Growing up, Eleanor MacLellan, RSCJ, spent summers in a house on the ocean. Some of her earliest memories are of sitting on the front porch, marveling at the beauty of the sunlight sparkling on the waves, and sitting in the window seat of her bedroom at night, watching the moon cast its light over the water. Seventy years later, she recalls the sheer joy of those moments. They inspired a love of nature and the desire to preserve it.
As of 2019, El has two major concerns/commitments:
Climate Change: Climate Change is the most important environmental issue of our day because it threatens the destruction of our planet and the life it supports. It Is closely linked to other issues such as poverty, hunger, migration, the economy....All of these will be significant factors as more and more people have to leave their flooded out or heated beyond endurance neighborhoods. Mass Audubon recognizes this as scientists give us about 10 years to slow climate change enough to make a difference. Therefore in every one of our classes we are referencing climate change and actions we can take to mitigate it.
Iraqis: I am working with an Iraqi family who came here about 10 years ago as a result of the following incident. Their car was attacked by our soldiers who mistook them for an enemy. The car caught fire. The mother, who had the 4 year old ini her lap, burned to death. The father, who was wounded was able to get the 2 boys, 4 and 6 years old out of the car. The 4 year old was badly burned - head, face and whole right side. The father and the burned boy were rushed to the hospital which could not treat them because our sanctions prevented them from obtaining medicine. The two of them ended up in Boston in Childrens Hospital and Mass General respectively. Through my peace group I have been working with them ever since and with the older boy who joined them two years after they came. He was not physically wounded but certainly psychologically affected. We have been helping them with language, housing etc. The younger boy especially has been in trouble with the law due to unhealthy relationships among the youth of the housing development where they live. There are many issues re. their poverty, dependence etc. which we are helping with.
To read more about Elanor MacLellan, click on the link below her picture.
