In his history of the abolition of the slave trade, Adam Hochschild compares the position of anti-slavery campaigners in the eighteenth century to those who say today that cars with internal combustion engines should be phased out or abolished. Clearly ridiculous.

Well, maybe. But whatever else you think, "planetwalker" John Francis, who has spent 17 years without an automobile, may have lessons to offer (article by Mark Hertsgaard in Grist).

When he gave up cars, this environmental pilgrim also took a vow of silence as a gift to his community "because, man, I just argued all the time."

As a result, Francis found he was able to truly listen to other people and the larger world around him, transforming his approach to both personal communication and environmental activism.

A lesson here for Tony Blair, The Listening Prime Minister?

John Francis started speaking again after 17 years silence on Earth Day 1990. The very next day, he was struck by a car. He refused to ride in the ambulance, insisting on walking to the hospital instead.

CH