IMMEDIATE RELEASE
African Union & WADU Tribute & Resolution for Ambassador Thompson
New York – « We are here to celebrate, rededicate and our empower ourselves for the great task of the union of Africa » against the global threats of the new scramble for African resources, declared Dr. Leonard Jeffries, President of the World African Diaspora Union (WADU) during the tribute to His Excellency Dudley Thompson. The tribute to the legendary leader at the African Union (AU) Hall was organized by the AU, the African Diaspora Task Team (AUDITT) and WADU on May 14, 2012 with the participation of about a hundred officials and Pan African leaders representing the African Union, the Caribbean Community and African Diaspora organizations.
Ambassador Antonio Tete, AU representative to the United Nations and the African Diaspora, officially opened the tribute to Ambassador Dudley Thompson stating that the legendary leader has contributed greatly to advancing the African Diaspora sixth region framework in several AU high level and technical meetings before his death this past January. The next AU African Diaspora meeting on May 25-26, 2012 in South Africa will attempt to fully set into motion this framework for the Sixth region. Other key presenters at the tribute included Ambassador Raymond Wolfe of Jamaica, Ambassador Ismael Gaspar Martins of Angola, Dr. Djibril Diallo of Senegal, Hon Charles Barron, Dr. James Turner, Dr. Ron Daniels, Omowale Clay, Viola Plummer and Priest Ifaniyi Akintunde.
Dudleys wife Cecile Sistrum Thompson called him as extraordinary human who was totally dedicated to Pan Africanism and the union of Africa in a confederation of African States by 2017. The leaders at the tribute asserted that Ambassador Dudley Thompson made decades long contribution to the early African Independence movement when the African movement leade rs like Kwame Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta, George Padmore and other activist leaders met in Manchester, England in 1945 to launch this movement. He is also credited with successfully defending Jomo Kenyatta against charges of leading the Mau Mau revolt in Kenya, and with his great legal mind helped to write the constitutions of Kenya and Tanzania, East Africa. Additionall y, the tribute highlighted his role in influencing the global reparations movement at the Nigerian conference with former President-elect Moshood Abiola in 1992.
Ambassador Perezi Kamunanwire of Uganda called for the African Diaspora to fully engage the work for African unity as demonstrated by the great contributions of those like Dr. Dudley Thompson, Dr. John Henrik Clarke, Dr. Walter Rodney, and Minister Malcolm Omowale Shabazz because Africa is endangered and is ignored by Washington and other global powers. He identified the recent attack on Libya as a demonstration of the disrespect for Africa, the AU and the African people. He then quoted the late Dr. Walter Rodney asserting that the descendents of the enslaved Africans in the Diaspora are the real Pan Africanists and so have a great responsibility in the success of Africa.
Dr. Georgina Falu, Chair of the AUDITT, called for African Diaspora leaders such as those in WADU to work with AUDITT and the African Union to promote sustainable development of African people by joining the effort to contribute thousands of African Diaspora persons and organizations to AUDITT data/skills bank. The AUDITT skill bank was initiated by Dr. Jinmi Adisa, Chair of the AU African Diaspora Office in Ethiopia, after numerous consultations with African Diaspora leaders. Dr. Falu argues that only Africans can reverse the brain drain that has impoverished those of African descent and empowered those of European descent.
Baba John Watusi Branch concluded the tribute by reading the WADU African Diaspora resolution to the AU calling for the African Union and African Diaspora Summit leaders in South Africa from May 25-26, 2012 be reflective of, dedicated to, and in honor of the work and vision of the Legendary Ambassador Dudley Thompson and other great Pan Africanists. Dr. Jeffries urged everyone to dedicate the year 2012 in service, struggle and study of the legacy exemplified by Ambassador Dudley Thompson.
WADU 2012 AFRICAN DIASPORA RESOLUTION
For Africa Month in May, Economic, Cultural and Political Rebirth
WHEREAS, Africa and African people have originated civilizations and have greatly contributed to the very foundation of modern sciences, philosophies and spiritual systems across the world; and
WHEREAS, for centuries Africans everywhere have been severely oppressed and underdeveloped due to the horrifying experiences of slavery, imperialism, colonialism and (neo)-colonialism; and
WHEREAS, great African and African Diaspora leaders have sacrificed through hard work and struggles to liberate and unify Africa and African people worldwide leading to the establishment of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in May 1963, now the African Union (AU); and
WHEREAS, African Union leaders have recently taken the initiative to invite and encourage the full participation of the African Diaspora as an important part of our continent, in the building of the African Union » and have taken concrete steps to support this initiative; and
WHEREAS, the World African Diaspora Union (WADU) has responded under the leadership of His Excellency Dudley Thompson, other esteemed leaders, and diverse representatives of organizations of the African Diaspora to establish the Sixth (6) Diaspora Region for the union and development of Africans; and
WHEREAS, WADU and other Diaspora organizations support the 21st Century economic initiative by the African Union Diaspora Task Team (AUDITT) to establish a Data Base Bank of ten thousand (10,000) African Diaspora Organizations and Individuals, starting with the Greater New York Area, for the sustainable development of Africa.
Now therefore:
BE IT RESOLVED that this month of May be established as Africa Month by the AU and all organizations of African people in Africa, and the African Diaspora accept the full month of May to honor our great African legacy, to celebrate the struggles for freedom and independence and to further the union of African people globally, and
BE IT RESOLVED that the AU and the African Diaspora work as partners for the economic empowerment of our people by promoting sustainable development of our human capital to maximize our capacity for business, trade, investments and commerce between Africa and the African Diaspora, and
BE IT RESOLVED that the African Diaspora and the African Union work together for the propagation of the teachings of our Pan African history, heritage, culture and the sciences to our children, by establishing Pan African university programs and projects across the world, and
BE IT RESOLVED that the African Union take decisive actions to promote African Diaspora (dual) citizenship, political and social representation in the African Union, reparations, and the immediate union of Africa by 2017 on the 100 birthday of His Excellency Dudley Thompson, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the decisions by African Union and African Diaspora Summit leaders in South Africa from May 25-26, 2012 be reflective of, dedicated to and in honor of the work and vision of the Legendary Ambassador Dudley Thompson and other great Pan Africanists, and finally
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the African Union and all African Diaspora organizations accept this resolution on this day of May 14, 2012, during Africa Month at the AU Headquarters in NY, be known as the Ambassador Dudley Plan for Empowerment of Black people in the world.
Presented to The African Union (AU) on May, 14, 2012
Submitted by WADU
His Excellency Dudley Thompson, President Emeritus
Rev. Dr. Ndugu TOfori-Atta, Chair Emeritus
Dr. Leonard Jeffries, President,
Dr. Niara Sudarkasa (Interim Chair)
Mother Sybil Clarke, Queen Mother
Dr. Joyce King, Commissioner
Dr. Andy Kweku Thompson, Commissioner
Nana Yaa Farika Birhane, Commissioner
Prof. James Small, Commissioner
Dr. Julius Garvey, Executive Support
Dr. Molefi Asante, Executive Support
Omowale Clay, Executive Support
Dr. Georgina Falu, Executive Support
Dr. Ashe Taylor, Executive Support
Joe Beasley, Executive Support
Baba John Watusi Branch, Chief of Secretariat (718-523-3312)
Minister P.D. Menelik Harris, Secretary General (404-822-2049)
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