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ChatGPT Image Jul 16, 2026, 03_18_02 PM

Sinking a Battleship to Form a Coral Reef with Tom Gump

In Sonora, Mexico, a retired naval ship is finding new purpose beneath the sea—supporting marine life, attracting divers and showing how environmental service can strengthen communities.

Introduction

Above Tom Gump’s office desk sit two unusual reminders of what collective action can achieve: a small model of a sunken naval ship and a ship’s wheel presented to him by an admiral of the Mexican Navy.

They are not displayed simply as awards. For Gump, a Rotary International Director for 2026–2028, they represent a larger lesson: one person’s idea can become meaningful environmental action when people build the right partnerships.

The idea came from Rotarian Enriqueta  “Kikis” López de Arbesú, supported by her husband, Vicente Arbesu, and a network of Rotary districts, public agencies and technical partners. Their ambitious goal was to prepare and sink a retired military vessel off the coast of Sonora, Mexico, creating an artificial reef—a human-made underwater structure designed to provide habitat for marine organisms.

The project would eventually connect ocean conservation, tourism, peace and Rotary membership.

One Vision, Many Partners

The project began with a simple but challenging question: Could a retired ship be transformed into a place where marine life could gather and grow?

Turning that vision into reality required far more than towing a vessel offshore. The location had to be carefully assessed. The water needed to be shallow enough for sunlight to reach the structure, yet suitable for safe placement and marine colonization. The team also needed environmental reviews, technical expertise, government approvals and a vessel.

“One person, with an innovative idea and friends around the world, can make a difference." Tom Gump

A Rotary global grant, described by Gump as approximately US$180,000, helped support the planning and study process. Six Rotary districts contributed funding, while The Rotary Foundation, the government of Sonora, tourism authorities, the Navy Secretariat and other regional partners became involved.

The Mexican Navy supplied the ship and helped prepare it for sinking. Fuel, oil and other potential contaminants had to be removed before the vessel could safely enter the water.

“It takes a lot of people to get something done,” Gump said. “But again, one idea—with the help of Rotary, all the Rotarians and strategic partners—we get this done.”

That distinction matters. Artificial reefs can provide valuable surfaces, shelter and complexity in places where natural structure is limited, but they must be carefully designed, cleaned, placed and monitored. The Sonora project illustrates that successful environmental service depends on preparation and responsible collaboration—not simply a dramatic idea.

Creating Habitat Beneath the Surface

The coastline described in the presentation is rocky and dry, with relatively little vegetation on land. Beneath the water, the seafloor in the selected area also offered limited physical structure.

A cleaned ship resting on the seabed creates surfaces, openings and sheltered spaces. Algae and small organisms can begin attaching to the vessel, followed by other marine species attracted by food and cover. Over time, this process may turn an empty structure into a more biologically active site.

Key Takeaways

  • A retired naval ship was carefully prepared and sunk to create marine habitat.
  • Six Rotary districts and multiple government partners helped turn one idea into action.
  • More than 1,200 divers visited the artificial reef, supporting local tourism.
  • The project helped inspire a new Rotary club among local business leaders.
  • Responsible artificial reefs require scientific planning, contaminant removal and long-term monitoring.
Tom Gump

According to the project team, marine species began appearing around the vessel soon after it was placed, with visible development continuing during the following year. The artificial reef was therefore understood not as a finished product, but as the beginning of a long ecological process.

The ship is also expected to become part of a larger underwater museum. Plans described during the presentation included additional naval vessels and other retired equipment, such as a helicopter, aircraft, amphibious vehicle and gun turret. The objects would be spaced apart rather than arranged as a continuous barrier, allowing water to move through the site.

The expansion could create multiple habitats and diving destinations. However, its long-term environmental value will depend on continued monitoring, safe preparation and management of visitor activity.

An Instrument of War Becomes a Symbol of Peace

The project carries a powerful meaning beyond its ecological purpose. A vessel once associated with military service has been transformed into a platform for life.

During the Earth Talks discussion, participant Karen Kendrick-Hands described the project as a visible form of peacebuilding: an instrument of war placed underwater to support biodiversity.

That symbolism aligns with Rotary’s wider commitment to peace and cooperation. The project required people from different clubs, districts, professions and public institutions to work toward a common goal. Environmental action became a meeting place for relationships that might not otherwise have formed.

For Gump, those relationships are central to Rotary’s value.

“The best part of Rotary is the friends you make,” he said. Those friendships, he explained, create opportunities to share ideas, find expertise and undertake projects that would be impossible for one person or club to complete alone.

The result is a practical form of peace: people working across institutional and geographic boundaries to create something constructive.

Environmental Service Can Strengthen Communities

The reef’s influence has extended beyond the water. Gump reported that more than 1,200 divers had visited the ship by the time of his presentation.

Those visitors created demand for guides, boats, hotels, meals and other local services. As diving tourism developed, business owners and hoteliers became connected with the project. Some later formed a new Rotary club.

