After bearing witness to the collision of two Standard Oil of California tankers in the San Francisco Bay which spilt nearly half a million gallon of crude oil, Dr. John Francis stopped using motorized vehicles, a commitment that lasted 22 years. Soon after he made this promise, he found himself arguing amongst friends and family about whether or not this act was worthwhile, could one person really make a difference? He quips that as a gift to his community, he decided to take a vow of silence, which lasted for 17 years. Dr. Francis shares how his journey came to be and the profound impact that silence and slowing down can have on us. In a world polluted by noise, how can we experiment with silence? What other forms of communication and Earthly rhythms arise when we do so?
Planet Walker