DEATH IN TULUM: A Portrait of an Ecocide is my most recent Artivism. It's an Artivist Short documentary about the creation of one image that resumes the ecological nightmare I witnessed while living in Tulum, Mexico in 2021-2022. I aim to send it to film festivals so the whole world can witness this ecocide like I did. Also, I want to show what I'm capable of doing with no budget so maybe I can get funding for my next feature film in 2004.

DEATH IN TULUM: A Portrait of an Ecocide © DaVida Sal

My name is DaVida Sal, I am a filmmaker, artivist, and traveler. I left the US in 2021 to seek more freedom. I moved to Tulum, Mexico, thinking It was an eco-friendly destination. What I found was far from the truth. I decided to expose the destruction and raping of Mother Nature I witnessed to the world. My talent is to create awareness through my Art. That’s how: DEATH IN TULUM: a Portrait of an Ecocide was born.

DEATH IN TULUM: A Portrait of an Ecocide © DaVida Sal

Twenty years ago, Tulum was a sleepy little alternative to Cancun for New Agers and backpackers. Suddenly "lifestyle coaches, crypto millionaires, and New York douchebags" go to parties and post pics of themselves on Instagram.

What happened that made Tulum such a popular destination lately? Every day, new buildings are constructed, contributing to the destruction of protected areas. What starts as small-scale construction gradually evolves into larger projects, penetrating deeper into the jungle. The main problem is corruption; Mexico has all the necessary laws and regulations to protect the environment, but a corrupt government allows unrestricted development. Tulum faces challenges such as inadequate waste management and the lack of a drainage system. Until recently, garbage was dumped in the jungle, forming what locals call"open-air landfills" just nine kilometers from Tulum.

DEATH IN TULUM: A Portrait of an Ecocide © DaVida Sal

This not only signifies an ecological Armageddon but also a significant health crisis. Evidence of Tulum's inability to handle the surge in mass tourism is apparent. Transforming Tulum into a sustainable tourist destination is a formidable task, requiring the implementation of rules to prevent it from becoming another massive tourist destination like Playa del Carmen and Cancun.

Unfortunately, only a majority in Tulum shows genuine interest in environmental issues, as most visitors focus on capturing glamorous selfies while enjoying the beach. Travel is a privilege — and the people who come here don’t seem to appreciate that. Most are simply re-creating their own cultures rather than trying to enjoy Mexican culture.

Tulum's ugly, smelly, and heartbreaking side is often overlooked as it doesn't align with Instagram aesthetics. Most Mayans already have to worry about basic subsistence issues. However, a growing number of local activists are dedicated to raising awareness and denouncing environmental violations through art and peaceful actions.

DEATH IN TULUM: A Portrait of an Ecocide © DaVida Sal

On Earth Day, April 24, 2022, I gathered 15 Artivists intending to shed light on the catastrophe and devastation unfolding in Tulum, a reality still unknown to many. The picturesque town, known for its eco-chic hotels, yoga retreats, Mayan ruins, lush jungles, and turquoise ocean, has transformed into a new bohemian hotspot, albeit at a devastating cost to the environment.

The fallen bodies depicted symbolize the trees felled in the jungle, a daily witness to a massacre reminiscent of historical injustices perpetrated by colonizers against Native Americans and Africans.

DEATH IN TULUM: A Portrait of an Ecocide © DaVida Sal

This pattern is now repeating in Tulum, where foreign corporations and profit-driven entities contribute to the irreversible destruction of its jungles. Relentless tree cutting and the destruction of natural habitats through the construction of concrete structures, falsely marketed as Eco Villages, are turning this small town into an ecological nightmare. It echoes the poetic line "They paved paradise and put up a parking lot," or in this case, another "eco-resort."

« In a thriving society, elders plant trees under whose shade they may never sit. Ironically, many developers market themselves as environmentally friendly, capitalizing on Tulum's relaxed, bohemian, and green image.Meanwhile, the uncontrolled construction of hotels, restaurants, and beach clubs is causing irreparable damage to the environment. What happened to Tulum has happened before, but we can still make a difference and reverse the damage if each of us uses our unique talents to raise awareness and motivate the masses to do something in their power. At least that's what I decided to do on my own. »

Watch now DEATH IN TULUM: A Portrait of an Ecocide

• DEATH IN TULUM; A Portrait of an Ecocide

  © Courtesy of the Artivist

  DaVida Sal 

  
  

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  You may consult the Italian version, proudly translated by the artivism® crew: 

  "DaVida Sal presenta MORTE A TULUM: ritratto di un ecocidio"