Noel Sheppard at
Newsbusters.org has already highlighted some of the very special keynote speakers including Van Jones, Al Gore, and the EPA's Lisa Jackson. Noel also highlighted some of the
questionable instructors and workshops led by representatives of the International Socialists.
Many more of the usual radical leaders and groups are represented in the weekend workshops, including the following:
Jamie Henn, Bill McKibben, 350.org
Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, Green For All Chief Executive Officer
Brad Johnson, Center for American Progress
Janet Redman, Institute for Policy Studies
John Feffer, Institute for Policy Studies
Of course, Sierra Club, Greenpeace, and Natl. Wildlife Fed. are well represented
Morgan Goodwin, Avaaz
Corinne Hart, United Nations Foundation, Department of Energy Access
Lisa Graves, Center for Media and Democracy
Duncan Meisel, US Uncut/Billionaires for Wealthcare
Jane Hamsher, Founder, Firedoglake
What I found the most disturbing of all was a series of workshops on building political power, including "Uncloaking the Kochs." Take a look at the description, and most of all, take a look at the panelists:
Building Political Power - Uncloaking the Kochs
This panel will discuss the undue influence that the Koch Brothers, their front groups, and corporations have on our elections and what it means for environmental reform.
Doug Clopp, Common Cause
Joel Francis
Connor Gibson, Greenpeace
Lisa Graves, Center for Media and Democracy
Brad Johnson, Center for American Progress
Another session under the Building Political Power umbrella is on current actions being taken by the Obama administration:
Representatives from the Obama Administration will discuss successful programs and efforts around sustainability, climate and energy, and efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This panel will be moderated by Kalpen Modi, and include representatives from the White House, Department of Energy and other agencies.
These are just highlights from one segment of the overall weekend schedule. It is clear that many representatives from our current administration are working hand in hand with some of the more radical and Soros sponsored groups in the US to "educate" our youth. How was this weekend described to participants?
The good folks at Powershift introduce
the weekend to applicants this way:
When you apply, you're taking a real leadership role in the next phase of our movement and we'll support you all the way. You'll attend one of seven Regional Trainings to meet others on the training team, experience the Movement Building Forums, and then prepare to lead them yourself at Power Shift 2011. Along the way, you'll work with Lead Trainers and organizers from the New Organizing Institute Education Fund, who have developed trainings and campaigns in the immigration, labor and equal rights movements.
So, who are the people at the
New Organizing Institute (NOI)? According to
DiscoverTheNetworks:
On November 22, 2005, MoveOn.org Executive Director Eli Pariser announced that his group had created the New Organizing Institute (NOI), "a unique grassroots program that trains young, technology-enabled political organizers to work for progressive campaigns and organizations." Victory in the 2006 midterm elections was NOI's immediate priority. Said Pariser: "The Internet has made huge changes in politics... Now, our [MoveOn's] former Organizing Director Zack Exley is working on cultivating the next generation of 'online organizers' at the New Organizing Institute. The first step: find 50 talented up-and-coming organizers, put them through an all-expenses-paid training week, and place them on 2006 campaigns where they can really make a difference."
Current
board members at NOI include those currently or formerly with AFL-CIO,
MoveOn.org, and
Avaaz.
Kevin Bondelli's blog, promoting last year's Boot Camp from NOI, boasts of the alumni from these events:
Alumni of BootCamp have gone on to serve as field organizers, new media and executive directors for organizations like Organizing for America, SEIU, GetEQUAL, the ONE Campaign, the Ruckus Society, The League of Young Voters, Color of Change, MoveOn, NRDC, and many, many others.
We were already aware of many ways that the radical progressives are working to enlist the world's youth, such as using
social networking and
online social gaming. Add this weekend's organizing event to the ever growing list, combining radical progressive groups with our government representatives. With the names and agendas of those involved, it is difficult to deny what end result they are hoping for.