Posted on 01/22/2017 5:25:43 PM PST by Morgana
FULL TITLE: Activist who was walking across America barefoot to raise awareness of climate change is hit and killed by SUV
A man who was hiking across America barefoot on the side of highways to 'save the earth' was struck by a Buick SUV and died Saturday.
Mark Baumer, 33, began his shoeless trek in October. His journey aimed to raise awareness and funds for the FANG Collective, a Rhode Island organization that supports nonviolent resistance to the natural gas industry.
Florida Highway Patrol confirmed Baumer was hit on the side of Highway 90 in Walton County. He was pronounced dead on the scene during the 101st day of his trip.
The vegan, climate advocate was a web content specialist at a library in Providence, Rhode Island. He graduated from Brown University with a MFA in 2011.
He was supposed to end up in California by May and hoped to raise at least $10,000 according to his YouCaring page.
After his death on Saturday, a wave of donations poured in and Baumer's goal was surpassed by $2,000.
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(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
As soon as you can tell me what part of Walton County, Florida, I-90 runs through. Maybe your brain will be working better in the morning.
That’s the think about irony — it is so ironic sometimes
Hope he wasn’t hit on purpose. Imo a lot of that is going on.
He’s been walking since October and he still has to keep on the white line to protect his tender feet? Seems like he should have built up some massive callouses by now. I toss my shoes as soon as I can in Spring and by the beginning of Summer I can walk on sharp gravel or hot blacktop and not even flinch.
After looking at his final photo — I almost wonder if he “weaved” in front of a car on purpose.
THEY'RE BA-AAACK !
I finally got the satellite view loaded. For some reason it started around 20 miles North of DeFuniak and I had to keep shifting it South until I finally saw it.
I guess familiarity breeds contempt. You are right, there are sidewalks out there. I have lived in the area for just under 70 years except for the years I worked in different areas and had never noticed those sidewalks.
I can think of no reason why they should even be there as there is nothing but car traffic in that area. No foot traffic at all.
What? He succeeded. He beat his goal by $2000.
My guess would be that federal money was waved under the noses of the county officials, and they jumped at it whether the project was actually needed by the citizens, or not. Sounds like something the Obama folks would have used highway money for. Most of it looks pretty new in those pictures.
(Around here, it’s marked bike routes on busy streets. Slap up signs beside the 6 lane road that it’s now a bikeway, and let the cyclists share a lane with folks driving 50 miles an hour.)
Any way you slice it, this is very sad news. I hope FReepers will be respectful & not act like assholes here.
That’s a shame. The news just came in today that Climate Change is fake science.
Unfortunate timing.
“Vegan? Why are his eating habits relevant?”
Because he might have been heterosexual, so his sexuality isn’t what defines him as a flaming liberal (you know, a person we should all care about), yet “vegan” does.
Something just doesn’t look right for those sidewalks. It appears nearly as wide as a lane of traffic. Baldwin Ave. is the old downtown area and I can barely see the sidewalks there.
I now live around 20 miles from DeFuniak but do most of my shopping there. I will make the trip in a few days and drive out that way just to see what is there.
Latest recipient of the Rachel Corey Run Downer Award.
If it had been a Prius they would never have mentioned it. But a Buick SUV? NOW you’re talkin’.
MFA includes Underwater Basket Weaving, as I recall. Quite a marketable skill.
If you’re starting out in RI. to trek cross country; How the heck do you end up in FL.?
After watching the video of this vicious moron, I would say his death merely improves the world slightly.
This guy must have been really bad at math
The statistical likelihood of his death was probably very close to 100 percent.
If he had been wearing shoes, would he be alive now?
“Today has been storms, high winds, rain and tornadoes.”
and Big SUVs =)
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