Epistemology of Pan Africanism - how we categorize the body of knowledge around the philosophy in order to use it in a practical Nation Building process.
A. Ideology
Philosophical Basis must be founded in African value traditions, which can be rationally adapted to current needs and aspirations of African people.
1. 7 principles of Kwanzaa - secular
2. Civil Rights, Black Power, Sovereignty
3. On the Continent, Political Revolution for Independence, must be followed by Cultural Revolution to win the hearts and minds of the people in pursuance of their real interests as a free, proud and productive people.
4. Diop in Black Africa - Unifying Ideology - Maat (Truth, Justice, Harmony, Balance, Order, Propriety, Reciprocity) as a
basis for such as an over-arching Value System which has already begun to serve as a foundation while still allowing belief and practice of local or provincial belief systems.
5. Garvey contention - While we are a global African People, Africa is our political, cultural and historical base, and that therefore, we must break out of the provincial mindsets imposed by European domination, and begin to view our community, as a diverse, International one, and act accordingly.
6. Once we break down territorial boundaries of our identity, and view all of us as a Global African Community, we begin to structure ourselves as such in order to pursue our collective interests.
7. Each of us must become Social Engineers in Constructing not only a New Africa, but a New African Man and Woman to inhabit it. As we work towards building new and innovative political, economic and social structures which form civil society, we must also give equal measure to the cultural, artistic, familial, scientific, environmental and relational dimensions of society also. We are the change agents we have been waiting for, and that our Ancestors hoped for and spoke of in their sacrifice for a better future. In this work, we honor their memory, work and accomplishments.
B. Structure and Organization
Based on the philosophical mandates outlined above, there are several structural and organizational realities which must be considered.
1. The African Union with its Parliament, is the only body with the capacity and vision to organize the collective resources of the Global African Community to serve the needs of all African descendants. Those who choose to work outside of this framework still must have a Plan, Agenda, organizational capacity, finance and resources. Our contention is that the AU can be structured to facilitate all of these.
2. If we accept this premise, then there are certain elements and factors of Nation Building which must be considered and arranged into a structural formation which allows for goals and objectives to be achieved. There are a number of organizational formations which are suited to coordinate and/or collaborate together to help realize our Pan African aspirations; UNIA, SDRC, FAU, ASI, PADU and others, each of which have their value, meaning and relevance to the Pan African Movement.
3 The Parliament of the African Union serves as its policy making, planning, program development and implementation arm. In the Diaspora, we have no such body, yet, but must consider such organizational formations which contribute to the building of civil society. We, in CAP propose the following:
A. Family Units and Constructions - which are consistent with our values, vision, needs and aspirations as a people. The family is the smallest example of how the nation works and must reflect the needs of the people.
B. Block Clubs, Town Halls and Regional Conferences - allows for organization at local levels, encouraging participation and engagement in the Nation Building process at the most local of levels.
C. National Assembly - This body would bring together representatives from each locality and sector of society to present and address issues within the context and confines of as collective body. Proposals should come from the body and be taken to the next body, the National Congress to be given to priority and means of implementation.
D. National Congress - This body would be charged with policy formulation based on value orientation, vision and needs, give them priority, and prepare for implementation of programs and projects.
E. Diaspora Commonwealth - Each country and/or Peoples Congresses would feed into such a body which would serve as a governing, policy making, program development, short and long term planning, and project designer for all African descendants in the Diaspora. Each Diaspora country with an African population would have the option and responsibility to form its own Congress which would be its representative body in the Commonwealth structure.
A. Family Units and Constructions - which are consistent with our values, vision, needs and aspirations as a people. The family is the smallest example of how the nation works and must reflect the needs of the people.
B. Block Clubs, Town Halls and Regional Conferences - allows for organization at local levels, encouraging participation and engagement in the Nation Building process at the most local of levels.
C. National Assembly - This body would bring together representatives from each locality and sector of society to present and address issues within the context and confines of as collective body. Proposals should come from the body and be taken to the next body, the National Congress to be given to priority and means of implementation.
D. National Congress - This body would be charged with policy formulation based on value orientation, vision and needs, give them priority, and prepare for implementation of programs and projects.
