The Earth Democracy Conference builds on the "Declaration" adopted by the Ecojustice People's Movement Assembly at the 2010 US Social Forum which states: "We support the conclusion that only by 'living well', in harmony with each other and with Mother Earth, rather than 'living better,' based on an economic system of unlimited growth, dominance and exploitation, will the people of this planet not only survive but thrive,'and the ecosystems on which all life depends will flourish.
Confirmed speakers at the Earth Democracy Conference already include:
Arthur Stamoulis, Citizens Trade Campaign Michael Vickerman, Renew Wisconsin David Newby, Pres. Emeritus, Wisconsin State AFL-CIO and Pres. Wisconsin Fair Trade Coalition Linda Sheehan, Earth Law Center Jane M. Goddard, Center for Earth Jurisprudence, Barry School of Law Carolyn Raffensperger, Science and Environmental Health Network Jill Stein, Green Party Presidential Candidate The Pachamama Alliance John Peck, Family Farm Defenders Speakers from Indigenous tribal and local communities on the front lines of resistance to Big Energy, Industry and Ag, and from the Sierra Club John Muir Chapter (Madison); others to be announced as confirmed.
Plenary:
Climate and Planet Earth Emergency: Debunking carbon markets and the neo-liberal "green" economy/moving beyond dirty fuels and false solutions to create a true green economy grounded in climate and environmental justice for all.
Planned conference sessions include:
●Climate and Planet Earth Emergency: Big Energy and Industry/ Big Pollution/Big Resistance: the XL Pipeline, Fracking Sand Pits, Penokee Hills Taconite Mine, and High-Capacity Water Pumping: learn the issues and non violent resistance strategies from Indigenous tribal and local communities on the front lines.
●The Pachamama's Alliance Awakening the Dreamer Symposium: a transformational educational workshop to "change the dream of the modern world" that is threatening the well-being of the plant and empower participants to investigate their unique role in transforming humanity's future.
●Guardianship for Future Generations and the Rights and Responsibilitiesof Present Generations
●Earth Democracy Workshop: Teach-In/Teach-Back: interactive discussion of community initiatives to protect public health and ecosystems: the Precautionary Principle, rights of nature, guardianship, and more.
●Bees, Butterflies and GMO Crops: Say No to Monsanto and Dow Chemical - challenging corporate-controlled agriculture/creating healthy farmer-controlled food systems. Learn about local ordinances to protect local food.
●Hands off Mother Earth: Writing Earth Rights into Law: local, national, and international movements and success stories. Local initiatives to protect springs and rivers.
●Declare your Community a TPP-Free Zone to establish local democracy and nature's rights. Pres. Obama wants to sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement that includes 12 Pacific Rim nations before the New Year. The TPP will accelerate plunder of the earth and seriously harm the health of all beings. Learn the TPP basics; how the TPP protects corporate wealth and property, and why the TPP must be stopped.
Special Activities: Food Fair featuring produce and products from local farmers, Urban Agriculture Bike Tour, Artistic Activism for Children
The Earth Democracy Conference at the 2013 Democracy Convention will provide space for attendees to discuss, debate and strategize how to ensure that the growing U.S. democracy movement encompases those working on the frontlines of eco-justice.
If you want to strengthen democracy where it matters most ... in our communities, our schools, our workplaces and local economies, our military, our government, our media, our constitution ... you will find something inspiring in Madison this August. Join us at the second national Democracy Convention.
More than one conference, the Democracy Convention houses at least nine conferences under one roof. As the great progressive reformer Fighting Bob La Follette said, "democracy is a life," and "involves constant struggle" in all sectors of society. With the Democracy Convention, we recognize the importance of each of these separate democracy struggles, as well as the need to unite them all in a common, deeply rooted, broad based, movement for democracy.
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