The Screaming Silence of John Planet-Walker:Nautilus Awards Spotlight: (VLOG)

The Screaming Silence of John Planet-Walker:Nautilus Awards Spotlight: (VLOG) January 16, 2017

When the struggle to save oil-soaked birds and restore blackened beaches left him feeling frustrated and helpless, John (Planet-Walker) Francis decided to take a fundamental and personal stand—he stopped using all forms of motorized transportation and embarked on a walking quest that spanned two decades and two continents while under a 17 year vow of silence. John’s story is an example of how God works in mysterious ways while the Universe always watches for leaders.

John Francis Planet Walker

What began as a silent environmental protest in the early 70’s by a young African-American man became a coming-of-age pilgrimage that won the 2014 prestigious Nautilus Book Awards.

In this Internet TV Interview John shares writing tips, techniques, how self-published books can be an advantage and discusses why his emotional and physical journey expanded into a silent walk across the country that screamed a vital message to the world and shared a spiritual idea that went beyond the environment.

Nautilus_Spotlight

His message expanded beyond concern about pollution and loss of habitat to include how we humans treat each other and how we can better communicate and work together to benefit the earth.

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” goes beyond the people next door, to include all inhabitants of the planet, no matter how big or small, rich or poor.

As an affirmation of his responsibility to our planet, John chose to stop using motorized vehicles and began walking wherever he went.

Big picture

His decision was greeted with surprise, disbelief, and even mockery – but it was only the start of a much deeper transformation. Several months later, on his 27th birthday, fed up with all the arguments his decision had created with friends, John took a vow of silence that lasted for 17 years.

Through silent walking, he learned to listen and prosper.

During his silence, he founded Planetwalk a non-profit environmental awareness organization, received a B.S. degree from Southern Oregon State College, a Master’s degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana-Missoula, and a PhD in Land Resources from the Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His thesis focused on human beings as an integral part of the environment; how we treat each other and ourselves directly and indirectly effect the physical environment.

John did more in silent thought than most people do with voiced opinion.

Affirmation Not give up

His silence ended when he served as project manager for the United States Coast Guard Oil Pollution Act Staff of 1990, in Washington, DC, where he assisted in writing oil spill regulations.

A year later John was appointed the United Nations Environment Program’s Goodwill Ambassador to the World’s Grassroots Communities for his work in raising environmental consciousness.  He joined six fellow Ambassadors who use their time, talents and energy to raise awareness of central environmental issues and work of UNEP, as well as developing their own projects in areas of environmental education.

Over the years, John PlanerWalker Francis has walked across the US, walked and sailed through the Caribbean, Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile. He recently began a walk studying organic agriculture and sustainable development in Cuba, and is developing Planetlines, an environmental education curriculum based on the walking pilgrimage for high school, college and civic organizations.

In 2005, he published Planetwalker: How to Change Your World One Step at a Time. The National Geographic Society republished Planetwalker, April 2008.

John Planet Walker Book

Winner of the 2014 Silver Nautilus Book Award.

On Earth Day 2005, John began another walk retracing his route across the United States. He looked for differences in the landscape and the conversations. His goal was to:

  • redefine the environmental problems we face
  • change them into inclusive concepts
  • form partnerships among Native and non-Native people, cultures, businesses and organizations that might feel they do not share the objectives and values of environment and conservation.

In February 2008, John spoke at the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Conference. Past speakers and performers include Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Paul Simon, Richard Branson, Frank Gehry, Philippe Starck, James Watson, Billy Graham, Jane Goodall, Al Gore and Bono. The conference embraces science, media, architecture, business, performance arts, music and comedy.  Its success is based on the extraordinary effect of bringing together 1000 of the world’s most remarkable people. The result is unexpected connections, extraordinary insights and powerful inspiration.

John Francis pic

Today, Dr. Francis is a visiting associate professor at the Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, at University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he teaches both graduate and undergraduate seminars in environmental studies. He is also the first education fellow at the National Geographic Society where he has published two books, Planetwalker: 17 Years of Silence, 22 Years of Walking, which won the prestigious Nautilus Book Award, and The Ragged Edge of Silence: Finding Peace in a Noisy World. They are partners in developing the Planetlines curriculum based on John’s walking experience that lasted over two decades.

John Francis Planet Walker.jpg Poster

 

CLICK LINK TO WATCH INTERVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0C3TVbnfYU&feature=share

 

 

Photo credit: all photos and/or posters are used with permission of the guest, Nautilus, and author.

 

Kathleen (Kat) O’Keefe-Kanavos-three time cancer survivor whose dreams diagnosed her illness as seen on NBC News & Dr. Oz, TV/Radio Host/Producer of Wicked Housewives On Cape Cod™ ,  Kat KanavosShow , Patheos, Quora, Medium, Internationally Syndicated  Columnist, Nautilus Award-winning Author/Lecturer who promotes patient advocacy and inner guidance. Contributing author to Chicken Soup for the Soul.  www.KathleenOkeefeKanavos.com


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