Sustainable Fashion has become somewhat of an elusive concept in the past few years. Is it fair-trade? Is it organic? Recycled? Slow? Green? With such broad language, how do we know exactly what we’re buying? What we do know is the conversation has brought much attention to the not just the “what” of design materials but the “how” of design processes – buying, trading, making and selling.

Argentina, eager to join in the conversation, has suddenly found itself bursting at the seams with eco-conscious fashion designers expressing their talent through endless mediums. From sustainable knits to recycled fabrics, not to mention traditional artisans hand-crafting their goods which inherently fit the green profile, eco-minded shoppers have plenty to choose from without compromising values or quality. The following ten eco-designers in Argentina and their creations top the list.

1. Sustainable knits produced in Toba indigenous community

Agostina Bianchi Thames 1733, Palermo.

2. Bracelet made from fabric scraps and paper beads made from discarded magazines

Lua Chea Borges 2029, Palermo

3. ‘Bolso Pescador’ Shoulder Bag made from aluminum can tops, $868

Aluminium

4. Unisex Scarf made from sustainable knits (100% Llama), $180

Cubreme, Godoy Cruz 1720, Palermo

5. Wallet made from Tyvek materials, $55

Confitte

6. Dress made from recycled neckties

Salve

7. SURI sweatshirt hand-printed with water-based inks onto unbleached canvas, $255

Bill et Bill

8. Laptop case made from recycled coffee sacks, from $140

Carro

9. Rococo necklace made from recycled textiles

Marina Callis

10. Unisex messenger bag made from recycled vinyl, $174

Baumm

Ecological. Logical. Sustainable. Healthy. Happy. Natural.

More than simply buzzwords, these are the principles that guide the CAS4 housing project.

Launched by the Arquitectura Sustenable team, CAS4 offers pre-fabricated houses that aim to “minimise contamination, save natural resources and achieve a design integrated with nature.”

Sound too good to be true? Maybe not…

CAS4 houses are prefabricated on a module system, and buyers can select how many modules they want in accordance with what size house they would like. Constructed 100% with certified Argentine materials, the modules take three months to construct and one week to assemble.

Now comes the interesting bit. The houses utilise a system of alternative energy, relying on both solar and wind energy sources. With CAS4, the goal is that you “have the option to be autonomous”. But you also have the option to stay connected – CAS4 houses can be plugged into the local grid.

With CAS4, however, utilising solar energy isn’t just a matter of strapping on solar panels. The modules are designed in such a way as to optimise the suns’ light. Each contracted project is uniquely designed to take into account the natural dynamics of the area where it will be constructed.

In the interest of conserving natural resources, the houses also have a water collector on the roof. The first CAS4 model has already been constructed in Villa Ruiz, about 20 – 30 minutes from Tigre.

Arquitectura Sustenable’s vision is holistic, taking into account the needs of both the natural environment and the residents of the house. For example, every CAS4 housing project includes a biodynamic garden. In addition to being organic, these gardens are cultivated in accordance with the lunar calendar, an effort to align the body with “natural cycles”.

The gardens also utilise water recycled through the collector and compost encouraged by natural decomposers.

What’s more, with CAS4CASA, a new showroom in Tigre, the group expands to “contemporary and sustainable” interior design.

As Gaby Abentín, designer, astrologer and member of the Arquitectura Sustenable team observes, the CAS4CASA gallery is inspired by the principle that, “with what I have – with the basics – I can make a very beautiful place”.

The gallery hosts exhibitions that rotate every six weeks, focusing on showcasing “contemporary, emerging or acclaimed artists”. The first artists to be featured in the showroom were Claudio Roncóli, Gaby Messina and Mariano Aja.

The gallery also features furniture and other interior decorating models that are constructed in accordance with the ideals of the project. At its opening, the gallery featured tables and chairs of Nordic design by Luciano E Ianulli and an enormous table by Yanko Kuraja, among other works.

