SUCCESSOR TO the Organization of African Unity (OAU 1963-1999) and headquartered in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), the African Union (AU) was established officially in 2002. It is a “continental body comprised of 55 member states” situated on the African Continent. |
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SUCCESSOR
TO
the Organization of African Unity (OAU 1963-1999) and headquartered in Addis
Ababa (Ethiopia), the African Union (AU) was established officially in 2002.
It is a “continental body comprised of 55 member states” situated on the
African Continent. |
|
The website Nations Online lists the continent
of Africa as the world’s “second-largest continent” (48 countries on the mainland, six islanded) covering “20 percent” of the planet Earth’s total land area; a
population “1.37 billion people” inhabiting “54 sovereign countries” and “two
disputed areas” (the latter “Somaliland, autonomous region of Somalia, and
Western Sahara”). Western Sahara is under occupation of Morocco and is claimed
by the Polisario” (Western Sahara’s indigenous population, the “Sahrawi
people” or “Sahrawi nationalism” opposing Spanish colonialism 1884–1975 and Mauritanian and Moroccan invasions 1975–1979;
1975-present; historically represented by the “Polisario Front”; seeking “self-determination”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polisario_Front; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahrawi_nationalism).
https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/world_population.htm |
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Below are the 55 Member States, their abbreviation,
and date of joining the OAU or AU |
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Central
Africa |
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Eastern
Africa |
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Northern
Africa |
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Southern
Africa |
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Western
Africa |
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https://au.int/en/overview
Africa makes Early-September Headlines
“G20 admits African Union as permanent member: The 55-state bloc received a formal offer at the summit in New Delhi on Saturday September 9, 2023,” https://www.rt.com/africa/582631-african-union-g20-membership/
Making the announcement was India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Environment, Climate, Plunder, Profiteering
Ease their journey in polluting endlessly, anywhere, anytime, without check or arrest.
Kenya-headquartered Think Tank “Power Shift Africa” is sounding the alarm about the “Africa Carbon Markets Initiative” (ACMI).
In its September release of results of an investigation, the group concludes that the ACMI is “a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” …; “a dangerous distraction for Africa from its real interests and priorities for development, energy, climate, biodiversity and resilience.” https://www.powershiftafrica.org/storage/publications/The%20Africa%20Carbon%20Markets%20Initiative%20Wolf%20in%20Sheep's%20Clothing_1693903765.pdf
The scheme of carbon credits rising from a fantasyland or “imaginary commodity of tons of carbon ‘saved’ credits” continues permissive or neoliberal measures further entrenching the fossil-fuel industry status quo— “allowing companies across the world to continue to burn their polluting product, with impunity”; and ensuring “huge mark ups” for “the financial brokers who buy and sell the credits.”
The “neo-colonial carbon market” scheme of monetizing both the African nature and the climate crisis, enabling “polluting entities to continue polluting” while “shifting the carbon ‘reduction’ elsewhere, as cheaply as possible,” is unconcerned about the “development and resilience needs” of countries and communities of the Africa—human essentials of “food security, thriving economic development, and decent work.”
The Continent of Africa should “focus on real climate solutions” supportive of the development of African peoples and nations.
Sources
Paper
Power Shift Africa “The Africa Carbon Markets Initiative: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing,” September 5, 2023, https://www.powershiftafrica.org/publications/the-africa-carbon-markets-initiative-a-wolf-in-sheeps-clothing
https://www.powershiftafrica.org/storage/publications/The%20Africa%20Carbon%20Markets%20Initiative%20Wolf%20in%20Sheep's%20Clothing_1693903765.pdf
Source Background
Power Shift Africa’s website gives its mission statement in part as “mobilizing climate action in Africa and amplifying African voices through increased visibility in media and public communications” ; and its goals as establishing “a strong network of African media professionals to increase engagement and amplifying climate change and energy advocacy at national, continental, and global levels;” and strengthening African voices that sense connections between renewable energy mechanisms and systemic means of lessening African poverty and as necessary steps toward sustainable development. https://www.powershiftafrica.org/about-us
info@powershiftafrica.org; No: 5, Waridi Court, Rose Avenue, Kilimani, Nairobi (Kenya)
AU Background
The African Union is rooted in the “post-independence continental” Organization of African Unity formed in 1963 with Charter signatures of “32 Heads of independent African States” convening in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. At its website, the AU proclaims, “An Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.” African Union Headquarters, Roosvelt Street W21K19, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, https://au.int/en/overview
https://au.int/en/member_states/countryprofiles2
The scheme of carbon credits rising from a fantasyland or “imaginary commodity of tons of carbon ‘saved’ credits” continues permissive or neoliberal measures further entrenching the fossil-fuel industry status quo— “allowing companies across the world to continue to burn their polluting product, with impunity”; and ensuring “huge mark ups” for “the financial brokers who buy and sell the credits.”
