International Conference on Sustainable Development at City Hall

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Really interesting roundtable that I wandered unawares into at City Hall today.

I was there to see Veteran Councilmember Warren Jones when of all people I run into Phillip Ramsey and the ever lovely Jennifer McCharen.

Anyways it turned out to be a delegation of 16 nations whose intent was sharing international perspectives on how to encourage Sustainable development.   The discussion covered government programs, private initiatives and pioneering ideas as well as the various problems and obstacles faced by each of the member nations.

Some crazy way, they got Michael Corrigan, whom I have never suspected of being a simmering hotbed of globalism, to Welcome the delegation. as well as an introduction from Brian Teeple, the Executive Director of NE Florida Regional Council. (two things:  1.  Surely this fellow is related to Suriya Teeple of the JTA, certainly the last name isnt all that common, and 2.  What the hell is a Florida Regional Council?)

The event was sponsored by Tom Reynolds of Rink Design and was put together by a group called IVCJ, or the  International Visitors Corps of Jacksonville.

It was a very very great discussion.  Not onlly were Monsieur Ramsey and the elegant Ms McCharen there, but nationally prominent urban planning theorist Michael Lewynn (who occasionally drops in and posts on this board) was also present and full of his trademark nervous energy.

Surprisingly there were a lot more suits than birkenstocks in the audience and a certain gravity where only three years ago there would have been polite eye rolling.

For people interested in the IVCJ   they can check out www.ivcj.com

[tufsu1]

Brian Teeple and Surya Teeple were married