Just as CAS4 seeks to integrate with its natural environment, CAS4CASA seeks to integrate with its neighborhood; the gallery is located on the Boulevard Saez Peña in Tigre, a street that the Arquitectura Sustenable group promotes an up-and-coming trendy neighborhood. Every six weeks, the street is closed down on Friday evening to allow galleries to remain open, and the evening typically features a movie showing.

The CAS4 team has a long-term dream for their project. As Mercedes Molino, the designer responsible for the biodynamic gardens, noted, “these things are contagious”; the team’s hope is that when people see CAS4 houses being constructed in their neighborhood, they will be curious enough to start asking questions – and the phenomenon can spread from there.

From 3rd to 12th November, the 3rd annual ‘Responsible Tourism Week’ touches down in Buenos Aires with a host of talks, film screenings and tours taking place, as well as an interactive tourism market, organised by the Responsible Tourism Network (RTR).

Responsible tourism, as a concept at least, is nothing new. Indeed, long before it had a name there were many people who realised that travelling, whether it be to your local seaside resort or somewhere halfway across the globe, has consequences. “I think that for most people it’s normal to be conscious of the impact that their travel has,” says Pablo Gueilburt, owner of Pampa Hostels.

For the Network, Responsible Tourism means three things. Firstly, Elvira Museri, owner of responsible travel agency Anda, tells me, it means economic sustainability; with each member operating in the local economy in a way that is both sustainable and beneficial. Secondly, it has to empower the local community and promote social development. They achieve this by involving local people in their businesses, whether it be as tour guides or local produce providers, or simply through interaction with the travellers. Thirdly, it is about protecting the natural and cultural heritage of a place. Members of the network have to adhere to a strict ethical code that requires keeping waste to the minimum and recycling to the maximum. “It is about measuring the environmental impact in a respectful way. In this way, a business actually becomes more sustainable in itself,” says Elvira.

What the Network wants to make perfectly clear however, is that travelling responsibly does not mean having to pay more simply for the pleasure. “What we think is very important is to get rid of the preconception that because something is ecological or sustainable, it is more expensive. It’s a preconception that I believe is not relevant today. A product might be more expensive, but it is more expensive because it is a good product, not just because it is sustainable,” Pablo explains.

The Responsible Tourism Network itself, according to Elvira, is more than an organisation; it is an “environment”. This means that the Network is not simply a body that regulates its members, but rather a forum whereby its members can regulate themselves through debate and an exchange of ideas. They hope, as a result, to offer tourists an experience that is equally, or even more, enjoyable than what they could find elsewhere whilst at the same time helping to promote social, environmental and economic development within Argentina’s communities.

Suitably placed either side of World Responsible Tourism Day on 9th November, the Responsible Tourism Network hopes this week will educate the general public about the concept and the people involved in it, as well as showing just how easy it can be to travel responsibly whatever your age, health or financial situation.

Every weekday between 6pm and 8pm (and between 4pm and 8pm at weekends) Arte Cinema, on Salta, will be the venue for the ‘Responsible Tourism Film Festival’. Showing films on the topic of “journeys that have changed lives” both for the better and the worse, the festival hopes to encourage an awareness of the impact tourism and tourists can have on a place not only environmentally, but also socially and culturally. According to Juan Galeano, the Network’s executive secretary, it is the place to go if you are new the concept of Responsible Tourism: “It will be people like us who have travelled, talking about that travel and how it has changed their lives.” Films to be shown include Alex Tossenberger’s ‘Gigantes de Valdés’, which deals with how local communities tackle tourism and its social and moral implications.

For those who enjoy being a bit more active in their free time, there are two kayaking tours and a night time bike ride around the city, organised by Network member Urbanbiking, as well walking tours through various parts of the city, organised by other members Anda and Boomerang. What’s more, Anda showcases a quintessential part of any tourist’s porteño experience in their ‘Living Tango’ tour. Attendees will be able to immerse themselves in the history, culture, music, places and people of the dance, and experience tango as a “feeling of life”.

