At the July 27, 2011 Sarasota County Commission meeting a group of local patriotic citizens decided to speak about Agenda 21 during the open citizen comments. Each spoke for three minutes and did not mince words. The Commissioners listend intently. Commissioner Jon Thaxton during one presentation actually took out his copy of the U.S. Constitution to refer to. This jesture was noted by those in attendance and the anti-Agenda 21 speakers.

Please read Rachel Alexander's column, "Agenda 21: Conspiracy Theory or Real Threat?"

Here are just some of the comments made to help the County Commissioners, those in attendance or watching the meeting on TV understand what Agenda 21 is and how it has creeped into our city, county and state policies:

Kathy Bolam:

Dear Commissioners,

I want to go on record to say that I object to Sarasota County employees attending the Florida Local Environmental Resource Agencies Convention(FLERA) starting today at the Hyatt at County expense.  If you trace backwards this agency, you will find that it espouses the same goals as ICLEI ( International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives which come directly from the United Nations program called Agenda 21 .

One of the goals of FLERA is to teach Staff how to pass more regulations, dispel resistance, and empower local governments.  Also to learn how to eliminate opposition to new fees for new programs.  Most of their goals are based on unproven scientific theories.

Citizens never get to vote whether they support these programs or not.  The discussions ignore property rights of the citizens.   In fact the words citizen or property rights is eliminated from consideration.  Citizens are expendable.  Every goal is geared to preserving Mother Earth.  We are considered the Enemy.  God gave us this earth to use and enjoy.  I believe we should be good stewards, but these organizations are more about controlling where we live, what products we buy and limiting our transportation choices and uses of resources.

We live in a constitutional Republic.  We have not voted on the regulations that are being forced upon us.  When the people request and vote for FLERA, ICLEI, and AGENDA 21. Then we will support these groups and their volumes of regulations.  I ask you to stop spending taxpayer money for their unconstitutional indoctrination.

In fact on behalf of the citizens of Sarasota County, I demand you withdraw those 3 employees from this conference within the next hour.

As I stated, the  roots of FLERA  are in a foreign power – THE UN and that violates our Constitution.  Article I, Section 10 states. No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation…..Participating in this Convention smells like an alliance to me.

Carole Holland:

Began by quoting from our U.S. Constitution. "We the People of the U.S." and not "We the City, we the County, We the State or most importantly NOT We the United Nations regarding Agenda 21.

Carole read from the Consitution Aricle II, Section. 2 on the Presidency,  Paragraph 2--where the President with the advise and consent of the Senate to make treaties provided 2/3 of the members present concur:  and then quoted from former Secretary General Maurice Strong of the United Nations who stated that private property owned by individuals is a detriment to "Social Justice"...can only be achieved if land is used in the interests of society as a whole."

Carole concluded stating that Agenda 21 SHOULD NOT BE LEGISLATED AT THE CITY, COUNTY, OR STATE LEVEL.

Barbara Vaughn:

"As Floridians, most of us have had experiences, i.e. horror stories with condo boards and home owners associations.  They tell us what we can do, can't do, must do, shouldn't do - and then send us a bill for it!  They rule with an almost dictatorial, iron hand and it's 'like it or lump it!'

So, bearing that in mind, think of Agenda 21 as a condo board and home owners association on steroids!  Only this is a global adventure.  Their aim is to tell EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE  what we can do, can't do, must do, shouldn't do - and then send us a bill for it!  But this isn't just about our yards and driveways and common areas - this is about EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE!  This is about our rural lands, our rivers and streams, our communities, neighborhoods and homes.  This is the United Nations taking charge of one world, one global economy, one government.  And, they're doing it one community and one segment of our economy at a time.  Their tentacles are reaching into every area of our lives and they must be stopped!

If you are not familiar with the United Nation's Agenda 21, I urge you to do some research.  Simply look up Agenda 21 in your search engine.  You'll find plenty of information and I promise, it will scare you to death!"

Helen Woolf, Member of the Republican Executive Committee for the Republican Party of Florida:

Good afternoon, Commissioners, Commissioner Patterson:

Thank you for the opportunity to go on record about the objection I have regarding the Florida Local Environmental Resource Agencies (FLERA) convention starting today [July 27, 2011] at the Hyatt in Sarasota and for the next few days.

When I looked at the agenda online, it is clear that this agency is in line with ICLEI and Agenda 21. While I am an advocate of clean water and the environment, "sustainability" and other terms are being used to limit and control the citizens and land use.

Furthermore, the agencies mentioned above are getting a script that is not representative of our country's laws and regulations.

The issues are an extension of UN resolutions, which I don't support.

Government and non-government agencies take over communities by starting locally. The UN Declaration of Human Rights, Art. 17, Section 2 states: "Man's rights are granted by other men; as such, men can take them away."

ANY Government grants to be used to promote this agenda are to restrict and withdraw our citizens' rights according to its needs.

In 1992, President George H. Bush signed the following Resolution: "... Effective execution of Agenda 21 will require a profound reorientation of all human society- a major shift in the priorities of both governments and individuals. This shift will demand that a concern for the environmental consequences of every human action be integrated into individual and COLLECTIVE decision-making at EVERY level."
Please note that this resolution was never ratified by the US Senate.

Thank you for the opportunity to address this matter before you today.

The County Commissioners listened. Will they act to stop this stealth attempt to impose Agenda 21 on the citizens? That is the question these speakers and others are asking.