The island of Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Three-times President of French Polynesia, Gaston Tong Sang, and current mayor of Bora Bora, has written a strong letter of support for the Blue Planet Odyssey, assuring the fleet a warm Polynesian welcome when they arrive there in 2015.
In his letter to Jimmy Cornell, Gaston Tong Sang wrote:
Your motto: The Oceans – Our Future, is a purpose that I share and which I am attempting to achieve myself, notably through a policy of sustainable development put in place since 1989. I would therefore like to thank you for all that you have done, such as the round the world rallies that you have organised.
You can count on the support of the community of Bora Bora.
The entire municipal council joins me in sending you encouragements for the coming voyage. We look forward to welcoming you here next year.
Sailors may regard French Polynesia as the ultimate cruising destination, without realising that climate change is as much a concern for civic leaders such as Gaston Tong Sang as elsewhere in the Pacific, with these beautiful islands under threat from rising sea levels and increased incidence of tropical cyclones due to the changing climate.
With the world’s eyes soon to be fixed on New York for the United Nations Climate Summit on 23rd September, it remains to be seen if any progress will be made by world leaders to give succour to those parts of the world on the Blue Planet Odyssey route most directly threatened by climate change.