This outcome challenged the assumption that environmental work and membership growth are separate goals. A visible, meaningful project can attract people who want to participate in service, especially when they can see tangible benefits for nature and their community.

“Nobody joins a club to do nothing. They join to do things.” Tom Gump

Gump emphasized that people rarely join an organization because they want to attend meetings without purpose. They join because they want to contribute.

“Nobody joins a club to do nothing,” he said. “They join to do things.”

Projects such as the Sonora artificial reef can provide that sense of purpose. They offer current members a reason to remain engaged while introducing Rotary to new partners, volunteers and community leaders.

One Person Can Start a Movement

Although many organizations contributed, the project began with one person proposing an unusual idea.

That is the lesson Gump keeps above his desk. Individuals do not need to possess every skill, connection or dollar required to complete a major project. They need a credible vision and the willingness to invite others into it.

Rotary’s international network helped connect the original idea with grants, technical advisers, government agencies and local leaders. Its greatest contribution may have been its ability to bring those people together.

As Gump observed, Rotary is not an office or a distant institution. It is the members who act through their clubs and communities.

The Sonora reef demonstrates what can happen when an imaginative proposal is matched with due diligence and shared ownership. A retired ship becomes habitat.  A dive site supports local enterprise. A service project inspires new members. An object associated with conflict becomes a gathering place for life.

Practical Takeaways & Implications

The project offers several lessons for clubs and community organizations considering ambitious environmental work.

Begin with the environmental need, not the spectacle. A ship sinking may attract attention, but the project’s value depends on choosing an appropriate site, removing pollutants and establishing long-term monitoring.

Bring technical advisers in early. Marine scientists, engineers, government regulators and experienced grant advisers can identify risks before time and money are committed.

“The best part of Rotary is the friends you make.” Tom Gump

Build a broad coalition. The Sonora project required Rotary districts, The Rotary Foundation, the Mexican Navy, state authorities, tourism representatives and local businesses. Each partner contributed something the others could not provide alone.

Plan for community benefits as well as ecological outcomes. Responsible tourism, education and local employment can strengthen public support, but visitor activity must be managed so it does not damage the habitat being created.

Finally, make the work visible and invite people to participate. Environmental projects can strengthen organizations when members and community partners are given meaningful roles.

The larger message is not that every community should sink a ship. It is that creative environmental ideas can grow when people combine enthusiasm with science, planning and partnership.

About This Earth Talk

Speaker: Tom Gump, Rotary International Director (2026–2028), is a member of the Edina Morningside Rotary Club in Minnesota, USA. A former chair of Rotary International’s Membership Growth Committee and former aide to the RI President, he also chairs the Host Organization Committee for the 2028 Rotary International Convention in Minneapolis.

Date presented: 16 July 2026

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Carbon and Climate Literacy with Geoff Mackey

Carbon and Climate Literacy from Boardroom to Schoolroom with Geoff Mackey

What does it take to move carbon and climate literacy from expert circles into everyday decision-making—in boardrooms, schools, Rotary clubs, and communities?

In this Earth Talks presentation, Geoff Mackey brought together the many threads of his life: farm upbringing, biology, corporate sustainability leadership, Rotary service, public policy engagement, education, and community action. Raised on a farm in South Armagh, educated in biology in Liverpool, and later earning a doctorate on the business value of social networks, Geoff has spent his career translating complex sustainability challenges into practical conversations that help people act.

His message was clear: business as usual is not enough. Carbon and climate literacy are no longer optional topics for environmental specialists. They are essential tools for better governance, stronger strategy, responsible business, effective education, and community leadership.

“Business as usual is not enough.” Geoff Mackey

Geoff described carbon and climate literacy as a shared framework for understanding the impacts, systems, trade-offs, and choices connected to climate change. Without a common language, people may use the same words—carbon footprint, resilience, decarbonization, sustainability, equity—while meaning very different things. That confusion can block action. Good literacy, he argued, strengthens governance and strategy because it helps boards, businesses, educators, policymakers, and community leaders make better decisions together.

Why Literacy Matters

Geoff began with the simplest possible reminder: we have one planet. While climate discussions can quickly become technical, political, or overwhelming, the starting point is direct: this is the home we share, and the consequences of a warming world are already real.

For Geoff, literacy is not about memorizing scientific terms. It is about building enough shared understanding to weigh trade-offs, recognize risks, and choose better actions. He emphasized that carbon and climate issues affect food, energy, transport, public health, national security, waste, business continuity, and the resilience of communities.

