By Peter Forman
Published: September 25, 2008
New York—America's first Energy Independence activist and leadership training summit will take place in Chicago on October 24-25, 2008. The Set America Free Coalition, of which MoveBeyondOil.org is a member, will be hosting the event. The list of speakers and experts is impressive--ranging from former CIA Director Jim Woolsey and former National Security Director Bud McFarlane to Frank Gaffney of the Center for Security Policy and Robert Zubrin, author of "Energy Victory."
Peter Forman, Founder and Chairman of MoveBeyondOil.org, will also speak to the issues of when government mandates are appropriate, a review of T. Boone Pickens' proposals, what role drilling should play, and when coal is actually cleaner than oil.
This two-day conference is geared towards activists and others who wish to be more effective in communicating solutions and rebutting faulty arguments. It is an incredible opportunity to sit, hear, dine, and socialize with so many of the movement's leaders.
This is not an environmental conference, per se. It is a solutions-oriented group coming from national security and economic as well as environmental perspectives.
As referenced earlier, topping the long list of experts appearing at the summit will be keynote speakers R. James Woolsey, the CIA director during the Clinton administration and Robert "Bud" McFarlane, the National Security Advisor to Ronald Reagan from 1983-1985. Beyond their experience with presidential administrations, both individuals are still actively exerting their knowledge on security and energy issues: Mr. Woolsey is currently the Co-Chairman of The Committee on the Present Danger and serves as advisor to both the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security and to The Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Mr. McFarlane is the Chairman and CEO of McFarlane Associates Inc, which is focused on alternative energies.
The summit will offer vital information through moderated panel discussions, lectures, and interactive debates. It will guide attendees in how to put that information into useful action through workshops focused on handling naysayers, activating one's community, and engaging elected representatives.
In addition to Jim Woolsey and Robert "Bud" McFarlane, speakers include:
· Gal Luft, Executive Director of Institute for Analysis of Global Security
· Robert Zubrin, President of Pioneer Astronautics and Author of "Energy Victory"
· Peter A. Forman, Founder/Chairman, MoveBeyondOil.org, speaking on when government mandates are appropriate, weakness in natural gas and drilling alternatives, and why coal is cleaner than oil
· Dr. Paul Werbos, Program Director of National Science Foundation
· Chelsea Sexton, Executive Director of Plug In America
· Joel Velasco, Chief U.S. Rep at UNICA (Brazilian Sugar Cane Industry Association), speaking on "Brazil: Sugarcane Ethanol"
· Edwin Black, Author of "Internal Combustion" and "The Plan"
· J. William "Bill" Moore, Publisher and Editor in Chief of EV World
· Frank Gaffney, Founder and President of Center for Security Policy
· Johanna Mendelson-Forman, Senior Associate at America's Program at CSIS
· Sven Thesen, Manager of Strategic Operations at Project Better Place
· Bruce Aitken, President and CEO of Methanex Corporation, speaking on "Methanol: The China Story"
· Mark Dubowitz, Executive Director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
· Anne Korin, Chair of Set America Free
· Jack Grynberg, Grynberg Petroleum, on bio-fuels and impact on developing nations
· Bill Holmberg, Chairman of Biomass Coordinating Council, speaking on "Bottom Up Approach: Getting the Troops Involved"
· Jack Hidary, Co-Founder of Vista Research
· Peter Huessy, CEO & President of GeoStrategic Analysis.
These experts will be engaged in various panels entitled: National Security and Economic Implications of Oil Dependence, Energy Security through Fuel Choice, The Alcohol Standard, Getting Plugged In, World Development Through Food Choice, The Politics of Breaking Free, etc.
This summit is the next step towards mobilizing leaders to help them inspire the citizenry, educate the media, and inform the government.
This conference is our next step toward energy freedom; our next step to move beyond oil.
Register today.
Join us at:
http://setamericafree.roundtablelive.org/Default.aspx?pageId=167829
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