Volume 4, Number 5 -- September 24, 1999

Extortion: any undue exercise of power*

*an 1828 Webster Dictionary Definition

The State of Connecticut has enacted public law 99-226. The law is the first of its kind in the United States. The law grants preferential treatment to any company that will comply with:

1. the business is registered as meeting the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Standard and

2. has adopted principles for sustainability such as the CERES principles, the Natural Step, the Hanover Principles or equivalent internationally recognized principles for sustainability as determined by the commissioner,

What is ISO? Many people will have noticed a seeming lack of agreement between the official title when used in full -- International Organization for Standardization -- and the short form -- ISO. Shouldn't the acronym be "IOS"? Yes, if it were an acronym -- which it is not.

In fact, "ISO" is a word, derived from the Greek isos, meaning "equal", which is the root of the prefix "iso-" that occurs in a host of terms, such as "isometric" (of equal measure or dimensions) and "isonomy" (equality of laws, or of people before the law). ¹

When was it organized? "ISO is a non-governmental organization established in 1947." ²

What is a non-governmental organization? The NGO Global Network states "....our global NGO community (Non-governmental organizations associated with the United Nations) ... Its aim is to help promote collaborations between NGOs throughout the world, so that together we can more effectively partner with the United Nations and each other to create a more peaceful, just, equitable and sustainable world for this and future generations." ³

Due to space limitations we will discuss The Natural Step. (The Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies (CERES) and the Hanover Principles hold to essentially the same principles.)

There are five steps or principles stipulated by the Natural Step. They are:

1. Does your organization systematically decrease its economic dependence on underground metals and other minerals?

2. Does your organization systematically decrease its economic dependence on fossil fuels?

3. Does your organization systematically decrease its economic dependence on persistent synthetic substances?

4. Does your organization systematically decrease its economic dependence on activities which encroach on productive ecosystems?

5. Does your organization systematically decrease its economic dependence on using a large amount of resources in relation to added human value?⁴

What is The Natural Step?

"The Natural Step (TNS) is an international network of non-profit educational organizations working to build an ecologically and economically sustainable society. TNS provides a scientifically-based planning framework that serves as a compass for businesses, communities, academia, government entities, and individuals working to redesign their activities to become more sustainable." ⁵

Is there a connection to Agenda 21 the United Nations program for the world?

"The Natural Step, coupled with the United Nations' Agenda 21 action plan for the 21st Century (developed at the 1992 U.N. Earth Summit in Rio), the eco-municipality movement, and other initiatives, helped bring about an impressive series of shifts in Sweden." ⁶

The Natural Step is well under way in the United States. "Ray Anderson, the head of Interface, the world's largest commercial floor-covering manufacturer.....has entered the speakers' circuit to reach any CEO he can find. His pulpit was expanded last year when President Clinton named him Co-Chair of the President's Council on Sustainable Development, a highly visible position allowing him to help guide the nation's efforts at bringing about sustainability in business and the rest of society." ⁷

The President's Council on Sustainable Development is a direct result of our nations involvement with the United Nations Agenda 21 program.

Before we continue to explain the Connecticut law, we would like to present the organization/business/governments that have joined The Natural Step/Agenda 21 Program.

Thoreau Center for Sustainability in San Francisco's magnificent Presidio. ⁸
The Alliance for Sustainability and Science Museum of Minnesota led a tour of TNS efforts in Sweden and have begun an exchange with Swedish TNS community leaders. ⁹
Regional groups are developing in Oregon, the Bay Area, Seattle, New England, Georgia, Montana, New Jersey, Texas, Missouri and New Mexico, where volunteers are working to build strong local efforts. ¹⁰
Collins Pine, a forest products manufacturer has committed its site in Klamath Falls to becoming a "fully sustainable" operation based on TNS principles. ¹¹
Second Nature, an environmental education organization that works with more than 70 higher learning institutions across the country to implement TNS into curriculums and administrative operations.¹²
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, whose members staff hospitals, low-income housing organizations, social service agencies and schools and have committed to educating all 6,000 members about TNS and making concrete changes to their communities and institutions. ¹³
University of Texas, Houston, Health Science Center uses TNS to teach their suppliers and customers about the importance and necessity of environmental responsibility. ¹⁴
Georgia Tech, a leading engineering institution in the nation, used TNS to inspire top management to embed sustainability in the curriculum, research and master plan for the University. ¹⁵
Monsanto is the first major U. S. company to support The Natural Step (U.S.) and is providing $100,000 over the organization's first two years. ¹⁶
The Natural Step - A compass for achieving economic advantage and environmental sustainability. A Unique One-Day Workshop Washington State Convention Center Tuesday, May 12, 1998 Presented by The Washington Natural Step Network in cooperation with:
- The Fluke Corporation
- The Boeing Company
- Seattle City Light
- Intalco Aluminum Corporation ¹⁷

