Thread: Indoctrinating a New Generation to Think North American

Indoctrinating a New Generation to Think North American

By Dana Gabriel

Recent Wikileaks documents confirm what some of us have been warning about for years, that plans for a North American Union dismissed by many as a conspiracy theory are indeed real. With Canada and the U.S. pursuing a trade and security perimeter agreement which could later include Mexico, it has once again highlighted the whole process of North American integration. This deep-rooted agenda has permeated our schools, universities and other learning institutions. Through various initiatives, the future leaders of tomorrow are being indoctrinated to view themselves as North American citizens as opposed to Canadians, Mexicans or Americans.

In 2005, the North American Forum on Integration (NAFI) a Montreal based think tank pushing for closer continental ties organized the Triumvirate, a North American Model Legislature which meets once a year. The exercise brings together university students from Canada, Mexico and the U.S. with participants assigned the roles of legislators, journalists or lobbyists. Over the years, the mock parliament has debated and drafted resolutions concerning trade corridors, consolidating North American governance, immigration, NAFTA’s Chapter 11, along with the creation of a continental investment fund and a customs union. Many of the issues discussed mirror plans for deeper integration. In a press release from the first Triumvirate, NAFI proclaimed that a North American Parliament is Born. With efforts to establish a common security perimeter, future steps towards political union could bring about the creation of an actual North American Assembly made up of representatives from all three countries. This could also include the adoption of a continental charter of rights.

The Triumvirate 2011 will be held at Arizona State University - Tempe Campus from May 29 to June 3. The objectives of the event include, “To allow participants to familiarize themselves with the functioning of democratic institutions, as well as North American political, economic, environmental and social realities; to develop the participants’ sense of belonging to North America (and) to increase intercultural exchanges and promote the creation of academia networks.â€

Description of the Triumvirate 2011


The North American Forum on Integration (NAFI), in collaboration with the North American Center for Transborder Studies (NACTS) of the Arizona State University (ASU), invites you to Tempe (Arizona) from May 29th to June 3rd, 2011, for the Triumvirate 2011! This 6th edition will gather university students from Mexico, the United States and Canada to participate, in an international negotiation exercise in which they will simulate a parliamentary meeting between North American political actors. The legislators will debate themes of a political, economic and environmental nature, while lobbyists will attempt to influence the legislators’ decisions and the TrilatHerald journalist team will analyze the evolution of the debates.

OBJECTIVES

To bring future Canadian, American and Mexican leaders together in order to experience and take part in an international negotiation exercise.

To allow participants to familiarize themselves with the functioning of democratic institutions as well as North American political, economic, environmental and social realities.

To develop the participants’ sense of belonging to North America.

To increase intercultural exchanges and promote the creation of academia networks.

To inform the current decision makers of the priorities and concerns of North American youth.

Roles

Legislators

Legislators have to face the challenge of representing a country other than their own, which greatly contributes to the development of knowledge. They represent either a federal or state level legislator, which requires the participants to research the strengths and weaknesses of the entity they are representing. During five days, they must debate and vote in plenary sessions and legislative commissions on resolutions that were previously assigned to them. Daily national caucuses allow the legislators to dene their strategies. Legislators are also encouraged to take part in the press conferences in order to share their points of view with the media. A final lobbying session allows them to consolidate alliances and close deals, a few hours before the final vote. At the end of the week, participants fully comprehend the challenges related to international negotiations and better understand North American cooperation realities.


Journalists

A team of journalist prints out a daily newspaper during the simulation. The TrilatHerald covers the developments and evolution of the debates, the press conferences, and interviews with conference speakers, legislators and lobbyists. The newspaper is distributed to the participants and the partner organizations of the Triumvirate. It is also available on NAFI’s website.



Lobbyists

Lobbyists will have to ensure that the amendments to the resolutions respect the interests of the organization they represent as well as the confidential mandate which will be assigned to them by NAFI. Each lobbyist will have to present a memoir within one parliamentary commission; comment on the commissions’ work during caucus meetings; take part in the press conferences, and publish an open letter in the TrilatHerald. The legislators will seek lobbyists´ support for the adoption of the resolutions.
Conference speakers

The Triumvirate oers its participants the opportunity to meet distinguished North American political and academic leaders. In the three first editions, conference speakers, such as former Canadian Ambassador Raymond Chrétien, Inter- American Development Bank President Luis Alberto Moreno, and Dr. Robert A. Pastor, Vice- Director of the American University, helped participants better understand North American issues.
Selection criteria

Each participating university can send a delegation of ten students and an accompanying professor. The selection process is at the university’s discretion but should respect the following criteria established by NAFI. Delegates must :

Be graduate or undergraduate students (except for freshmen undergraduates);
Understand and speak English or/and Spanish;
Have an interest in North American integration issues.



The North American Forum on Integration (NAFI)
3744, Jean-Brillant, bureau 581
Montréal (Québec) Canada H3T 1P1
Tel : 514-343-7874 | Fax : 514-343-7348
www.fina-nafi.org | info@fina-nafi.org


http://www.fina-nafi.org/eng/triumvirat11/default.asp