Maxwell Kennedy, son of Senator Robert Kennedy, attempted to sail from San Francisco through the Panama Canal to Washington D.C. on this schooner, The Valkyrien. The ship was intended to be the cornerstone of a memorial to The Pearl, a schooner charted in a failed attempt to free slaves in 1848 that helped ignite the abolitionist movement.

During a recent visit to Italy's breathtaking Sardinia, Kennedy spoke about his ill-fated voyage where he saw floating plastic, dying coral reefs, and depleted fish and sea creature populations. He witnessed slavery aboard unregulated fishing vessels in international waters, a problem that directly contrasts with his cause, honoring an anti-slavery vessel.

Kennedy also took a moment to praise Democrats Abroad.

“They are very well organized, and that is what we need — organization. The NRA is well organized and they get results. We should do the same. It’s all a matter of political will.”

Please read the full story, written by Claudia Flisi, here: http://www.facebook.com/notes/democrats-abroad-italy/a-kennedy-redefines-sea-changes/2771281602941947/