By Amelia Petty
To help the earth, people are told to pick up trash, ride the bus to school, and recycle plastic bags. Environmentalists spread the message of the power of individual contribution to the large issue of climate change and environmental destruction. Though, despite this narrative, people sometimes doubt the true impact of one person’s actions. They worry that picking up one piece of trash, or recycling a container will not stop the enormity of the climate crisis. However, this has been proven wrong by the actions of Dr. John Francis, also known as the Planetwalker. He is proof of the impact of just one person committing to this lifestyle makes a difference. He made it his mission to help the environment through sustainable living. Francis refused motorized transportation and chose to walk everywhere he went, becoming known as the Planetwalker.
In 1971, after witnessing an oil spill in San Francisco Bay, Dr. Francis was rudely awakened to the destruction that oil and drilling could cause to an ecosystem. He was moved to action, participating in beach cleanups to help endangered wildlife (“About John”). Despite his contribution cleaning up beaches, John felt the urge to devote more time and energy to the conservationist cause, and decided to walk everywhere instead of using vehicles. This was only the start of his activism. Later that year, he took a vow of silence as a way to raise awareness for the environmental crisis and fend off many criticisms that he received due to his actions. Additionally, he earned a Ph.D. in Land Resources from Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Francis spent this portion of his life learning more about the environment and devoting his time to walking to places to use his knowledge however he could.
His vow of silence and his vow to avoid motorized vehicles eventually ended, after 17 and 22 years, respectively. Over many years, John Francis traveled around the continent to South American countries like Venezuela, Brazil, and Chile. He studied agriculture and sustainable development in these countries and analyzed human impact on the environment around the Americas. Francis started using transportation to visit new audiences to speak out about his experiences and what he learned over 22 years walking. He later spoke at a TED Conference in 2008, boosting his message across a global stage. At the Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, Francis continues to educate the next generation of leaders on the importance of environmental protection and advocacy. Francis’ decision to learn about the environment enabled him to share this knowledge and experience with many people, creating a lasting impact in the way that many people think about the environment.
After his vow of silence ended in 1990, Francis began working as project manager for the United States Coast Guard Oil Pollution Act Staff which entailed writing oil spill regulations for the nation. He was able to make major legislative changes to an issue that first prompted him into his vow of silence. In his new position, he received the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Public Service Commendation. He later became the United Nations Environment Program’s Goodwill Ambassador to the World’s Grassroots Communities. Francis represented the small movements seeking to make a difference in their communities, and the impact that they could have on the world, nation, and environment. He saw how he could make a difference, and made it his life’s mission to spread this message and make a change. Though in this position, Francis still wanted to feel connected to the grassroots community that first caused him to be interested in environmental studies.
Dr. Francis founded Planetwalk, a non-profit organization for environmental awareness, to spread his original message of the need to avoid motorized vehicles to cut down on pollution and emissions. The organization leads and sponsors walks across the globe, promoting environmental education and responsibility (“About John”). He wrote books about his experience, such as: Planetwalker: 17 Years of Silence, 22 Years of Walking, and The Ragged Edge of Silence: Finding Peace in a Noisy World. From his travels across state lines, Francis recounts his journeys and spreads awareness to the importance of environmentalism across the globe. Dr. John Francis proved the importance of individual voices and activism in the environmental movement. He was a powerful voice in the environmentalist community, primarily advocating for the importance of proper land management and oil regulations. He proved that the will of only one individual is enough to make a difference. John Francis, despite starting his journey with the sole goal of avoiding motorized transportation, transformed the movement of “walkers” who march for change and awareness. His actions inspired people across the country and continent to adopt simple changes and they in turn created a lasting impact on environmental activism.
Works Cited
“About John.” Planetwalk, 9 Nov. 2020, https://planetwalk.org/about-john/.
“Planet Walker John Francis – He Stopped Talking and Started Walking and Then He Changed the World!” OUR GREAT MINDS, 21 Jan. 2015, https://theogm.com/2014/01/04/planet-walker-john-francis-he-stopped-talking-and-started-walking-and-then-he-changed-the-world/.
Mahoney, contributed by: Eleanor. John Francis (1946- ) •, 4 Feb. 2021, https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/francis-john-1946/.
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