E. Diaspora Commonwealth - Each country and/or Peoples Congresses would feed into such a body which would serve as a governing, policy making, program development, short and long term planning, and project designer for all African descendants in the Diaspora. Each Diaspora country with an African population would have the option and responsibility to form its own Congress which would be its representative body in the Commonwealth structure.
4. The component parts of the Commonwealth would include, Council of Elders (COE), Queen Mothers, Secretariat, and Ministries for Economic Development, Planning, Energy, Mining, Trade and Commerce, Security and Intelligence, Defense, Youth, Women, Men, Cultural Tourism and Travelogue, Education, Agriculture, Communications, Health, Science, Housing, Environment and Conservation, Collective Concern, Cultural Enrichment and Preservation and a Pan African Unity Council. These key areas would work in concert with each other, under the direction of a King and Queen who would be accountable to the COE, in a checks and balance symbiosis. Congresses for each country would reflect this structure for implementation of programs and local and regional policy formation, and would also reflect local and regional civic and interest groups.
5. Structure would also include a system of checks and balances to insure power does not become concentrated, and that corruption is immediately investigated and purged.
6. Global African Chamber of Commerce - where Black businesses can join and take advantage of the great Market Potential of such a body. This body would encourage and provide incubation for new business ventures and industries which service the Global Pan African Community, and thus creates jobs within our own communities and countries.
7. Introduction of new Banking Institutions and Development Funds - for joint venture projects, which benefit the larger African community, and allows for economic empowerment. Offshore banking and large financial transactions would be controlled via our financial base in Bermuda, Panama, Belize, Sechelles, and/or Mauritania.
C. Communications
NO organization can be successful without a well equipped and staffed Communications system and network. There must be a well organized system able to receive information and to also disseminate information with speed, proficiency, and effectiveness.
1. The African Scientific Institute has access to a large patent pool of state of the art communications systems which can link the continent, the continent with the diaspora, and the diaspora with itself.
2 This facility will allow not only for vital information to be shared instantly, on a global level, but will also contribute significantly to what we call the Cultural Revolution by engaging in distant and virtual learning and education, cultural exchange, and expanded trade and commerce on a continental and global level.
3. An added value to such a communications network is that its security can be assured, unlike many systems in current existence. The levels of technological and scientific expertise which exists in our global community will allow for the largest transfer of technology and knowledge in human history. This will truly advance, what has come to be known as the African Renaissance.
4. The power of communications cannot be underestimated in the process of achieving our organizational goals and objectives. And we have the best minds in the world at our disposal, once we harness our collective resources.
D. Resources
Resources must be harnessed and managed to receive the maximum benefit for the maximum number of people.
1. Financial - The Agricultural Sector is poised to bring in revenues which in short time it revenues become sui-generous within a $30T per day industry. This means that after expenses, profits are re-invested into the productive process, and thus, have the potential and possibility of generating a continuous revenue flow which allows for planning and development, and also for job growth which expands economic growth and innovativeness in this and other industries.
2. Material - Between the technological prowess which exists in the Diaspora, and the in ground assets on the continent our collective ability and capacity to negotiate our interests is unprecedented and limitless. This strategy will be discussed behind closed doors. We must determine ways of monetizing such assets as gold and diamonds without exporting these valuable assets off of the continent.
3. Human Resources - One of the Legacy Requests of the African Union of the Diaspora, is to do data collection of the maximum number of resourceful persons who can contribute in any way to the development process of Africa, and beyond. One method of categorizing peoples is by their attributes, skills and talents by location.
A. African Americans - Given the skills and financial wealth accumulated a skills bank would be broken down by industry, and a plan developed to transfer such skills to continentals and diasporans.
B. Continental Africans - Must establish the best form of a Federated Unified entity which organizes the material wealth of Africa to serve its peoples best interest and organize its Agricultural Sector such that African can become the Breadbasket of the World.
C. Diaspora Africans - Determine the best industries to engage in which best exploits the potential and possibilities of their respective peoples.
A. African Americans - Given the skills and financial wealth accumulated a skills bank would be broken down by industry, and a plan developed to transfer such skills to continentals and diasporans.
B. Continental Africans - Must establish the best form of a Federated Unified entity which organizes the material wealth of Africa to serve its peoples best interest and organize its Agricultural Sector such that African can become the Breadbasket of the World.
C. Diaspora Africans - Determine the best industries to engage in which best exploits the potential and possibilities of their respective peoples.
Solid values, I like.
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