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Articles ArchiveReturn
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Remarks
of Mussie Hailu,
Representative of Association of World Citizens to Africa
San Francisco, California
June 8, 2006
Mr. Douglas Mattern, President
of the Association of World Citizens
Fellow members of the Association of World Citizens,
Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great honor and privilege
to be here with you this afternoon to talk about African issues.
First of all, I would like to thank you very much on behalf of
all Africans for coming this afternoon to show your solidarity
with Africa after such short notice. Your presence here today
demonstrates your commitment to global citizenship and partnership
with other global family members. This kind of people-to-people
relationship is a missing element which our world needs more
of, and it is the backbone for creating a better future for all.
I am happy that this kind of people-to-people encounter is taking
place through this Association. I have been a member of this
Association for more than a decade and I am grateful to the Association
for bringing people from different walks of life, different political
ideologies, lifestyles, and backgrounds to work together as citizens
of this planet on common issues that matter to all of us. In
addition to the United Nations and other global organizations,
this kind of movement will be a good catalyst to bring about
the world we envision.
As you know, Africa is a big
continent with more than 900 million people which is one-eighth
of our human family. Usually, when we hear of Africa, especially
in the west, people think of hunger, disease, and civil war.
It is sad that the media is always depicting Africa as a hand
outstretched for help. But the reality is far more than this.
Today I am here to talk to you about the other side of Africa.
Africa is a continent very rich
in history, culture, natural resources, and diversity of religions,
people, and ethnicities. It is a continent where we can see unity
in diversity. Most of all, it is the cradle of civilization.
I am not saying this because I am an African. I am saying this
because it is a recorded fact. Africa is not only for Africans.
Africa belongs to the whole human race as the human race belongs
to Africa.
As someone who strongly believes
in the idea of world citizenship, I truly see myself as an Ethiopian,
as an African, and above all as a citizen of the world and, like
you, I embrace the core principles of the World Citizens Association.
Please bear in mind that I am
not saying there are no problems in Africa. Yes, we do have the
challenges of the HIV epidemic, malaria, famine, civil war, political
crises, lack of good governance, and desertification. But these
issues are most often covered by the media so I will mainly focus
my presentation on the other side of Africa which is seldom recorded
in the media.
In spite of all the challenges
that we are facing, Africans are working very hard to change
the situation they are in and they are taking their future into
their own hands.
Far-reaching economic reforms
adapted across the continent have begun to yield positive results
in many countries. A climate conducive to increased domestic
and foreign investment is being created. Capital markets are
being formed and African entrepreneurship is expanding.
More universities, hospitals
and roads are under construction. Wells are being dug to increase
access to clean water. Girls' education is improving and more
women are taking a leadership role. The first woman president
was just elected in Liberia. There are more women commissioners
at the Africa Union than ever.
Good governance is expanding
across the continent and democracy is starting to prevail and
spreading in Africa. Unlike in the past when African presidents
left power and fled to the west with coffers of money, there
are now increasing numbers of peaceful power transitions in many
African countries which leads us to see a number of former heads
of state who clearly demonstrated their commitment to good leadership
and who still have rich experience and wisdom to offer their
countries and the continent as a whole. I am happy to inform
you that these leaders are not only remaining in their countries,
but are positively contributing toward their countries' development.
Some have taken the initiative to establish their own foundations
or are actively involved in activities that help their people.
Up to now, there has been no existing mechanism or forum for
them to come together and collectively contribute to the well
being of the continent.
As a result of their reach experience
and wisdom, I strongly believe that there is a critical role
they can play as a driving force to bring people of diverse nations
and cultures together to address our common issues and to find
solutions and better ways to live peacefully on the continent
we all share. These solutions must come from Africans themselves,
as the future of Africa depends on Africans. With this in mind,
I have been working to establish The Council of Former African
Heads of State in partnership with Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, the first
President of Zambia. This initiative is now being endorsed by
a number of other respected former heads of state of Africa.
This idea has also been communicated with H.E. Nelson Mandela,
former president of South Africa, H.E. Kofi Annan, Secretary
General of the United Nations and to H.E. Prof. Alpha Oumar Konare,
Chairperson of the African Union, himself a former President
of Mali.
The mission of this council is
to fully engage, in a positive and constructive way, former heads
of state of Africa to share their rich experience and wisdom
to pursue the work of peace, development and reconciliation across
the continent, to inspire peaceful leadership transitions in
Africa and to create a good image for our continent internationally.
