THE VERMONT INDEPENDENCE CONVENTION
An Impossible Dream or a Vision of the Future?
State House Montpelier, Vermont , October 28, 2005
James Howard Kunstler, author of The Long Emergency, will be the keynote speaker at The Vermont Convention on Independence to be held in the House Chamber of the State House in Montpelier on Friday October 28th. Sponsored by the Second Vermont Republic, the convention, which will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 5:00 p.m., is open to the public and free of charge.
This historic event will be the first statewide convention on secession in the United States since North Carolina voted to secede from the Union on May 20, 1861.
Other speakers will include Professor Frank Bryan, UVM; Kirkpatrick Sale, author of Human Scale, J. Kevin Graffagnino, Executive Director, Vermont Historical Society; Professor Eric Davis, Middlebury College; Shay Totten, editor, Vermont Guardian; Antoine Robitaille, journalist Le Devoir (Quebec City); G. Roderick Lawrence, CEO, Stevenson Kellogg (Canada); (Rev.) Ben T. Matchstick; and General Ethan Allen (aka Jim Hogue). General Allen is expected to travel by horse to the State House.
The objectives of the convention are twofold. First, to raise the level of awareness of Vermonters of the feasibility of independence as a viable alternative to a nation which has lost its moral authority and is unsustainable. Second, to provide an example and a process for other states and nations which may be seriously considering separatism, secession, independence, and similar devolutionary strategies.
The Second Vermont Republic is a peaceful, democratic, grassroots, libertarian populist movement committed to the return of Vermont to its status as an independent republic as it once was between 1777 and 1791.
The Program
8:30 a.m. Registration
9:00 a.m. Invocation: “In the name of the great Jehovah, and the Continental Congress, “(Rev.) Ben T. Matchstick, former Bread & Puppet puppeteer
9:10 a.m. The Challenge: “I am resolutely determined to defend the independence of Vermont,” Ethan Allen (aka Jim Hogue)
9:20 a.m. Welcome: Thomas H. Naylor, a founder of the Second Vermont Republic
9:30 a.m. Our History: “The Quotable Ethan Allen,” J. Kevin Graffagnino, executive director, Vermont Historical Society
10:15 a.m. Vermont Independence: “The View from Big Hollow Road,” Frank Bryan, professor of political science, UVM, author, Real Democracy
11:00 a.m. Keynote Address: “The Cheap Oil Endgame,” James Howard Kunstler, author, The Long Emergency
Noon Lunch Break
1:00 p.m. Media Independence: Shay Totten, editor, Vermont Guardian
1:30 p.m. Second Vermont Republic: Thomas H. Naylor, author, The Vermont Manifesto
2:00 p.m. Secession Panel: “Impossible Dream or a Vision of the Future?”
Dr. Rob Williams (chair), teacher, historian, writer, and webmaster, Vermont Commons
Prof. Eric Davis, professor of political science, Middlebury College
Rowan Jacobsen, editor, Vermont Commons
Jane Dwinell, executive director, Second Vermont Republic
Dennis Morrisseau, Congressional candidate
3:15 p.m. Canadian Perspective:
Antoine Robitaille, philosopher, journalist, Le Devoir (Quebec City)
G. Roderick Lawrence, CEO, Stevenson Kellogg (Toronto, Ottawa)
4:00 p.m. Dissolution of the Empire: “The Middlebury Institute,” Kirkpatrick Sale, author Human Scale
4:30 p.m. Discussion and Vermont Independence Resolution
5:00 p.m. Benediction: (Rev.) Ben T. Matchstick
For information contact: Thomas H. Naylor 802-425-4133 or Jane Dwinell 802-229-4008, info@vermontrepublic.org
CLARIFICATION
ALEXANDER COCKBURN, JEFFREY ST CLAIR, BECKY GRANT AND THE INSTITUTE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF JOURNALISTIC CLARITY, COUNTERPUNCH
We published an article entitled “A Saudiless Arabia” by Wayne Madsen dated October 22, 2002 (the “Article”), on the website of the Institute for the Advancement of Journalistic Clarity, CounterPunch, www.counterpunch.org (the “Website”).
Although it was not our intention, counsel for Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi has advised us the Article suggests, or could be read as suggesting, that Mr Al Amoudi has funded, supported, or is in some way associated with, the terrorist activities of Osama bin Laden and the Al Qaeda terrorist network.
We do not have any evidence connecting Mr Al Amoudi with terrorism.
As a result of an exchange of communications with Mr Al Amoudi’s lawyers, we have removed the Article from the Website.
We are pleased to clarify the position.
August 17, 2005