News - Mission Earth
John Francis, Planetwalker, in South Africa Spreading the Word about GLOBE and Kindness
Taking cloud observations in Plettenberg Bay
Dr. John Francis, renowned for his Planetwalks that have taken him across continents to raise awareness about environmental issues, is now walking across South Africa on his way to Cairo, Egypt, in partnership with GLOBE Africa. He began this journey in January 2023, walking from Cape Point to Gordon’s Bay. In January – February 2024, he started his walk with Mark Brettenny, RCO Africa from Gordon’s Bay to Mossel Bay, and he is currently walking from Plettenberg Bay towards the Bostwana border.
Along the way, Dr. Francis has been engaging local communities and schools, introducing them to the GLOBE Program. On 14 September in Plettenberg Bay, Dr. Francis conducted a GLOBE cloud observation while Rogeline Brettenny (RCO Africa) taught a community group about the Observer App and environmental data collection. John Francis’s commitment to collaboration has inspired many, and students and adults have joined him for parts of his walk, including former GIO director John Ristvey!
From left: John Ristvey, Dr. John Francis, and Mark Bretteny along
the Planetwalk
On 16 September, they visited a
primary school, Bahia Formosa School. Dr. John Francis began his
presentation with some stories about his life, a short banjo
performance followed by a time of questions and answers.
Afterward, John Ristvey shared about the GLOBE cloud protocol
using the Elementary GLOBE storybook to highlight the three basic
types of clouds. He began by reading the first page from the storybook
asking the students, “Did you know that children have names?” Followed
by a similar question about dogs, flowers, and finally clouds. He then
asked for a volunteer to come to the front of the room to hold a
handful of cotton balls. John then asked the students to describe the
cotton balls and then read a page in the storybook about cumulus
clouds including that they were low level clouds. All the students
then said, “CUMULUS CLOUDS!”
Next, he asked
two students to come to the room to hold each end of a bed sheet. He
then asked the students to describe the sheet as flat. He read the
page in the storybook that described stratus clouds, and all students
said, “STRATUS CLOUDS.” He asked for one last volunteer to hold a
feather high in the air so everyone could see. He read the page that
described cirrus clouds. Then all the students said, “CIRRUS CLOUDS.”
He then showed them how to make signals for each of the three types
and reviewed them a few more times, having the children call them
out.
Finally, he showed the students the GLOBE Observer
app and how they could keep track of clouds and send their
observations in to GLOBE’s database. The teachers were interested in
both checking out the app, other Elementary GLOBE books, and
connecting with other schools in other GLOBE countries.
Now in the Rietbron area, Dr. Francis is planning to visit two additional schools in the coming weeks – a primary school and a high school.
Dr. Francis will continue his Planetwalk in South Africa until early November, with plans to visit schools and community centers, spreading the message of sustainability and global collaboration. Stay tuned by visiting GLOBE's Planetwalk Africa page for more updates as Francis continues his remarkable walk across Africa, combining scientific observation with a deep connection to the communities he visits.
Have a question for Dr. Francis? Ask it here and tune back in for his response.
Thank yous
Thank you to GLOBE Africa's Mark and Rogeline Bretteny for all the support they are providing to Planetwalk Africa. Thank you also to Derrick Hendricks, whose driving skills enabled the walking team to trek through a difficult mountain pass. Hendricks is a retired teacher and fellow walker from Mossel Bay to Plettenberg bay and to Uniondale, as well as GLOBE Africa Kilimanjaro participant with his student. And thank you to Wally Du Preez, retired GLOBE teacher and owner of the motorhome that is being used as support vehicle for the trek. Du Preez is the first GLOBE teacher to marry another GLOBE teacher!