Vision is nothing without the strategy to implement it. I am the only Mayorilty Candidate who's layed out strategy. Withour strategy none of the Council members you elect can be effective.
Bowen Island as a World Model. 
I have the international connections to bring us the recognition if you choose my vision. Our efforts would reach world reknowned leaders in the area of Spirituality and Sustainability (don't worry, you don't have to be spiritual to be sustainable).
At some point in your life, maybe several times, you have said, "I wish the world were a better place". That is an ideal. How best to achieve an ideal.- create a vision. Within that vision, separate ideal from reality, this is a working formula to help achieve what is attainable.
Currently we have no policies for decision making in place. We are running on chaos. Please see 'Foundation' and 'Framework for a more indepth guide.
Our first step in attaining the achievable is to correct a mistake we made.
Then and only then can we progress.
Progress: a forward or onward movement (as to an objective or to a goal),
gradual betterment; especially : the progressive development of humankind.
Most of us want progress.
OUR MISTAKE:
We live on Squamish Nation traditional land. We have never asked the Squamish permission to live here, yet they are the people who walked these lands first. It is time to correct that mistake and ask the Squamish Nation if we may steward this island. We can properly steward by following guiding principles of Agenda 21,which the Squamish themselves are intent on doing.
Think carefully. The Squamish are not going to say , "no, get off".Nor are they going to say, 'Yes, if you pay us'. The Squamish have land claims for their traditional territories and compensation will come from the Provincial and Federal Governments, not from Municipalities. The natural outcome is we build good relations while making more than just a gesture of respect....we committ to take care of their land and recoginize their inherent rights. To date the Squamish have filed a writ which you can view the details of on their web site. Click on 'Squamish Nation Projects' , then 'Latest Bulletins' and download the pdf of their 'writ of summons'.
Our Province is dealing with land claim issues in a six step program. Meantime Native Sovereignty has never gotten as far as it has in the U.S. and Canadian courts as now...it's coming.
Next we follow the guiding princples of Agenda 21:
The United Nations Charter on Sustainability, Agenda 21 was created because the world's top minds and organizations declared the world to be in crisis. I wouldn't argue with the world's top minds, would you? This was back in the early 90's...think about the world then compared to today. WE NEED TO GET WITH IT!
"Agenda 21 explains that population, consumption and technology are the primary driving forces of environmental change. It lays out what needs to be done to reduce wasteful and inefficient consumption patterns in some parts of the world while encouraging increased but sustainable development in others. It offers policies and programmes to achieve a sustainable balance between consumption, population and the Earth’s life-supporting capacity. It describes some of technologies and techniques that need to be developed to provide for human needs while carefully managing natural resources.
Agenda 21 provides options for combating degradation of the land, air and water, conserving forests and the diversity of species of life. It deals with poverty and excessive consumption, health and education, cities and farmers. There are roles for everyone: governments, business people, trade unions, scientists, teachers, indigenous people, women, youth and children. Agenda 21 does not shun business. It says that sustainable development is the way to reverse both poverty and environmental destruction."...from The International Institute for Sustainable Developement...read more
Here is another explanation of sustainabiltity: Explanation.
TOURISM HAS LONG BEEN A STAPLE OF MODERN BOWEN. READ NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S DESCRIPTION OF SUSTAINABLE AND GEO-TOURISM TO GET A BETTER IDEA OF HOW SUSTAINABILITY IS APPLIED AND CAN HELP US PROSPER. A large component of sustainable tourism is art /culture /heritage.National Geographic promotes sustainable communities by which it makes tourism recommendations.
I was reallly happy to recently discusss the Chamber of Commerce's Tourism plans with Murray Atherton. Some sustainable initiatives are already in place and Murray is keen on learning more.
We can work together by becoming as sustainable as possible in today's world.It is an ideal by which to measure reality and our steps as we progress with land stewardship, community and economy. By creating a community who lives by these principles we can share our story with the world. This will attract good interest in us and create prosperity for all who choose to participate. It is a natural, simple outcome.
If Port Moody could win the 2004 Internation Award for Communities, we can too! Because Canda ratified Agenda 21 we are responsible to it at a local level. Our Bowen Island Arts Council has already layed out many initiatives in it's Cultural Master Plan.
Imagine an island who does their best to use alternative building materials and methods to create truly affordable housing, and truly sustainable housing. You have to change your perception of how we've been going about things, you have to change your idea of what things 'should' look like. Alternatives.
Imagine allowing our island homeless (yes, we have homeless people here), creating a village for themselves based on Portland, Oregon's Dignity Village. Our homeless group have already been studying Dignity Village and are ready to embrace it....are you ready and willing to allow it to go ahead? It can be built with alternative materials and methods by themselves and a volunteer labour pool. The stake in creating for self creates 'ownership', which creates pride and self-worth.
Are you ready to explore alternatives for other things like roads? The possibilities of where we can use non-toxic, renewable sources for a variety of things is endless...and guess what, Canada's Bill C-43 makes available the funding to do so. This includes the possibility of wind and tidal power backup. Renewable energies have come a long way. " Imagination is more important than knowledge."...Albert Einstein
The list is endless. From WWOOFer farms for those in the A.L.R. needing seasonal labour, ;to an International Hostel, Wood Pellet Manufactoring, our own non-polluting sawmill, a venison industry so our deer don't suffer long deaths from disease... your own dreams can be incorporated into the vision of Bowen as a world model.
I don't believe when you said you wanted a better world that you were joking...
I wasn't.
Everything we need to achieve this has been laid out for us. Now it's time to take the blinders off, open our minds and hearts, dream of the possible, and truly help.
Do you really want to help? You have a choice.
Are you willing to settle for 'middle of the road' and compromise...we can't afford compromise anymore. The world has told us that. Let's catch up to the rest of the world and go beyond.
Imagine the eyes of the world were looking in on us.An opportunity has come to you this election...what are you going to say to the world when they ask what choice you will make? Will you tell the world you are willing to ask the First Nations People who's island this is that you would like their permission to steward their land....or will you say 'no' because you don't care?
What if the world asks you if you are willing to cast your vote for the betterment
of the world by voting for Agenda 21? Willl you tell the world 'yes',because it's in your heart to do so, and that we, as a community, are obliged to do so because Canada ratified the agreement? Maybe you'll say , 'yes' because sustainability has become lucrative....no matter HOW sustainability comes about, it's THAT it comes about that is important.
Will you tell the world you are willing to act and work with an open,creative mind, or will you say that you are unwilling because you don't care beyond yourself?
I think you'll make the right choice, but then, I have an undying heart.
I'm sure the Squamish will have many wise words for us.
Emergency Services