20/20 Vision is organizing this series of conferences to better understand the dangers of U.S. oil dependence and to explore the most promising solutions.

The 2006 PowerShift National Tour is a public education effort designed to engage decision-makers, youth, farmers, media and the general public on energy security. With the rise in gas prices after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, continued instability among the world's largest oil-producing nations, and indications that global warming may be reaching a "tipping point" of no return, America is ready to look at long-term solutions to our dependence on oil. 20/20 Vision is organizing a series of regional events on university campuses and a national youth conference in Washington, DC to better understand the dangers of US oil dependency to our economy, security and environment, while exploring promising solutions.

Tour Schedule for Events and Conferences:

  • April 1 — Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
  • April 8 — Portland State University, Portland, OR
  • April 20 — Indiana-Purdue University, Fort Wayne, IN*
  • April 29 — University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
  • July 19 — National Conference in Washington, DC

*Oil Shockwave College Tour only event

Featured Keynote Speakers:

  • R. James Woolsey, former CIA director — Kalamazoo, MI and Washington, DC
  • Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) — Portland, OR
  • General Merrill A. McPeak, former Air Force Chief of Staff &mdash Portland, OR
  • Franklin D. Kramer, former Assistant Secretary of Defense — Fort Wayne, Indiana
  • Congressman Dennis Moore (D-KS) — Lawrence, KS
  • Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) — Washington, DC
  • Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) — Washington, DC
  • Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA) — Washington, DC
  • Mayor Rocky Anderson (D-Salt Lake City, UT) — Washington, DC
  • Andy Karsner, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, US Department of Energy — Washington, DC

 

Time for you to make a PowerShift

A primary goal of the events is to look at oil dependency as a national security, environmental and economic issue. By doing so, we can bridge the gap between federal and state decision-makers, industry, farmers, environmentalists, students and the public. This forum will begin to explore some promising solutions (such as alternative fuels, new automobile technologies and demand reductions) and national policies that can reduce oil consumption. Now is the time to pull these issues together and show Americans how their energy choices can affect the economy, their health and national security.

As history has shown, the place to spark discussions of this nature is on the campuses of major colleges and universities throughout the country. Universities are centers of learning and public debate for their communities as a whole. Young people voted in record numbers in 2004 and are expected to stay involved in national policy debates. Students are concerned about energy dependence and the long-term impacts this may have on our national security, terrorism, the draft, taxes, the environment and education funding. And, being young, they have a long-term view of the future and will inherit the costs and benefits of decisions made today. It is essential that students and the public begin to understand how security and energy affect their daily lives and to work together for a secure future.

Energy Security For the 21st Century

20/20 Vision Education Fund is sponsoring this series of regional conferences and Oil Shockwave ® Campus Tour events throughout the month of April 2006 that will culminate with a national youth conference in Washington, DC. The events will run for a full day and include a keynote address, panels on the dangers of oil dependence and on possible solutions and will conclude with an Oil Shockwave simulation.

For the Oil Shockwave Campus Tour simulation, we will have the president’s cabinet played by college professors, students and in some cases, prominent members of the local community. The simulation will be open to the public and the media.