Peteghem believes those in the superyacht market are increasingly conscious of their environmental image and are turning to sailing vessels as a greener solution to luxury travel.

CNN: A peek inside world's largest luxury catamaran

Apple also has taken steps to release more information about its environmental policies, which have helped its image.

WSJ: How Green Is Apple?

In the face of environmental, economic disaster, it is the image of the people that stays with us, that remind us of the fragile nature of humanity in the race toward a more powerful society.

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