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Perhaps the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has inspired you to ride your bike a little more or take public transportation to work in the mornings or maybe just be a little more environmentally conscious. But how many of us would give up motorized transportation all together? That means no cars, no buses, no trains and no planes ever- just your own two feet. Well that is exactly what John Francis, also known as the Planetwalker, did for 22 years. Oh, and did I mention he also took a vow of silence...for 17 years!
The banjo playing Planetwalker, was raised in Philadelphia by West Indian immigrant parents. But his silent sojourn starts in the Bay Area. After witnessing the 1971 tanker spill in the San Francisco Bay Francis decided to give up all fossil fuel based transportation. Shortly after, he decided a second boycott: words. After arguing "all the time" with passersby about his quest to end oil independence, Francis decided to be silent as a gift to the world. But his years in silence may have benefitted Francis the most. He learned how to truly listen to people and discovered what he thought he knew was sometimes wrong.
Francis began talking again on Earth Day in 1990 where he was set to give a speech. Not recognizing the sound of his own voice, Francis startled himself and turned around looking for who was talking to him. His parents, who were watching in the audience, both confirmed their son must have been crazy. The very next day, Francis was hit by a car. Taking this as a message, he refused to ride in the ambulance and insisted that he walk to the hospital. After arguing with paramedics, they finally agreed to let him walk. Sticking to his vow to give up riding in cars, Francis insisted on riding his bike (taking three months) when was offered a job at the U.S. Coast Guard to write oil spill regulations and to become a goodwill ambassador at the United Nations Environment Program.
John Francis now has a book called Planetwalker: How to Change Your World One Step At a Time which has been optioned by Universal Studios for a movie. The rumor-mil suggests Will Smith is considering the part.
