As you know we've been following the Olympics pretty closely and almost everything we've read lately seems to be bad for Chicago's 2016 Bid. Although we're not going to get into a ton of detail on the articles, it simply isn't positive news. The most damaging seems to be an upcoming showdown between the IOC and USOC about revenue-sharing deals. Hopefully both parties can reach an agreement because frankly both rely on each other heavily. If this issue isn't solved it could be the death of Chicago's bid due to the negative feelings that would be harbored by IOC voters.
Other recent negative news include the firing of USOC CEO Jim Scherr and the announcement of various public protests of Chicago's bid when the IOC comes on April 2nd.
Should be a couple of interesting months for Chicago and its 2016 Olympic Bid.
Another big factor will be the state of the economy. Will Chicago be able to demonstrate that they have the ability to attract the corporate sponsorship needed to pull off all of the infrastructure improvements? At the end of the day, if we can not build it, they will not come!
ReplyDeleteThat's the billion dollar question...
ReplyDeleteEnding the Cycle of War - Beyond Corporate Dominance:?
ReplyDeleteWhich Way Forward for the Justice, Peace and Environment Movement?
Call to the
Illinois Coalition for Justice Peace and the Environment
4th Annual Conference?
April 17 & 18 2009
People?s Church, Chicago, Illinois
Friday, April 17th and Saturday, April 18th
Peoples Church ? 941 W. Lawrence Ave ? Chicago, IL
Friday Night Panel
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Will feature distinguished speakers:
Riane Eisler
Dean Baker
Robert Naiman
followed by reception?with cash bar
Friday Night - Requested Donation - $10
Saturday Conference - $25/Students - $15
Saturday Lunch $10 reserved in advance
Saturday Conference
7:45 am - 8:30 am Registration/Welcome/Logistics
8:30 am-9:50am Coalition Business Meeting-Committee Formation
10am- 6:00pm
Three Panel Discussions
each followed by breakout sessions on
Sustainability, Peace and Justice
~?Register Today!?~
conference@ICJPE.org ? 312.480.1331 or 708.447.9577
We invite the activist community of Illinois? greater progressive movement to join the 145 member groups of the Illinois Coalition for Justice, Peace and the Environment to this year's ICJPE Conference.?
This year will be different as we spotlight our theme??
Ending the Cycle of War - Beyond Corporate Dominance:
Which Way Forward for the Justice, Peace and Environment Movement?
in a keynote panel of distinguished speakers.?
?.And we offer three panels of speakers in a solutions driven look at?
Peace, Justice and Sustainability
.?
We call on a wide spectrum of local groups as well as friends and allies from near and far to join in a solutions driven conference where we promote a world of justice, peace and sustainability, celebrate a diverse and interconnected vision for our planet?s future because?.
There is so much to do: economic collapse, planet in peril, widening wars;
We need to find inspiration in the skills and ideas that we as a movement possess. Our collective skills are essential to each other?s work;
A wealth of peace and justice efforts are right here close to home and we need to raise awareness of these opportunities for activism;
We are stronger when we work together and smarter when we learn from each other and
The change that was exhibited at the polls last November can not manifest itself into progressive change for our communities unless we continue to move or push forward.
ICJPE member groups posted an incredible 210 New Actions on the website in the last 12 months. However, these actions represent a fraction of the movement and actions that occur daily in our broader progressive community. This Conference/Exposition aims to reach out with invitations to underrepresented communities as well as to the environmental/sustainability movements to enrich and broaden our work.?
We invite your input and involvement in the upcoming Conference:?
Applications for Tables and/or booths (see below for details)
Proposals for Working Groups that carry our vision and activism though the networks of communications to the corridors or power and into the streets. Deadline for Proposals is April 10th
Send these suggestions to il_conference2009@icjpe.org?
Please check out our website at ICJPE.org to learn more about us and our many member groups. Our Structure and Statement of Values are accessible at Contact>About Us on the website or directly from this link: http://www.icjpe.org/uploads/resources/1199558172.pdf. This is an ideal time to give us a first or another look.?
