It is a fact that the western world continues to steal over 90% of Africa’s resources. With the theft of oil, diamonds, bauxite, gold, coltan, and countless other valuable commodities, imperialist powers have been able to supply their citizens with prosperity at the expense of African people. It is through this extraction of resources that the African working class and poor peasantry lack adequate access to water, electricity, and other essentials.

Continuing in its decades-long mission to promote democracy and freedom for Africans throughout the world, the African People’s Socialist Party has created a program in which Africans trained in engineering, science, and healthcare can bring together their resources to benefit African people around the globe. The All African People’s Development and Empowerment Project (AAPDEP) exists to establish programs on the continent of Africa and wherever African people are, that will enable them to control and benefit from their own resources and labor. Instead of relying on western NGO’s and philanthropists, AAPDEP will build the capacity of African workers themselves to transform the conditions imposed on them by imperialism and to realize a united, independent and healthy Africa.

One crucial component of AAPDEP is the creation of the African Corps of Engineers, Scientists, and Healthcare Workers (ACESH). This organization is open to Africans who have obtained skills in any of these fields, and who are willing to unite with the Uhuru Movement’s goals of African unity and self-determination.

These projects will bring trained African scientists to communities on the continent that lack essentials. Initial plans are in place to improve the water quality, farming practices, electricity generation, and health care in counties such as Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe. AAPDEP will utilize environmentally-friendly, sustainable solutions to assure safe, free access to resources. Filtration of rainwater will provide a cheap, effective method of allowing African people access to an essential resource that their neocolonial governments do not provide for them. In addition, solar, micro-hydro, and wind power are being explored as options for generation of electricity in African communities. With these resources will come political education and a revolutionary consciousness that will enable widespread change of conditions in Africa.

For white people who want to see an end to war and poverty in Africa and elsewhere, the solution is solidarity, not charity. Africans - and all oppressed peoples - must control their own land, resources and destiny. Donating to AAPDEP is one way to express your solidarity with that goal, and take a principled stand against the conditions imposed by imperialism.

Learn more about AAPDEP and the conditions facing African people worldwide on their website (www.DevelopmentForAfrica.org) and from presentations at African People's Solidarity Day events in your area:

October 13 – 14 in Oakland, CA at Beebe Memorial Church, 3900 Telegraph Avenue

October 16 in St. Petersburg, FL at The Studio@620, 620 1st Avenue South

October 20 – 21 in Philadelphia, PA at International House, 3701 Chestnut Street

For more info on African People's Solidarity Day, visit www.apscuhuru.org.

Donations to the All African People's Development and Empowerment Project are being accepted at www.SolidarityForAfrica.org.