Dear@BritishVogueand @edward_enninful: Vogue’s #ResetChallenge inspired readersto submit images of captivating landscapes that carry deep meaning to them forthe magazine’s August cover. Nine of the top 10 winning images portrayed the traditional, splashy beauty of traveldestinations from Japan, Iceland to Mozambique.  

One of these photos stood out from all the rest—an image juxtaposing thebeauty of the Dominican Republic’s natural landscape with that of plasticwaste. A Dominican artist and environmental activist, Carmen Danae, submittedthis photo as a call-to-action to aid the fragile ecosystem. Unsurprisingly,this image has sparked criticism as a non-traditional representation of theCaribbean country from the white-sand beaches and clear, blue waters people areaccustomed to seeing in one of the world’s leading luxury publications.

 While Vogue’s editors took a bold decision in selecting thisphoto among its top ten, I can’t help but wonder if its impact is fullyunderstood. Tourism remains a critical sector of the Dominican Republic’seconomy while navigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, thecalls of environmentalists, Dominicans and tourists alike are being heard andanswered.  The country’s new governmentled by President-elect Luis Abinader has presented detailedplans on environmental sustainability and climate change, includinggradually eliminating plastic consumption, which should give us hope that ahealthy ecosystem in the country will prevail.  
Vogue’s regional publications have recently showcased Dominican supermodels such as Arlenis Sosa visiting their home countries.  I urge the magazine to return soon toDominican Republic firsthand to witness the intersection of natural beauty,vibrant culture and fashion on display at every turn.  

Best, 

Geovanny Vicente Romero 

https://twitter.com/GeovannyVicentR/status/1287481244075397121  

Geovanny Vicente Romero is a columnist for CNN and Infobae based in Washington, DC. He is a political strategist, international consultant and lecturer. He’s published many articles on development, human rights, governance, democracy, elections, the environment, as well as the role of women in a society. He is the founder of the Dominican Republic Center of Public Policy, Leadership and Development (CPDL-RD). Geovanny has a masters degree from The George Washington University in political communications and strategic governance.