Mama gnome says, "Today I have a special story for you. It is the story of Planetwalker: John Francis."
Once upon a time in the earth years of one thousand nine hundred seventy-one,a young man witnessed the devastation of massive oil spilling into the bay of San Francisco after two oil tankers collided.
The young man was so distressed by the damage caused by the oil spill, he stopped driving and riding in motorized vehicles for twenty and two earth years.
Yes, you read right. Twenty-two years.
John Francis became a walker, Planet Walker.
In the beginning of his protest against pollution as a planetwalker, John Francis found himself arguing with some people who disagreed or were upset with what he was doing.
So John Francis decided for his twenty-seventh birthday, he would not speak on his birthday so as not to argue with anyone.
That one day of silence turned into two days of silence and three days until finally it turned into ten and seven earth years.
Yes, you read right again. Seventeen years of silence for John Francis.
Silent he was but idle he was not.
In seventeen years of silence and twenty-two years of planet walking he finished three college degrees including a Ph.D.
If you're thinking he only went to one university within walking distance in his hometown, which would be quite convenient for someone who didn't drive or ride the bus, to do all that, you are quite mistaken.
He walked everywhere!
From San Francisco he walked to Oregon and earned a Bachelor's degree.
From Oregon he walked to Washington state where he built a boat.
From Washington he sailed and walked for two years 'til he reached Montana where he earned his Master's degree.
While he studied, he even taught classes though he did not speak a word!
From Montana he walked to Wisconsin where he earned his Ph.D, focusing his studies on oil spills.
Maybe he had foreseen the future for during his studies, the Exxon Valdez disaster occurred.
He has written a book, Planetwalker: How to Change Your World One Step at a Time
Here is John Francis, Planetwalker, Environmentalist Extraordinaire
video from: TEDTalks
Mama gnome feels like taking a walk now and being silent for a while.
Speak or be silent, stay a lovely shade of green.
(c) 2009 Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog
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