Breaking Through Power conference

The Breaking through Power conference held by Ralph Nader gave attendees tips on penetrating power systems including the government, press and social constructs, and avoiding civic apathy.

Breaking through Power celebrates the 50th anniversary of Unsafe at Any Speed. This book by Ralph Nader, former presidential candidate, is cited for bringing new ideas to the forefront about consumer, environmental and worker safety protections.

This four day conference, which started Monday, is being sponsored by the Center for Study of Responsive Law. The conference includes a host of speakers that will cover topics such as breaking through apathy, shifting power, models for citizen action and defending yourself using tort law.

The first day’s theme was Building Civic Skills: Breaking through Apathy featuring speakers such as Janine Jackson, program
director at Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, and Peter Drier, chair of Urban and Environmental Policy Department at Occidental College.

“There is no substitute for informing yourself as a citizen,” said Jackson.

The second half of the day focused on social change.

“Radical ideas of tomorrow became realities of today,” said Dreier. “You can’t kill an idea,” he said.

The day concluded with a lecture from Ralph Nader on civic apathy and getting a movement started. Nader pointed out that civic engagement should be taught in schools and how to be a “productive and functioning citizen” needs to be developed early.

Nader accredits the phenomenon of civic apathy to people being afraid to break routine. “If you are a part of the risk, you are more likely to be a part of the solution,” Nader said.