John Francis walks the Earth, carrying a message of careful, truly sustainable development and respect for our planet.

Why you should listen

One day in 1983, John Francis stepped out on a walk. For the next 22 years, he trekked and sailed around North and South America, carrying a message of respect for the Earth -- for 17 of those years, without speaking. During his monumental, silent trek, he earned
an MA in environmental studies and a PhD in land resources.

Today his Planetwalk foundation consults on sustainable development and works with educational groups to teach kids about the environment.

What others say

“Part of the mystery of walking is that the destination is inside us and we really don't know when we arrive until we arrive.” — John Francis

John Francis’ TED talk