Our current perception of the word ‘sustainability’ may have changed. Previously, it led us to believe that we were discussing something of a fiscal nature alluding to a certain process which may achieve cost savings over a specific period of time. However, currently if you mention the word ‘sustainability,’ the majority of us have a revised perception. My understanding of the word, is that it is associated with the general protection of the planet against the threat, largely by the unnecessary, and, or naïve actions of humankind, of extinction. Let us ponder over how these two, diverse, perceptions may be linked.
When you see protestors and other generally concerned persons taking to the street in demonstration, thereby standing against the threat of global crisis, they generally have something negative to say about the unscrupulous entrepreneurs who are damaging our planet.
I often wonder what impact the average protestor is having, or even if well known activists such as Jane Fonda or Joaquin Phoenix being arrested is really getting the message across. Of course, it is sending a message to the whole world that we must stand up to corporations who put profit before the planet. But, surely at the same time we should be providing massive support to those companies who are providing solutions to global progress without harming the planet. Achieving this through education and with genuine integrity. Only then, will sustainability conscious companies succeed where the unscrupulous companies have failed.
That is why for me, a truly ‘sustainable’ property developer currently building and marketing my development in the Tulum area of Mexico It is crucial to amalgamate the two understandings of the word ‘sustainability.’ The fundamentals being that support should be given to the developer who is striving to work with nature and to be truly sympathetic to his surrounding flora and fauna in an effort to provide a long-term balance between profit and sustainability. Tourists visit the Tulum area to enjoy its natural beauty and we must not allow this to be destroyed by both over-development and over-population.