress as it was during that era.

Even Pres. Wade of Senegal, a leading force behind the Nepad idea and entity, is losing faith in the good will of the North, to wit:

"Senegalese President Abdulaye Wade said yesterday he had abandoned hope in the World Trade Organization and called instead for direct talks between blocs of countries aimed at boosting global commerce. "I want to say today that I frankly do not believe in the WTO," Wade told a session of the European Parliament here. He told MPs the Geneva-based WTO had become too broad in scope to be able to find points of common interest among its members. "That is why I would advocate a direct dialogue between continents and sub-continents ... such as the European Union and the ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific nations) or between the European Union and Africa." Wade — as have many other leaders from developing countries — criticized subsidies accorded rich countries to certain sectors such as agriculture that are widely seen as distorting trade and harming the interests of farmers in poor nations."We are for free trade but fair trade," he told representatives from the 15-member EU. "We are for free trade ... but on condition that everyone plays by the rules. Unfortunately developed countries, including yours, do not respect these rules." Wade was especially harsh in his criticism of US and EU agricultural subsidies, which he said amounted to a billion dollars a day. He added that he was not among those calling for the immediate abolition of such aid but appealed for "financial compensation" until they are eliminated. A WTO ministerial conference in Cancun, Mexico ended in failure last month, largely reflecting exasperation on the part of developing countries at their inability to secure pledges from rich countries to cut agricultural export subsidies.     
"Sengalese leader abandons faith in WTO" http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/world/w222102003.html

Clearly the issue of trade (especially agriculture where the double standard on the question of subsidies has angered broad segments of African society), and related economic aspects of the present global structures is a key factor for all of humanity.  Thus, Pres. Wade's disappointment with the WTO process does not come as too much of a surprise.

This new mood on the part of Africa, and the rest of the South bodes well for all of us, no matter where we live.

Those of us who reside in the North, particularly in the US, must realize that the state of existence and quality of life of the majority of the world are the primary determinants in the balance between war and peace.  It is totally unreasonable to expect impoverished, starving peoples to suffer peacefully, it is inevitable that these victims will identify the source of their suffering and take whatever actions they feel are adequate, and within their means and capabilities. It is equally true that economic marginalization of the majority of the world, negatively impacts on the economic future and potential of citizens in the North, as the situation amounts to the internationalization of the concept of the "reserve industrial army" as a leverage against labor in the North.  Thus it is in all of our interest that the majority, the many peoples of the South, are liberated from the tyranny of the elite who control the North.

In this organizations, such as the Pan African Association (PAA), of which Dr. Gamal Nkrumah is the leading executive, are in a position to play a leading role.  It the hope of many that the general good work of the PAA will be intensified so that it can act as a role model for other formations and be in the vanguard of a movement to realize the agency goals of such statespersons and luminaries as Dr. Kwame Nkrumah who worked tirelessly to create the organizational forms necessary for the liberation of the South.  Here I refer not only to the Non Aligned Movement, but most precisely to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's express call for an organization of solidarity of the Peoples of Africa, Asia and South America, and for organized efforts to educate the populations of the North countries on these vital issues.

I look forward to the day that organizations such as the PAA will be able to join with other groupings and realize the agenda of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and his colleagues.