Agenda 21: Santa Monica Sustainability Bill of Rights Considered

On March 12, 2013, The Sustainability Bill of Rights ordinance will be considered by the Santa Monica City Council at its meeting, a consideration falling within the overt aim of Agenda 21.

The Sustainability Bill of Rights, under discussion by Santa Monica City Council members and community, would shift the legal paradigm for environmental protection. It would achieve this by recognizing Nature rights and placing community and natural ecosystem rights before corporate interests, as outlined in the much feared Agenda 21 document.

Community members are being urged to attend the March 12 meeting at Santa Monica City Hall, 1685 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Santa Monica, CA 90401.

Human and Earth Rights versus Corporate Rights

In 1994, Santa Monica established its first comprehensive City Sustainability Plan.  

“The city and community have worked hard to protect the natural ecosystems that make life possible,” stated Cris Gutierrez at [email protected]. “Based on the recommendation of the Santa Monica’s Task Force on the Environment, Santa Monica will now move to recognize the rights of Nature with a new legal paradigm for sustainability to be a legal obligation and not just a voluntary intention.”

Gutierrez says residents need to ensure that rights of the community and the natural ecosystems take precedence over corporate interests.

“Why?,” he asks. “Big corporations are dominating people, Nature and our democracy.”

The Supreme Court’s January 2010 Citizens United ruling has given corporations freedom-of-speech rights that belong to “We, the People.”  

“Our environmental laws and regulations can thus be weakened by corporate campaign donations buying politicians’ loyalties that can lead to laws favoring corporate interests above everything else,” Gutierrez stated. “Santa Monica needs a Sustainability Bill of Rights as the law to protect our inalienable rights to a sustainable future.  We are a part of Nature, and our natural ecosystems are not solely property to manage and control.”

According to Gutierrez, The Santa Monica Sustainability Bill of Rights would empower the community to:

•  Have sustainable water, food, energy, air, soil, climate systems, waste treatment, etc.;
•  Set policies that advance self-sufficiency within the City to help achieve those goals;
•  Decide how to ensure the community’s health, safety and welfare; and
•  Put sustainable needs of people and natural ecosystems above corporate interests.

Many people fear and oppose Agenda 21. Right-wing leaders such as Glenn Beck have fostered this fear. Could it be that’s what the one percent wants and needs? 

According to the Agenda 21 document text, if implemented on the local level, it would erode corporate privileges while strengthening Earth and Human Rights, as Santa Monica City Council is considering.