Introduction: Why and What
is D2D?
The U.S. Social Forum was held in Detroit, in late June with the participation of over 15,000 activists from throughout the U.S and internationally. Through the Detroit to Dakar – D2D – initiative, Priority Africa Network, in collaboration with partners in the U.S. and Africa, coordinated a highly successful Africa and African diaspora focused presence and set of activities. D2D is about Africa and the African diaspora with the goal to re-frame the struggle in the context of globalization. The African continent is perpetually referred as a place of conflict, famine, poverty and corruption. Such an image of an entire continent and people removes the complexity of its vast civilizations and culture into a simplistic one dimensional and incomplete story. Sub Saharan Africa is particularly challenged with high levels poverty, forced migration and conflicts; but it is not where the story begins nor ends. We believe it is important to re-frame the African story by understanding that it is first of all a continent and not a country; secondly that Africa’s development is relatively nascent compared to the period under colonial rule. While many African nations are celebrating their political independence this year, they cannot claim economic sovereignty. Unprecedented number of foreign corporations are exploiting Africa’s natural resources with few benefiting the people. Today, we have initiatives like the Africa Command – AFRICOM proposing military solutions for development and “security”. We have the corporate allies offering AGRA – Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa – depriving African lands and seed ownership as “solution to famine”. Today we have the European proposed Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) which advances the same failed economic policies of the World Bank of preferential trade agreements to push “free trade” in Africa. The struggle for “another Africa is possible” under the Social Forum process is to ensure that an alternative economic agenda is one that prioritizes and benefits the majority of the African population. It is one that is deeply rooted in democratic principle and ensures the majority of Africa’s farmers, women, migrants and youth are heard. We take this vision to the World Social Forum in Dakar; building up on the concluding statement issued by D2D participants in Detroit. The resolution reads: We call upon others to join in fighting these struggles and realizing these aspirations by building a popular global movement through:
The collective sentiments of D2D were profoundly expressed in the PMA statement issued at the conclusion of the Detroit Social Forum in late June. See entire document Africa is a specific geographic location on the globe but the diaspora has historically been dispersed over the past 500 years throughout all corners of the world. It is important to connect the dots of Africa and the diaspora as we compare and analyze similarities, share experiences and consider the multiple challenges and solutions. “Global Apartheid’ is apparent in the similarities of underdevelopment patterns that emerge between African countries, select African American communities in the U.S., Haiti and the Caribbean. Today, the struggle may seem different, but it is a struggle just the same. Instead of individual nation states being the targets of change, we have policies that are being led by governments and institutions and sometimes duly supported by us through our silence and compliance. D2D organizers believe that Africa’s future and solutions to the continents political and economic problems lie primarily with African people working in solidarity with partners throughout the world. The commitment to a movement building agenda take us to join global partners at the World Social Forum in Dakar Senegal. D2D at World Social Forum in Dakar, Senegal |