The “neo-colonial carbon market” scheme of monetizing both the African nature and the climate crisis, enabling “polluting entities to continue polluting” while “shifting the carbon ‘reduction’ elsewhere, as cheaply as possible,” is unconcerned about the “development and resilience needs” of countries and communities of the Africa—human essentials of “food security, thriving economic development, and decent work.”
“The history of carbon markets, and the fundamental flaws associated with commodifying carbon, farming, forestry and other activities, and leveraging these into global financial markets, shows that Africa should not go down the path proposed by the African Carbon Markets Initiative.”The “wolf in sheep’s clothing” bites into the flesh. Creates a multitude of new and even more serious problems; and never provides real benefits.
Individual Ingenuity, National Sovereignty
A Quest
Power Shift Africa encourages leaders of Africa to look to “financial flows” other than the African Carbon Markets Initiative; “to implement their own zero-carbon sustainable development pathways, while retaining African Sovereignty for delivering development and climate objectives.”
The countries of Africa, overall, “should increasingly and purposely invest domestic means and currencies in renewable(s) and in sound industrialization, ensuring democratic sovereignty over their own development pathways.”
Sources
Paper
Power Shift Africa “The Africa Carbon Markets Initiative: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing,” September 5, 2023, https://www.powershiftafrica.org/publications/the-africa-carbon-markets-initiative-a-wolf-in-sheeps-clothing
https://www.powershiftafrica.org/storage/publications/The%20Africa%20Carbon%20Markets%20Initiative%20Wolf%20in%20Sheep's%20Clothing_1693903765.pdf
Source Background
Power Shift Africa’s website gives its mission statement in part as “mobilizing climate action in Africa and amplifying African voices through increased visibility in media and public communications” ; and its goals as establishing “a strong network of African media professionals to increase engagement and amplifying climate change and energy advocacy at national, continental, and global levels;” and strengthening African voices that sense connections between renewable energy mechanisms and systemic means of lessening African poverty and as necessary steps toward sustainable development. https://www.powershiftafrica.org/about-us
info@powershiftafrica.org; No: 5, Waridi Court, Rose Avenue, Kilimani, Nairobi (Kenya)
AU Background
The African Union is rooted in the “post-independence continental” Organization of African Unity formed in 1963 with Charter signatures of “32 Heads of independent African States” convening in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. At its website, the AU proclaims, “An Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.” African Union Headquarters, Roosvelt Street W21K19, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, https://au.int/en/overview
https://au.int/en/member_states/countryprofiles2
Nations Online, One World Africa, https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/africa.htm; One World Population, https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/world_population.htm
News Reporting
RT News “G20 admits African Union as permanent member: The 55-state bloc received a formal offer at the summit in New Delhi on Saturday,” September 9, 2023, https://www.rt.com/africa/582631-african-union-g20-membership/
RT News “Climate groups reject African environmental initiative: The scheme is misleading and imposes neo-colonial barriers to achieving genuine development paths in Africa, organizations argue,” September 6, 2023, https://www.rt.com/africa/582485-climate-activists-reject-african-environmental-initiative/
RT News, “African civil organizations demand removal of US company from Climate Summit board: Western governments and corporations have hijacked the event to advance a pro-West agenda and interests, activists claim,” August 18, 2023, https://www.rt.com/africa/581406-african-civil-societies-us-company-climate-board-membership-concern/
News Reporting
RT News “G20 admits African Union as permanent member: The 55-state bloc received a formal offer at the summit in New Delhi on Saturday,” September 9, 2023, https://www.rt.com/africa/582631-african-union-g20-membership/
RT News “Climate groups reject African environmental initiative: The scheme is misleading and imposes neo-colonial barriers to achieving genuine development paths in Africa, organizations argue,” September 6, 2023, https://www.rt.com/africa/582485-climate-activists-reject-african-environmental-initiative/
RT News, “African civil organizations demand removal of US company from Climate Summit board: Western governments and corporations have hijacked the event to advance a pro-West agenda and interests, activists claim,” August 18, 2023, https://www.rt.com/africa/581406-african-civil-societies-us-company-climate-board-membership-concern/
Composition and Commentary excluding quoted material and individual images
Copyright © Carolyn LaDelle Bennett
Author’s links: www.BennettsAmericanEpitaph.com
https://www.facebook.com/carolynladelle.bennett
https://insightbeyondtodaysnews.blogspot.com/
https://www.xlibris.com/en/search?query=Carolyn+LaDelle+Bennett
https://www.xlibris.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/828689-epitaph
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