Power Shift 2012 Conference Begins With Powerful Presentations

Brigette DePape (Photo credit: qu1j0t3)

Electric young keynote activist speakers and live performances before 1000 attendees kicked off the Power Shift 2012 conference last night at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau. MCs  Brigette DePape and Clayton Thomas-Mueller of set the tone for the rest of the night – and the 4-day conference – when they invited the participants to rousing chants of: Power Shift! and Stop Harper!.

Find out why Brigette is super-excited about PowerShift 2012.

The 4-day conference, which brings 1000 youth to Ottawa and Gatineau to demand that the Harper Government act to stop climate change and social injustice, and end annual handouts of “$1.4 billion in taxpayer money to the richest, dirtiest corporations in the world.” 

RELATED:  The Canadian Progressive covers Power Shift 2012 Conference

Then the activist speakers pitched in.

Annie St. George:
The Algonquin Elder opened the conference with a opening statement and prayer.  She invited us all to remember that our very existence depends on our respect for Mother Earth and all of creation, down to the smallest insect.

Melina Laboucan-Massimo:
Laboucan-Massimo is a member of the Lubicon Cree First Nation. She has worked with a range of organizations including Redwire Media Society, the Indigenous Media Arts Group, and the Indigenous Environmental Network. She currently works as a Climate and Energy Campaigner with Greenpeace Canada. The highlight of her personal presentation was this famous Cree Indian prophesy statement:

Only after the last tree has been cut down, Only after the last river has been poisoned, Only after the last fish has been caught, Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten.