"Providing a forum for regional solutions to regional problems."

The above logo is used by the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, a commission in Virginia very similar to the Birmingham Regional Planning Commission (often referred to as the Regional Planning Commission to avoid confusing the public) and numerous other regional planning commissions that have been established throughout the United States (we can furnish a listing upon request). As we have previously pointed out: two or three of an entity occurring simultaneously in different parts of the country might be considered coincidental, but when you see large numbers of virtually identical organizations popping up all across the country, coincidence becomes an irrational assumption.

The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission published a report in 1994 describing "....a nationally significant pilot program...."(1) p8. The executive summary states "A bold, never before attempted program to encourage the growth of the regional economy within the capacity of the environment...."(1) p4 The reason for this bold program is "The decline of many of Virginia's urban areas, with a commensurate decline in the rural area environment.... In recognition of this trend, national leaders from this county and others are calling for a fundamental change from old ways of planning, design, and engineering to a new concept called "sustainable development." This "fundamental change" "to a new concept" was called for by President Clinton when he "cited a mandate for "sustainable economics," and the Vice President recently chaired....meetings that were devoted to community sustainability concerns."(1) p19 "Sustainable development is defined by the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development as "development which meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generation to meet their own needs."

Just to recap: The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission has determined that there is a decline in the environment of Virginia. Because of this determination, fundamental changes must take place in Virginia. When we trace origins, we discover that these changes were defined by the United Nations.

This 69 page report is filled with the same "sustainable development" concepts we find in the UN's "Agenda 21".

"LOCAL LAND USE BUILD-OUT" (in other documents this concept is called sprawl). "Build-out provides a measure of what the region can reasonably expect to demand of its resources in the future and compares this with the capacity of resources to support growth."(1) p31 When did this planning commission acquire a crystal ball in which to view the future? Do the people of the local communities no longer determine how to utilize their own resources?

"Risk Assessment" "To determine the most serious environmental risks" a "regional Sustainable Development Council....will define sustainability for the region.....". This appointed council will, "....wrestle with four key issues" (due to space only two are listed): "Community protection and individual rights."(1) p33 At one time we understood that the community and individual rights are one and the same. What changed? "Definition of optimum population." Who defines the optimum number of children you may have?

"Scenic Resources" also called "viewshed". The plan calls for a "visual resources assessment" which will "....identify regionally significant visual resources, and ....establish the values of these resources and delineate mechanisms for the protection of these resources."(1) p 57 Surely this need no explanations.

"Carrying Capacity Analysis" "....Areas with a surplus of natural resources will also be identified, These areas with a deficit and surplus of resources, termed critical areas, will comprise the basis of recommended strategies for sustainable growth in the region." (1) p66 This information will be used to "Calculate sustainable maximum future population scenarios based on variable technology levels.(1) p 67 What happens if you are part of the "critical area"?

The "Sustainable Development Council" (1 p33) mentioned in the "Risk Assessment" above, published "Indicators of Sustainability: Interim Report" July 1996. This reports states that the Council "....has developed 159 indicators to measure our progress toward a sustainable future."(2) p5 The indicators will "....provide a set of tools which local governments, businesses and industries, community groups and individual citizens can use to measure progress toward that ideal (i.e. sustainable development). "(2) p6 The Council also developed a set of principles. The third principle listed states that "In a Sustainable Community, achieving social, environmental, economic, and political health has inter-generational costs and benefits which must be weighed. In a healthy society, benefits outweigh costs."(2) p7 The Council did not pull inter-generation cost out of thin air. Al Gore in his book Earth in the Balance stated on page 191, "the United Nations....focused our attention on the need for 'intergenerational equity' - an insistence that decisions by the present generation be made with a awareness of their impact on future generations." And the United Nation in their Report of the Secretary-General Addendum 1 for the council on sustainable development 6th session stated in paragraph 18, "Sustainable development can be defined as a form of development which maintains (or increases) human well-being while ensuring intra-generational equity and the preservation of the Earth's total capital stock of natural, human and man-made capital."

These quotes show continuity of thought from the United Nations to the local governments in the Charlottesville area. In fact all of the local governments in the five county area have endorsed this agreement in writing. Giving those local governments the benefit of the doubt we will assume they are unaware of the powers of local government they are ceding to the non-elected group comprising the 'committee', but in essence what we have is the establishment of a regional form of government that is making the rules for development and property use in this five-county area in Virginia. A regional government that has not been elected and is not accountable to anyone, not to the people and not to the local governments which have ceded them their powers.

Of the 159 indicators the very first one states "Population size, composition, and distribution throughout the region (and in its localities and neighborhoods) are managed in a way so that changes in the demographic variables do not reduce the community's quality of life or decrease the probability of reaching other goals of sustainability".

By whose standards are the measurements taken to determine whether or not the quality of life has been reduced? A managed population is necessary to attain the United Nations goal of sustainability! What more can be said? If we are to remain free we must withdraw from the United Nations!

Click Here to view one product of this regional planning organization!

(1) The Thomas Jefferson Study to Preserve and Assess The Regional Environment: Economic Growth Within The Capacity of the Environment to support it a national demonstration project January, 1994

(2) Indicators of Sustainability: Interim Report A report by: The Thomas Jefferson Sustainability Council. 300 East Market Street P.O. Box 1505 Charlottesville, Virginia 22902-1505 phone 804-979-7310

Return to home page | Go to main index | Go to newsletter index | Go to one-pager index