The leader of the organization heading the campaign to protect luna from the pacific lumber company had found julia at the last minute looking for anyway to help these beautiful trees. But the month turned into a year, and the year doubled and high in the tree something of a swiss family robinson story unfolded before the eyes of the world. Thanks to her efforts and success in saving luna, julia butterfly hill is now a renowned environmental activist and is still working towards achieving one goal, to inspire, support and network. A year in the sky last december 10, julia butterfly climbed 180 feet up an ancient redwood tree in humboldt countys beleaguered headwaters forest, named the tree luna, and refused to come down. Julia butterfly hill defends california redwoods, 1999. Forest activist julia butterfly hill spent two years living 180 feet high in the canopy of a thousandyearold redwood tree to help make the world aware of the plight of the redwood forest. In 1997 julia butterfly hill began her historic two year treesit atop luna to prevent the felling of this magnificent tree, and to bring international attention to the importance of protecting and restoring natural resources. But, julia says that after a while she considered luna as her friend. The tree, years old and 180 feet tall, was set to be cut down by the pacific lumber company. Julia butterfly hill lived in a redwood tree called luna for 738 days to draw attention to the dangers of deforestation, and to save the old growth forest near stafford, california.
Julia butterfly hill julia, with the great help of steelworkers and environmentalists, successfully negotiated to permanently protect the 1,000 yearold tree and a nearly three acre buffer zone. Julia, with great help from steelworkers and environmentalists, successfully negotiated to permanently protect the tree and a nearly threeacre buffer zone. The clearcutting practices of the pacific lumber company had led to a series of events, including mudslides, the decimation of animal habitats, and the death of. Julia butterfly hill is best known for living in a 180foottall, 1,000yearold california redwood tree named luna for 738 days between december 1997 and december 1999. Aboutwelcome dear friends, on december 18th, 1999, i returned to terra firma after over 2 years living aloft in the branches of my best friend, and best teacher, luna. By the time julia butterfly hill, showed up in stafford, the treesitters had been up in the stafford giant for a few weeks. The story of a tree, a woman and the struggle to save the redwoods paperback april 3, 2001 by julia hill author 4.
A tree wouldnt be cut down if it had a person living in it. One tree had broken branches and a big blue x on the side. Julia butterfly hill 1974 is one of the most committed environmentalists alive today. Til julia butterfly hill, on december 10, 1997, ascended. The story of luna, leadership, and legacy by ellie pumpkin published february 19, 2018 updated january 20, 2019 yesterday, february 18, 2018, marked the 44th birthday of a woman whose undying courage, passion, and tenacity not only triumphed over an environmental threat, but also proved the strength and effectiveness. From december 10, 1997, to december 18, 1999, hill lived in a 1,000yearold california redwood tree named luna and. Quotations by julia butterfly hill, american activist, born february 18, 1974. Our outreach department is headed by miss julia butterfly hill. Julia stayed aloft until pacific lumber company agreed to. You may have heard of the girl that lived in the tree named luna in humboldt county, that was butterfly.
Celebrity and health struggles have taken a toll on julia butterfly hill since she climbed down 18 years ago from an ancient north coast redwood tree. The small hamlet of stafford, california is the site of a landslide that originated on plmaxxam land that destroyed seven families homes stafford is also home to the stafford giant, an ancient redwood tree now known to the world as luna. We can make a positive difference through our actions for 738 days julia butterfly hill lived in the canopy of an ancient redwood tree, called luna, to help make the world aware of the plight of ancient forests. A year in the sky last december 10, julia butterfly. In addition to writing a bestselling book, the legacy of luna, hill also penned an environmental handbook, one makes the difference. She lived for more than a year in a giant redwood tree and coauthored such books as the legacy of luna and one makes the difference.
Julia hill, the remarkable woman who saved a tree by. Julia stayed aloft until pacific lumber company agreed to protect luna with a conservation easement. Julia butterfly hill is a young activist best known for spending 738 days on top of a tree. Because of her and other organizations assistance, the tree, and a buffer around it. Hill had climbed 180 feet up into the tree high on a mountain on december 10, 1997, for what she thought would be a two to threeweeklong treesit. She lived in a small 6by8foot treetop shelter, with a bucket tied to a rope to receive. This redwood tree became internationally famous as the story of her tree sit was published and followed by the media. Hill lived in the tree to prevent the pacific lumber company from cutting it down. The reality is that in much of industrialized societies, we are completely addicted to comfort. Activist known for her proenvironmental and antitax work. For almost two years, hill lived in the branches of an ancient redwood tree which she named luna in northern california to save it from. Luna still stands, if injured, as it has for a millennium. Hills story has been memorialized in books, television, films, and music. When a tree sitter captured the nations attention the.
