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Africa |
GLOBALISATION
They are seven people from sub-Saharan Africa, members of the North-South
XXI association.
Like the other individuals (about 40) from various parts
of the world, they are involved
in a broad world-wide movement for promoting
human rights and the rights of peoples.
The main thrust of this association
is the fight against neo-liberal globalisation.
From Senegal — Mamadou Dia (former prime minister) and his wife Oulimata Bâ Dia; from Burkina Faso —Joseph Ki-Zerbo (historian) and Halidou Ouédraogo; from Mali — Aminata Traoré (a former minister of culture); from Burundi — Laurence Ndadaye (wife of the late president Ndadaye); from Benin — Mohamed Abdou; these are the sub-Saharan members of the «North-South XXI» association (21st century). The constitution of this international NGO states that its aim is to «promote human rights and the rights of peoples, as defined by all international and national charters and declarations, representing a shared inheritance for all of humanity, which must be continually enriched, promoted and implemented on behalf of the whole human community».
This is the basis for the association of high-ranking individuals from all continents, known for their firm and detached commitment to the cause of human and population rights. As well as the Africans mentioned above, members also include the former Algerian head of state Ahmed Ben Bella (who has chaired the association since October 2000); Mustafa Kabbaj from Morocco; the former Egyptian minister Mohamed Fayek (presently Secretary-General of the Arab Organisation for Human Rights); from Libya — El Nouri Houmeidi; from Lebanon — Souha Béchara; from India — Romesh Chandra; from Bolivia — Ayma Evo Morales; etc. From the northern hemisphere, members come from France, Great Britain, Italy, Switzerland, United States, Cyprus, Malta, etc.
All these individuals «work together, as equal partners, respecting their differences, in order to eliminate the scourges which assail us from every side such as: Poverty, unemployment, diseases of all kinds, illiteracy, obscurantism, civil wars, exploitation of children who in the blossoming of their youth, are robbed of their illusions», as Mrs Oulimata Bâ Dia stressed at the last general assembly of the institution, held on 5 May 2001 at its Geneva headquarters. Mrs Dia put forward the objectives which seem to her of prime importance: «To cross the ever-widening gulf separating the populations of the North and South», and, «to defend democracy, everywhere threatened by the rule of money».
«The association’s main aim however, is to “prevent us all, the wealthy in the North and the poor in the South, being dragged down by the values of a world ravaged by moral decline and global market economies”», said the chairman Mamadou Dia. «The perverse effects of these, have ruined the soul and have been a source of violence and disorder. We need to rediscover the meaning of life and things, to bring meaning science and technology. In a word, we need to rehumanise the world, its culture and its civilisation, replace the theology of the market and the constant search for ever greater wealth, with the mysticism of the liberation of humanity and the common good».
Alternative to Davos
This is the perspective of the work of the North-South XXI which since its relaunch last October, after several years slowing down, has become especially active in the fight against «neo-liberal globalisation», according to its members. The report on its activities and its directions, submitted to the general assembly on 5 May, noted in particular: «Thanks to the chairman of the North-South XXI organisation, Ahmed Ben Bella, the idea was born to create an International People’s Assembly as an alternative to the Davos summit, in which the leading capitalists and politicians of the world endeavour every year, to establish their liberal values at the deepest level of our societies». This alternative movement, states the report, reached its peak when the years of study and effort to bring this question of globalisation to the forefront were crowned with success at Porto Alegre, in Brazil.
From the 25-30 January, more than 2000 participants from all over the world met at Porto Alegre, to demonstrate against globalisation based on total liberalism. Mr Ben Bella’s participation allowed him to «strengthen his role as a critic of liberal globalisation as it is led by the United States and the industrialised West», states the report on the work of North-South XXI.
The organisation also took part in the European equivalent of Porto Alegre, called the «Anti-Davos Conference», held in Zurich on 6 January, with a large delegation, including Professor Ki-Zerbo who was the African spokesperson.
Ben Bella will also take part in the work of the preparatory committee for Porto Alegre 2002. Meetings of this committee should be an opportunity for North-South XXI to position itself within the international movement for the fight against globalisation, and work to mobilise greater social forces in Africa, Latin America and the Arab world. In January, it was striking how few took part, particularly from the Arab world.
The organisation also took part in a Mediterranean meeting with the theme — «Against Euro-Mediterranean Partnership Agreements», held in Morocco, 16-17 July 2001; at the «International Assembly Against Globalisation» in Genoa (Italy), 15-25 July; and is scheduled to participate in the seminar on «Water — a Natural Resource and Universal Good» to be held in Jordan from the 31 October to 2 November.
Racism and discrimination
Above all however it will be active in preparing for the «World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Intolerance», scheduled for the 31 August to 2 September 2001 in Durban, South Africa.
Already, North-South XXI had organised a seminar, 26-28 June, on the theme: «The Gorée Initiative: The Slave Trade and Appropriate Compensation». There were lively discussions between experts coming from both the southern and northern hemispheres. The meeting eventually reaffirmed that: «The African slave trade and the transatlantic trade in slaves are clearly crimes against humanity, and consequently, appropriate compensation is called for on both a political and material level». Participants also emphasised that «because the Jewish holocaust has been recognised as a crime against humanity, there is no reason why the African slave trade can’t receive the same recognition». In the same vein, the recognition of apartheid as a crime against humanity must be seen in the context of both the African slave trade and the transatlantic trade in slaves.
Likewise globalisation was condemned as «a modern form of exploitation, slavery, denial of one’s rights». Mamadou Dia put it this way: «Slavery has taken on a modern form under the guise of emigration — there’s a massive flight of the African continent’s best brains and skilled labour — and this in conditions as bad as those which took place in the past».
The Dakar seminar’s final decisions were published in a document entitled: «The Gorée Initiative», and this document will be championed by non-governmental organisation from both the northern and southern hemispheres at Durban. The document specifies that «the African slave trade and colonialisation are the main causes of racism in the world, and these must be widened to include globalisation issues which militate against human rights».
Needs and expectations
A leaflet issued by the UN Information Department states that «globalisation itself carries risks that can lead to exclusion, and deepen inequality, very often based on racial and ethnic criteria». And North-South XXI asks the question: «Isn’t this what happens when the powerful and rich North confronts the weak and poor South, and demands the imposition of its conditions and its economic, financial and cultural policies?». The members state that globalisation, «tends to impose a standardised image of the world represented by the industrialised West; everything that is different does not therefore have the same value».
No doubt, the South does have enormous needs and expects a great deal from the North. But in what form and under what conditions? Mrs Oulimata Bâ Dia summed them up in a few words: «The South has great material, financial and technological needs; it is desperate for disinterested help without sacrificing its dignity; and the South expects a great deal from the North. But what the South needs above all from the North is an example of wisdom, demonstrated by respect for others, by the use of discoveries to save life and not to destroy humanity. The South also needs its enormous debt to be reconverted by the North to fund development projects. This debt poses undue and heavy burdens on the growth of its economy».
And Mrs Bâ Dia issued an invitation to the international community as a whole: «Can we not, through our actions, bring to light the multidimensional nature of human beings, the depth of their commitments, the universality of their projects, the only guarantees for a lasting peace, and a rehumanised world».
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PeaceLink 2001 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement