The architects and supporters of the Sustainable Development movement both abroad and at home are routinely in the process of changing terms to define their initiatives and agenda. In fact, the early implementers of Agenda 21 in America knew better than to call this whole life plan for living in the 21^st century, Local Agenda 21 (as it is known throughout the rest of the world.) Instead, they promoted this paradigm shift in planning as ‘New Urbanism’, ‘Smart Growth’, and ‘Sustainable Development’. Then they redefined the meanings of sustainable and smart growth. Later, when these terms encountered resistance by the public, these same central planners changed the terms—again.

As we move into 2014, new terms are emerging.  Climate change (formerly global warming) is now being referred to as ‘acute shocks’ and ‘chronic stresses’. Leaders in government and non-governmental organizations are pushing the public to accept new programs that they say will create ‘resilience’ to these ‘acute shocks’ and ‘chronic stresses’. Please make a mental note that all plans, programs or initiatives labeled ‘resilient’ are part of the Sustainable Development/Agenda 21 plan.

‘Resilience’ initiative on the move

On November 1, 2013, President Obama signed an Executive Order entitled “Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change.”  This executive order empowers federal agencies to address ‘climate resiliency.’ Some of those directives include “identifying, then removing barriers to resilience-focused actions/investments in current policies and programs, managing lands and waters for climate preparedness and resilience, and providing information, data, and tools for climate change preparedness and resilience.”

On December 3, 2013, the Rockefeller Foundation announced the names of the first 33 cities to be awarded a 100 Resilient Cities grant. Of the 33 cities, 11 are in North America, and of the 11, 5 are in California. Those cities include Alameda, Berkeley, Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Francisco. The cities selected will receive four kinds of support including “the support to hire and empower a Chief Resilience Officer, a central point of contact within each city to coordinate and oversee the resilience activities, coordinate stakeholders, and ensure resilience is a city-wide priority.”

On November 20, 2013, UT San Diego announced that Bill Fulton, The City of San Diego’s new planning director (appointed by Bob Filner), submitted a grant application to the Rockefeller Foundation for a piece of the 100 Resilient Cities pie. If San Diego is awarded this grant, Bill Fulton will fulfill his promise to “turn San Diego into the most sustainable city in America.”

The time is NOW to engage with your local and county elected officials to inform them that ‘Sustainable Development’, ‘Resilient Cities’, ‘Smart Growth’ and ‘New Urbanism’ are nothing but socialist centralized planning schemes  that destroy the American Dream of life, liberty, happiness, and the right to private property.

[Read The American Smart Dream Part I and Part II]