Supporting Climate Action for my Mother, my Children, and the Whales

Ryan swimming with the whales in February.

For me, it always comes back to the whales.  

When I was 10 years old, my mother took me on a cruise to Alaska where I first saw orcas swimming in the wild.  It was magnificent, humbling and something I will never forget.  Seeing them in their natural state, traveling as a pod, was life changing.  It is the memory that I have that has defined my morals and character to this day – the world is bigger than us.

That following year, I took a family vacation to Disney World where we had a front row seat at a Sea World show, circa 1987.  When I saw these massive orca whales living in these tiny tanks, I just didn’t get it.  I didn’t understand why, or how, we could do these things to these incredible creatures.  Why were these whales being held captive in these tanks?  Why were they not free like the ones I saw in Alaska?   At 11 years old, it just didn’t make sense to me.

This uneasiness stayed with me for the next 25 years – although, outside of supporting a few environmental charities, I didn’t have the courage to do anything about it.  Like many, I buried myself in my work and family responsibilities.  Then, in 2014, I lost my mother to lung cancer and my life changed.  Life became real, and mine had an eventual end date.  Before she died, my mom had one last piece of advice for me:  Follow your heart.  And with that, I knew that I needed to change my life.  Personal battles with my own health for the past 3 years have led me to this place:  the importance of fighting for the health of our planet and truly understanding what it means to be unselfish.  

The population of the North Atlantic right whale is down to ~400 – closer to extinction than they have ever been.  Why?  Because they are getting entangled in the fishing lines of commercial lobstermen.  Why is this a problem now?  Climate change.  As ocean temperatures rise, these whales are being forced to swim further north to feed, as the fish population is moving to colder waters near Canada.  Therefore, the whales are following them further north and getting trapped and drowning in the lobstermen’s net lines.  Climate change is killing the whales, which first captured my heart at 10 years old, but I realize now that so much more than that is at stake.

We know that climate change is real.  We know that humans are contributing to climate change, and we now know how to reverse those changes and truly save our planet.  So, what can be done?  If you are like me, you want to see change.  You want to give your children and grandchildren a healthy and safe environment to call home.  You know that there are devastating things going on right now, but you are not sure if you can make a difference.  I’m here to tell you that you can.  

I’ve been a resident of Charlottesville for almost ten years now.  It’s where I choose to live, and where I choose to raise my 2 boys.  For me, there is a sense of pride in calling this amazing place home.  Charlottesville is beautiful, not only with its breathtaking views and scenery, but also its people and culture.  I want to see Charlottesville and Albemarle County lead on climate and demonstrate what is possible to other communities across the Commonwealth and beyond. And it is possible, when we all work together.  

This is why I have made the choice to give to the Community Climate Collaborative (C3).  I have 2 young boys, and they understand the significance of climate change.  As a society, I know we can reverse the effects of climate change, and that starts at home with our community.  When I asked my sons if they wanted me to give money to an organization that would help fight climate change, even if it meant a cut in their allowances, they both said yes.  Even at a young age, we all possess the ability to truly realize our priorities in life.

Ryan with his two boys.

I want to live in a world where people recognize the harm they are doing and consciously make changes.  I want to raise my kids in a world where whales swim free and people choose to fight for action against climate change.  I want to live in a world where people act unselfishly.  If there was ever a reason to give money to anything, now is the time.  The history books will write about 2020 and all of the horrible things we have seen this year.  But I see something extremely positive coming out of 2020 – hope.  Hope for our future, and hope for our planet.    

I want my children to know that I did everything I could to fight climate change, save the whales, and make the world a better place.  I support C3 in memory of my mother who taught me the importance of following your heart, and in honor of the planet I want to leave for my children. I can’t think of a better legacy to leave behind, but the promise of giving everything I have to this cause.  I hope you’ll join me.