PORT ANGELES — Clallam County commissioners got an earful earlier this week from those who oppose the county’s membership in ICLEI.
ICLEI, which stands for International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives, is an association of more than 1,200 local governments worldwide that are “committed to sustainable development,” according to www.iclei.org.
Its critics said it violates the Constitution, threatens individual liberty and promotes the United Nations Agenda 21, a global action plan for sustainability.
Clallam County GOP Chairman Dick Pilling presented commissioners Tuesday with a resolution from the party that calls on the county to cut ties with ICLEI.
County Administrator Jim Jones said Clallam County spends $1,200 per year on membership dues to receive materials from ICLEI that give examples of what other cities and counties are doing to reduce energy consumption and help the environment.
Commissioner Mike Doherty said he clicks through the material “looking for practical examples of what other local governments are doing.”
The county has been an ICLEI member for three years, Jones said.
Criticism of ICLEI
“Upon investigating various aspects of ICLEI, the Clallam County Republican Party has determined that the goals, aspirations and agenda of ICLEI are not consistent with the principles set forth in the U.S. Constitution or the Washington state constitution,” Pilling told the three commissioners.
“Moreover, they are incompatible with the precepts of freedom and individual choice, which have been cornerstones of our country throughout its history.”
Pilling cited what he described as “egregious” examples of the organization’s doctrine.
They include:
■ ICLEI and its associates believe land can’t be treated as an asset controlled by individuals, as it would contribute to social injustice.
■ It wants to move people from rural areas to cities to decrease environmental footprints.
■ It envisions turning half of America into a wilderness reserve where no human activity would be permitted.
“Most damning, they say the individual right must give way to the collective,” Pilling said.
“In order to accomplish all these goals, the members are reminded that they must be prepared to [take] radical action.”
Jefferson County and the cities of Port Angeles, Sequim and Forks are not members of ICLEI.
The city of Port Townsend is a listed member.
Pilling said ICLEI is composed of “faceless, nameless, unelected bureaucrats” who aspire to dictate to a free people how to run their lives.
“This is not a partisan issue,” Pilling said.
“Both Republican and Democrat organizations reject ICLEI.
“Cities and counties across the United States are awaking to the hostile aspects of ICLEI, and they are demanding that their legislators cease to associate themselves with ICLEI.”
Took no action
The three county commissioners took no action Tuesday on ICLEI membership.
Doherty said it would be more appropriate to reconsider the membership during budget discussions this fall.
“As one commissioner, I appreciate getting information from all sides of public issues,” Doherty said.
“If you know Clallam County well, we have some water problems, the latest research on climate change saying that there’s some possibilities of change in the forest resources, which are the main economic driver of our county.
“So the convergence of major public issues of energy, climate, weather, water, fossil fuels — a lot of things affecting our generation but also future generations — I think it behooves public officials to get information on all sides of issues.”
Doherty said he has read scientific information from both ends of the political spectrum, including the John Birch Society.
“ICLEI is the largest group of local governments who want to know what is the science right now regarding climate change, global warming, those sorts of issues,” Doherty said.
Doherty said he does not see a threat in getting information from a source that relies on the consensus of responsible scientists.
“It [ICLEI] does have affiliations with other groups, but as long as you take information from all sides, and being rational human beings trying to process it and come out with a responsible point of view I think is the right thing to do as a public official,” he said.
Audience members clapped when others spoke against ICLEI. At one point, Doherty asked the crowd to refrain from applause.
“We want you to know how we feel,” said Shelley Taylor of Port Angeles, a community activist and the former head of now-disbanded Property Owners for Predictable Tax Now.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
