John Francis (environmentalist) facts for kids

John H. Francis III (born 1946) is an American environmentalist known as The Planetwalker. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When he was young, he moved to Marin County, California.

After seeing a big oil spill in 1971, he decided to stop riding in cars and other motorized vehicles. This lasted for 22 years, from 1972 to 1994. He also chose to be silent for 17 years, from 1973 to 1990. During this time, he studied and traveled a lot. He walked across the entire lower 48 states of the USA and even walked to South America. He wrote a book about his journeys called Planetwalker: How To Change Your World One Step at a Time.

Early Life and Big Decisions

John Francis was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1946. He grew up in the city but spent summers on his aunt and uncle's farm in Virginia. There, he learned about working the land and growing food. In the 1960s, John moved to Marin County, California.

On January 17, 1971, two oil tankers crashed in San Francisco Bay. This caused a huge oil spill of 840,000 gallons. John saw the terrible damage it caused. The next year, a friend of his died suddenly. This made John think about how uncertain life can be. He decided to act right away. For the next 22 years, he refused to ride in any motorized vehicles.

Why John Chose Silence

As John walked everywhere, people often stopped to ask him about his choice. He found himself arguing a lot with them, and even with friends. On his birthday in 1973, John decided to stop speaking. He wanted to give a "gift" to his community by not arguing and just listening. He found this so helpful that he continued his silence the next day, and it lasted for 17 years!

During this long period, he communicated by writing notes and using gestures. He also played the banjo to express himself. He finally broke his silence on Earth Day in 1990. The very next day, while in Washington, D.C., he was hit by a car. Even then, he convinced the ambulance workers to let him walk to the hospital.

John's Education Journey

While he was silent, John earned two college degrees and started a third. In 1971, he walked all the way to Ashland, Oregon. He enrolled at Southern Oregon University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1981. He even got credit for what he learned from his life experiences.

Next, John contacted the University of Montana for their environmental studies master's program. He told them he would arrive in about two years. During that time, he walked to Washington state, built a boat, and then walked and sailed to Montana. He completed his master's degree there two years later. He didn't have much money, so he sat in on classes without paying. But professors kept track of his grades. When money became available, his classes were officially added to his transcript. He also taught classes while studying for his master's degree.

After that, John walked to Wisconsin. In 1991, he earned a PhD in Land Resources from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While he was studying, the Exxon Valdez oil spill happened. This made his research on oil spills very important. After finishing his degree, he walked to Washington D.C. to help the United States Coast Guard with their response to the disaster.

Planetwalker: A Story of Walking and Silence

John Francis wrote his autobiography, Planetwalker: 17 Years of Silence, 22 Years of Walking. It tells the story of his amazing journeys and choices.

Starting the Journey

The book begins with an oil spill in San Francisco in 1979. John sees the terrible damage and feels troubled by his own lifestyle, which uses oil. A year later, a close friend dies. This pushes John to finally stop riding in motorized vehicles.

John starts painting every day and carries his Banjo with him as he walks. He still feels bad about arguing with people about his choices. So, on his 27th birthday, he decides to be silent for a day as a gift to others. This one day turns into weeks, then years, as he learns to listen. His father even flies to California to check on him, worried about his health.

John decides to become an activist. This inspires him to walk 500 miles to Oregon to start college.

Walking for Education and Awareness

John returns to Oregon to continue his education. He hikes through the wilderness and meets people from the United States Forest Service. He enrolls at Southern Oregon State College. He gets college credit for what he learned from his life experiences. In two years, he earns enough credits to graduate.

After graduation, John moves to Sausalito, California to learn how to build boats. He dreams of sailing around the world. Later, John and some friends start a non-profit group called Planetwalk. It aims to raise environmental awareness and education through long walks, like a pilgrimage.

On April 27, 1983, John begins his walk to the Northern US. He plans to walk around the world in 18 years. When he reaches Mount Lassen, he calls his mother. It's the first time he has spoken in ten years! As he continues, more media notice him, and his followers grow.

He reaches Washington and feels stronger. He builds his first small boat, called the Twana. After finishing it, he sells his home and gets ready to keep walking.

Across the States

John travels along the coast, camping in state parks. He deals with tough weather like rain and strong winds. On September 29, 1984, John crosses from Washington into Idaho. By October 10, he reaches the border of Montana. He heads to Missoula, where he was accepted into the University of Montana's graduate program. He studies water problems and earns a master's degree in environmental studies in 1986.

As he prepares to cross the Arco Desert, he realizes he must walk through a forbidden area. He worries about his safety and finding water. He struggles to keep enough water as he travels through the desert.

In October 1986, he reaches South Dakota. He sees missile silos and worries about nuclear weapons. He travels across the state, facing a harsh winter as he nears Minnesota. A bad storm forces him to stop walking until the weather gets better.

Finishing the Journey

John stays in Watertown, South Dakota until winter ends. He works at a printing press. He also helps organize a powwow with local Sioux residents. In May, John leaves Watertown and heads for the University of Wisconsin-Madison to continue his education.

He travels through Minnesota, but ankle pain slows him down. He admires the farms and talks with farmers. In May 1987, John finally reaches Wisconsin.

In Madison, his walk pauses again. He gets a scholarship to start his PhD studies. He researches the costs and management of oil spills. In 1989, John finishes his studies and decides to return home to Pennsylvania. He walks through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia. By January 2, 1990, John finally reaches the East Coast.

On April 22, 1990, John breaks his silence on Earth Day to speak about the environment. While going to a meeting in Washington D.C., he is hit by a car while on his bike. He refuses the ambulance and walks 15 blocks to the hospital despite his injuries. In Washington, D.C., John gets a job helping the United Nations Environment Programme. He also defends his thesis over the phone, earning his doctorate.

In 1991, John returns to Philadelphia. Soon after, he is offered a job with the Coast Guard. He helps write new laws for the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. He becomes good friends with co-workers and helps create laws to protect the environment. He receives an award for his work. After a year and two months, he leaves the Coast Guard to continue his pilgrimage.

The approximate route that John Francis walked across the United States (1983-1990).

John Francis's Career and Impact

In 1990, after finishing his degrees, John worked for the United States Coast Guard in Washington D.C.. He wrote rules about oil spills after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska. He received an award from the U.S. Department of Transportation for his efforts. In 1991, he became a Goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Environmental Program.

In 1994, John decided he could help the environment more if he started using motorized transportation again. At the border of Venezuela and Brazil, he got on a bus.

John is a founder and director of Planetwalk. This is a non-profit group that raises environmental awareness. In 2005, he published Planetwalker: How to Change Your World One Step at a Time. Later, the National Geographic Society republished it as Planetwalker: 17 Years of Silence, 22 Years of Walking. In 2010, John became the first ever National Geographic Society Education Fellow. He also published The Ragged Edge of Silence: Finding Peace in a Noisy World.

In 2009, he was in Australia, walking the Great Ocean Road for a film. From 2011-2012, John was a visiting professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

In 2022, John's children’s book Human Kindness: True Stories of Compassion and Generosity That Changed the World was published. As of 2022, he is planning his final solo "planet walk" across the continent of Africa.