[Greenbuilding] Kansas' bill to outlaw sustainability

[John Salmen]

It is pretty confusing - the text of the bill
http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2013_14/measures/documents/hb2366_00_0000.p
df is fairly strong in eliminating the use of any public funds for anything
that can be identified as 'sustainable development' as opposed to
'conservation' or 'conservationism'.  A term that it links somewhat
erroneously to libertarian concepts. Perhaps because it sounds like
'conservative'

 

Ironically capitalism or private development and individual freedoms can
proceed quite nicely under the hubris of all the varying definitions of
sustainable development (emphasis on development) but less so under the
concept of conservation which carries more specific meaning for
preservation, protection and restoration including the concept of harm and
prevention (which imply responsibilities not necessarily linked to
individual freedoms!). These definitions do tend to mean something when it
comes down to a court of law.

 

Also it was mentioned that the sponsor of the bill has a conflict of
interest as he works for the oil industry. Ironically here (Canada) the oil
industry has been benefiting from government funding of environmental impact
studies for furthering pipeline developments (arguably something the
industry should be paying for). This use of public money to further private
development is sanctioned under the definition of 'sustainable development'
which allows for development - under the term 'conservationism' such funding
would be less defendable as it should ideally be directed not to the further
development of a resource or access to it but to its limitation.

 

It is all semantics and politics but on the face of it (and tongue in cheek)
I find myself supporting the bill. 

 

From: Greenbuilding [mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org]
On Behalf Of Gennaro Brooks-Church - Eco Brooklyn
Sent: September-20-13 6:21 AM
To: Green Building
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Kansas' bill to outlaw sustainability

 

I've a feeling we're not in Kansas any more.




Gennaro Brooks-Church
Director, Eco Brooklyn Inc.
Cell: 1 347 244 3016 USA
www.EcoBrooklyn.com
22 2nd St; Brooklyn, NY 11231

 

On Fri, Sep 20, 2013 at 9:07 AM, Alan Abrams <alan at abramsdesignbuild.com>
wrote:

in contrast, it's comforting to consider that Greensburg, the Kansas town
that was wiped off the face of the earth in 2007 by a #5 tornado, was
rebuilt as an emphatically sustainable community.  their municipal website
boasts "The most LEED certified buildings per capita in the world."  It
seems not all Kansans are reactionary.

 

AA

 

On Thu, Sep 19, 2013 at 9:22 PM, John Salmen <terrain at shaw.ca> wrote:

Wow is right - there was also a bill that both sides of the global warming
debate had to be taught in schools. Since there is virtually no science left
on the 'doesn't exist' side perhaps that could be taught in creative
writing.

-----Original Message-----
From: Greenbuilding [mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org]
On Behalf Of Chris Koehn
Sent: September-19-13 3:19 PM
To: greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org
greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org
Subject: [Greenbuilding] Kansas' bill to outlaw sustainability

Wow

<http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-09/kansas-s-self-destruct-button-a-bi

ll-to-outlaw-sustainability.html>


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-- 
Alan Abrams
certified professional building designer, AIBD
certified passive house consultant, PHIUS

certified passive house builder, PHIUS
Abrams Design Build LLC
sustainable design for intentional living
cell     202-437-8583
 <mailto:alan at abramsdesignbuild.com> alan at abramsdesignbuild.com
 <http://www.abramsdesignbuild.com/> www.abramsdesignbuild.com


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