"We have adopted the theme of "Taking the Next Step!" for this year's celebration to highlight how the Administration is using new techniques like partnerships, education and positive incentives to not merely manage pollution, but to eliminate it." ... James M. Seif Secretary Department of Environmental Protection April 19, 1996 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.¹⁸

"Three conferences on TNS were held last year in Portland, Oregon, sponsored by NIKE, Bank of America, Portland General Electric, and others the meetings drew representatives of over 100 companies, plus several cities and universities." ¹⁹

In Connecticut, compliance with the new law is encouraged through the the proverbial carrots of:

1. less frequent reporting, consistent with federal law, of information otherwise required to be reported as a condition of the business' operation in this state.
2. a facility-wide permit for all approvals required from the commissioner for operation of a facility operated by the business in this state.
3. a permit that would allow for changes in individual processes at a facility without the need for a new permit provided the total pollutant emissions or discharge from the facility does not increase, or
4. reduced fees for any permit required from the commissioner.

Stated another way: any organization not wishing to comply with the new law will continue to pay extra taxes (fees) and jump through legal hoops that companies in compliance will avoid.

Do not think that this program is aimed only at large corporations and government operations. "...the 'system conditions' can be applied in smaller scale to households and small businesses." ²⁰

If you will be very attentive and try extra hard you may be able to feel the increase in the water's temperature...shall we "croak" or say ribbittt?

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Mat. 23 37-40

On what truth is this law hung?

FOOTNOTES:
1 http://www.iso.ch/intro.htm#WhatisISO
2 ibid
3 http://www.ngo.org/index3.htm
4 http://iisd.ca/business/naturalchecklist.htm
5 http://www.naturalstep.org/event/index_ event.html
6 http://www.consciouschoice.com/issues/cc115/naturalstep.html
7 ibid
8 ibid
9 ibid
10 http://www.naturalstep.org/what/what_net.html
11 ibid
12 ibid
13 ibid
14 ibid
15 ibid
16 http://www.ebuild.com/Archives/Other_Copy/Naturalstep.html
17 http:csf.colorado.edu/perma/sustnw/0548.htm
18 http://www.dep.stste.pa.us/earthdaycentral/96/NEXTSTEP.htm
19 http://www.olywa.net/roundtable/tns/overview.html
20 ibid

The foregoing covers a lot of material and can be a bit confusing on first read, but what it illustrates is an increasing tendency in America for the states and industry to bow to the pressures of United Nations dictates. This tendency has been greatly advanced under the Clinton Administration. From the moment Mr. Clinton took office he has been working more for the United Nations than for the United States. History may well remember this Administration as the one that finally led America into the New World Order. If that is the case it will have been done with lies and deceit.

In the book of Daniel (8:25) we read: "And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many:"

We are in no way implying that Bill Clinton is the man Daniel was speaking of, but we know that there are many who will come as precursors to that one, and they will employ the same strategies, for they are the strategies of deceit that Satan has used from the beginning.

It does seem that we would learn after so long a time and would cease to fall for the same old lies over and over again. Apparently not.

There's a song from several decades ago that speaks about "a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down," and it illustrates a very important fact. If one mixes in enough sweet with the bitter (enough truth with the lies), one can get the victim to swallow just about anything ... even a deadly dose.

Today, what people think is a booming economy may very well be the brilliance of the falling star. And just as a dying sun glows brightest before it fades into oblivion, we may be watching the dying glory of a once great republic.

It doesn't have to happen, but probably will, and it will be because we as a people have ignored the warnings we have been given. As in ancient Israel, in the time of the prophet Jeremiah, when the people preferred to listen to the false prophets who were telling them there was nothing to worry about, we prefer the lies to the truth because the truth demands action and sacrifice. Because we seem to want to avoid both we will most likely suffer more.

The lessons of our founders are lost on the "me generation." A generation the apogee of which the Clintons would seem to represent. The sad report is that we hear their voices echoing from good friends and from close relatives.

Just today we hear the report that Kofi Annan, secretary-general of the U.N., told the opening session of the 188-member world body that we must not allow divisions within the Security Council to derail legitimate intervention in nations that do not conform to UN standards of "humane" treatment of citizens.

So much for the UN Charter which states that national borders are not to be invaded.

Yet, you will hear no cries of outrage from an apathetic American public.

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