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John Francis
John Francis walks the Earth, carrying a message of careful, truly sustainable development and respect for our planet.
John Francis is an environmentalist nicknamed the "planetwalker." Born in Philadelphia, the son of a West Indian immigrant, he moved to Marin County, California as a young man. After witnessing the devastation caused by the 1971 San Francisco Bay oil spill, he stopped riding in motorized vehicles, a vow which lasted 22 years from 1972 until 1994. From 1973 until 1990, he also spent 17 years voluntarily silent. During this time he earned a Ph.D. in land management and traveled extensively, walking across the entire width of the lower 48 states of the USA as well as walking to South America.
Videos
Speech Topics
The Ragged Edge of Silence: Finding Peace in a Noisy World
Francis offers lessons on the need for silence and reflection in the world. The presentation Includes exercises on listening.
Redefining Environment
Francis discusses how the environmental crisis is a reflection of social and economic inequality. From peace and justice to everyday civility, Francis contends that our lack of connection to one another, as well as to the Earth, is at the heart of the environmental crisis.
Books
News
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