---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2000 14:25:50 -0700 From: International Bicycle Fund <[log in to unmask]> Reply-To: [log in to unmask] To: wa-afr <[log in to unmask]> Subject: [wa-afr] FW: Constituency For Africa Town Hall Meetings -----Original Message----- From: Will Cusack [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2000 1:25 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Constituency For Africa Town Hall Meetings IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE CONSTITUENCY FOR AFRICA (CFA) Be a part of this historic effort Constituency for Africa Town Hall Meeting U.S. Policy and Africa's Promise: The Global Challenge of HIV/AIDS In conjunction with the Democratic National Convention Tuesday, August 15, 2000 , 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. The Regal Biltmore Hotel, 506 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA Open to the public Engage in frank discussions with national and international policy makers ... Shape U.S. Policy on Africa ... Debate the issues ... Topics: The 13th International HIV/AIDS Conference in Africa - Developing a Global Strategy ... Trade, Investment and Development: A Role for the Private Sector ... Debt Relief: A Tool to Fight the HIV/AIDS Pandemic and Support Human Development ... The Media: Friend or Foe of Africa ... and more. Featuring (partial list): The Honorable James Clyburn, Chair, Congressional Black Caucus The Honorable Ronald V. Dellums, Chair, Constituency for Africa; Chair, President's Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS Ernest Green, Chair, African Development Foundation The Honorable Richard Holbrooke, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations* Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., President, Rainbow PUSH Coalition The Honorable Barbara Lee, Member, House Subcommittee on Africa; Marshall Plan for Africa The Honorable Donald Payne, Ranking Members, House Subcommittee on Africa Dr. David Satcher, U.S. Surgeon General* Ambassador Andrew Young, Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations; President, Goodworks, Inc.* Dr. Ronald Walters, political commentator; syndicated columnist; Professor, University of Maryland (* invited) Receive a "Road Map for Action" ... Attend the "Africa Policy Luncheon"... Experience the African and African American AIDS Quilt ... Celebrate at the "African Gala" (follows Town Hall Meeting; jointly sponsored by CFA and the African Marketplace) "Africa is where we must draw the line in the sand ... The weapons that will stop the death march of HIV/AIDS will propel Africa toward a bright and stable future." Ronald V. Dellums, Chair, CFA For more information and pre-registration, call 310.281.7680 or CFA at 202.371.0588 Supporters (partial list): African Development Foundation... African Diplomatic Corps...Africa Club-World Bank...AFRICARE ...AGOA Coalition...AIDS Free Africa...AME Church Development & Service Agency...Ark Foundation...Barden Corporation International...Blacks in Government...Black Meetings & Tourism Magazine...Bread for the World... Congressman James Clyburn, Chair, Congressional Black Caucus...DC-Dakar/US Africa Sister Cities...Ford Foundation... Global Health Council...Habitat for Humanity...Congresswoman Barbara Lee...NAACP...National Association of Churches...National Black Leadership Forum...National Council of Negro Women...National Organization of Black County Officials...National Summit on Africa...Rainbow PUSH Coalition... Ronald H. Brown Foundation Sponsors (partial list): Bristol Meyer Squibb...Chevron...Coca Cola...Ford Motor Company...Ford Foundation...Health Care International Management Co...WorldSpace, Inc. CFA was founded in 1990 by concerned U.S. citizens, Africanists and Africa-focused organizations committed to the progress and empowerment of Africa and African people. CFA educates the public and U.S. policy makers about Africa and fosters collaboration among a broad-based coalition of American, African and international organization. CFA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation. Ronald V. Dellums, Chair, Melvin P. Foote, President & CEO ***** Background news release: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 12, 2000 Contact: David Saunders, 202.371.0588 or Kay Hixson, 310.410.9891 Coalition Calls for War Against HIV/AIDS Pandemic in Africa Message Delivered to the Democratic Platform Drafting Committee (Washington, D.C., July 12, 2000) The Coalition for U.S. Policy to Conquer HIV/AIDS in Africa called on the Democratic Party to adopt as part of its official party platform an "Africa plank" endorsing an aggressive U.S. policy to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa. The Coalition, an alliance of Africa-focused organizations, is headed by former Congressman Ronald V. Dellums, chair of the Constituency for Africa (CFA), the host organization. Dr. Ron Walters, University of Maryland Professor of Political Science, is the coalition's