John Francis

John Francis, Ph.D., is known the world over as the Planetwalker. In 1971, Dr. Francis witnessed an oil spill in San Francisco Bay. The effects of the spill compelled him to stop using motorized vehicles. Several months later, to stop the arguments about the power of one person’s actions, he took a vow of silence. His non‐motorized lifestyle lasted twenty‐two years, and his silence seventeen. During that time Dr. Francis walked across the United States earning a B.A at Southern Oregon State College, an M.S. in Environmental Studies at the University of Montana and a Ph.D. in land resources at the University of Wisconsin. He later sailed and walked through the Caribbean and then walked the length of South America. Dr. Francis will speak on his journey, his unique perspective on environment, and how we can each make a difference in our world. He is the author of: Planetwalker. 22 Years of Walking. 17 Years of Silence.

Dr. Francis’s second book The Ragged Edge of Silence: Finding Peace in a Noisy World, published by National Geographic, will be on sale starting March 15, 2011.