There will also be a Responsible Tourism market where people can go to learn what each of the various members of the network does. Rather than just picking up a brochure, Elvira hopes that the interactive nature of the market will allow visitors to see, feel and experience what it means to travel responsibly. A must-see for anyone interested by the concept, it takes place on the 11th November, between 2pm and 8pm.

Another, equally important aspect of responsible tourism is accessibility for the disabled. In this respect, the Centre for Social and Technological Studies (CESYT) is providing an accessible tour of La Boca, as well as hosting a chat about Down’s syndrome to bring the topic of how the tourist industry deals with disability to the fore. “Everyone has the right to enjoy the heritage of tourism, and the services industry (hotels, transportation, trails, guides, etc) should consider their needs and limitations,” Rodolfo Andragnes, from CESYT, tells me.

Packed full of fun events and activities, Responsible Tourism week promises to be a brilliant opportunity to enjoy some of the best things Buenos Aires has to offer. With summer fast approaching, it is also a great way to find out how to go about making your next trip an interesting, enjoyable, but most of all responsible, experience.

Their beds hang in trees, and they eat off the land, guided by little more than the seasons. But their mulch is landfill and the leafy backdrop is overgrown with concrete pillars. Deep in the centre of Buenos Aires, between blaring traffic and steel high-rises, lies Velatropa El Aldea, an eco-community dedicated to sustainable living and the tenants of permaculture.

The community, hidden in wasteland behind the Ciudad Universitario campus of the Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), was started by students from the urban design faculty. “It’s an experimental centre for sustainable living,” says Juan Chodaa, a 23-year-old image and sound design student who periodically sleeps in the tree-top bunks and leads environmental construction seminars on site each weekend. “The earth is ours and it’s up to us to look after it.”

Today Juan is hunched over two bamboo poles demonstrating how to bind them together into an arched roof support. Seven equally dreadlocked faces fumble with the waxy plastic string dug up from a skip as he calmly describes the natural bend of the plant. Few words are exchanged but the stealthy movement of his mud-speckled hands say it all.

Trash Terrain

The public land, which was once nothing more than a rubbish heap, is now occupied by anything from 20 to 40 people throughout the year who devote their time to recycling and tilling the pebbly urban terrain. That is, when they’re not meditating. In a vacuum of silence they go about their daily lives in conversation with their surroundings. “Life should be driven by the rhythm of nature,” says Juan. “If we live like that we can most improve the environment.”

Through the exhaust fumes that settle overhead, the members of El Aldea have created an urban oasis. Twenty-four-year-old Marie sits crossed legged, and closes her eyes, with her head faced towards the sun. The airplane that growls overhead doesn’t interrupt her meditation and the six plastic crates on which she is perched are just as good as any yoga matt.

El Aldea’s commitment to recycling breathes new life into the discarded objects gathered from around the city. An old sink is now an herb garden, and shards of glass have been crafted into colorful windows inserted into the mud hut walls. A rusty stretcher lies by the kitchen, waiting for transformation into a very different tool of survival. Perhaps a table in the clubhouse or some shade for the new bulbs. El Aldea is all about experimentation: “How to re-imagine rubbish,” says Juan. “This is a cooperative where we can teach people about recycling and how to do it.” Even their daily food is expatriated garbage. Ingredients rescued from bins – a practice known as ‘dumpster diving’ – are eaten along side homegrown vegetables.

Making Roots

El Aldea is open to anyone and the number of residents ebbs and flows throughout the year. Some just pass by on their travels, directed down the hidden path by word of mouth. Others move in for weeks at a time, taking root in the mud huts. “I am a traveler of permaculture,” says Pedro, who’s ragged t-shirt and callused feet indicate a life on the road. Originally from Brazil, he has spent the past three months hopping between eco-communities and he has stopped off in Buenos Aires for five days. “There is a network all over the South America, and they welcome everyone – but you have to know about them.” Indeed, the community has remained relatively secret; protected from tourists and voyeurs hungry for a taste of ‘real’ hippy living. And ‘real’ hippy living is exactly what El Aldea does best.

