Resist AFRICOM Rally and Protest! Say NO to Military Contractors Making Money Off AFRICOM! October 23, 2008
Washington, District of Columbia 20001
AFRICOM Rally and Protest!
at the International Peace Operations Association (IPOA) Conference
We need you and everyone who cares about Africa, peace, poverty, militarism, the environment, and the rest of the World -
We must say "No To AFRICOM!!!"
This Monday, October 27, 2008
4:30-8:00pm
*Rally will begin at 4:30 at Taft Memorial Park with speakers and music *
(C St. NW and Louisiana NW near Union Station)
*We will then march to and protest outside the IPOA Conference at the Liaison Hotel on Capitol Hill*
(415 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001)
Whether victims of domestic policing or foreign occupation, anti-war activists or liberation fighters, environmentalists or people of faith, citizens must stand united against the military's newest exertion of power! U.S. Government spending - our tax dollars - should not enable the Department of Defense to pursue its Middle East agenda in Africa.
This year, IPOA is hosting its annual conference on "Engaging AFRICOM." IPOA is a trade and lobbying association that represents the "peace and stability" industry - military contractors and mercenaries. IPOA only encourages and enables the militarization of Africa through AFRICOM, the Pentagon's latest frontier in military expansionism.
Join us on October 27th to protest AFRICOM and the IPOA Conference. Speakers and musicians will take the stage at Taft Memorial Park for a rally, followed by a protest outside the IPOA Conference at the Liaison Hotel.
*Resist AFRICOM is a campaign comprised of concerned U.S. and Africa-based organizations and individuals opposed to the new U.S. military command for Africa (AFRICOM).
Visit www.resistafricom.org for more information.
Sponsors:
Africa Action
Africa Faith and Justice Network
Environmentalists Against War
Foreign Policy in Focus
Hip Hop Caucus
Institute for Policy Studies
African People's Socialist Party
International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement (InPDUM)
American Friends Service Committee Youth in the Know Program
School of the Americas Watch
Malcolm X Grassroots Movement
Grupo Afro-Descendente
Washington Peace Center
International People's Socialist Party
The African Immigrant and Refugee Foundation
Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International
Official Website: http://www.resistafricom.org
Added by Saify111 on October 23, 2008
Comments
Hoosier84
Howdy!
I’m president of the International Peace Operations Association (IPOA). We're the guys holding the Summit mentioned above. I think it'd be worth looking at our association before you condemn it like this advertisement does.
The reason we founded IPOA was to make international peacekeeping succeed. The West has largely abrogated responsibility to support humanitarian peace operations in places like Darfur, Eastern DRC and Mogadishu, leaving these remarkably difficult peacekeeping missions to militaries from the poorest countries in the world. It is private sector support - logistics, aviation, security, landmine removal, medical services, transport etc. - that makes peace operations in Africa possible. IPOA has a proactive Code of Conduct written and updated by Human Rights specialists, NGOs and academics, as well as an online complaint process. Industry self-regulation can never replace governmental oversight and accountability, but we can be progressive in our efforts and do much to fill the gaps. Operations in support of international peacekeeping efforts deserve a higher standard of ethics.
In regards to AFRICOM, the opposition to it is remarkably vocal - but also misguided. I urge people to read up on the organization themselves before they oppose it. AFRICOM will bring greater focus and coordination to the continent. Its unique structure will ensure greater governmental coordination of policies - which considering how chaotic U.S. policies toward African have been in the past can only be a good thing.
The Africa continent has been marginalized for too long in U.S. policy - especially security policy. Before AFRICOM the continent was split between three separate Commands – no wonder peacekeeper-training policies such as ACOTA (which is very popular among African states) have been so spotty and uncoordinated. I'm dismayed at how many folks appear to be arguing for *greater* marginalization of the continent.
Please approach the issue with an open mind. AFRICOM is far more nuanced than it has been portrayed.
Regards,
Doug Brooks
President, IPOA
DBrooks AT IPOAonline DOT org