Essa,
I hate to butt in at this stage but Ms. Ylva Hernlund
has been providing me, and I am sure many others, very
valuable links to facilitate our work. In my case, she
has provided me with information and contacts which
have greatly enhanced my work. Those of us in the type
of business I am in cannot afford to ignore the
actions of the US. Let me give you an example, on the
9th March this year,the International Financial
Institutions Commission established by Congress to
review and, indeed re-focus (and some might even argue
"re-define") the roles of the World Bank and IMF and,
in the process re-define the role of the African
Development Bank and ALL other Regional Development
Banks, submitted its report to Congress. On its own,
this congressional action is purely an American affair
but its implications go well beyond her shores; as
many of Congress' recent action with Helms at the
helm. We may not like it but the US is running the
show, for now at least, so we might as well get use to
the idea while ensuring that Africa's interests are
protected and preserved. For those who are interested
in getting more information on the Meltzer
Commission's Report can visit its web site
http://phantom-x.gsia.cmu/IFIAC The Commission's
Report was the subject of BBC hour-long phone-in
programme last sunday. For your information, the
majority of the callers and e-mailers were Africans
concerned about the far-reaching implications of the
Report's recommendations on Africa.Mr. Wolfensien was
the guest.
The United States business is our business, it is the
world's business. Personally,I wish to express my
sincere thanks for the services being rendered by Ms.
Hernlund. Please keep it up. For Essa, I am only
expressing my genuine desire for everyone to recognise
the importance of not letting the US have it's way on
just about everything, particularly those that
directly affect us while we sit back and watch
helplessly. I hope that you will join in this
endeavour. Thank you
Sidi Sanneh
--- tester testers <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Excuse me:
>
> Answer this question. "If the United States of
> America has little regard towards its citizens of
> color (especially black folks), what makes you think
> they would take the African continent with any
> seriousness, except if it benefits them." I can
> cite
> many examples even in recent years of diminishing
> U.S.
> interest in African states. Even though there are 2
> or 3 congressmen (or even the President who may
> raise
> a brow), the system is such that decisions are made
> by
> the majority in the house. East Africa has been
> plagued with massive disasters and little was done
> to
> remedy their plight.
>
> To cut a long discussion short, why with all the
> turmoil in Africa, the U.S. as well as its allies
> are
> turning away from Africa with each passing day.
> Africa has internal problems that are deeply rooted
> in
> its culture for the most part. It is for us as
> africans to rid ourselves of such ills before trying
> to build western relations. All we've ever got from
> the western world has been mostly detrimental. Seek
> help from your neighbor, not your enemy.
>
> May I be excused.
>
> Essa
>
>
>
>
>
> --- Ylva Hernlund <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > Essa,
> > Perhaps you have not been following earlier
> e-mails
> > regarding the Summit
> > which explains its history and purpose. It IS
> about
> > how the United States
> > should conduct its dealings with Africa. A
> > constituency of
> > African-Americans, Africans in America and friends
> > of Africa who care
> > about the way the United States deals with Africa
> > have worked on this
> > document in order to improve both US policy
> towards
> > Africa and the general
> > level of awareness about Africa in the US (which
> in
> > turn will obviously
> > greatly affect US support for things like debt
> > relief). It is NOT a
> > document that seeks to tell Africa how to run
> > itself. I believe there are
> > other Summits going on, for example in Italy,
> which
> > will address how other
> > powers positions themselves towards Africa.
> > I would strongly urge you to visit the Summit Web
> > Page for more
> > information; in particular the Historical
> Background
> > paper on US Africa
> > policy is very informative and may still some of
> > your concerns. Best,
> > Ylva Hernlund
> >
> > On Wed, 22 Mar 2000, tester testers wrote:
> >
> > > It's amusing that that all 10 recommendations
> need
> > the
> > > U.S. help/aid/support. It looks like "U.S.
> summit
> > in
> > > Africa". Why do we ahve to ask the U.S. to take
> > the
> > > lead. The fact is every country on this earth
> > exists
> > > for the well being and interest of its citizens.
> > I
> > > believe the U.S. will effect full participation
> if
> > > they see great forthcomings in the short run.
> > >
> > > Essa
> > >
> > > --- Ylva Hernlund <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > > > NATIONAL SUMMIT ON AFRICA: TOP TEN PRIORITY
> > > > RECOMMENDATIONS
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > During the National Summit, delegates
> > deliberated
> > > > and adopted the following
> > > > 10 priority recommendations (two for each of
> the
> > > > National Summit on
> > > > Africa's five themes) for immediate action,
> and
> > to
> > > > serve as the anchors to
> > > > the National Policy Plan of Action for
> > U.S.-Africa
> > > > Relations in the 21st
> > > > Century.
> > > >
> > > > Economic Development, Trade and Investment,
> and
> > Job
> > > > Creation:
> > > >
> > > > 1. The U.S.
> should
> > take
> > > > the lead in providing
> > > > prompt and meaningful debt relief for Africa
> by
> > > > forgiving all Africa public
> > > > sector debt owed to the U.S. The U.S. should
> > also
> > > > support and encourage the
> > > > favorable renegotiation, restructuring or
> > > > cancellation of African debt held
> > > > by private and multilateral creditors, as well
> > as
> > > > that held by other
> > > > creditor nations.
> > > >
> > > > 2. It is
> absolutely
> > > > necessary for the U.S. to
> > > > stimulate direct trade and investment between
> > Africa
> > > > and the U.S. because
> > > > without it democracy will fail and the human
> > needs
> > > > of the people cannot be
> > > > met. This should be done with particular
> > emphasis on
> > > > small- and medium-sized
> > > > businesses between Africans and
> > African-Americans.
> > > > There must be support for
> > > > the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act in order
> > to
> > > > foster trade and
> > > > investment in Africa and enable African
> > countries to
> > > > develop mutually
> > > > beneficial partnerships with the U.S. so as to
> > > > accomplish these goals.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Sustainable Development, Quality of Life, and
> > the
> > > > Environment
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > 3. In the
> interest
> > of
> > > > sustainable development
> > > > and the goals of self-sufficiency and economic
> > > > independence in Africa, the
> > > > U.S. should support and strengthen access to
> > potable
> > > > water and waste
> > > > management; the prevention, control, and
> > eradication
> > > > of infections and
> > > > diseases through the use of non-traditional,
> > > > traditional, and herbal
> > > > medicines. Prevention of all major diseases
> in
> > > > Africa should be supported
> > > > in partnership with African governments, civil
> > > > society and non-governmental
> > > > organizations, the private corporate sector
> and
> > > > other multi-lateral and
> > > > bi-lateral donor agencies. Moreover, the U.S.
> > must
> > > > champion debt
> > > > cancellation so African governments can
> redirect
> > > > those resources toward
> > > > these efforts. The U.S. should work
> > collaboratively
> > > > with organizations in
> > > > Africa to support efforts to provide
> disability,
>
=== message truncated ===
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