—Systemic change begins with personal change—
In Markus's words from the page of his nonprofit, Routes of Change:
Hi, I’m Markus. For over five years I’ve been using just my muscles and some wind to journey over 40,000 km around the planet. No planes. No trains. No automobiles. Not even an elevator. I’m not anti-motor, nor do I think I’m saving the planet. What I am doing is inspiring the public and students at presentations and connecting with local non-profit organizations to share their stories and raise support for them. I don’t pretend to be a hero or have all the answers to our problems but I do think I’m part of the solution, and more importantly I think we are all part of the solution. It’s time we acknowledge our immense power to influence and change the world around us. It’s fun and exciting to take control of that power. Join the Routes of Change community and let’s make epic things happen. Sign up and Follow now.
Routes of Change is a registered non-profit society based in Tofino, BC, Canada. It is effecting change across the world.
Our mission is to use adventure and entertainment to support the unsung leaders of our planet as they work to create a healthy future for all beings.
We believe that there is no avoiding change so we might as well embrace it and share ways that we can better adapt to a new sustainable way of life on earth. We share stories of adventure and exploration of the planet by human powered means. By speaking face to face, through presentations, films, books, blogs, tv, media, and most forms of communication we aim to inspire change. Routes of Change.
Our vision is one of compassion and appreciation for all beings in the universe.
Markus traveling in one consecutive journey around the world by as many motor less means as possible, including rowing, swimming, kayaking, standup paddleboarding, sailing, running, biking, skiing, skateboarding, velomobiling, walking backwards, and pogosticking. Friends and fellow adventurers join for support throughout the journey and help to create change through communication, education, and entertainment.
The journey is expected to take about seven years with weather and political situations largely influencing the route and timing. Markus is not planning on breaking any records, but he will likely create new ones. He is committed to building Routes of Change into a powerful force of change to create a better future for generations to come.
Routes of Change. Let’s make history and create the future.
My friend bought a sailboat, I mentioned to him my goal of sailing off North America, he told me about this guy posting weekly videos of circumnavigating the planet without using motors. I watched a bunch of videos. I had to learn more. He's "traveling in one consecutive journey around the world by as many motor less means as possible, including rowing, swimming, kayaking, standup paddleboarding, sailing, running, biking, skiing, skateboarding, velomobiling, walking backwards, and pogosticking. Friends and fellow adventurers join for support throughout the journey and help to create change through communication, education, and entertainment." I caught him in India soon to sail to Africa. People describe my behavior as extreme. Extremely fun! Actually, it’s more like most humans. Most westerners are extreme in our dependence, separation from family, separation from nature, obesity, addiction, heart disease, diabetes, working long hours, and so on. From their extreme position, normal me looks extreme. I keep going further because I find role models like Markus. Can you guess if he’s miserable or having the time of his life? I think you know the answer, but listen to find out how.