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Religion is not the same thing as God. When the British imperialists came here in 1895, All the missionaries of all the churches Held the Bible in the left hand, And the gun in the right hand. The white man wanted us To be drunk with religion While he, In the meantime, Was mapping and grabbing our land And starting factories and businesses On our sweat. [Ngugi: 1982: 56-7]
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"If you ever intend to have children, and want them to live prosperous lives, you damn well better make sure that we control the African continent."- Excerpt from The Secret History of the American Empire: The Truth About Economic Hit Men, Jackals, and How to Change the World by John Perkins
When I read the article entitled "Barack Obama tells Africa to stop blaming colonialism for problems" I was disappointed, but not surprised. It's not because I'm not a believer in personal responsibility, after all I was raise up COGIC where I would often hear "Greater is He who is in me, than he who is in the world" and "If God be for you, than who can be against you." These sorts of scriptures that were planted in me early on are the reasons why I am very optimistic about the future of African ancestral people. That's who we are, inspite of the injustices that have been levied against our community we march on.
But it is important that we acknowledge the history of West and their present policies in Africa. There is a new scramble for Africa's resources with China leading the way. President Bush established AFRICOM, the U.S. military command for Africa, to secure Americas' interest in the region and Obama looks as if he will continue President Bush's policies. President Obama must not go to Africa with the same arrogance of the West, but he must listen and support the people's right to self-determination. Self-determination is defined as "free choice of one's own acts without external compulsion; and especially as the freedom of the people of a given territory to determine their own political status or independence from their current state. In other words, it is the right of the people of a certain nation to decide how they want to be governed without the influence of any other country."
President Obama will address the people of Ghana on Saturday morning. As the president of "CHANGE" he will have to opportunity to promote policies that will uplift the African continent, cancelling odious debt, promoting trade, and above all the right to self- determination. I will be listening in the morning Mr. Obama, make us proud.
In love and service,
Jamye Wooten
Kinetics
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Straight Talk: Revealing the Real U.S.-Africa Policy
 Gerald LeMelle | July 6, 2009
Editor: Jen Doak
www.fpif.org
Editor's Note: A press booklet, created by a coalition of organizations, on recommendations for U.S.-Africa policy can be found here.
It's time for some straight talk on U.S. foreign policy as it relates to Africa. While Obama administration officials and the U.S. African Command (AFRICOM) representatives insist that U.S. foreign policy towards Africa isn't being militarized, the evidence seems to suggest otherwise. While Africans condemned U.S. military policy in Africa under the Bush administration, the Obama administration has not only mirrored Bush's approach, but has in fact enhanced it. President George W. Bush established Africa as a foreign policy priority in 2003, when he announced that 25% of oil imported to the United States should come from Africa. Like the Cold War, the Global War on Terror establishes a rationale for bolstering U.S. military presence and support in Africa. Yet official pronouncement of U.S. policy is routinely presented as if neither of these two developments occurred. Unfortunately, the more evasive we are about our intentions on the continent, the more we invite not only skepticism, but even resistance.
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USA/Africa: Obama in Ghana, What Kind of Change?
AfricaFocus Bulletin Jul 10, 2009 (090710) (Reposted from sources cited below) Editor's Note President Barack Obama's trip to Ghana, beginning today, will be rich in symbolism. But those hoping for a new direction in U.S. Africa policy are tempering their hopes with skepticism. The issue posed, parallel to that in other policy spheres, is to what extent change will remain symbolic or reflect substantive shifts, even if small, away from U.S. policies based on unilateral geostrategic goals or unexamined economic policy assumptions.
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Africa Action Challenges Obama to Think Beyond Oil, Address the Continent's Most Urgent Challenges
Monday, July 6th, 2009 (Washington, DC) - Today President Obama embarks on a tour that will include attending a meeting with leaders from the eight most powerful nations (G8) in Italy, followed by his first trip to the African continent as U.S. President.