The disheveled troupe is made up of dreadlocked men and women who wander through the site with bare-feet and sun-stained hands. Meditation is the favoured pastime, and everyone has something to say about their connection with the earth and consumer abundance. However a slightly different streak runs through these residents who are more students of the environment, than fully immersed land worshipers.

Technological Terrain

Gabriel, 26, studied programming at university and he is currently a systems analyst. “I’m looking for reception,” he says, as he weaves his way through the vegetables, holding his computer above his head. “Ahah!” he sits down cross-legged in a patch of dried grass and leans his computer on a tree stump. “Education is about communication,” he emphatically proclaims – the mantra of his barefoot life. “Everything is integrated. Education, permaculture, health. I want to create an online tool that demonstrates this.” Gabriel is currently working on an environmental database that will allow users to sift through pages on sustainable living. Like most residents of El Aldea, he lives free of material possessions – barring of course, his computer. But even this has become an environmental tool.

“Technology and permaculture can work together,” he says as he balances his laptop in one hand, and a fistful of freshly picked basil in the other, ready for lunch. His companions sit in a circle around a tin bowl of gooey white rice and boiled vegetables. Closing their eyes and touching palms, the residents share a long, silent thank you before tucking into their home-grown feast. They eat in silence, the clinking of spoons blending into the rock music that drifts in from a group of skateboarders nearby. Eventually a man with a long beard and dreadlocks tied up on his head opens a discussion on harmonious mixtures of food as a tattered bag of salt is passed along the circle. “Ah the poison of life,” Gabriel sighs. The others violently nod in agreement. “Hang on,” he cuts in. “Pass it back here…just a little bit more…”

“Cute as a button” is an old adage that has been tossed around for decades, but are buttons particularly cute? Perhaps not, but Lucas Campodónico and Rocío González have been seeing buttons – discarded buttons – in ways most people would not dream of.

Together, they created Greca in 2008, a sustainable design company that creates accessories and objects from discarded buttons and the resin surplus of the industrial production. Buttons start to look rather cute when seen inside the resin of bracelets, necklaces, rings, flowerpots, clocks, lamps and miscellaneous objects such as decorative elephants and frogs.

The project officially began in 2008, but Campodónico and a childhood friend planted the seed that would grow to become Greca in 2005 when they started making necklaces with buttons. Those necklaces garnered a fair amount of attention, at least from family members, who began to make requests for more. Soon after, they received an offer from Juana de Arco, an Argentine clothing brand, to design a collection for Fashion Week. This gave them the confidence to start marketing what they were creating, but the project was still rather disorganized and lacked long-term goals.

Then Campodónico gained access to a button factory and became inspired by the large amount of industrial waste he saw there.

“It was a mixture of common sense, opportunity and necessity,” he said. “I could not understand that all of it was all rubbish that could be usable for other purposes. I started to do anything with those buttons and started researching the subject. I realized what was going on in that factory was not a rarity, but a phenomenon repeated in each factory,” he said.

González later joined Campodónico and they set about turning the hobby into a serious eco-design brand.

As far as the aesthetics of the designs, Campodónico denied that there is a definite trend. Rather, he attributed the designs to the experiences and knowledge of the people involved with Greca.

He noted that they do face some challenges in the design process that other artists are not susceptible to.

“There are limitations of our raw materials to the design,” he explained. “Designers usually think of a design and then analyse which is the best material to use. Our path is reversed. First there is the material and then we think of what we can make with it.”

