It seems as if every day we hear of a new earthquake, flood, hurricane or other natural disaster that threatens the lives and livelihood of African people.
These events can hardly be called “natural disasters” as there is very little natural about them.
Imperialist-imposed disasters are a more appropriate name, as these events often originate from the climate catastrophe that has been brought on by capitalist greed and exploitation in pursuit of unending profit, even at the expense of the Earth itself.
No natural disasters under colonial capitalism
The fact that African people have been forced into conditions of extreme poverty-often living in poorly built homes and communities with weak or non-existent infrastructure and no means to prepare for, withstand or rebuild in the face of such disasters is anything but natural.
These are the conditions imposed on African people by colonial capitalism, conditions that require us to live in a constant state of fear, uncertainty and instability.
In 2014, the All African People’s Development and Empowerment Project (AAPDEP), under the leadership of the African People’s Socialist Party (APSP), developed Project Black Ankh (PBA). PBA is Africa’s own Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response program.
Since our inception, we have responded to the needs of African people in Sierra Leone during the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, as well as in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas.
In 2020, PBA created our International COVID-19 Telehealth Program, which offers free online appointments with our medical staff and volunteers to Africans all over the world.
AAPDEP’s trip to Cuba will help build Project Black Ankh!
Just as imperialist-imposed disasters and other emergencies are intensifying, so too are our efforts to build and consolidate PBA.
As I write, members of our Medical Advisory Team are preparing to travel to Cuba with the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization as part of their 31st friendship caravan.
As participants in this caravan, we’ll have the opportunity to learn first-hand how Cuba has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the development of their own vaccines and the work of their Henry Reeves Brigades, which have offered lifesaving medical support to countries around the world.
This trip to Cuba will help advance our plans to develop PBA Medical Response teams, inspired by the Henry Reeves Brigades, that can be dispatched around the African world in response to epidemics, weather events, and other emergencies.
With the support of the people, we were able to meet our fundraising goal of raising the resources needed to send our delegation to Cuba this November in an effort to build PBA.
Thank you for heeding the call! Our people need us now more than ever.
Red Cross, get lost! Build Project Black Ankh!
Africa’s future in African hands!
We will win!
AFRICAN SKILLS FOR AFRICAN LIBERATION
