High Impact Leadership Coalition

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The High Impact Leadership Coalition (HILC) describes itself as working "to protect the moral compass of America and be an agent of healing to our nation by educating and empowering churches, community and political leaders".[1] The group's founder and chairman is Bishop Harry R. Jackson Jr., the Senior Pastor of Hope Christian Church in the Washington, DC area[2], and radio commentator broadcast on approximately 400 stations via Salem Radio and American Family Radio networks.[3]

"Don't freeze us out" campaign pushes for oil and gas exploration

In December 2008, HILC and the industry-funded former civil rights group Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) announced a a campaign called "don't freeze us out," which supports "a Bush administration auction in Utah of oil and gas leases, some near national parks." Environmentalists, including Robert Redford, are urging President-elect Barack Obama to overturn the already-completed auction. CORE's Niger Innis vowed, "We are not going to stand by as Robert Redford tries to slow the flow of home heating fuel from the Rockies and drive up home heating prices to millions of Americans in his lust for environmental headlines." [4]

According to a CORE press release, the "don't freeze us out" campaign "will seek to organize churches, civil rights groups, consumer groups and others 'to fight Redford and self-styled environmental groups that are working to constrict supplies of natural gas and other energy resources.'" Innis "also recently appeared at a press conference in Washington ... in support of the Americans for American Energy Act sponsored by Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah." [4]

HILC and CORE protested Redford outside the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, in January 2009. Protesters included CORE's Niger Innis, HILC's Bishop Harry Jackson Jr., Bishop Phillip Porter of Colorado Consumers for Affordable Energy, Bishop Bobbie Allen and former Cincinnati Councilman Sam Malone. "Using federal studies and statistics, The Wilderness Society calculated the natural gas recoverable from the 77 contested parcels would be the equivalent of two days of national consumption. The oil recoverable from those parcels would last 1 hour and 40 minutes at today's consumption rate," the Salt Lake Tribune reported. [5] [6]

"Stop the war on the poor" pro-drilling campaign

In July 2008, HILC -- along with the pro-drilling front group Americans for American Energy and CORE -- launched a campaign to "Stop the War on the Poor." The goal of the campaign was to increase U.S. domestic oil and gas production. [7]

The campaign was launched at a Washington DC rally on July 15, 2008. Rally speakers stressed "the need to expand domestic oil and gas production with the goal of reducing fuel costs for low-income households that feel a disproportionate pinch from rising energy prices," reported Greenwire. Signs at the rally included "My family needs affordable energy" and "Environmental groups don't feed my family." CORE received $250,000 in funding from ExxonMobil from 2003-2005[8]. CORE's Niger Innis said the group favors "government spending on oil shale, coal and drilling on the continental shelf and throughout Alaska," because "when these resources are developed ... that is going to have a direct impact on the price of fuel." While some rally attendees told Greenwire about their difficulties "budgeting around today's gasoline prices," others "backd away from a reporter with a notebook. ... One woman, who declined to give her name, said she was demonstrating at her boss's behest." [7]

Advisory Board Members

Contact details

High Impact Leadership Coalition
PO Box 505
College Park, MD 20741
Phone: 240-845-0388
Fax: 240-845-0382
Email: info AT hilc.net Website: http://www.thetruthinblackandwhite.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=section&pSectionID=5

Articles and resources

Related SourceWatch articles

References

  1. "HILC", The Truth in Black and White, accessed January 2009.
  2. "Bishop Jackson's Bio", High Impact Leadership Coalition website, accessed January 2009.
  3. High Impact Leadership Coalition, "The Show", High Impact Leadership Coalition website, accessed January 2009.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Lee Davidson, "Group protests Redford's stand on drilling," Deseret News (Utah), December 31, 2008.
  5. Patty Henetz, "Protesters label Redford an enemy of the poor: Clergymen link famed moviemaker's stance to racism," Salt Lake Tribune (Utah), January 14, 2009.
  6. Rebecca Walsh, "How to work the media," Salt Lake Tribune (Utah), January 14, 2009.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Jenny Mandel, "Industry group uses civil-rights theme in bid for expanded drilling," Greenwire (Environment & Energy Publishing, sub req'd), July 17, 2008.
  8. Foundation Center, "Foundation Directory Online (sub req'd), July 29, 2008.

External resources

External articles

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