Hi all, As some of you know there is an African labor-oriented e-mail list called Afrlabor, which was organized by Carolyn Brown of Rutgers, with a dual purpose of promoting discussion of African labor history, and supporting contemporary African labor movements. Never a huge or high-traffic list, we had a major technical problem with a feedback loop of self-stimulated automatic vacation reply messages from one subscriber's account this summer, that knocked us off-track pretty badly. A number of people left the list at that time. I am posting this message here in hopes that some who left may see it, as well as others not previously involved who might be interested. At the African Studies Association meeting in November, Harold Marcus of H-Africa approached several of us who were meeting about reviving Afrlabor with an invitation to join H-Net (H-Africa has been encouraging the formation of specialized related African lists) as something like H-Aflabor. The attractive features of this invitation include improved technical support, and likely improved visibility & participation. However, there were also some conditions attached, particularly a need to put together an editorial board and to get at least two and preferably a few more people to commit themselves to moderating/editing the list on a rotating basis. So at this point we are trying to find out if there is enough interest to sustain that commitment. I have said that I am willing to be one of the moderators, but can't do so until April; Carolyn is willing, but won't be available until the end of this year. So at minimum we'd need at least one other person willing to be a co-moderator with me beginning in April, and I think a few more willing to be a sort of advisory committee (my memory's a little hazy on that point). If possible it would be nice if the pool of rotating moderators was 3 or 4 people, but we could build towards that. At the ASA meeting we also had some discussion about trying to shift the emphasis on the list a little bit, to make its contemporary and solidarity-oriented dimensions more prominent, although discussion of African labor history would remain important. Personally I am interested in trying to explore the potential of the list to facilitate the gelling of what remains a relatively latent constituency for solidarity with African workers and their movements -- the pattern of the burgeoning solidarity efforts tends to be either among unions from G-7 countries, or towards Asia and Latin America in the developing world. Africa is not yet much in the picture, except for South Africa. I have some ideas about that, and about trying to use the list to connect people (academics, unionists, labor educators, ngo people) and spread information to change it, which I'd be happy to talk about with anyone. Obviously though the balance between contemporary and historical discussions, and academic intellectual and practical intellectual ones, will depend on the interests of list-members. We would like to hear from people who used to be on Afrlabor and left, but would consider rejoining a re-invigorated list within H-Net, and also people who have not been involved previously but have an interest in such a list. Afrlabor in the past has included numbers of people who aren't Africa specialists, but who have either comparative or solidaristic interests, and we continue to welcome such participation. I'd appreciate it if anyone interested would send me a message at <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; tell me if you'd just like to be a member, if you'd be willing to be on an advisory board, or if you'd be willing to be part of a rotating pool of moderators (we're trying to gauge interest at all levels). Other information about the nature of your interest, past experiences with Afrlabor/ reasons for leaving Afrlabor (if relevant) or anything else you think we should know also welcome. Thanks, Chris Lowe (Publications Editor African Studies Center Boston University) [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Chris Lowe)