The aims and objectives of the
Council are to: 1) Promote Reconciliation and Build a Culture
of Peace 2) Play a mediation role in conflict zones 3) Encourage
nations in their efforts to achieve the Millennium Development
Goals 4) Create further awareness in the fight against HIV/AIDS
and stop the stigma attached to it 5) Share their rich experience
with the young generation of leaders to inspire good governance
6) Engage Africans in Diaspora in the overall development of
the continent 7) Act as a resource to the African Union and the
United Nations in times of crisis and promote the aims and objectives
of these institutions 8) serve as a platform where former and
current leaders can work together for the overall good of their
respective countries and the continent 9) Ensure peaceful transitions
of power 10) Provide a forum where former heads of state can
remain engaged in constructive works for the betterment of Africans
11) Lobby for African issues to be given due attention on the
international agenda and build the image of Africa internationally
12) Provide an opportunity for leaders to transition to civilian
life by offering a forum which values and utilizes their experience
and expertise.
The council will address these
and other pressing issues as well as harness the collective energy
that exemplary former leaders have to offer. A number of former
heads of state of Africa already demonstrated their ongoing commitment
to peace, security, democracy and prosperity. Africa is truly
rising.
More than ever, a lot of civil
societies and faith-based organizations are working together
in peace-building and bringing good governance to the continent.
I believe that development cannot take place without securing
peace. A number of interfaith groups have emerged in a number
of African countries and are actively engaged in peace-building,
social development, environmental protection, dialogue among
different religions and ethnicities, promoting partnership, addressing
gender equity, unemployment, empowerment of youth, and peace
education in schools.
Among the organizations that
play a critical role in promoting the role of interfaith issues
is the United Religions Initiative. URI is an international organization
with the aim of promoting daily interfaith dialogue, ending religiously
motivated violence, and bringing justice and healing to the earth
and all living beings. URI has been instrumental in expanding
interfaith activities throughout Africa. There are more than
40 cooperation circles of URI in different African countries
and more are being formed everyday.
One of the fundamental principles
that I believe we all need to embody in our daily lives is the
Golden Rule. The Golden Rule, which is clearly stated in different
religions and sacred texts, is the password and key to a better
world. In addition to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
the Golden Rule is also the foundation for a peaceful co-existance
and harmony. Therefore, I appeal to each and every one of you
to advocate for the Golden Rule in whatever you do, and be a
living example of its core message.
Other good news is that a number
of Africans see themselves as citizens of the world as a result
of new chapters of the Association of World Citizens being established
in different African countries. The work of this Association
is very important not only to bring Africa into the global movement
and to create alliances, but even in the process of peace-building
across the continent. In a continent where we have a number of
tribal wars, the mission of AWC is paramount as it helps to create
the awareness for people to see themselves outside their tribe,
their country or their religion. It helps them embrace the whole
of humanity. I believe that this awareness by itself is the way
forward toward peace-building across the continent and the world
at large. So I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate
Mr. Douglas Mattern, the President of the Association, who has
dedicated his entire life to this work, and to all the people
who are actively involved or who have served this Association
in the past. While applauding the great work that has been done
by the Association, I would like also to encourage you to expand
and reach out to more countries with the aim and purpose of this
association as this will pave the way for peace, democracy and
a true global world. And I believe it is important to forge stronger
partnerships with the United Nations, European Union, civil society,
interfaith organizations like URI, and the African Union. I would
like to take this opportunity to acknowledge all those individuals,
associations, and nongovernmental organizations from all over
the world who partner with Africa. These partnerships are extremely
valuable and are bearing fruit.
I would like to focus specifically
now on the work of the African Union and introduce its mission
and objectives. The African Union is a very important organization
as it is representing the collective voice of all Africans. The
African Union originated in the Organization of African Unity,
or the OAU, which was established on May 25, 1963. The main objectives
of the OAU were to rid the continent of the remnants of colonization
and apartheid; to promote unity and solidarity among African
States; to coordinate and intensify cooperation for development;
to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member
States and to promote international cooperation within the framework
of the United Nations. Indeed, as a continental organization,
the OAU provided an effective forum that enabled all Member States
to adopt coordinated positions on matters of common concern to
the continent and to the world, and to defend the interests of
Africa effectively.
In 1999, the Heads of State and
Government of the OAU issued a Declaration calling for the establishment
of an African Union, with a view to bringing together the continent
to enable it play its rightful role in the global economy while
addressing social, economic and political problems compounded
by aspects of globalization.
