Pilosio Building Peace Award: think past the balance sheet

Construction companies have the power to make a positive impact on the lives of people in need around the world, but the sector must think past the corporate bottom line. So said the former president of Uruguay, José Alberto Mujica Cordano, in his impassioned acceptance speech as recipient of this year’s Pilosio Building Peace Award.
April 20, 2016 Read time: 2 mins

Construction companies have the power to make a positive impact on the lives of people in need around the world, but the sector must think past the corporate bottom line.

So said the former president of Uruguay, José Alberto Mujica Cordano, in his impassioned acceptance speech as recipient of this year’s 7163 Pilosio Building Peace Award.

During his speech, in front of guests at the International Monaco Centre, adjacent to the main bauma exhibition, “Pepe” - as he is known in Uruguay - urged businesses to act “not just for the balance sheet”.

The construction and heavy equipment sectors have the power and resources to change the lives of millions of people, he said, in a world that in many ways has never been richer.

“We have so many resources…yet we have so many contradictions in our lives,” he said. “Egotism is the biggest disease of our age and we have a crisis of values. Regardless, we are all responsible for this world of ours. To build buildings is to build peace and nothing is more valuable than life.”

The former urban guerrilla was president of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay, as it is officially called, from March 2010 to March 2015. During this time, he donated around 90% of his $12,000 monthly salary to charities that benefit poor people and small entrepreneurs.

This year’s award ceremony coincided with the creation of the bauma Charity Alliance, which has been inspired by the Pilosio Building Peace Award. The intention is to create a strong network and presentation platform to draw attention to social commitment by companies in the construction machinery sector.

“Corporate and social commitment is no contradiction,” said Klaus Dittrich, chairman and chief executive of Messe Munchen. “On the contrary, long-term success requires both of these to go hand in hand. Many bauma exhibitors have long since taken this on board and are acting accordingly.”

The 10 founding member companies of the bauma Charity Alliance are: Aumund, Atlas Copco, Caterpillar, Man, Pilosio, Terex, Volvo, Wirtgen, Zeppelin and ZF.

More information about joining can be found at: www.bauma.de/charity-alliance/en

All videos

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Italy at bauma 2013
    April 8, 2013
    Italian construction equipment manufacturers will be in abundance at bauma 2013, showcasing their impressive range of machines and technologies based on a rich and proud history of engineering excellence. The Munich-based show’s status as the largest construction equipment industry exhibition in the world represents the perfect platform for Italian firms to increase their customer base and enhance their global standing. The timing of bauma 2013, with all its associated trading and networking opportunities,
    Read More
  • Pilosio’s an MP tower of strength
    July 1, 2013
    Pilosio has supplied a set of 18 MP high-capacity towers for the construction of a viaduct on the Bellinzona-Lugano section of the new trans-Alpine railway, due for completion by the end of 2014. The viaduct is divided into five sectors of varying distances, from 110m for the first to 100 for the second. Both were due to be completed this month. The third and fourth sectors will be 90m long, while the fifth will span 45m – forming a flyover across Strada Cantonale, which links Locarno and Bellinzona.
    Read More
  • HxGN Live 2014: Hexagon CEO highlights individual need to grasp IT innovation
    June 4, 2014
    Hexagon president and CEO Ola Rollén stressed how individual users of exciting information technology innovation held the key to successfully confronting growing global challenges during his keynote speech titled ‘The Disruptive Power of Transformation’ which officially opened HxGN Live 2014.
    Read More
  • Interviews round-up
    March 19, 2012
    Investment in infrastructure is a key priority for the US. With a three-part growth strategy, business improving worldwide and improvements in order books, the Terex Group is looking to increase net sales to US$8 billion by 2013. Ron DeFeo, Terex’s chief operating officer, said the company has been seeing increased order and quotation activity across nearly all of its product categories.
    Read More

Highlighted Content