Colin Beardon ~ Advocate of Waiheke Island becoming a Biosphere Reserve

Published: Sept. 23, 2010, midnight

b'Imagine this idyllic island close to Auckland... with pristine sandy beaches, green rolling hills, native trees and birdlife, and a dynamic creative community that is near totally sustainable, aligned with nature and in harmony with themselves. Well, this could be the island of tomorrow, here in the Hauraki Gulf, in our fast coming future. Question? Have you the audacity to envision Waiheke Island as a Biosphere Reserve? When we realise what is possible and recognise that it can happen, the synergy of a dynamic community can empower the island neighborhood to be a part of something that will make us proud as a society as well as a nation. There are 109 countries that have \\u2018Biosphere Reserves\\u2019, yet \\u2018clean green New Zealand\\u2019 does not. Note that many differing groups of individuals throughout the Island already support this notion. What is evolving out of this is more people becoming involved as a community of leaders, strong, cohesive and resilient. Waiheke already is a global leader with 198 volunteer organizations from a population of 8000 people. It is a \\u2018wayshower\\u2019 to what a caring, creative and dynamic neighborhood can aspire to, to\\xa0 envision what is needed and take action. So what is the glue that makes Waiheke people what they are? http://waihekebr.info http://colinbeardon.org'