Danube River Swim

August 7th, my daughter and I returned home from a 2,880 kilometer swim of the Danube River. I swam, she guided me with a kayak. The swim was for social/environmental care-taking and symbolic of the ten countries along the Danube working together to make the swim successful just as we can work internationally to be successful as social/environmental stewards of the earth. The depth of human compassion and kindness we experienced from Donaueschingen, Germany to Sulina, Romania was extraordinary. The support of Rotary International, WWF, the Bulgarian River Police, the Romanian River Police and thousands of individuals along the river was an incredible statement of social and environmental care-taking. The success of the swim is a concrete example of what people can accomplish when we support each other. The most often asked question is, "How did you do it?" My reply is that "I" did not; we did, all of the previously mentioned people and more. Many people left an imprint on my soul that carried me to the Black Sea and will stay with me forever.

There were hundreds of pictures taken of our journey down the Danube River, but one particularly summarizes our relationships with the people along the Danube River. Taken our first morning in Romania, it is of Kelsey and Viorel sitting at a small, table outside his home. Twelve hours prior, we did not know him. Now, after an evening of food, conversation and a comfortable night's sleep on his sofa, we are at his table with a breakfast of warm goat's milk, homemade goat cheese, eggs from his chickens and Turkish coffee. Viorel has none of the amenities we possess in the U.S. and other developed countries, but he receives the consequences of global warming and the black-lash of other environmental issues. He could have left us to fend for ourselves along the Danube's muddy, post flood shores, but he did not. Like the prodigal son, he took us in and generously shared what he had to offer, as shown in the picture. I love this picture because what stands out the most is the laughter. Kelsey knows no Romanian; Viorel no English, but they are laughing. The most marvelous act of laughter, the universal language, is that it heals the body and the soul. This picture reassures me that people really do want a peaceful, healthy planet, regardless of what governments, religious zealots or a small group of greedy business persons portray.

On June 1st, I am swimming another river, the Drava, beginning in Leinz, Austria and joining the Danube in Bogojevo, Serbia. It is a memorial swim for David Reeder, a WWF employee who helped us during the Danube swim. David was passionate about the Drava and worked unceasingly to educate and motivate citizens, governments and businesses to be environmentally responsible in any actions within the Drava/Danube basin. My daughter called him the "Gentle Giant". The Drava League, WWF, The World Conservation Union and others are working to get environmental groups and concerned people from around the world to work together to preserve this incredible river.

The Drava River swim will re-energize environmental groups devastated by David's sudden demise and internationally unite groups and individuals along the Drava River to make greater strides towards its restoration/preservation. The relationships developed among the people and groups will give insight into the possibilities of acting locally and responding globally. In addition, support from USA citizens will send the message to people in the countries along the Drava that though isolated, we are not isolationists. We understand the interconnectivity of our environment and the importance of preserving all rivers, especially one of Europe's last natural rivers and the diverse Drava/Mura/Danube Biosphere. It is an international swim of environmental importance.