Only in the light of beauty can we come to see what is really present. – John O’Donohue Most of us have had breathtaking experiences in nature. Perhaps watching a brilliant sunrise or sunset, or gazing at a seemingly endless ocean where sea and sky blend into one horizon, or Morning’s Promise soaking in a panoramic view from a mountain top, or witnessing a field of wildflowers in kaleidoscope hues, or imbibing the brilliant fall-colors of deciduous foliage in New England, or watching waves of wind ripple over a wheat or corn field, or observing the beauty of a cerulean warbler or that of you ..read more

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature – the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.” ― Rachel Carson, Silent Spring Leaf Cay Exumas Sue and I enjoyed our sailing trek through the Abacos Islands in Northwest Bahamas exploring remote beaches on isolated cays (pronounced “keys”) with stunningly beautiful water enticing us with brilliant, blending shades of azure, aqua, and turquoise in the shallow areas and rich cob ..read more

“We stand now where two roads diverge. But unlike the roads in Robert Frost‘s familiar poem, they are not equally fair. The road we have long been traveling is deceptively easy, a smooth superhighway on which we progress with great speed, but at its end lies disaster. The other fork of the road — the one less traveled by — offers our last, our only chance to reach a destination that  assures the preservation of the earth”                   [and ourselves]. – Rachel Carson Let’s cut to the quick, the vast majority of climate scientists as w ..read more

“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.” ― John Muir On Saturday, January 29, 2018, CELL gave a Climate Action Now (CAN) program for a group of 40 Miami high school students volunteering at Shake a Leg Miami, a non profit organization providing sailing and marine education programs for children and adults with physical, developmental and Sue paddling in Everglades economic challenges. During the month of January, we conducted CAN programs for twelve schools – reaching over 400 students. Each program culminated in a challenge to the students to identify an issue at their school o ..read more

“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”                         ― Pablo Picasso Season’s Greetings!  In this blog, I will recap a few memories of Tusen Takk’s trek from Charleston, SC to Miami, FL and share some ideas for this season of giving and how you can  join a movement of people committed to restoring a healthy planet. I had a 170-nautical mile, relatively calm, 36-hour sail from Charleston, SC to Amelia Island off ..read more

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. – Pablo Picasso Chris Jordon – Art and Activism I awoke on December 2nd with Tusen Takk peacefully resting at a slip that the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina had graciously donated in support of our climate and oceans programs. In preparation for a 170 nautical mile through-the-night solo-trek to Amelia Island (Fernandina Beach, Florida – Coordinates: North -30.34.668, West: 081.28.338), I turned on the NOAA weather radio and was greeted by a high tide flood warning for Charleston. Of the top 25 cities in t ..read more

There was never a night or a problem that could defeat sunrise or hope. (Bernard Williams) My brother, Jon, and I had a wild and wooly 250 mile sail from Norfolk, Virginia to Moorhead City, North Carolina on a forty hour – 25 to 35 knot Northeast blow – surfing 8 to 9 foot waves and hitting 12 knots over ground. It was better than any ride at Busch Gardens. During the Bros in Action first 24 hours, we sailed over 160 nautical miles and averaged approximately 7 knots per hour. Not too shabby for a boat built more like a Sherman Tank than an Italian Ferrari. We paid a price for our good wind ..read more

“Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global average sea level.” (UN Global Warming Report) On Friday, November 3rd the city of D.C. opened the Frederick Douglass bridge at midnight, and Sue and I sailed through to the James Creek Marina on the Anacostia River and docked for the Sue at Mount Vernon night. The next morning, we met our three adult children (Kateland, Sarah and Jonathan), Matt (Kateland’s fiancé), and our niece and nephew (Cricke ..read more

“Together we can build a world we want, a world we’re proud to leave our children and grandchildren.” – Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General We sailed 96 miles up the Potomac River from Chesapeake Bay to the Navy Yard on the Anacostia River in Washington D.C. on October 22 and 23.  And along the way, we saw Great Blue Herons posing as sticks along marshes and mud flats ever-ready to grab a meal with a quick lunge of their bill, Bald Eagles swooping down and snatching fish from the river with their talons, Mallards and Chesapeake Mallards American Black ducks dabbling for dinner ..read more

You were born of the stars, dear girl; Stop settling for the dust they leave behind. (Daniel Walsh) On October 17th, I offered a Climate Action Now (CAN) program at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School in the Bronx for the school’s Environmental Club. The club has attracted a group of keen and eager students – young people who fully-know the bad news of what we are doing to our Lady Liberty environment, and who desperately want to hear the good news of what can be done and what they can do to be a part of the solution. Howie, a physics teacher and the club’s advisor, attended as well. I will ..read more