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JdanitarMlcroscDpe. A Close-Up View Os Third World Events" I A Close-Up View Os Third World Events .. .And What They Mean To You. | ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE... I The appearance of Swaziland’s distin- I guished and bespectacled Minister of Agri- I culture, the Honorable Abednigo K. Hlope, ( before the United Nations General Assem- I bly this past fall in traditional dress (or I what some had called “half naked”) was infinitely more than a personal act of dar ing. Mr. Hlope’s chest and mid-section were bare, except for native beads and pendants. He wore a leopard skin short skirt and arm bands of long animal hair. His appearance in this manner was one more major sign that the “emerging na tions” are, indeed emerging... and that they intend to be respected on their own terms. One especially significant sign of this strongly emergent stance was reflected in the current demands of the Central Afri can Herbalist and Traditional Medicine Association of Central Africa to be granted official recognition as medical practitioners by the World Health Organization (WHO). It would be difficult, to say the least, for these more than 40,000 “medicine men” (often called “witch doctors”) not to be accorded some appropriate category of recognition. Those familiar with their art are mindful that their practices combine some sound sociological insight, a percep tive sense of psychology and some hard nosed common sense health practices. The results, while not European in origination, are perhaps most often strikingly effective. Another more than passing bit of evi dence of an emergent or an ascendant spirit among the so-called developing nations is the slow but steady authenticity given the principle that the far too burdensome for eign debts of most emerging nations should be forgiven. For years the major world powers viewed this conviction, when enunciated in inter national assemblies, as sheer impudence. But the emerging nations persisted in devel oping the idea that inordinate debt interest could scarcely match any reasonable for eign aid and also would make much-needed foreign investments in mining or cultivating crucially needed raw materials well-nigh counter-productive. This past year, the emerging nations have begun to reap a promising harvest on their persistent logic which was viewed not long ago as hypocrisy and arrogance. Sweden .led the way which other major powers are mindful that they must follow in forgiving S2OO million of debts owed by developing nations. Even the United States, often slow to move in the acceptance of the logic of “lesser powers,” has begun to revise its s formulas for foreign aid in a manner ap proaching the spirit of “debt interest” and “actual debt” forgiveness. An even more telling sign of the ascen dant influence of the emerging nations was -a short-lived victory of a kind for these , smaller and largely Third World nations in - the highly controversial International La r bor Organization (or ILO). s The ILO was a major holdover from the old and ill-fated League of Nations. For years it was dominated by the leading world : powers; and the ILO sought, often success fully, to impose European and American i labor, health and other Western World social theories upon the once impotent, but presently emergent developing nations. When the one-nation, one vote principle t made it possible for large numbers of > smaller nations to effectively control the F ILO —even though this world body (as with I the UN as a whole) has no actual powers— some European nations became alarmed. : Repeatedly, some major world powers have I threatened to either cut off financial sup i port or to withdraw from the ILO. There had been a continuing debate in this regard among members of the U.S. Congress. The United States two years ago had : served notice of its official intention to ' withdraw from the International Labor Organization after it had roundly con demned Israel as a nation inimical to world peace. Sensitive observers knew that the ostensible knock at Israel was in reality a kick in the face for the United States. The powers voting to condemn Israel were largely friendly in their individual relations, a fact indicative of the highly political character of ILO operations. By early fall, as the United States’ pro jected withdrawal became imminent, Cabi net committee meetings were held at the White House to review the U.S. posture; and recommendations were made for the continued support of and participation in the International Labor Organization by the United States. Meanwhile, the ILO had become—in the minds of some—more cautious in its anti- American stance. But the major world, powers are by and large agreed now that any world forum of nations must, as with the unequally populated by equally repre sented states in the U.S. Senate, each be respectful of the other regardless of present strengths or past traditions in regard to fiscal or policy controls. The prospect that the International Labor Organization will continue to sur vive and prosper is, then, another victory for the emerging nations. It is their major forum for the true voicing, in some of their Have you liven to Operation PUSH, QIC. SCLC, NAACP or the local Urban League this month? stated opinions, of the “one nation, one voice” principle, at least in theory. For many nations, authorized multiple seats are occupied by labor, commerce and govern ment. The continued participation by the AFL CIO and by the U.S. Chamber of Com merce remained, for a time, in doubt. But the principle of “open and equal” partici pation in one of the longest established of world bodies became one which even the United States was willing to openly reject .. .either as a possible “sop” to Israel or as an Administration ploy to mollify a possibly defected U.S. Congress. ON THE NATIONAL SCENE... —The White House... President Car ter’s signing of a Department of Housing and Urban Development measure provid ing funds for the removal of urban physical blight may do some image building for some of our central city physical waste lands. But for inner city residents a larger question remains as to what may be done in terms of human resource development. If, as the most humane sentiment sug gests, “cities are people,” the primary focus in all urban rebuilding must be on the people themselves... who may then create, as they choose, their own proper or appro priate physical environment. Black Americans have been particularly sensitive to the insensitive nature of physi- Helps Shrink Swelling Os Hemorrhoidal Tissues Due To Inflammation. Relieves Pain & Itch... Gives prompt temporary relief in many cases from hemorrhoidal pain and burning itch in such tissues. There’s an exclusive formula tion which actuallyhelps shrink the painful swelling of hemor rhoidal tissues caused by infec tion. In many cases the first applications give prompt, tem porary relief from itching and pain in hemorrhoidal tissues. The sufferer first notices re lief from such painful discom fort. Then this medication helps to gently reduce swelling of hemorrhoidal tissues. Tests con ducted by doctors on hundreds of patients in New York City, Washington, D.C. and at a Mid- New National BLACK MONITOR ■ February, 1978 cal (or urban renewal) programs emanating |u/ from Washington. Black Americans are |||| increasingly of the opinion that blacks must |||| control, that is “own” their own environ- |||| ments, including especially—or most par ticularly—their own homes. One of the major themes of the late Honorable Elijah Mohammad (of doubt- tart less blessed memory!) was that black Americans must engage in independent _ "nation building.” “This must begin,” he repeatedly emphasized, “with the owner ship of our own homes.” H In this sense, black Americans perhaps must consider a call for a halt in all urban | housing which does not involve some form 2« of occupant ownership and control, whe- ther individually (as in a condominium) or collectively (as in a cooperative). 55 That reduced maintenance costs of 200 tart percent of building value could be effected F* within a 20 to 30 year span with occupant ownership rather than rentership has been evident since the early 1960’5. Urban hous- ing clearance by any method may sound good to some politicians and social theor- Ms ists on paper. But the tragic fact is that 2| urban renewal has meant far fewer black home owners in 1977 than in 1947 while white home ownership has soared. It has been an old and apt adage that he ST or she who owns his own home has do- w J minion where he or she may live and has a disproportionately high investment of a long range nature in one’s community, r*? state and nation. R Renters put out as little as they can and seek to gain for that little as much as they possibly can. This is nothing short of a parasitic posture. Home owners make an H||| (Continued on page 13.) Kg. west Medical Center showed this to be true in many cases. The medication used by doctors in these tests was Preparation H*— the same ex clusive formula you can buy at any drug counter without a prescription. Preparation H also lubricates the affected area to protect the inflamed, irri tated surface and so helps make bowel movements more com fortable. There is no other formula like Preparation H. In ointment or suppository form. Page 11