Aquaintance - Ron Ewart and Laurence Kogan

----- Original Message -----
From: lkogan
To: r.ewart@comcast.net
Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2007 12:48 PM
Subject: L. Kogan // ITSSD - Nice Making Your Acquaintance

Dear Ron,
 
I very much enjoyed our conversation this afternoon.  And, I appreciate your interest in linking up with our internationally-focused nonprofit organization - The Institute for Trade, Standards and Sustainable Development (ITSSD), which as you can see from the 'references' section of our website (www.itssd.org) is globally recognized.  Among our mission statement objectives, is our effort to redefine the word sustainable development so that it reflects private property, free market and rule of law concepts embedded in our constitution.
 
I have followed for the past decade how European governments were working behind the scenes with American politicians (mostly Democrats) to bring European-style environmental rules to the States.  Much to our concern, these rules impose public environmental legal obligations on all businesses and consumers at the expense of individual private property rights.
 
The ITSSD has done extensive research about how evolving international laws developed in Europe and then exported to the US, both directly via cooperation with state legislatures (e.g., California, Wash, Mass., NY, NJ, etc.) and indirectly via the technical products standards process, will negatively impact US free markets and private property  Even more troubling is how it would reduce our US constitutional rights as set forth in the US Bill of Rights.  Europe's goal has been to entangle the US in a web of international environmental treaties so that the president and congress would be bound by UN international law.
 
In this regard, an even more serious UN threat than the climate change-oriented Kyoto Protocol has resurfaced this past spring.  It is the UN Law of the Sea Convention (UNCLOS) otherwise known as Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST).  It is the only environmental UN treaty that contains a strong tribunal mechanism that could rival that of the WTO.  It can be used both by foreign governments and environmental activists to sue the US for the purpose of forcing the government to amend federal laws to meet European / UN environmental standards
 
The LOST has been cited both by the environmentalist community around the world and by academics as the most significant environmental regulatory treaty out there.  While it has been vetted in the past (during both the Reagan and Clinton eras) concerning its navigation and deep sea mining provisions, it has NOT been vetted concerning its ominous environmental provisions.
 
As far as I can tell, my recent Commentary in the Washington Times pretty much presented the first serious discussion about LOST's many environmental provisions:
 
http://www.itssd.org/Publications/LOSTandFound-WashingtonTimes8-8-07.pdf
 
 
Interestingly, this article provoked the concern of the Bush Administration which is now trying to silently push this through a Democratic congress without holding public hearings.  As a result of such concern, my article received sharp responses (Washington Times Letters to the Editor) from two individuals - one whom I mentioned in the article, and another obviously drafted in an attempt to damage my credibility.
 
http://www.itssd.org/Publications/RobertMcManus_BernardOxmanRebuttalstoLKoganWashingtonTimesCommentary-LOSTandfound.pdf
 
Given their sharp language, the Washington Times provided me with the opportunity to respond.
 
http://www.itssd.org/Publications/KoganResponsetoTwoRebuttalsofWashingtonTimesLOSTandfoundCommentary.pdf
 
As concerns the 'story' element (the relevance to your audience), please see the following academic article about a growing dispute between Canada and the US, aggravated by environmentalists, about shipments of much needed liquefied natural gas from Canada to Passamaquoddy Bay, Maine.  Currently the Bush Administration (FERC) has not denied permits or threatened to condemn the facilities. But under a Democratic administration that would seek to ratify the LOST and implement here in the US, there could be an entirely different result. 
 
 
http://www.opiniojuris.org/posts/1178720996.shtml
 
http://www.mainesecurity.com/LNG_Security.htm
 
In addition, there is the story of how international tribunals can run amok like the tribunal that harassed Washington State residents (the Leus) about a wall they had erected on their property located near the US-Canadian border.
 
I realize that bringing in the European / UN component to environmental takings issues can complicate an already complicated matter,  but it ALL can be boiled down to one point:  American politicians are interested in importing European environmental laws by ensnaring the US in strict UN regulatory treaties that threaten U.S. private property rights.  In other words, they're trying to 'sell us all down the river' without telling us about it.
 
See the attached Washington Post editorial which recommends that the US work towards establishing a global government based on the need for more regulation of economic activities. (SEE ATTACHED).
 
I look forward to sharing thoughts and intelligence with you.
 
Sincerely,
 
Lawrence A. Kogan, Esq.
President/CEO
Institute for Trade, Standards and Sustainable Development (ITSSD)
Princeton, NJ
609-951-2222
www.itssd.org

 

Dear Larry:
 
I too enjoyed our telephone conversation today.  One of the dangers of our "business" as it were, is thinking we have a handle on the total picture.  Talking with you has made it quite clear that I still have much to learn.  It is gratifying that one of my articles prompted you to call me.   I thank Roni for bringing us together.
 
There are many of us working on different fronts across America, but so many fractured, unconnected groups are attacking a "symptom" and not the root cause.  I saw this clearly several years ago, which led me to form the National Association of Rural Landowners.  Although I was convinced that I had a strong handle on the "root causes", you have helped fill in many gaps.  The process of linkage I believe is the key to becoming more effective and it is with pleasure that we will add your website as a quality link to ours.  
 
I will contact some of the local talk show hosts and see if I can link you up with them so that you can relay your knowledge to our local audience.   That audience is in dire need to hear your message.
 
I look forward to continuing our discussions and sharing information.
 
Take care,
 
 
 
Ron Ewart, President

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RURAL LANDOWNERS
P. O. Box 1031, Issaquah, WA  98027
425 222-4742 or 1 800 682-7848
(Fax No. 425 222-4743)
Website: www.narlo.org
 

Good Neighbor Committee
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