Julia “Butterfly” Hill has become something of a
celebrity. She has lived in a 1,000-year-old redwood tree near
Stafford, Calif., for over a year, spreading the message that “each
and every one of the old-growth trees is ancient, precious, and
priceless.” From the 300 to 500 letters she receives daily, Hill is
confident that people are hearing her
message.
“To me, it’s absolutely essential we
come from a place of love and higher consciousness,” she says.
“That’s why we’ve reached so many people, because we all can
understand love.” Hill, who grew up traveling around the states in
a trailer, has refused to touch the ground for 14 months, and it is
her perch, a platform high in a redwood she calls “Luna,” that has
kept Pacific Lumber Co. from logging in the
area.
“We are frustrated with people who seem to
take the law into their own hands,” says Pacific Lumber’s Mary
Bullwinkel. Though Pacific Lumber has posted public notices
throughout the forest, asking tree-sitters to get off their private
property, Hill has no plans for climbing down anytime
soon.
Moreover, a recent government deal with
Pacific Lumber to preserve 6,000 acres of ancient redwoods has Hill
enraged. She says the deal preserves some trees at the cost of 50
years of unregulated cutting on Pacific Lumber’s remaining 200,000
acres, with very little protection for endangered
wildlife.
“This makes it legal for them to
destroy more old growth than is being protected,” says Hill. That
makes her more determined than ever. “I plan on continuing what I
am doing; I take it day by day and prayer by prayer.” Contact Hill
through Luna Media Services, 707/839-8974, www.lunatree.org, or
call Pacific Lumber at 707/764-2222.
* Rebecca
Clarren
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Julia Butterfly won’t come down.
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