The Pacific Northwest region where I live can easily be called one of the most beautiful places in America. But, unfortunately, old-growth forests here are disappearing now very rapidly, in large patches, and the panorama from a mountaintop often is that of a checkerboard... Without any respect for nature, “redneck” lumberjacks are chopping down ancient trees… This really, really upsets me. Therefore, it is up to each committed person to take the responsibility of stopping the destruction of the natural world around us. No longer can it be assumed that someone else is going to do it. If not you, who? If not now, when? One good way to do so is to join the struggle of the environmental activists from such groups as EARTH FIRST!, or CASCADIA FOREST ALLIANCE, or multitudes of others, who all are dedicated to protecting the ancient forest from greedy lumber companies that don’t care about the natural wonders they are destroying in cold blood... I remember that when I was only about five years old my parents and I once went to help activists at Warner Creek blockade here in Oregon. The yearlong blockade of a forest road to protect from clear-cut logging the old-growth forest was done by CASCADIA FOREST DEFENDERS. Their action to save the forest at Warner Creek gained international attention after becoming the longest road blockade in U.S. history. The same kind of radical activism is very important today also for saving the oceans, rivers, and especially the rainforests of South America, which are the home of thousands of endangered species. THE RAINFOREST ACTION NETWORK is one such group of activists trying to save the fragile environment. And, of course, there are also many other well-known environmental warriors, organizations such as GREENPEACE, SEA SHEPHARD, EARTH ISLAND INSTITUTE, OCEAN DEFENSE INTERNATIONAL. But I must say that some of such large mainstream organizations, in my opinion, are getting more and more fake... Especially it is true about the SIERRA CLUB. Although they used to be one of the most important environmentalist groups in America, for some reason now the Sierra Club isn’t really what it used to be... Almost every month I receive from them a bulging envelope filled with commercials and money-soliciting letters, all printed on expensive non-recycled paper… It’s all too fake for me. We need real activism, one that wants real change. We need passion! Well, there are actually some folks -- very radical organizations -- who are as passionate about saving the environment as one can possibly be... One such very radical group of environmental activists is called ELF (Earth Liberation Front). What is it all about? Well, find out for yourself... As far as I know, it is made up of so-called “ecoterrorists” that, according to ELF itself, use “direct action in the form of economic sabotage to stop the exploitation and destruction of the natural environment,” mainly in the United States and Canada. Their techniques involve burning of property or equipment that they believe is being used to hurt the environment... Activists from another similarly radical group, ANIMAL LIBERATION FRONT, usually release captive animals from fur farms or scientific research labs... Various people, of course, can have various opinions about this kind of radical actions... One such radical protester is JULIA “BUTTERFLY” HILL, who spent more than two years living at the top of a 180-foot-high tree in an effort to save the surrounding California redwoods from being cut down by landowner, THE PACIFIC LUMBER COMPANY. When she climbed high into that thousand-year-old redwood tree (nicknamed “Luna”) and set up a "house" on a little wooden platform high above the ground, she knew that she would have to stay up there until her goal was accomplished... Her aim was to prevent the destruction of the tree by making it impossible to cut down the tree without killing her. Julia wanted to help make the world aware of the plight of ancient forests. “Here I can be the voice and face of this tree, and for the whole forest that can’t speak for itself,” Julia said. “I gave my word to this tree, the forest, and all the people that my feet would not touch the ground until I had done everything in my power to make the world aware of this problem and to stop the destruction.” First she broke what was supposedly the American record for tree-sitting. Then, in the midst of one of the wettest, stormiest winters in living memory, she broke the 42-day world record for tree-sitting. By the time she passed the 100-day mark, the world was increasingly aware that an exceptionally well-motivated person was not simply “sitting” in a tree, she was living there and plainly intended to continue living there until her tree and the forest were permanently protected from destruction... Julia was one of hundreds of activists working to save the HEADWATERS FOREST through a variety of tactics. Most of them were involved in what they termed "cat and mouse" action. They would move into an area of the forest where logging crews were active and confront the loggers directly, pleading with them to put down their tools and spare the forest. Others, meanwhile, were continually moving through the forest, making it difficult for the loggers to know whether it might be safe to cut a tree or if, by doing so, they might kill one of the protesters... Julia survived the winter that year and continued living in a tent for the next two years. As the months went by, celebrities with ties to the environmental movement came to visit her, politicians talked with her on her mobile phone, and the world's media made camp at the base of the tree to see what was going on and document her life and her mission. Lumber company employees harassed her and tried to scare her down. Through it all, Julia remained high above ground. Her spirit and devotion has touched the souls of many who have heard of her action. To quote Julia herself, “those things of real worth in life are worth going to any length in love and respect to safeguard.” Her courage, commitment and profound clarity in articulating a message of hope, empowerment, and respect for the environment have inspired millions of people worldwide. For this I really respect her very much. While the international media spotlight shined on her and “Luna,” Julia emphasized the importance of how individuals can and need to make a difference. Finally, seven hundred and thirty-eight days after she climbed into Luna's arms, and after successfully negotiating to protect Luna (plus a three-acres of forest around it), Julia came down from her perch... Her courageous act gained international attention for the redwoods as well as other environmental and social justice issues and is chronicled in her book “The Legacy of Luna: The Story of a Tree, a Woman, and the Struggle to Save the Redwoods”. Meanwhile, Julia and other forest activists founded the CIRCLE OF LIFE Foundation to, “inspire, support and network individuals, organizations, and communities so together we can create environmental and social solutions that are rooted deeply in love and respect for the interconnectedness of all life.” They promote efforts to protect and restore the Earth. "We believe that you, yes you, make the difference in the world," says their website. Julia has been touring America, preaching to people about the importance of respecting the Environment. I myself went to meet her when she visited here in Eugene. If you also wish you could see Julia in real life, but didn't have such an opportunity yet, be sure at least to watch the movie "Butterfly". It is a documentary film made by Doug Wolens, who spent two years interviewing Julia. This video is the inside story of the longest tree-sit in U.S. history! As for the photos used on this page, all are courtesy of Shawn Walker of Otter Media. Now, if you would like yourself to do something like Julia “Butterfly” Hill did, THE RUCKUS SOCIETY teaches climbing, banner-hanging, and many other technical skills to all types of activists. EARTH LIBERATION PRISONERS – On this website you can find information about people imprisoned (yes, imprisoned!) for actions in defense of the Earth and its inhabitants. By the way, there are few quite interesting publications by such radical ecology groups that I can highly recommend. One is Earth First! Journal which had been published until recently right here in Eugene, Oregon. Green Anarchy is another interesting magazine (also located here in Eugene). This one is published by the Anarchists for the environment.