It may be a bit more challenging, but the use of recycled materials and the wellbeing of the environment matter to Greca. It is important to them to show and teach that it is possible to work in a friendly manner with the environment and that many of the materials commonly thought of as rubbish can be transformed in to works of art.

Greca’s clientele usually have an affinity for design and the environment. Clients also have high-purchasing power because eco-design tends to be relatively expensive because of the low-scale production and care that is invested in each piece.

Nevertheless, Greca is growing, boasting vendors in California and Oklahoma in the United States; Spain; New Zealand; Chile and of course Argentina.

Yet Campodónico said that Greca’s products are designed for them.

“We like to do what gives us pleasure. Often we make products that we like but they do not sell. We believe that the pleasure of doing what one wants is a great privilege, but we realize that to do this, we have to work very hard,” he explained.

He realizes that the brand has a long way to go before it reaches the full potential of their vision. He said, “Our goal is to grow without ceasing to be children. We believe it’s possible for a company to achieve a balance of adapting to the competitive market without losing the love for what it does.”

Lead image: ‘Button Frog’ by Greca

In an indistinct field, half an hour away from La Plata railway station, concrete stumps appeared to pop up from the ground about three months ago. Barely distinguishable through the long grass, they do actually have a pattern. They are the beginnings of a sustainable compound being developed for the Cooperativa Agrícola La Unión, a cooperative that represents the Bolivian communities in La Plata, Olmos, Echeverry, Abasto, Melchor Romero, Los Hornos, Arana, El Pato and El Peligro.

The barrio has been designed by Dante Muñoz Veneros, a specialist in ecological and sustainable architecture who has worked in a variety of natural disaster zones around Latin America, including Haiti. He focuses on how ecological change affects people, producing refugees and looks into methods of resolving the problems that are created when an area is devastated by natural disaster.

Lack of money and resources are huge problems within disaster zones, but they are also prevalent problems within immigrant communities, such as that of the Bolivians. So Dante, who has worked with Cooperativa Agrícola La Unión for a few years already, decided to use his expertise to design the barrio with the cooperative.

Building will take around two years and all the materials used will be what Dante refers to as “low impact”, meaning the effect on the environment will be minimised. The building is still very much in its early stages and he is still sourcing materials. However, around the offices of the cooperative, there are already some fields full of tomatoes and vegetables. Protection for the tomato vines has already been erected and there is a small warehouse, constructed from recycled plastic, that they use for making crates to store the produce.

The plot of land covers 27 hectares and will be home to an agricultural school and a market, as well as various buildings where members of the Bolivian agricultural community can work and store their equipment.

Dante explained that the use of recycled material maintains the Bolivian philosophy of working as well as being more sustainable: “The Andeans are agricultural people. Their philosophy of work involves supporting each other and cooperation. They produce together and consume together. They also believe in looking after the environment, but ecological initiatives can be expensive. So when the materials are recycled, the costs are minimised and we provide a solution to a base problem.”

It seems that monetary problems and the difficulties of maintaining the Andean philosophy have played a large part in inspiring the creation of this project. Oscar Velasco, president of the Federation of Bolivian Associations (FACBOL), said that despite the fact that there are around two million Bolivians living in Argentina, they still have problems as a community: “Five or six thousand Bolivians work as producers, but we need this because otherwise we have to pay a lot for rent. Also, the large companies monopolise the industry so we need to work together.

“Sixty-five per cent of fruit and vegetable produce in Buenos Aires province comes from Bolivians, but we face problems with prices when competing with large monopolies. We need to support our producers.” He also pointed out that Bolivians in both the agricultural sector and the textile industry face problems of prejudice against them.

However, now that the community is big enough with enough work that they can worry about things other than their documentation. They are at a point where they can “make a plan for living”, as Velasco puts it.

“This will introduce a sense of formality and security to how they work. They need an organisation because they are used to small projects. This will help them deal with creditors and subsidies. The fact is Bolivians are not used to putting their money in a bank and face a lot of hidden discrimination.”

