The Problem
Unregulated "Development"
Bodrum, Turkey, exemplifies the undesired effects brought on by the system we operate in, worldwide. Over the decades, the Bodrum peninsula has been witnessing very rapid, unplanned (and often illegal) development and environmental degradation, which resulted in the accelerated erosion of its pristine and beautiful original state.
Bodrum, Turkey, exemplifies the undesired effects brought on by the system we operate in, worldwide. Over the decades, the Bodrum peninsula has been witnessing very rapid, unplanned (and often illegal) development and environmental degradation, which resulted in the accelerated erosion of its pristine and beautiful original state.
Due to the extraordinary natural beauty and laid back lifestyle of this region, national and international attention has prompted fast and mostly unscrupulous real estate and tourist development in the Bodrum peninsula. The exploitation of the land for quick and easy income has brought about a great degree of environmental degradation and disfigurement of the area's original beauty and character. What is even more regrettable is that it is very common to find newly built gated communities and hotels (where earlier lush and green areas existed) left empty for lack of tourists and/or interested buyers.
What the private and public sector seems to overlook is that unplanned tourism development eventually results in depreciation of the area because, let's face it, why would someone wish to visit a place that has been polluted and covered in cement? Long-term and profitable tourism thrives on the following ingredients: pristine and clean nature, green spaces, little development, and beautiful architectural design.
What the private and public sector seems to overlook is that unplanned tourism development eventually results in depreciation of the area because, let's face it, why would someone wish to visit a place that has been polluted and covered in cement? Long-term and profitable tourism thrives on the following ingredients: pristine and clean nature, green spaces, little development, and beautiful architectural design.
Internal Migration and Mass Tourism
Another major factor contributing to the progressive decline of the Bodrum region is due to a relentless flow of new settlers and the 2nd and even 3rd "vacation home syndrome". Residents of big cities, such as Istanbul and Ankara, are fleeing the metropolis and seeking solace in the Bodrum peninsula. They are commonly moved by increasing dissatisfaction with city life due to stress, traffic, crowd, poor lifestyles and safety concerns. They come to find nature, relax, and a healthier lifestyle. Migration to Bodrum is due to the big cities having become massive conglomerates of cement and concrete.
However, the sad paradox here is that, due to unplanned urbanization and corruption, the Bodrum peninsula is itself turning into a conglomerate of cement and concrete as its precious green spaces are being destroyed at a very fast rate. Generalized low environmental awareness and sensitivity makes matters worse. It is very common to find that the few remaining trees left standing in the developments are being cut for frivolous reasons (to have a better view of the sea, the road, or even the neighbour!). These residents seem to overlook how they are contributing to recreating in Bodrum too the very problem they intended to escape from.
Another major factor contributing to the progressive decline of the Bodrum region is due to a relentless flow of new settlers and the 2nd and even 3rd "vacation home syndrome". Residents of big cities, such as Istanbul and Ankara, are fleeing the metropolis and seeking solace in the Bodrum peninsula. They are commonly moved by increasing dissatisfaction with city life due to stress, traffic, crowd, poor lifestyles and safety concerns. They come to find nature, relax, and a healthier lifestyle. Migration to Bodrum is due to the big cities having become massive conglomerates of cement and concrete.
However, the sad paradox here is that, due to unplanned urbanization and corruption, the Bodrum peninsula is itself turning into a conglomerate of cement and concrete as its precious green spaces are being destroyed at a very fast rate. Generalized low environmental awareness and sensitivity makes matters worse. It is very common to find that the few remaining trees left standing in the developments are being cut for frivolous reasons (to have a better view of the sea, the road, or even the neighbour!). These residents seem to overlook how they are contributing to recreating in Bodrum too the very problem they intended to escape from.
Waste and Pollution
Waste, pollution, and environmental degradation is the obvious consequence of irresponsible urbanization, tourism, and commercial practices:
Waste, pollution, and environmental degradation is the obvious consequence of irresponsible urbanization, tourism, and commercial practices:
Public Health and Safety
Erosion of the ecosystem (e.g.: removal of trees and green areas) due to unplanned urban development and unsustainable economic practices bears great risk to public health, through the release of toxic waste, and public safety, through increased occurrence of extreme weather conditions such as flash-floods and landslides.
