To the editor:
The Lawrence/Douglas County League of Women Voters (LWV) commends the City Commission for ignoring calls from a national pressure group opposed to environmental sustainability (Journal-World, July 20). In particular, Jim Mullins, spokesperson for Americans For Prosperity, asked the commission to:
• defund our sustainability program
• fire its coordinator
• withdraw from an organization of local governments pledged to work for sustainability (the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) and
• promise not to follow any recommendations resulting from a United Nations statement on sustainability (Agenda 21).
The LWV and many other local citizens helped put our sustainability program in place. We want it supported and expanded, not abolished.
Sustainability means leaving the world’s environment to our children in better shape than we found it. AFP says that’s a bad idea because it might violate someone’s property rights. The LWV is also concerned with protecting property rights. We are especially concerned about our rights to use our property and our bodies in a safe environment and not be subjected to pollution.
In addition, the AFP may have a hidden agenda in all this. The AFP was founded and funded by the Koch brothers of Wichita and by other petroleum interests, among the largest sources of carbon dioxide pollution worldwide. Combating climate change may not be their primary concern.
As all Kansans experience this summer’s record breaking temperatures, we thank the commissioners, city and county, for their continued support for environmental sustainability.
Comments
LesBlevins 9 months, 3 weeks ago
All Kansans have indeed experienced this summer’s record breaking temperatures, of that I think we all can agree, but to thank the commissioners, city and county, for their continued support for environmental sustainability is a weird thing for the League of Women Voters to even consider. As far as I can tell the commissioners, both city and county, are maintaining a totally neutral stance between those who advocate sustainability and those who oppose any attempt to achieve it. Combating climate change may not only be their primary concern but doesn't appear to concern them at all and in fact I'm not convinced that it is of any concern of the LWV either.
madameX 9 months, 2 weeks ago
You're not supposed to know about the dragons! points wand at L1 Obliviate!
LesBlevins 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Does the League of Women Voters know that the city of Lawrence refuses to allow me to meet at any time with the city manager to explain how the city could save upwards of about $912,500 per year in landfill fees by converting 100 tons per day of the city's waste into the type of fossil fuel based resources the coal burning power plants and the Koch brothers produce to keep themselves in the highest income brackets by loading up the atmosphere with the greenhouse gasses that produce heat waves and droughts and floods? I actually don't think so and I don't think they want to understand that either. 100X25X365=912,500.
LesBlevins 9 months, 2 weeks ago
If the city of Lawrence is actually a member in an organization of local governments pledged to work for sustainability (the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) and intends to remain in that organization how can they (the city manager and city commission members) explain why they refuse to meet with someone who's stated intent is to show them a way to essentially double sustainability within the city of Lawrence and at the same time cut the city's bottom line expenses? What's wrong with Lawrence? Are the city's managers on the take like the ticket sellers for KU were?
msezdsit 9 months, 2 weeks ago
• defund our sustainability program
• fire its coordinator
• withdraw from an organization of local governments pledged to work for sustainability (the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) and
• promise not to follow any recommendations resulting from a United Nations statement on sustainability (Agenda 21).
Hey now theirs a good solid platform for the "anti people" party. The one that rails about the the national debt they racked up and and how it has to be resolved so we don't have to pass it on to our children. But, by all means, go ahead and destroy the environment and hand them a scorched earth do deal with. Oh the hypocrisy of it all. Oh, and you can throw in starving them and denying them health care to seal the deal.
hellomynameis 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Thank you Jim Mullins for speaking the truth about agenda 21!
quimby 9 months, 2 weeks ago
I commend the LWV for submitting this letter. Opponents of planning and sustainability (which is what AFP's opposition to Agenda 21 is really all about) are gaining larger voices via extremist conservative groups, and supporters need to continue to have an equally loud voice. Representatives of the AFP are most certainly NOT experts on planning or sustainability or Agenda 21.
Hooligan_016 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Good comment, I would have said the exact same thing but you beat me to it! :D
voevoda 9 months, 2 weeks ago
I'm sure that Mr. Mullins means well, but in actuality, sustainability is better for business in the long run.
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