John Francis, United States
John Francis. Photo credit: TED
Nicknamed “the Planet Walker,” John Francis is an American environmentalist and author of the book “How To Change Your World One Step at a Time.” He vowed to dedicate his life to the environment as a young man, after witnessing the extent of environmental damage caused by the 1971 San Francisco Bay oil spill.
Since 1972, Francis has stopped using motorized vehicles and instead chose to walk long distances in an effort to sensitize people to the dangers of using fuel. After engaging in numerous arguments with friends and relatives over what he was doing, Francis decided to go silent for 17 years, only affording a phone call to his mother after 10 years.
He is a former employee of the United States Coast Guard, where he developed laws to regulate the management of oil spills. In 1991, Francis was appointed as a United Nations Environmental Program Goodwill Ambassador. He participated in the “Great Ocean Road” film produced by Tourism Victoria. He now lives in Point Reyes Station, California, with his family.
Watch Francis’ “Great Ocean Road” trailer here:
