Saving the planet one step at a time.

 

Planetwalk Cuba

Our work transcends cultural, social and political boundaries by fostering communication and research between young people, scientists, and environmental practioners through a global network and educational programs. Planetwalk encourages peace among all people by making peace with nature.

John Francis, Ph.D. founded Planetwalk in 1982 when he began his walking and sailing pilgrimage around the world. To date, Dr. Francis has walked across the U.S., sailed and walked through the Caribbean, and South America from Venezuela to Argentina and a walk in Cuba. Currently, he is continuing a walk backtracking his first walk  from Cape May NJ. to Point Reyes CA.

John's stirring memoir, Planetwalker: 22 Years of Walking; 17 Years of Silence was published in 2008 by the National Geographic Society and will be available in paperback in April 2009.  Visit www.planetwalker.org for more information.

TED2008

The Big Questions

February 27-March 1, 2008 Monterey, California

John was one of the final speaker at the T.E.D. 2008 Conference.

Many people come to TED seeking something out of the ordinary. A chance to mentally recharge. A chance to step back and consider the big picture. A chance to understand life in a richer way. Next year will be our most ambitious attempt yet to deliver, by answering questions like "Who are we?" "What is art?" "What is love?" and "What is evil?" in unexpected ways.

Local Man Walks the Walk for Environmentalism

By Dana King

(CBS 5) One local man set about changing the world by changing himself. When John Francis came to west Marin County in 1969, people thought he was just another hippie. It wasn't long before they were wondering if he had lost his mind.

On a misty night in 1971, two tankers collided beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, spilling more than half a million gallons of crude oil into the bay. When John saw the oozing sludge and dying birds, he had a strange thought: what would happen if people stopped using cars?

"I wanted to walk after I saw this oil spill in San Francisco Bay. I wanted to give up riding in cars," says John. "I just didn't think I had enough money, or had it together."

The Healing Journey

In 2007 The Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council embarked on The Healing Journey; 1,200 mile canoe paddle down the Yukon River highlighting cross cultural unity, land preservation and environmental stewardship.

Follow the Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council Canoe Trip ... HERE

Planetwalk Earthday 2008

The day began at 6 am with a live chat with high school students in Bahrain, United Emirates. They were seven hours ahead of me in New Stanton, Pennsylvania were I had arrived the day before in order to prepare for my Earth Day Planetwalk.

Yough School District Middle School

The students in Bahrain had already made a 5 km walk earlier in the day and had taken pledges to raise money for the African Conservation Foundation.

Later I started Planetwalking from the Yough School District Middle School in Mendon, Pennsylvania.  This year, Planetwalk board member John Graham is accompanying me with vehicle support and Internet technician. He is also working with me to develop the Planetlines curriculum, Planetwalk's environmental studies curriculum based on the walking pilgrimage. Planetwalk received a kit of scientific instruments to make environmental measurements as we walk. read more...