Velasco also hopes that this sense of security will help them open up as a community too by allowing them to maintain and share their culture with others: “We want to increase participation in our activities and show our respect for Pachamama.” He seems keen to emphasise the steps that are being made towards recognising their values and their culture, as well as the practical benefits of the barrio cooperativo.

They have been slowly garnering support from local rural communities, Bolivian and otherwise, by holding folklore evenings and cultural activities near where the new barrio is situated. They will also be hosting five nights of Bolivian culture at the amphitheatre in Mataderos this Summer.

Although construction is still in its early stages and progress is slow in these wintry months, it will be well worth attending one of these nights in Mataderos to see the culture and values that these Bolivians are keeping hold of. It may not be as grand as Recycle Island in the Pacific, but it is no less crucial to maintaining the livelihood of a community and looking after the environment.

For more information about Cooperativa Agrícola La Unión and any of its projects, ring 0221 496 1443 Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm.

Good hotels are places to which you plan on returning. Great hotels are places in which you dream of living; places which force you to rethink your vision of home.

Casa Calma sits in the heart of downtown Buenos Aires and aims to be “a home from home” for its guests. It is Argentina’s first eco-hotel and is devoted to a philosophy of wellness and organic living; an oasis in the womb of a heaving metropolis.

On 15th October, Casa Calma celebrates its first anniversary as Buenos Aires’ prime environmentally friendly, urban refuge. After a year of business, the ground-breaking design of the hotel continues to provide guests with luxury accommodation whilst adhering to an organic mantra.

Argentine architect and co-founder, Carlos Levit, believed in the importance of investing within his own country. Through travel and exploration of global ecological design ideas and phenomena, he was able to “create something entirely new here in Buenos Aires”. Levit designed everything in the building, and where  the green issue is a relatively recent preoccupation in Argentina, his work is truly innovative, as he strives to highlight the importance of organic living.

The hotel features an abundance of initiatives dedicated to promoting this movement of environmental concern. The building is surrounded by a beautiful vertical garden: green ivy which grows up each of the outside walls, providing a verdant backdrop and acting as an energy saving thermal balance, keeping heat either in or out as required. The horticultural wonder also improves the breathing quality of the surrounding atmosphere and grows behind double glazed glass, ensuring that no heat is lost unnecessarily.

The hotel’s impeccable decor is all manufactured from eco-friendly materials. The wood used is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, assuring sustainable forest resources; and the wallpaper is made from entirely recycled materials. Furthermore, each room’s amenities (the lavish, complementary spa products) are bottled using recycled plastic, and are refilled as opposed to replaced, cutting down on the hotel’s waste.

However, according to the staff of Casa Calma, the hotel’s primary attraction is its character. It is distinct from any other establishment in the country, and the tranquil haven seems completely hidden from the bustling city outside. Indeed, upon entering the building the double glazing drowns out all traffic noise, and the crisp white, plush interior of the lobby creates an immediately fresh and cosy atmosphere. The shelves are lined with books on green living, and a computer is available for free use by guests.

This serene ambience is the defining feature of the hotel’s bedrooms. The twelve ‘Wellness’ and six ‘Wellness Premium’ suites are designed as individual spa retreats, each equipped with a Jacuzzi and therapeutic ‘Scottish shower’. Premium rooms also have a sauna and all bathrooms feature a luxury array of natural soaps, oils and lotions. The rooms are light and spacious and if desired, candles, chocolate and champagne can all be ordered from reception. Guests can enjoy breakfast in bed at no extra cost, whilst watching a DVD from the hotel’s library on the wide-screen television. The overall effect is that of a sumptuous, yet homely, environment which is further enhanced by a well-stocked mini bar and máquinas de la casa, such as an espresso machine and i-pod port.

