The global awareness website, Changents, “connects Agents of Change with a fan base of ‘Backers’ around the world, enabling them to create change together.” The best part about Changents is that it brings global awareness about uniquely fascinating people (aka, Heroes) and their do-good actions. Combining storytelling and social networking, Changents, partnered with Timberland and EarthKeepers , promoting these praiseworthy environmental ambassadors (and their adventures) in the hopes of gathering supporters from around the globe.
Earth Promise was fortunate to have interviewed many of Changents’ environmental Heroes.
Christopher Swain, on Earth Day 2009, dove into the frigid and dirty Atlantic ocean, beginning a 1,000 mile, 2-year swim from New England to Washington D.C. — an eco-expedition designed to find alternatives to “unhelpful human activities” (as Christopher likes to say) destroying our ocean habitats as a result of water pollution. The public can follow Christopher’s swim, communicate with him, and experience first hand what he sees while freestyling through water contaminated with algae blooms, oil slicks, trash, heavy metals, toxic chemicals, sewage and nuclear waste… not to mention container ships, rip tides, rain, snow, lightning, high winds and tiger sharks.
Earth Promise: What changes, or Earth Promises as we call them, have you made in your lifestyle to be greener? Changes in home, travel, work, with your kids and community?
Christopher Swain: Like many people who are concerned about the environment, I used to drive long distances in my SUV to give speeches about how people shouldn’t drive long distances in their SUVs. So, for me, the first step was admitting publicly to this sort of silly inconsistency. That led to a slow series of changes in my life, like switching to a diesel pickup truck that runs on waste vegetable oil, and doing my hometown errands on my mountain bike (yes, even when it rains). In terms of my kids, well, they notice what I do more than what I say.
EP: Tell me a little bit about yourself and your involvement in the environmental “movement.”
CS: I wouldn’t call myself an environmentalist. I am a swimmer who wants clean water, and a dad who wants his kids to grow up in a healthier world.
EP: Were you “green” as a child?
CS: We didn’t even have curbside recycling when I was little. It was a big deal to stop littering—I remember my mom yelling at me to pick up my trash and throw it in the bin.
EP: I’ve read that you were drawn to the water at an early age, growing up by the water and winning your first sail-boating race at age 7. I’m assuming this love of the water drew you to making your bold statements about preserving our oceans?
CS: I love the water, and I enjoy doing projects with kids. I am doing to this swim as a way to help 50,000 kids do project-based learning about the ocean. I think working with kids is the most leveraged use of my energy–adults can be pretty set in their ways.
EP: What was your first, “aha!” green moment?
CS: Not sure there was one. I remember feeling sad when I found trash on the beaches when I was little.
EP: Sometimes if a message is played over too much, consumers will tend to ignore it after a while or tune it out or turn against it. How can green Evangelists be more effective in making sure we are relevant but not overbearing? This includes sites like Earth Promise and others as well as people in media, music, advocacy, politics, education and more.
CS: Nobody likes being told what to do.
EP: What are some of the things that anger you or drive you crazy that you see people do that hurts the environment?
CS: It is sad to see that so many of us lack the courage to leave our comfort zones behind in order to live in healthier ways.
EP: Tell us more about the 2007 documentary, Source to Sea: The Columbia River Swim?
CS: In 2002-2003, I swam the entire 1,243 mile length of the Columbia River to call attention to the disrupted ecosystems and dislocated peoples of the Columbia River basin. The documentary went a long way toward telling the river’s story in the voices of the people who lived along its banks.
EP: How did you get involved in the Changents program?
CS: One of my neighbors told me about the site and suggested that I get involved.
EP: While we are being hurt by the climate crisis right now, the next generations are in big trouble if we don’t take action. How can parents and schools inspire their kids to be involved and help the environment?
CS: I believe the best way to inspire kids is to lead by example. Beyond that, I think parents and teachers should give kids the information and tools they need to begin searching for solutions.
EP: Do you feel that the United States needs stronger laws to protect the environment? If so, in what areas?
CS: In every area. In particular, I feel that the U.S. should be leading the world in protecting the web of life and in addressing the climate crisis. Sadly, we are not there yet.
EP: How can the people in United States be the world leader in green awareness to help 3rd world nations? What do we need to accomplish?
CS: We need to lead from the front. We should not ask anyone to do what we are not doing ourselves.
EP: Are these inspiring environmental actions a trend? We have interviewed Nathan Winters who just completed his 3,500 mile bike ride across America dedicated to raising awareness for land and nature conservation and to support the Nature Conservancy. What type of message should people be taking from eco-adventurous people like yourself?
CS: It takes courage to go forward when things are scary or difficult. Whether we are swimming in the ocean or riding through the Rockies in a hailstorm, we all need to fund the reserves of strength that will sustain us in challenging times.
EP: What message would you give others who want to spread their eco-ideas?
CS: You have to have the heart for this sort of work. Unless you are willing to put yourself, and maybe your life, on the line for what you believe, you aren’t going to win many hearts and minds.
EP: When on your swimming adventures, have you taken any steps to green the process, including getting around and equipment in general?
CS: Sure. We use sea kayaks and extremely-efficient, catamaran-style inflatable boats and four-stroke outboard motors for escort craft. We travel in a vegetable oil-powered truck. We are setting up virtual classroom visits for the coming school year to lower our travel miles. Our overall goal is to reduce our footprint as much as we can and then try to balance out the remaining impact through various helpful activities, like investments in new renewable energy projects.
EP: What is the one Earth Promise you are going to make in the future that you have not done yet?
CS: To try to enjoy myself more when I am working hard out in the field.
EP: I’m sure all of the swims you have accomplished have a special place in your heart, but was there one that was more personal?
CS: My swim down the Columbia was a trial by water. By the time I reached the Pacific Ocean, I was an entirely changed man.
EP: Where will the next swim take you?
CS: Good question…ask me again when I get to Washington DC!
EP: This has been great. Thank you very much.
Be sure to come back and read more about the Earthkeeper Heroes.
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