Key Takeaways

  • Business as usual is not enough. Climate change requires more than small adjustments around the edges.
  • Carbon and climate literacy create agency. When people understand the systems, vocabulary, and choices involved, they are better able to act.
  • Shared language matters. Organizations cannot make good decisions if people use the same words but mean different things.
  • Climate literacy belongs everywhere. It is needed in boardrooms, classrooms, Rotary clubs, community groups, and policy discussions.
  • Rotary can lead. Through service, education, advocacy, and example, Rotarians can help communities move from awareness to action.
GWM head shot

He also cautioned that sustainability must not be reduced to a single image or issue. The polar bear may be an iconic climate symbol, but communities are also facing questions about food security, energy systems, health, supply chains, and economic stability. Sustainability, he said, is about balance—and that balance means different things to different people.

From Business Strategy to Community Responsibility

Drawing on his experience in industry, including his work as European Sustainability Director for BASF, Geoff made the case that climate literacy belongs in the boardroom. Climate change is not simply an environmental concern; it is a business strategy issue. It affects risk, resilience, supply chains, operations, energy demand, resource use, and long-term continuity.

Businesses understand the language of cost-effective processes, efficiency, risk management, and innovation. Geoff connected those familiar business concepts to sustainability, noting that reduce, reuse, recycle is not only good for the planet—it is good business.

He also challenged the idea that business exists only to generate economic return. In his view, business has a responsibility to its people, to those affected by its activities, and to the environment around it. While he acknowledged that not everyone agrees with that statement, he made clear that it is central to his own approach.

From Schoolroom to Lifelong Learning

The second major thread in Geoff’s talk was education. He introduced the work of CAPE—Climate Adaptive Pathways for Education, which is helping schools in the United Kingdom build frameworks for climate understanding and critical thinking. Geoff warned that schools may appear to be “doing sustainability” because they recycle, pick up litter, plant trees, or have an eco-council. Those activities matter, but sustainability is much broader.

Climate education, he said, cuts across science, geography, history, language, and storytelling. It is about helping young people understand systems, consequences, vocabulary, and choices so they can make better decisions than previous generations have made.

“Good literacy will strengthen governance and strategy.” Geoff Mackey

At the same time, Geoff stressed that learning is not limited to young people. “Every day is a school day,” he reminded the group. Adults, business leaders, Rotarians, policymakers, and community members all need opportunities to learn, reflect, and act.

The Power—and Problem—of Language

One of Geoff’s strongest points was that people are often “separated by a common language.” Climate vocabulary can be confusing because many words have both everyday meanings and scientific meanings. Words such as sink, source, feedback, sensitivity, footprint, equity, resilience, and decarbonization may sound familiar, but they can carry very different meanings depending on context.

That matters because unclear language creates unclear action. If a Rotary club, school board, business team, or government agency lacks a shared understanding of the words used, it becomes much harder to build trust, design policy, or take meaningful steps.

Geoff called for agreed vocabulary and practical frameworks that help people move from confusion to action. Literacy, in this sense, is culture-building. It helps people ask better questions, challenge myths, understand scientific facts, and create a common basis for decision-making.

Rotary’s Role

For Geoff, Rotary has a special opportunity. Rotary clubs are embedded in communities. They bring together people with diverse professional skills, local knowledge, service experience, and global connections. That makes Rotary well-positioned to support climate and carbon literacy in both formal and informal settings.

Rotarians can help schools, community groups, churches, halls, businesses, and local initiatives understand the issues and take practical steps. They can support training programs, model sustainable practices, ask better questions about their own meetings and travel, and use service projects to demonstrate climate-smart choices.

“There is only our answer—and we all can do more.” Geoff Mackey

Geoff encouraged Rotarians to examine their own practices: Why not car share? Why fly to meetings when another option exists? How can clubs reduce waste, support local food choices, advocate for better decisions, and build sustainability into policies and programs?

His point was not perfection. In fact, he repeatedly reminded the audience that none of us has all the answers. But everyone can do more.

Practical Actions

Geoff offered a wide range of entry points for action, including:

Build shared understanding. Start by asking what people mean when they use climate-related terms. Do not assume everyone shares the same definitions.

Use credible information. Ground conversations in science, facts, and real-world impacts.

Connect climate to everyday choices. Food, water, transport, waste, energy, consumption, and advocacy all matter.

Support education at every age. Schools are essential, but adults also need climate and carbon literacy.

Make sustainability part of governance. Boards, clubs, and organizations should use climate literacy to strengthen strategy, risk management, and decision-making.

Act locally while thinking systemically. Every project, policy, meeting, and community conversation can contribute to a broader cultural shift.

About This Earth Talk

Speaker: Geoff Mackey

Geoff Mackey is a seasoned strategic business leader, sustainability adviser, charity fundraiser, award-winning writer, and Rotary leader living in England. Raised on a South Armagh farm, he studied biology in Liverpool and earned a doctorate on the business value of social networks. Following a successful corporate career, including senior sustainability leadership in industry, Geoff now works as a strategic industrial adviser, helping organizations understand, communicate, and act on sustainability, carbon literacy, and climate responsibility.

Date Presented: 28 May 2026

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