To what extent would you go to “make a statement” over an issue you hold dear? We live in a world where the average attention span is diminishing and level of media cacophony is on the increase. Today, more and more people, particularly Africans, are blogging for social and political reasons. I wonder if those that should be listening are well tuned in, and most importantly, can a social advocate by being silent?

Ethan Zuckerman, the author of the “My Heart’s in Accra” via a post titled “John Francis [Ph.D]walks the walk“, expresses how one man advocated through silence.

“In 1971, Francis witnessed two oil tankers collide underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. He was so concerned, he decided to stop riding and driving in motorized vehicles”, writes Ethan. As if this wasn’t enough, Francis decided to stop speaking all together. He said, “I decided I was going to give my community some silence because, man, I just argued all the time. I decided for one day, let’s not speak and see what happens.” Just to prove a point that we need to protect our environment, his mute session lasted 17 years. While on mute, Francis traveled across the U.S on foot or by canoe, acquired two academic degrees, and even taught classes in two universities. His forms of communication were through notes, sign language and his banjo.

It took him [Francis] seven years and one day to walk across the US. When he came to DC, he finally decided to speak. Why? He realized that the environment is us. We need to care for it, by caring for one another, and by listening to each other. To find ways to spread this message further, he decided he needed to speak. He became a UN goodwill ambassador and started working for the US Coast Guard, writing oil spill regulations.

In the dark continent of Africa, it has become obvious that the rulers and ‘who’s who’ of the land have yet to tune in to the voices that ought to be heard. John Francis chose the radical path of subjecting himself to 17 years of voluntary but painful mute existence, and one devoid of any motorized forms of transportation. I wonder if there are ways those that should be listening can be subjected to a similar experience, just for them to hear more, quicker and louder, by listening fully.

Listen to podcast of Dr. John Francis on SNews:


Additional coverage on John Francis:

1. Grist: http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2005/05/10/hertsgaard-francis/

2. PlanetWalker

3. SNewsLive: http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/11000.html

Related posts:

1. The Desert is Encroaching: 70 year old Nigerian Environmentalist Drives Across the Sahara Desert to Raise Public Awareness