The vision of the African Union
is first, to promote socio-economic integration of the continent,
which will lead to greater unity and solidarity between African
countries and peoples; second, to build a partnership between
governments and all segments of civil society, in particular
women, youth and the private sector, in order to strengthen solidarity
and cohesion amongst the peoples of Africa; and third, to promote
peace, security and stability on the continent as a prerequisite
for the implementation of the development and integration agenda
of the Union.
For the African Union to achieve
its aims and objectives, there should be a strong collaborative
effort between citizens and their leaders. All Africans should
be stakeholders in the process of creating a better Africa for
all Africans. It's not something which citizens can leave to
heads of state alone, nor can heads of state do it alone. It
must be a real partnership, understanding, dialogue, trust-building
and common vision, commitment and solid action among all Africans.
In addition, the international community must pay due attention
to Africa as it is morally outrageous to ignore one-eighth of
the human family. It is the responsibility of the African Union
to keep the critical issues of Africa on the global agenda. Associations
like ours also have a major role to play in creating an awareness
among its members and policy makers, and to make heard those
voices that have not been given due attention by the international
community.
Finally, the renaissance of Africa
is not something which we should leave to the African Union,
Former Heads of State, United Nations, civil societies and Governments
alone but it should be a collective concern of all Africans including
that of Traditional Rulers and African Royal members. As you
know, much of the current analysis of democratization in Africa,
which is copied from western countries, has focused mostly on
issues concerning the state and its institutions rather than
society based on cultural and traditional values. However, in
order to be legitimate and meet its societal responsibilities,
the democratic state ultimately needs to be founded on indigenous
social and traditional values. With this context I am working
now with His Majesty King Kigeli V of Rwanda and H.I.H Prince
Ermias Shale-Selassie Haile-Selassie, the grandson of the late
Emperor of Ethiopia, to set up a Forum for African Traditional
Rulers and Royal Societies to come together to work in close
partnership with the African Union and other organizations for
the African Renaissance, to preserve the historical and cultural
heritage and promote a culture of peace in Africa.
A new wind of hope is blowing
in Africa. Africa is rising. Through this collaborative effort,
the Africa which we seek to build will be self-sufficient and
independent, and able to stand as a strong and united continent
addressing its challenges so that future generations will inherit,
with pride, a peaceful land that is rich with many possibilities
and which can further contribute to the global family. This world
will be better only when we, all citizens of the earth, from
all walks of life, work together, side by side, to give unconditional
service to the overall development of our beloved mother earth.
May Peace Prevail in our hearts,
may peace prevail in our minds, may peace prevail in our families,
may peace prevail in our countries, may peace prevail in our
continents and May Peace Prevail on Earth.
Thank you very much.
Remarks of Mussie Hailu,
Representative of Association of World Citizens to Africa
San Francisco, California
June 8, 2006
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Articles Archive Representative of Association of World Citizens to Africa San Francisco, California June 8, 2006 Mr. Douglas Mattern, President
of the Association of World Citizens It is a great honor and privilege to be here with you this afternoon to talk about African issues. First of all, I would like to thank you very much on behalf of all Africans for coming this afternoon to show your solidarity with Africa after such short notice. Your presence here today demonstrates your commitment to global citizenship and partnership with other global family members. This kind of people-to-people relationship is a missing element which our world needs more of, and it is the backbone for creating a better future for all. I am happy that this kind of people-to-people encounter is taking place through this Association. I have been a member of this Association for more than a decade and I am grateful to the Association for bringing people from different walks of life, different political ideologies, lifestyles, and backgrounds to work together as citizens of this planet on common issues that matter to all of us. In addition to the United Nations and other global organizations, this kind of movement will be a good catalyst to bring about the world we envision. As you know, Africa is a big continent with more than 900 million people which is one-eighth of our human family. Usually, when we hear of Africa, especially in the west, people think of hunger, disease, and civil war. It is sad that the media is always depicting Africa as a hand outstretched for help. But the reality is far more than this. Today I am here to talk to you about the other side of Africa. Africa is a continent very rich in history, culture, natural resources, and diversity of religions, people, and ethnicities. It is a continent where we can see unity in diversity. Most of all, it is the cradle of civilization. I am not saying this because I am an African. I am saying this because it is a recorded fact. Africa is not only for Africans. Africa belongs to the whole human race as the human race belongs to Africa. As someone who strongly believes in the idea of world citizenship, I truly see myself as an Ethiopian, as an African, and above all as a citizen of the world and, like you, I embrace the core principles of the World Citizens Association. Please bear in mind that I am not saying there are no problems in Africa. Yes, we do have the challenges of the HIV epidemic, malaria, famine, civil war, political crises, lack of good governance, and desertification. But these issues are most often covered by the media so I will mainly focus my presentation on the other side of Africa which is seldom recorded in the media. In spite of all the