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In the early 1970s, an
idealistic young man named John Francis gave up using motorized vehicles after witnessing the devastating effects of
an oil spill in San Francisco Bay. In early 1973 he took a more radical step still: a vow of silence that lasted 17 years,
during which he undertook a pilgrimage by foot across America on behalf of the environment and world peace, earning a Ph.D.
in land management along the way.
Finally, on Earth Day 1990,
Francis ended his vow in a moving ceremony before family and friends.
Since then, he has served
as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Environmental Programme, founded Planetwalk, a nonprofit environmental education
organization, and related the experience of his years of silence in a memoir call-to-action, Planetwalker.
Don’t miss the chance to hear this passionate, yet surprisingly pragmatic activist share his message of pilgrimage
and social change Wednesday, October
17th , 7:30 PM at National Geographic
Building, 1600 M Street, NW.
FREE Underground
Parking.
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