Category Archives: Today’s World

Harnessing the Power of Nature

A sunflower and its florets organized in an intricate, space-saving, light-optimizing swirl. MIT researchers believe arranging solar mirrors in the same way can result in more compact and efficient solar power plants.

The wisdom of nature fascinates me. You need only take a walk in the outdoors to see why. At first glance, you may marvel at its beauty, but when you look closer, you’re sure to spot the elegant efficiency that is uniquely Mother Nature. Nothing is wasted. All is needed. Everything counts. To me, nature is a perfect place to find inspiration for sustainable solutions not only for healthy living, but for a healthy planet. So perfect, in fact, it has inspired a movement.

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A Climate Change Challenge

The control panel on the Double X records warm waters of 87 degrees Fahrenheit. This high temperature is unusual for this region of the Pacific Ocean. July 2016. Photo: R. Rehnborg
The control panel on the Double X records warm waters of 87 degrees Fahrenheit. This high temperature is unusual for this region of the Pacific Ocean. July 2016. Photo: R. Rehnborg

Save the oceans, save the world. It’s a message that could easily roll by on your Twitter feed. Simple really, a universal truth that has a gospel ring to it. I suppose all it needs is an image of our dying oceans to entice a second look. Yet, while a flyby tweet may get your attention, it takes a more thoughtful read to understand the complexity of climate change.

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Mountainfilm Festival & A Little Niceness

Billowy clouds move across the snow covered San Juan Mountains, making for a beautiful backdrop for the 2017 Mountainfilm Festival and a great reminder of the power of nature to inspire people to action. Telluride, Colo., May 2017. Photo: Francesca Rehnborg
Billowy clouds move across the snow covered San Juan Mountains, making for a beautiful backdrop for the 2017 Mountainfilm Festival and a great reminder of the power of nature to inspire people to action. Telluride, Colo., May 2017. Photo: Francesca Rehnborg

Francesca and I are back from the Mountainfilm Festival in Telluride, Colorado. Each year, this festival focuses on themes that inspire people through the power of film, art and ideas to take action to create a better world, so we attend whenever we can. This year was extra special, complete with one of those proud moments that parents treasure. During the festival, our daughter Koral and her band mates performed at O’Bannon’s, a local Irish pub. We had a wonderful time as the band’s Reggae-inspired music filled the air with an uplifting message of living sustainably. Of all our kids, Koral is the most like my father with her out-of-the box thinking, endless creativity and respect for the planet. Continue reading Mountainfilm Festival & A Little Niceness

What’s Up Now?

Sitting next to a life-size statue of my father Carl F. Rehnborg, it’s easy to see why it’s a favorite photo stop for visitors at the Nutrilite Health Institute. The statue was inspired by his famous “pepper tree talks" and his many conversations filled with visionary ideas. Buena Park, California. March 2017.
Sitting next to a life-size statue of my father Carl F. Rehnborg, it’s easy to see why it’s a favorite photo stop for visitors at the Nutrilite Health Institute. The statue was inspired by his famous “pepper tree talks” and his many conversations filled with visionary ideas. Buena Park, California. March 2017.

It is hard to believe that six months have passed since I returned home from my Double X sailing trip. If you’ve been following my blog, you know it certainly wasn’t the trip we expected, especially with El Nino testing the mettle of both boat and crew. Now that I have settled into life back home, I’m more inspired than ever to focus on two of my passions: optimal health and sustainable living. Continue reading What’s Up Now?

Coral Reefs, Then & Now

A Firebird crew member holds a delicate coral inadvertently broken off by our anchor chain during our passage from Bali, Indonesia, to the Cocos [Keeling] Islands, January 1977. With today’s warmer, more acidic ocean waters in the South Seas, it’s been difficult to spot vibrant coral like this during the Double X journey.
A Firebird crew member holds a delicate coral inadvertently broken off by our anchor chain during our passage from Bali, Indonesia, to the Cocos [Keeling] Islands, January 1977. With today’s warmer, more acidic ocean waters in the South Seas, it’s been difficult to spot vibrant coral like this during the Double X journey.
We certainly had a grand time on Tahaa and Raiatea visiting with friends and touring the islands. Of course, I was also eager to learn as much as I could about the local impact of warmer and acidic water conditions. It didn’t take long to come face-to-face with one of the most significant challenges that the islands face today: dying coral reefs. Continue reading Coral Reefs, Then & Now