Erosion of the ecosystem (e.g.: removal of trees and green areas) due to unplanned urban development and unsustainable economic practices bears great risk to public health, through the release of toxic waste, and public safety, through increased occurrence of extreme weather conditions such as flash-floods and landslides.
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Loss of Archaeological and Historic Heritage
Turkey is one of the richest countries in the world in archaeological remains. However, sadly, much of its priceless treasures is not being protected. One such examples is the appalling case of stone quarries that have been given permission to mine Mount Latmos (Bafa lake region, Milas), an ancient and sacred site where 6,000 years old prehistoric paintings can be found, in the midst of rare and unique flora and fauna. Mine workers are destroying these paintings with soap, sponge and emery in order to remove the restrictions brought about by the ‘archaeological site’ label.
A great deal of work is required to educate people of the priceless and immense heritage in civilizations, culture, history, mythology, and cult dating back to the origins of humanity. It is crucial that the general public, starting from the children, become aware and proud of this heritage and feel personally responsible to protect it, if the memory of where we come from and who we are is not to be erased along with the traces our ancestors left us.
Dis-ease and Ill Health
Other clear signs of the failure of our consumerist urban systems can be found in the way society is more alienated, unhealthy, and addicted than ever before as our sense of community and togetherness is greatly reduced.
Stress and illness brought about by unhealthy and hectic lifestyle finds little solution, if at all, in mainstream medicine which is not designed to cure disease at the root and carries with it heavy side effects. Conventional medicine is a trillion dollar industry which thrives on selling medicines and "cures" which in fact keep people sick. After all, it would be the end of this business if the world was officially offered real health solutions and real cures that would enable people to be strong and healthy.
Other clear signs of the failure of our consumerist urban systems can be found in the way society is more alienated, unhealthy, and addicted than ever before as our sense of community and togetherness is greatly reduced.
Stress and illness brought about by unhealthy and hectic lifestyle finds little solution, if at all, in mainstream medicine which is not designed to cure disease at the root and carries with it heavy side effects. Conventional medicine is a trillion dollar industry which thrives on selling medicines and "cures" which in fact keep people sick. After all, it would be the end of this business if the world was officially offered real health solutions and real cures that would enable people to be strong and healthy.
Unrest
The current global political and economic systems have failed us. One only needs to look at countries such as the USA and most of Europe, with their high rate of homelessness, unemployment, economic crisis and social unrest, to find evidence of this.
Furthermore, security, with the constant threats of wars spreading out, is an ever present issue, as the masses are regularly terrorized and divided into submission through conflicts, false flag operations, and underhanded political games.
The current global political and economic systems have failed us. One only needs to look at countries such as the USA and most of Europe, with their high rate of homelessness, unemployment, economic crisis and social unrest, to find evidence of this.
Furthermore, security, with the constant threats of wars spreading out, is an ever present issue, as the masses are regularly terrorized and divided into submission through conflicts, false flag operations, and underhanded political games.
Conclusion
Generalized lack of awareness, participation and self-responsibility at the individual level has provided fertile soil for all the above issues to snowball into the massive challenges we now are facing at local and collective levels.
We need to build a new paradigm that offers integrated long-term sustainable solutions. For this, it is crucial that we all, at the individuals level, become informed, empowered, and inspired to play our part so that the communities, societies and systems we live within can be transformed, from the inside-out and from the bottom-up, to reflect a conscious choice for fairness, self-reliance, prosperity, security, and peace.
Generalized lack of awareness, participation and self-responsibility at the individual level has provided fertile soil for all the above issues to snowball into the massive challenges we now are facing at local and collective levels.
We need to build a new paradigm that offers integrated long-term sustainable solutions. For this, it is crucial that we all, at the individuals level, become informed, empowered, and inspired to play our part so that the communities, societies and systems we live within can be transformed, from the inside-out and from the bottom-up, to reflect a conscious choice for fairness, self-reliance, prosperity, security, and peace.
