Moving Forward

The picture above was taken on a Blue Clipper sailboat. We sailed it North from the Azores in Portugal and headed up the English channel to Liverpool.

I've never met a more likable team of sailors. Take our engineer for example. A woman (and previous skipper) of other such voyages, she knew the ins and outs of that ship like the back of her grease-stained hands. I would often come up on deck to see her burning items she deemed worthless, or would see her pop her head out from seemingly nowhere before descending again into the engine room covered in filth.

Our chef was a Micheline star cook-travelling from Nigeria. She decided to sail with us to Liverpool before making her way up North to the Fjords of Norway. Our captain was something of a 'sea Gandalf'. He was a gentle and kind man and everyone knew that if he stayed on that ship, we would be alright despite any circumstance.

Everyone was so knowledgeable of their roles. Each line (or rope) had to be placed properly, put away, stored. Each canvas (sheet) had to be tied tight. "Marry the knots" they'd say, and pull that line goddamn you, for your queen and country!

We preformed our tasks routinely on a 4 hour shift between divided teams. Sleep for 4 hours, steer the ship for 4 hours, log, keep watch for 4 hours, eat and repeat.

Now you're probably wondering what this has to do with saving the earth or sustainability.

The way I see it, that ship mimicked how individual people are going about sustainability. Everyone-incredible as they may be, thinks it's up to the smart people on the ship to drive us forward. People are desperate for ways to help, to contribute and to be better because they love their home- and I understand! However, what kept us afloat on that dangerous trip wasn't the experts. It was the consistency in our actions and proper organization that made going forward that much easier.

So please hear me out when I say that consistency is how you can help strive towards a more sustainable future. It's the little tasks and remembering why you appreciate the view outside your busy life-whether it be on land or at sea.

Just for reference (so you don't dismiss me as a bloody seanut) my background includes a Masters in Natural Resources and Sustainability, wildlife conservation and environmental-socio governance. The real, hard truth of it is that professionals in the field can make it easier for you to do the right thing by offering guidelines; but you have to step up and be consistent in something you think is worth while.

So, let's go over some small actions that actually make a big difference.

Be consistent in the small changes you make towards being more sustainable. Those changes can include:

1. reducing transportation emissions, using less plastics, using less garbage, recycle clothing, reduce energy usage (green products are available, time of utility usage in the day, better window insulation, etc), get informed.

2. Look for sustainable meat alternatives and cut out seafood as much as possible (this is coming from a Japanese person). Be mindful of the ingredients in your food and the harm they cause to the environment (e.g. avocado, soy, salmon, palm oil, sugar, mineral water, coffees) and change it up.

3. Think about adoption (It sucks to hear, but the world is overpopulated and doesn't need more people).

4. Be consistent and kind.

Good luck in your endeavors friends. I've read a lot of peer review articles during my education and I'll be blunt, we've already gone past the point of no return in terms of climate change. It's an unfortunate reality, but I'm not one to give up a fight, and I don't think you want to give up either. All we can do now to be more sustainable is to sail straight and be consistent in those small choices. Trust me, it does work. All you have to do is move forward.

Yours in conservation,

-C