African Union Condemns Israeli Crimes in Gaza

*REPRINTED*

ADDIS ABABA – The African Union on Tuesday (DECEMBER 30) condemned Israel's air raids on the Gaza Strip and urged the UN Security Council to "compel" Israel to declare a ceasefire.

"The (AU) Commission strongly condemns the ongoing air raids on the Gaza Strip by Israel since 27 December," the African Union said in a statement.

"This massive and disproportionate attack constitutes a clear violation of international humanitarian law and will further aggravate the suffering of the civilian population, which, as a result of
the siege imposed by Israel, has been faced by shortages of food, medicine and fuel."

The body appealed to the UN Security Council and members of the Middle East diplomatic Quartet "to fully assume their responsibilities towards the civilians in the Gaza Strip by compelling Israel to an immediate ceasefire".

The AU also urged the world to step up efforts to provide medical and humanitarian aid to victims of the attacks.

Israeli warplanes pounded Gaza for a fourth day on Tuesday with tanks on standby as Israel has continued its aggression against the Palestinian people in the Strip.

Over 375 people have killed and more than 800 injured in another war crime committed by the Zionist state in its long list of crimes.

*Link to original*

http://www.africanpath.com/p_blogEntry.cfm?blogEntryID=6847

Re-Reading African History As World History

As a young boy, I had a voracious appetite for world-history and identifying my self with in it. At some point along the road I lost my curiosity for history and answering questions about my families past. But the older I get the more I feel my self returning back to my first love of world-history and African history in particular.

I wanted to share some of the things I am reading with the group which I believe will enrich us as we prepare for this summit and prepare to carry the struggle of Pan-Africanism into the next century and beyond. I want to learn more about West Africa's pre-colonial history and the world-system in which they traded and thrived. Below are a few links from the net I found interesting. Please, share any you may come by on the same subject.

The trans-Atlantic slave trade

4,000 years of Afro-Asia Trade and the myth of European Exceptionalism

Europe's pillage of Africa's resources throughout history

New Video: White Extremists Plotting Obama's Assasination?

New Video Exposes Racist Threats to Assassinate Obama. Click here to watch.

The burning embers of white supremacy are still alive and the election of Barack Obama has revealed the growing amount of violent white extremists willing to go to any length to
"purify" America. Since Obama's election there has been an increase in hate crimes and membership to far-right supremacist organizations.

This isn't meant to scare you, only to point a side of America society we would all like to forget. For people of color and African descendants in general this news is particularly stirring seeing that the mainstream narrative is of a 'post-racial' society. There are growing fears of a serious assassination plot of President-elect Obama and attacks on other African-Americans.

Check out this video and see how serious the threat is.

What is the Inaugural Pan-African Youth Summit?

The purpose of the Inaugural Pan-African Youth Summit is to bring together young conscious voices of those charged with bringing change to their respective community. This summit will provide a forum by which a unified voice can generate a platform that is "in praxis, cognizant of struggle," not only in Africa but also in the United States, Latin America, Asia and the Caribbean.

We understand that today's youth must be prepared to work toward the goal of Pan-African liberation; in effect, inspiring the participation of citizens from all generations.

The Inaugural Pan-African Youth Summit (February 23-28, 2009) will be organized around five themes--one per day--and a final day of reflection and action. The five themes are:

Day 1: Education and the Arts

Day 2: Political Economy

Day 3: Health and Nutrition

Day 4: Gender Roles and the African Family

Day 5: Spirituality

Each day will be filled with various presentations ranging from seminars, panel discussions, lectures, film screenings, workshops, etc.

For all media inquiries please contact: Sakita Holley at sakita_holley@yahoo.com

The Inaugural Pan-African Youth Summit News Service

Welcome

This blog will serve as the official News Service for the Inaugural Pan-African Youth Summit, which will take place during the week of February 23-28, 2009 on Howard University's campus.

In the coming weeks, the PAYS 2009 Steering Committee will begin posting more details about the Summit. If you have any immediate questions please email us at panafricanyouthsummit2009@gmail.com.

As you start to learn more about the Summit we hope that you will visit this site often and refer friends, family members and colleagues.

We welcome your feedback and participation in our vision.

Thank you,

PAYS 2009 Steering Committee


For all media inquiries please contact: Sakita Holley at sakita_holley@yahoo.com