African Activist Archive

Reprint of an article by Jim Bristol, director of the AFSC Peace Education program on Southern Africa. Bristol is a long-time Quaker pacifist involved with the Gandhian movement in India and other nonviolent projects. Bristol discusses concerns some pacifists have about those pacifists, like himself, who attempt to participate in the struggle for liberation and justice, whether within our own country or in the larger context of Asia, Africa and Latin America. One contention is that pacifists should be more positive in making suggestions for action regarding southern Africa rather than advocating that businesses withdraw from South Africa. Bristol contends that saying "No" to things that are having a negative or destructive impact - such as European colonialism, white minority rule and domination, and corporate and financial involvement in South Africa - can be the most positive thing to do. While Bristol continues to think that non-violent means of struggle can be devised, he does not deny the right of people who are oppressed to see violence as the only solution, especially when it is our political and economic system that is oppressing them. From 1969 until the establishment of the MPLA government in Angola in early 1976, U.S. policy (set forth in National Security Studies Memorandum 39) was to pay lip service to majority rule and liberation for southern Africa, while in actual fact throwing our weight behind the white regimes. More recently, in the first nine months of 1976, a consortium of U.S. banks has lent $800 million to South Africa, bringing the total involvement of U.S. financial institutions in South Africa to two billion dollars. Since 1972, U.S. investments in South Africa have grown by 20% per year, to a current level of at least $1.5 billion. These investments have been extremely profitable, producing returns of from 18% to 19% (compared to 11 % for most foreign investments, and less than 10% within the U.S.). White rule in South Africa, Rhodesia and Namibia cannot long endure without U.S. public and private support. Therefore, people who believe in both nonviolence and justice must work for the withdrawal from South Africa of the U.S. government and financial and business institutions. Boycotts of South African goods and of U.S. corporations operating there are also in order. The article discusses reconciling efforts, blacks, freedom fighters, poverty, unemployment, lack of decent education, discrimination, the violence of unjust laws, the pass system, police raids at night, shooting of children, the disappearances of people, detention without charge, negotiations, armed struggle, FNLA, and the Quaker Service Bulletin. [This document was reprinted from WRL Bulletin of the War Resisters League.]

African Activist Archive

Pacifists and Southern Africa

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