Word Spy - enlibra

enlibra

(en.LEE.bruh) n. The process of bringing something into balance, particularly an environmental issue. Also: Enlibra.

Example Citations:

The most important question to be considered in Senate hearings, however, is the intent and potential impact of what Leavitt calls his "enlibra" principles, which call on the federal government to give more leeway to states and industries on environmental issues.

Are those principles intended to allow locally designed solutions, or to weaken federal laws that defend against pollution that knows no state boundaries? Is "enlibra" just a fancy name for coming down on the side of industry, or is it truly a collaboration that lends equal weight to the views of environmentalists and the public —- the folks who can't buy their way into Beltway circles?
—"Judge EPA nominee on his record," The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, August 21, 2003

In their annual board meeting Tuesday, the [Western Governors' Association] will discuss key regional policy issues including air and water quality, the "enlibra" doctrine of environmental management, the reliability of the region's electric supplies during intense usage this summer and Endangered Species Act reform.
—Jean Christensen, "High-technology issues top Western governors' agenda," The Associated Press, June 9, 2000

Earliest Citation:

Enlibra. That word isn't in the dictionary, at least not yet. After all, it was just introduced to the world on Monday.

Conservative Republican Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt and liberal Democratic Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber coined it together hoping it will eventually revolutionize environmental debates.

"Enlibra is a word we made up," Leavitt explained to a gathering of reporters at the National Press Club — after a full day of talking to reporters for magazines and national newspapers in New York City and Washington about it.

"It is from two Latin phrases: 'en,' to direct toward; and 'libra,' to find balance. Our purpose then in putting forward enlibra is to find a symbol for the middle" and balance in environmental debates, Leavitt said.
—Lee Davidson, "Coined word aims to bring balance to wilds issue," Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah), July 14, 1998

Notes:

This word (sent my way by subscriber Donald Van Metre) combines the prefix en-, to bring into a certain condition or state, and the Latin term libra, balance. It was made up by two U.S. governors: Republican Mike Leavitt and Democrat John Kitzhaber. Leavitt, in particular, has been a champion of enlibra, and given that he is currently in line to head the Environmental Protection Agency, his so-called "enlibra principles" are getting much media attention these days. To give you a flavor of what these principles entail, here they are in slogan form:

National Standards, Neighborhood Solutions — Assign Responsibilities at the Right Level
Collaboration, Not Polarization -- Use Collaborative Processes to Break Down Barriers and Find Solutions
Reward Results, Not Programs — Move to a Performance-Based System
Science For Facts, Process for Priorities — Separate Subjective Choices from Objective Data Gathering
Markets Before Mandates — Pursue Economic Incentives Whenever Appropriate
Change A Heart, Change A Nation — Environmental Understanding is Crucial
Recognition of Benefits and Costs — Make Sure All Decisions Affecting Infrastructure, Development and Environment are Fully Informed
Solutions Transcend Political Boundaries — Use Appropriate Geographic Boundaries for Environmental Problems

You can read about these principles in more detail here:

http://www.westgov.org/wga/policy/02/enlibra_07.pdf

Categories:

Environment
Politics

Posted on September 2, 2003

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