With perpetual wars, bailouts, fiscal insolvency, and the continuing degradation of civil liberties, the country has no hope for righting itself without a return to “First Principles.” As Vern McKinley, Stephen Halbrook, and Don Boudreaux will show, these principles are fiscal responsibility, limited government, strong protection of civil liberties and the right to bear arms, and a commitment to promoting free, peaceful, and prosperous societies. Join us at this great event that will be followed promptly by a book signing with the authors.

On November 15, 2011, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former President of Poland, Lech Wałęsa, Nobel Laureate Mario Vargas Llosa, and Dr. Robert Higgs were honored at the Independent Institute’s 25th Anniversary Gala Reception and Dinner. Each honoree received the Alexis de Tocqueville Award in recognition of their exceptional contributions to humanity in advancing the ideas and ideals of individual liberty, entrepreneurship, personal responsibility, civic virtue, and the rule of law.

The proposed Global Climate Treaty and California state mandates call for extensive government controls to reduce fossil fuel use. Yet, is there scientific evidence to support such measures? Based on the latest research, renowned astrophysicist S. Fred Singer will separate fact from fiction in this raging global warming debate.

Co-hosted with the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, this one-day conference, featuring the Institute’s Research Fellow Emily Skarbek, will shed light on the movement toward economic liberty in Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East.