Julia butterfly hill, byname of julia lorraine hill, born february 18, 1974, mount vernon, missouri, u. Tree had been home for two years to activist julia butterfly hill. He needed treesitters for historic luna and julia offered. The person or people cut through about twothirds of lunas trunk, but, according to julia, some really smart scientists, tree experts, and lots of loving friends were able to protect her with metal cables, and filled her cut with a special clay mixture. Til julia butterfly hill, on december 10, 1997, ascended 180 feet 55 m up the redwood tree luna to stave off pacific lumber co. Julia butterfly hill made redwoods a global issue kcet. Julia butterfly hill, american activist known for having lived in a tree for 738 days in an act of civil disobedience to prevent clearcutting of ecologically significant forests. Luna is the american name given in october 1997 to a 1,000yearold, 200foottall coast redwood tree located near the community of stafford in humboldt county, california which was occupied for 738 days by forest activist julia butterfly hill and saved by an agreement between hill and the pacific lumber company. She shocked the world, by showing that the battle for the preservation of planet earth is not yet lost. I came down to a hurting world constantly wanting and needing. Her treesitting with luna was only the beginning of julia hills activism.
Julia hill, environmental activist humanity husbands. We help charities and projects with tree transplantation services using the latest technology and methodology. Julia butterfly hill born february 18, 1974 is famous for being activist. Thanks to her efforts and success in saving luna, julia butterfly hill is now a renowned environmental activist and is still working towards achieving one goal, to inspire, support and. My connection with luna and my connection with nature is what kept me going, kept me alive, helped teach me the vital lessons i needed to learn when i was about to give up or make a very big mistake. Born on 18 february 1974 in jonesboro, arkansas, julia butterfly hill was only 24 when she climbed a california redwood tree and set up residence there.
Julia butterfly hill endured 738 days atop luna to stop loggers from cutting the 1,500yearold redwood tree. The first time julia set eyes on luna was in november of 1997. On december 18, 1999, julia butterfly hills feet touched the ground for the first time in over two years, as she descended from luna, a thousandyearold redwood in humboldt county, california. The story of a tree, a woman, and the struggle to save the redwoods, p. A native of arkansas, hill had teamed up with earth first. Hill also cofounded the circle of life foundation, which has morphed into the engage network, a nonprofit social activism group. Luna is the story of julia butterflys first 2 months of living in a giant ancient redwood tree to protect it from being cut down by pacific lumber company, owned by maxxam corp. One tree in particular, a 300footer called the stafford giant, estimated at around 1,800 years of age, suddenly sprouted a pair of sixbysix sleeping platforms 180 feet up in its branches.
Her courageous act of civil disobedience gained international attention for the redwoods as well as other environmental and social justice issues, which is chronicled in her book the. The year after julia came down from luna, someone tried to cut down the tree. Maxxam corporation, the operator of pacific lumber, did their best to get her off luna to no avail. When i first heard about julia butterfly hill in 1997, she was a waiflike twentythreeyearold living in a thousandyearold redwood tree in humboldt county, california. She is best known for having lived in a 180foot 55 mtall, roughly 1500yearold california redwood tree for 738 days between december 10, 1997 and december 18, 1999. Julia butterfly hill climbed down from the tree she named luna 10 years ago this december.
Not long after hill ended her protest, someone made a gash in the tree with a chainsaw. Lunas history for 738 days forest activist julia butterfly hill lived 180 feet high in the canopy of an ancient redwood tree to help make the world aware of the plight of ancient forests. Julia butterfly hill spent 738 days in a 200ft redwood, as she attempted to save the ancient tree that she named luna, along with the rest of the forest around it. This documentary, which first aired on public television in 2000, chronicles environmental activist julia butterfly hills 738 day treesit in the ancient redwood tree she named luna. Julia lorraine hill known as julia butterfly hill, born february 18, 1974 is an american environmental activist and tax redirection advocate. This is the story of julia butterfly hill and luna, the redwood tree she lived in for two years, never once coming down. After nearly dying in an auto accident in 1996, she dedicated her life to environmental causes. Environmental activist julia butterfly hill climbs back. Finally, after two years and eight days of residing 800 feet above the ground, julia bu. Luna stands tall on a ridge above the town of stafford, california. For 738 days julia butterfly hill lived in the canopy of an ancient redwood tree, called luna, to help make the world aware of the plight of ancient forests. These video blogs are designed to promote conscious living and tips on how to lessen our impact on earth in our daily lives. On december 10, 1997, the barefoot environmental activist julia butterfly hill climbed up a 600yearold, 200foottall redwood tree in a remote corner of northern california, and stayed there for 738 days. Julia butterfly hill and her humboldt county tree sit in.
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