challenges that we are facing, Africans are working very hard to change the situation they are in and they are taking their future into their own hands. Far-reaching economic reforms adapted across the continent have begun to yield positive results in many countries. A climate conducive to increased domestic and foreign investment is being created. Capital markets are being formed and African entrepreneurship is expanding. More universities, hospitals and roads are under construction. Wells are being dug to increase access to clean water. Girls' education is improving and more women are taking a leadership role. The first woman president was just elected in Liberia. There are more women commissioners at the Africa Union than ever. Good governance is expanding across the continent and democracy is starting to prevail and spreading in Africa. Unlike in the past when African presidents left power and fled to the west with coffers of money, there are now increasing numbers of peaceful power transitions in many African countries which leads us to see a number of former heads of state who clearly demonstrated their commitment to good leadership and who still have rich experience and wisdom to offer their countries and the continent as a whole. I am happy to inform you that these leaders are not only remaining in their countries, but are positively contributing toward their countries' development. Some have taken the initiative to establish their own foundations or are actively involved in activities that help their people. Up to now, there has been no existing mechanism or forum for them to come together and collectively contribute to the well being of the continent. As a result of their reach experience and wisdom, I strongly believe that there is a critical role they can play as a driving force to bring people of diverse nations and cultures together to address our common issues and to find solutions and better ways to live peacefully on the continent we all share. These solutions must come from Africans themselves, as the future of Africa depends on Africans. With this in mind, I have been working to establish The Council of Former African Heads of State in partnership with Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, the first President of Zambia. This initiative is now being endorsed by a number of other respected former heads of state of Africa. This idea has also been communicated with H.E. Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa, H.E. Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations and to H.E. Prof. Alpha Oumar Konare, Chairperson of the African Union, himself a former President of Mali. The mission of this council is to fully engage, in a positive and constructive way, former heads of state of Africa to share their rich experience and wisdom to pursue the work of peace, development and reconciliation across the continent, to inspire peaceful leadership transitions in Africa and to create a good image for our continent internationally. The aims and objectives of the Council are to: 1) Promote Reconciliation and Build a Culture of Peace 2) Play a mediation role in conflict zones 3) Encourage nations in their efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals 4) Create further awareness in the fight against HIV/AIDS and stop the stigma attached to it 5) Share their rich experience with the young generation of leaders to inspire good governance 6) Engage Africans in Diaspora in the overall development of the continent 7) Act as a resource to the African Union and the United Nations in times of crisis and promote the aims and objectives of these institutions 8) serve as a platform where former and current leaders can work together for the overall good of their respective countries and the continent 9) Ensure peaceful transitions of power 10) Provide a forum where former heads of state can remain engaged in constructive works for the betterment of Africans 11) Lobby for African issues to be given due attention on the international agenda and build the image of Africa internationally 12) Provide an opportunity for leaders to transition to civilian life by offering a forum which values and utilizes their experience and expertise. The council will address these and other pressing issues as well as harness the collective energy that exemplary former leaders have to offer. A number of former heads of state of Africa already demonstrated their ongoing commitment to peace, security, democracy and prosperity. Africa is truly rising. More than ever, a lot of civil societies and faith-based organizations are working together in peace-building and bringing good governance to the continent. I believe that development cannot take place without securing peace. A number of interfaith groups have emerged in a number of African countries and are actively engaged in peace-building, social development, environmental protection, dialogue among different religions and ethnicities, promoting partnership, addressing gender equity, unemployment, empowerment of youth, and peace education in schools. Among the organizations that play a critical role in promoting the role of interfaith issues is the United Religions Initiative. URI is an international organization with the aim of promoting daily interfaith dialogue, ending religiously motivated violence, and bringing justice and healing to the earth and all living beings. URI has been instrumental in expanding interfaith activities throughout Africa. There are more than 40 cooperation circles of URI in different African countries and more are being formed everyday. One of the fundamental principles that I believe we all need to embody in our daily lives is the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule, which is clearly stated in different religions and sacred texts, is the password and key to a better world. In addition to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Golden Rule is also the foundation for a peaceful co-existance and harmony. Therefore, I appeal to each and every one of you to advocate for the Golden Rule in whatever you do, and be a living example of its core message. Other good news is that a number of Africans see themselves as citizens of the world as a result of new chapters of the Association of World Citizens being established in different African countries. The work of this Association is very important not only