facilitator. In his statement to the Democratic Platform Drafting Committee (see attached), Mr. Dellums challenged Democrats to "steer the political might and moral authority" of the party toward immediate and significant action. "The world has become a global community," reads the statement. "Political borders will not contain HIV/AIDS. It can not be discounted as someone else's problem." An "Africa Plank" will focus national attention on the need for the U.S. to assert bold leadership, in partnership with the international community, to fight HIV/AIDS and increase funding to fight the pandemic. The proposed plank reads in part, "Because America values democracy, free trade and civil stability, the HIV/AIDS crisis has become a national security issue. The United States should work towards the eradication of HIV/AIDS in Africa." The HIV/AIDS crisis is the most threatening issue Africa faces. More than 6,000 people die daily. In just a few years, it is estimated that Africa will raise 40 million AIDS orphans. "Governmental, educational and economic systems are crumbling as Africa's workforce - both professional and laborers - perish from AIDS," declared Dellums. "Africa is where we must draw the line in the sand if we are to curtail an impending global catastrophe." Statistics report that AIDS is now the leading cause of death in Africa for adults between ages 15 to 49. Most infected Africans do not know they have the disease and life expectancy has been reduced by 20 years. "It's a war we can win. Education, prevention and treatment will stop the pandemic," remarked Mel Foote, president and CEO of CFA. In the face of this tragedy, the Coalition has identified a window of opportunity. The weapons that will halt the death march of HIV/AIDS will catapult the continent toward a bright and stable future, according to the Coalition Facilitator Ron Walters. Access to health care; transparent and accountable governance; improved infrastructure; grassroots involvement; community education; strengthened social services and dependable communications systems will defeat the disease and form the foundation for Africa's future. CFA will continue this focus at its Town Hall Meeting U.S. Policy and Africa's Promise: The Global Challenge of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic being held at the Biltmore Hotel on August 15th in conjunction with the Democratic National Convention. CFA was founded in 1990 by concerned U.S. citizens, Africanists and Africa-focused organizations committed to the progress and empowerment of Africa and African people. CFA educates the public and U.S. policy makers about Africa and fosters collaboration among a broad-based coalition of American, African and international organizations. (end) ***** Testimony to the 2000 Democratic Party Platform Drafting Committee The Honorable Ronald V. Dellums, Chair, Constituency for Africa; Convener, Coalition for U.S. Policy to Conquer HIV/AIDS in Africa; Chair, President's Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS Presented Thursday, July 6, 2000, University of Missouri at St. Louis Ladies and gentlemen, Thank you for this opportunity. I am charged with the monumental task of persuading you, in just 5 minutes, to steer the political might and the moral authority of the Democratic Party toward a challenge unlike any it has faced. Yet I approach you with the confidence that our collective concern for humanity and our natural instinct for survival will drive you to the same conclusion I reached. I hope my argument is compelling, because at the end, I will ask for your unequivocal commitment to the war against the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa. Let me paint the picture. Envision if you will, 7000 families, every single day, laying to rest a loved one who died a painful death from AIDS, a disease that was probably undiagnosed and untreated, an enemy they could not see and probably could not understand. By the time I complete my presentation, another 24 Africans will have lost their fight with AIDS, and of those, at least half are likely to be children. The future is something many African children will never see. And of those who survive, a family is something they may not know. In a few years, there will be 40 million AIDS orphans. Indeed, this picture is sobering. Life expectancy in some African countries has been reduced by 20 years. Ninety-five percent of Africans infected with AIDS live in abject poverty without access to HIV/AIDS information, education, prevention techniques, diagnosis or treatment. Most infected Africans do not even know they have the disease. The African workforce from laborers to professionals is being decimated by AIDS. Governmental, educational and economic systems are crumbling. And the death rate is increasing. I am aware of the often unspoken thought that we need to deal with the HIV/AIDS problem here before we worry about someone thousands of miles away. " To that, I respond "yes ... but." Yes, there is a domestic HIV/AIDS problem. The rate of infection is on the rise once more, especially among African Americans and other minorities. AIDS is now the leading cause of death among African Americans between 25 and 44. Yes, I support the allocation of the necessary resources to confront HIV/AIDS here at home. I applaud and support the Congressional Black Caucus' comprehensive HIV/AIDS initiative. And yes, I encourage all policy makers, government, nonprofits, private industry and the faith- based community to tackle the issue. For any of us to do anything less would be irresponsible. Others will make the case for domestic HIV/AIDS programs and please count me as one of their supporters and advocates. But, my friends, we are not faced with an "either-or" dilemma. It is not a "win-lose" proposition. As the wealthiest, most technologically advanced, most powerful nation in the world, we can and must do both. Today I carry the torch for Africa. HIV/AIDS in Africa can not be discounted as someone else's problem. Waging war against the HIV/AIDS pandemic is a moral imperative. It is the right thing to do; it is in our self-interest; it is a strategic necessity. The fact is HIV/AIDS does not respect borders, race, age, religion, sexual orientation, education or income levels. It is an equal opportunity disease that will seek host after host after host. And, with the increasingly close and intimate interaction of people traveling the globe for business, adventure, recreation, education and cultural experiences, there will soon be no barrier to its spread. We are joined at the hip with the rest of the world. The only question now is how to work together to solve our collective crisis. If we allow the pandemic to tighten its choke-hold on Africa, it will soon strangle us all. If it goes unchecked, the pandemic will reshape the future of the world, including the United States. HIV/AIDS is already spreading at an increasing rate in Asia, Eastern Europe and India. If we do not pursue an all out offensive now, we will lose. Africa is where we must draw a line in the sand. Our Coalition of 30+ organizations does not stand alone in its call for a strong U.S. policy to conquer the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa. A red flag is being waved by a wide array of U.S. policy makers. President Clinton and Vice President Gore endorse such a policy. Donna Shalala, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, calls it a threat to national security. Richard Holbrooke, the U.S. Representative to the United Nations, agreed and offered a chilling assessment when he said '... of all the problems we face in the world today, I really think (AIDS) is the most important. It will wreck the economics of Africa and you can't erect a wall around Africa and commit continental triage, it won't work.' In spite of the picture I've painted, the situation is not hopeless, by any means. In the face of this tragedy, we have a window of opportunity. The weapons that will halt the death march of HIV/AIDS will catapult the continent toward a bright and stable future. Access to health care; transparent and accountable governance; improved infrastructure; grassroots involvement; community education; strengthened social services and dependable communications systems will defeat the disease and form the foundation for Africa's future. Ironically, this statement also applies to the domestic situation. Defeating the pandemic in Africa will stabilize a continent of proud people, the birth place of human kind, a reservoir of rich culture and history. We can help Africa reach its promise if we have the will and assert the leadership. The pandemic is in the relatively early stages. If we stand with our international partners to face down HIV/AIDS in Africa, we will see a world victory. If we help transform Africa into a model of prosperity as we did Europe and Japan after World War II, we will be able to stand proud among the nations of the world. If we vest the same energy, determination, resources and commitment that we have shown Kosovo, the former Soviet Union, and Eastern Europe, we will be able to claim success. To the Democratic Party, my party, I ask that we dig deep, let our moral compass point the way and use our self-interest for motivation. Join us on the front line of the global war against HIV/AIDS in Africa. On behalf of the Coalition for U.S. Policy to Conquer HIV/AIDS in Africa, I proudly submit the "Africa Plank" for inclusion in the 2000 Democratic National Platform. I implore you to assert your visionary leadership and make history by adopting the "Africa Plank." We must put the Democratic Party squarely and aggressively on the side of confronting the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa. To do less is to abdicate our responsibility to the children of the world. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for this opportunity. *** ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------