An interview with speaker and environmental activist Dr. John Francis

People seldom find themselves at a loss for words. In fact many of us prefer to talk when we’re probably better off keeping our mouths shut. More often than not we talk when we should be listening. I’ll be honest, I struggle with this podcast every week trying to come up with things to share with you that have value, that really mean something, things that are indeed worth listening to.

It’s at these times when I think back to an interview did in 2007 with the Dr. John Francis, author of the book Planet Walker. He told me the story about how he let his actions speak when words failed him. In 1971, he witnessed a catastrophic oil spill on San Francisco Bay near the Golden Gate Bridge. The greasy black sludge that coated resident sea life and stained nearby beaches left an indelible impression him as well. As a young man at the dawn of the environmental movement he felt compelled to act. But what can one person do to change a society bent on its own destruction?

Left with little do that would make a difference in the world Francis abandoned all forms of motorized transport. He started walking. But still hoping to make an impact on his community and himself Francis took his devotion a step future and swore a vow of silence. For 17 years he did not utter a word. And yet he still managed to earn college and graduate degrees in science and environmental studies.

    Dr. John Francis went on to become the United Nation’s goodwill ambassador to the world’s grassroots communities and the U.S. Government hired him to help establish policies for the management of oil spills.