The staff and managers maintain that this “filosofía de casa” is what makes Casa Calma such a wholly relaxing and satisfying experience. Nowhere is this philosophy more evident than in the hotel’s ‘Honesty Bar’. At any time, residents may help themselves to fruit, pastries, teas, juices and wines. They are trusted to record their pickings and pay the tab when they check out. Casa Calma’s cuisine is based on fresh, regional, organic produce, and the range of delicious meat, fish and pasta dishes are all prepared from scratch on the premises. Chef, Ignacio Sosa, describes the menu as: “Homemade meets sophisticated, and always hecho con amor.” He and his team promise to cook each dish to your preferred taste, “as you’d like it in your own home.”

Thus, he perfectly captures the essence of Casa Calma. As the hotel endeavours to provide the finest in calm comfort and eco-friendly luxury, guests are most importantly welcomed with open arms into a homely environment. A year on, the hotel’s philosophy is still refreshing. Whether you are holidaying in the capital, or looking for a weekend break from working in the city, Casa Calma promotes a “culture of wellbeing”, catering for the mind, body and above all, soul.

It should come as no surprise that Argentina is far from the forefront of socially and environmentally responsible development. If you have ever had soot blown in your face by a passing colectivo, looked out your train window as it leaves Retiro station, or tried to refuse a bag at a grocery store, you know that Buenos Aires has a long way to go before it can boast institutional environmental respect.

As the paradigm of sustainable development – that which “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” – becomes globally accepted as the best, if not only way forward, the environment, economy, and social well being of a nation’s citizens are becoming universally accepted as interrelated. The capital, unfortunately, is just the tip of the iceberg. From un-enforced logging regulations in the South to lacking social, health, and housing infrastructure in the North to widespread industrial soy production on most of the country’s fertile land, Argentina, as a nation has serious environmental problems to address.

Environmentalism has penetrated national, provincial, and municipal level politics, as well as culture. This blog will explore the country’s progress, when achieved, and challenges, when identified, towards sustainable development. I hope to give credit where credit is due to the agencies, corporations, small business owners, non-profits, and individuals who are propelling the environmental movement. I hope to expose those entities that could and should be doing more.

To start with, it is important for me to note that there are important historical reasons why Argentina is not currently a global leader of sustainable development. The country has a complicated and tumultuous past, including the relatively recent economic crisis of the early 2000s. I know, though cannot pretend to personally understand, that many Argentines have faced extremely difficult realities in their lifetime: loss of savings, of a home, of a job. I realize that environmental responsibility has not been high on the public, private, or personal agenda as it was replaced by other, perhaps more pressing needs. But to treat the environment as separate from financial, health care, or other public systems is a mistake. Environmental issues are not beside the point; corporate social responsibility is not ‘an extra.’  I blame no Argentine for the distance their country has to go towards integrating environmental management into mainstream politics, regulation, education, business, and culture.

But people must be held accountable for their nations. Why? Because Argentina belongs to Argentines.  Its football legends, asado, tango, vibrant porteño culture – that is Argentina. Its shotty trash collection, serious contributions to greenhouse gas emissions, poor air quality, and nearly quarter of the population living below the poverty line…that is Argentina too.

Finding solutions to these problems is not that simple. Funds directed towards one program are diverted from another. If resource-extensive industries like mining, logging, and agriculture were severely limited, so too would be employment and the tax base that pays for public services.  It is my opinion that all too often environmentalists fail to recognize the economic and social implications of their recommendations. Even if a long term solution can be identified, its implementation may have seriously negative impacts in the short term. For instance, restricting industrial soy production would potentially save virgin forest from being razed to support cultivation, but it might also destroy the livelihood of those who depend on the crop for income. In other words, if respect for the environment was in everyone’s best interest all the time, we would not find ourselves facing the ecological challenges we are.

I hope my reporting inspires Argentines to both own their environmental successes and demand further action where it can be taken. I hope it humbles foreigners as to the challenges, competing forces, and complexities intrinsic in the development driving developing nations.