The U.S. Government states the purpose of the visit to Ghana is "strengthening the U.S. relationship with one of our most trusted partners in sub-Saharan Africa..." According to the U.S.'s National Intelligence Council, by 2015 25% of American oil imports will come from West Africa, compared to 16% today. Today it is estimated that Ghana could have more than 600 million barrels of oil.
Gerald LeMelle, Executive Director of Africa said today, "Predictably, the discovery of oil off the coast of Ghana has piqued the interest of the U.S. This is no coincidence President Obama chose to visit Ghana." He adds, "In the long-term, it would be better for President Obama to consider people and their environment over a U.S. policy driven exclusively by short-term U.S. energy and security interests."
During a time in which each Ghanaian owes approximately $350 to international financial institutions based in Washington, DC, the case for debt cancellation has never been stronger. According to the IMF, Ghana's budget deficit rose to more than 14% of GDP in 2008.
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The Scramble for Africa: Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 to Divide Africa
Meeting at the Berlin residence of Chancellor Otto von Bismarck in 1884, the foreign ministers of fourteen European powers and the United States established ground rules for the future exploitation of the "dark continent." Africans were not invited or made privy to their decisions.
Photo from the book The Horizon: History of Africa, American Heritage Publishing Co., New York, 1971, page 452.
1884-1885 - Berlin West African Conference carves Africa into spheres of control
The Berlin Conference was Africa's undoing in more ways than one. The colonial powers superimposed their domains on the African Continent. By the time Africa regained its independence after the late 1950s, the realm had acquired a legacy of political fragmentation that could neither be eliminated nor made to operate satisfactorily. The African politico-geographical map is thus a permanent liability that resulted from the three months of ignorant, greedy acquisitiveness during a period when Europe's search for minerals and markets had become insatiable.
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Barack Obama tells Africa to stop blaming colonialism for problems
President Barack Obama has told African leaders it is time to stop blaming colonialism and "Western oppression" for the continent's manifold problems.
By Alex Spillius in Washington
Ahead of a visit to Ghana at the weekend, he said: "Ultimately, I'm a big believer that Africans are responsible for Africa.
"I think part of what's hampered advancement in Africa is that for many years we've made excuses about corruption or poor governance, that this was somehow the consequence of neo-colonialism, or the West has been oppressive, or racism - I'm not a big - I'm not a believer in excuses.
Mr Obama, the son of a Kenyan, added: "I'd say I'm probably as knowledgeable about African history as anybody who's occupied my office. And I can give you chapter and verse on why the colonial maps that were drawn helped to spur on conflict, and the terms of trade that were uneven emerging out of colonialism.
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Cultivating Poverty
The Impact of US Cotton Subsidies on Africa
American cotton subsidies are destroying livelihoods in Africa and other developing regions. By encouraging over-production and export dumping, these subsidies are driving down world prices - now at their lowest levels since the Great Depression. While America's cotton barons get rich on government transfers, African farmers suffer the consequences.
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The dumping-ground: Africa and GM food aid
Patrick Mulvany, 04 -2004
Unequal power relationships in the world economic system mean that hungry Africans often have no choice but to eat genetically-modified food. Patrick Mulvany argues that food aid policies can be driven by the commercial policies interests of rich nations rather than the interests of the most vulnerable people.
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About Us
... You will raise up the age-old foundations; And you will be called the repairer of the breach, The restorer of the streets in which to dwell. (Isaiah. 58:12)
Kinetics mission is to disseminate information and develop new ideas that work to strengthen social movements within the African-American community; providing them with the tools and skills to pursue justice and better address the needs of those whom they serve.
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Kinetics Faith & Justice Network mission is to provide the faith community with the tools to advocate and mobilize on local, national, and international issues, to build capacity to solve our own problems, and to use dialogue as a catalyst for social change. Members include clergy, scholars, lawyers, social justice advocates, and nonprofit and business professionals.
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