Make plans to come to Chicago! We?ll see you soon
Conference Details:
Panelists - Friday, April 17 - 7pm
RIANE EISLER is an eminent social scientist, attorney, and author best known for her bestseller The Chalice and The Blade: Our History, Our Future. Her newest book, The Real Wealth of Nations: Creating a Caring Economics ? proposes a new approach to economics that gives visibility and value to the most essential human work: the work of caring for people and planet.Her ideas have inspired thousands of scholars and social activists. Her pioneering work in human rights expanded the focus of international organizations to include the rights of women and children.
DEAN BAKER is co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, DC. He is frequently cited in economics reporting in major media outlets. He writes a weekly column for the Guardian Unlimited (UK), and his blog, Beat the Press, features commentary on economic reporting. His latest book, Plunder and Blunder: The Rise and Fall of the Bubble Economy (PoliPoint Press, 2009), which chronicles the growth and collapse of the stock and housing bubbles. He received his Ph.D in economics from the University of Michigan.
ROBERT NAIMAN is Senior Policy Analyst at Just Foreign Policy. He edits the Just Foreign Policy daily news summary. He blogs on Huffington Post about U.S. foreign policy, with a particular focus on the Middle East, where he was a student at Birzeit University and a volunteer with Christian Peacemaker Teams and Voices in the?Wilderness. He has Masters degrees in Economics and Mathematics from the University of Illinois.
Draft Agenda for Saturday, April 18?
7:45 am - 8:30 am Registration/Welcome/Logistics
Part I - Coalition Business
8:30 am-9:50am Coalition Business Meeting
Part II - Modules
Modules will consist of four panelist/speakers with expertise/experience in their indicated subject areas. During the first hour, panelists will each make a presentation to the full conference.? During the second hour breakout sessions, conference attendees may choose which panelist to follow to ask questions or experience in depth discussion in a separate, smaller setting.
10:00 am - 12:00 pm 1st Module - Sustainability?
10:00 am - 11:00 am Panel - Sustainability
11:00 am - 11:50 noon Breakout Sessions
Dean Baker - The Economics of Sustainability
Rich Whitney /Paula Bradshaw - Bioneers /Transportation
Julie Samuels - Openlands Project
Lili Molina - Little Village Environmental Justice Organization-Sustainable Community/Urban
Beth Drucker -- Sustainable Community/suburban ?
12:00 - 12:45 pm? Lunch
12:45 - 2:45? 2nd Module - Peace?
12:45 - 1:45 pm Panel
1:45 - 2:35 pm 2nd Breakout sessions ?
Jennifer Bing Canar - Middle East
Eunice Escobar - Latin And Central America
Robert Naiman - Just Foreign Policy
4th panelist pending
2:45 - 4:45? 3rd Module - Justice?
2:45 - 3:45 Panel
3:45 - 4:35 pm? Breakout sessions
Joey Mogul - People?s Law Office
UE or Republic Window Representative?
Susan Compernolle - Immigration Rights?
Brent Mesick - Civil Liberties/Constitution
4:45 - 5:15 Full Assembly/Report back
Final Announcements/Closing
5:15pm-6:00pm Geographical/Issue Areas Organizing Meetings
~ PUBLIC WELCOME ~
REGISTRATION FORM?
return by mail to ICJPE c/o Marcia Bernsten, 1213 Maple, Evanston, IL 60202?
Please make checks payable to ICJPE or?
Register online at icjpe.org
Or email il_conference2009@icjpe.org
Return this form or register online by April 10 if possible.
Admission will also be available at the door on a space available basis.
Name:______________________________________
Address:____________________________________
Telephone:___________________________________
Email:_______________________________________
Organization (if any):____________________________
Is Organization a member of the ICJPE?____________ If not would you like it to be?
If your organization is a member, who will pick up the voting cards for the business meeting on Saturday morning? _______________________
____ Enclosed is $10 for the Friday night panel
____Enclosed is $25 for the Saturday conference
____Enclosed is $15 for the Saturday conference student fee
____Enclosed is $10 for the Saturday lunch
____Enclosed is $45 for the whole conference lunch included