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New Zealand Crowdfunds $1.7 Million To Buy A Private Beach (fastcoexist.com)
An anonymous Slashdot reader quotes an article from FastCoExist:
When debt-troubled businessman Michael Spackman put his private New Zealand beach on sale, Kiwis started a crowdfunding campaign to buy it back for the public... The crowdfunding campaign raised $1.7 million in donations from around 40,000 people. Even the New Zealand government contributed $254,000.
The BBC reports that the campaign "snubbed a businessman who offered them money in exchange for private access to part of the beach," with the campaign's creator calling this an example of technology's power to unite people for a common cause. "Sometimes you can feel powerless, so for us, it's been a marvelous experience... There's been a real feeling of coming together."
The BBC reports that the campaign "snubbed a businessman who offered them money in exchange for private access to part of the beach," with the campaign's creator calling this an example of technology's power to unite people for a common cause. "Sometimes you can feel powerless, so for us, it's been a marvelous experience... There's been a real feeling of coming together."
You missed the point of the community's move to purchase back land previously owned by a private millionaire. In New Zealand, we value the land, sea and the ecosystems therein. We made this decision to preserve a beautiful section of land and enable all New Zealand families (and even yourself, if you choose to visit as a tourist) to be able to visit freely and unrestricted. We live in an age where money can buy our coastline and islands, and prevent people from accessing this "owned" land. As a New Zealander, I applaud the effort we have made, and achieved, and hope others throughout the world may also begin to take back areas of significant natural importance.... Not too sure what pension funds and investments funds have to do with it,I guess American's value the $ over nature.. A pity in my opinion...
If given a choice, I would designate a big chunk of my taxes to the campaign on the elimination of fornication and faggotry.