to bring Africa into the global movement and to create alliances, but even in the process of peace-building across the continent. In a continent where we have a number of tribal wars, the mission of AWC is paramount as it helps to create the awareness for people to see themselves outside their tribe, their country or their religion. It helps them embrace the whole of humanity. I believe that this awareness by itself is the way forward toward peace-building across the continent and the world at large. So I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Douglas Mattern, the President of the Association, who has dedicated his entire life to this work, and to all the people who are actively involved or who have served this Association in the past. While applauding the great work that has been done by the Association, I would like also to encourage you to expand and reach out to more countries with the aim and purpose of this association as this will pave the way for peace, democracy and a true global world. And I believe it is important to forge stronger partnerships with the United Nations, European Union, civil society, interfaith organizations like URI, and the African Union. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge all those individuals, associations, and nongovernmental organizations from all over the world who partner with Africa. These partnerships are extremely valuable and are bearing fruit. I would like to focus specifically now on the work of the African Union and introduce its mission and objectives. The African Union is a very important organization as it is representing the collective voice of all Africans. The African Union originated in the Organization of African Unity, or the OAU, which was established on May 25, 1963. The main objectives of the OAU were to rid the continent of the remnants of colonization and apartheid; to promote unity and solidarity among African States; to coordinate and intensify cooperation for development; to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States and to promote international cooperation within the framework of the United Nations. Indeed, as a continental organization, the OAU provided an effective forum that enabled all Member States to adopt coordinated positions on matters of common concern to the continent and to the world, and to defend the interests of Africa effectively. In 1999, the Heads of State and Government of the OAU issued a Declaration calling for the establishment of an African Union, with a view to bringing together the continent to enable it play its rightful role in the global economy while addressing social, economic and political problems compounded by aspects of globalization. The vision of the African Union is first, to promote socio-economic integration of the continent, which will lead to greater unity and solidarity between African countries and peoples; second, to build a partnership between governments and all segments of civil society, in particular women, youth and the private sector, in order to strengthen solidarity and cohesion amongst the peoples of Africa; and third, to promote peace, security and stability on the continent as a prerequisite for the implementation of the development and integration agenda of the Union. For the African Union to achieve its aims and objectives, there should be a strong collaborative effort between citizens and their leaders. All Africans should be stakeholders in the process of creating a better Africa for all Africans. It's not something which citizens can leave to heads of state alone, nor can heads of state do it alone. It must be a real partnership, understanding, dialogue, trust-building and common vision, commitment and solid action among all Africans. In addition, the international community must pay due attention to Africa as it is morally outrageous to ignore one-eighth of the human family. It is the responsibility of the African Union to keep the critical issues of Africa on the global agenda. Associations like ours also have a major role to play in creating an awareness among its members and policy makers, and to make heard those voices that have not been given due attention by the international community. Finally, the renaissance of Africa is not something which we should leave to the African Union, Former Heads of State, United Nations, civil societies and Governments alone but it should be a collective concern of all Africans including that of Traditional Rulers and African Royal members. As you know, much of the current analysis of democratization in Africa, which is copied from western countries, has focused mostly on issues concerning the state and its institutions rather than society based on cultural and traditional values. However, in order to be legitimate and meet its societal responsibilities, the democratic state ultimately needs to be founded on indigenous social and traditional values. With this context I am working now with His Majesty King Kigeli V of Rwanda and H.I.H Prince Ermias Shale-Selassie Haile-Selassie, the grandson of the late Emperor of Ethiopia, to set up a Forum for African Traditional Rulers and Royal Societies to come together to work in close partnership with the African Union and other organizations for the African Renaissance, to preserve the historical and cultural heritage and promote a culture of peace in Africa. A new wind of hope is blowing in Africa. Africa is rising. Through this collaborative effort, the Africa which we seek to build will be self-sufficient and independent, and able to stand as a strong and united continent addressing its challenges so that future generations will inherit, with pride, a peaceful land that is rich with many possibilities and which can further contribute to the global family. This world will be better only when we, all citizens of the earth, from all walks of life, work together, side by side, to give unconditional service to the overall development of our beloved mother earth. May Peace Prevail in our hearts, may peace prevail in our minds, may peace prevail in our families, may peace prevail in our countries, may peace prevail in our continents and May Peace Prevail on Earth. Thank you very much. Remarks of Mussie Hailu, Home Page | AWC Goals | AWC Branches | Archives Resolution 2010 | Human Manifesto | AWC History United Nations | AWC Staff | Join Online Today | Worldometers Contact Us |