Thursday, May 3rd
6:00 – 7:30 pm

Land Grabs in Africa: Economic Growth or Re-colonization?
Anuradha Mittal of The Oakland Institute

At the James Irvine Foundation Conference Center at the
East Bay Community Foundation, 200 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland
12th Street/City Center BART

RSVP requested.

African countries are recording unprecedented economic growth while income
inequity is higher than ever. The current model of economic structure is considered a success as countries compete with one another to open up their markets to foreign investors buying mass acres of land and extracting resources.

When land is owned/leased by foreign investors, what happens to communities forced off their ancestral homes? Many are internally displaced
while others migrate in search of better opportunities elsewhere. These considerations are challenging traditional concepts of nationhood
and sovereignty, examining historic experiences of colonialism of the past and present.

The talk will provide an overview of the reality of land grabs in Africa, based on extensive research and advocacy conducted by the Oakland Institute. Learn about resistance from impacted communities, grassroots and national organizations in Africa, and solidarity networks.

Anuradha Mittal is founder and executive director of the Oakland Institute.
Starting 2011, the Institute has unveiled land investment deals in Africa which reveal a disturbing pattern of a lack of transparency, fairness, and accountability. The dynamic relationship between research, advocacy, and international media coverage has resulted in an amazing string of successes and organizing in the U.S. and abroad.

Sponsoring Organizations:

African Immigrant Social & Cultural Services (AISCS)
African Women's Development Fund, USA
Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI)
Center for African Studies, U.C. Berkeley
International Development Exchange (IDEX)
Global Exchange
Global Fund for Women
New Field Foundation
Oakland Institute
Pambazuka News