Her journey began after a wreck in August of 1996 that shoved a steering wheel into her skull and changed the course of her life forever. Almost a year later she was able to walk and talk and be normal again. At that time she decided everything she had taken for granted had been almost taken away from her, and she had to start focusing her attention and her life on the real and important things. And so she thought the way to do that was to begin a spiritual journey. The woman described above is Julia Butterfly Hill, a determined twenty-three-year-old preachers daughter from Arkansas who in December of 1997 climbed one-hundred and eighty feet into a thousand-year-old redwood tree named Luna in Humboldt County of California. She promised not to leave the top of that tree until Luna was guaranteed permanent protection from Pacific Lumber/Maxxam Corporations clear cutting policies; which she saw as destructive. Hill stuck to her promise and lived on a small platform built on that redwood tree for more than two years, bringing international attention to the destruction of the redwoods. As a result of her efforts, more people than ever before have become aware of controversial clear cutting practices. While an agreement allowed Hill to descend from her perch and Luna to escape destruction, most of the surrounding old-growth forest in the region has been clear cut; this is the amazing story in The Legacy of Luna.
Civil disobedience is the active refusal to obey certain laws, demands and commands of a government, or of an occupying power, without resorting to physical violence(Thoreau). The disputed issues involved politics, religion, racial predisposition, economic inequality and so on. It can involve an organization or an individual in order to achieve goal through civil disobedience. Julia Butterfly Hill also conveyed her message to everyone through the act of civil disobedience. Hill took her public role as a modern-day civil disobedient seriously which created an awareness that added to her credibility as a writer and an activist.
Hill strongly believed in the spirituality of the universe, she was always taught by her parents to make strong convitions and to stick by them. The fatal car accident that occurred in 1996 made her perceive the purpose of her life. In her journey of self discovery she had no particular destination,; she would have taken anything as her mission if that involved a betterment of humans or earth. What came on her way was the Redwoods; her first sight of the redwoods overwhelmed her with awe. She spent some time alone hiking around the Humbolt county and on a trip to Gaberville for supplies she learned about the plight of the Headwaters Forest, then that was the time when she found her purpose; to save those gialnt redwood trees. I went back to Arkansas settled my lawsuit against the driver of the truck. I sold everything that I owned. With the sale money, I bought a backpack, a sleeping bag and a tent. The I strapped on few changes of clothes that were now my total belongings and prepared to return California to save the redwood forests (Hill, pg10). She was so determined that she sold everything that she owned and headed to the West in order to save the redwoods. After all the attempts to get involved on the cause she ended up and tree-sat Luna. Tree sitting is a form of Civil disobedience in which a protester sits in a tree, usually on a small platform built for the purpose, to protect it from being cut down speculating that loggers will not endanger human lives by cutting an occupied tree. Supporters usually provide the tree sitters with food and other necessary supplies.Originally, Hill was not officially affiliated with any environmental organization, deciding by herself to undertake the act of civil disobedience. Soon, Hill was actively supported by Earth First, among other organizations and volunteers. She promised not to leave the top of the 600 year old Coast Redwood tree named Luna, until it was guaranteed permanent protection from Pacific Lumber/Maxxam Corporations clear cutting policies. Hill tree-sat for 738 days in order to save Luna bringing international attention to the destruction of the redwoods forests through the media. At the end an agreement with the Pacific Lumber allowed Hill to descend from her perch and Luna to escape destruction, which involved Hill and other activists to raise money and pay Pacific Lumber Company $50,000. Hill made strong convictions and stuck with it, her determination and seriousness is crystal clear on every single steps that she took during her struggle to save Luna from withstanding the death threats to the gale force of El Nino winds and still surviving on Lunas tiny platform for two years. Julia Butterfly Hill takes her public role as a modern-day civil disobedience seriously.
As a result of Hills efforts, more Americans than ever before have become aware of controversial forestry practices. Her two-year vigil informed the public that only three percent of the ancient redwood forests remain and that the Headwaters Forest Agreement, brokered by state and federal agencies and Pacific Lumber/Maxxam Corporation, will not adequately protect forests and species. According to an article titled Julia Butterfly Hill, From Treetop to Grass Roots written by Don Oldenburg a Washington Post staff writer on Wednesday, September 22, 2004, By going out on that limb for more than two years, she saved the venerable tree she dubbed "Luna" and the surrounding three acres of redwoods. And she raised unprecedented awareness of the threat to old-growth trees. With that memorable stunt of activist endurance for the environment, she became the world's best-known tree hugger. (Don, Pg C01). Hill created public awareness on clear cutting policies; she educated us about the importance of wilderness and respecting our elders which are those ancient redwood trees.
Not only did she create public awareness but she also created awareness to herself that added to her credibility as a writer and an activist. Her purpose for life changed after her car accident; she was eagerly waiting for a mission where she could do something. That something was to save the redwoods which she realized once she came to the Humbolt County. Those trees and those branches that try too hard to stand up strong and straight are the ones that break. Now is not the time for you to be strong, or you, too will break. Learn power of trees. Let it flow. Let it go (Hill, pg.114). She learnt to let go of all the troubles instead of hanging tight and weakening herself. This was only possible because she committed herself to stay up at Luna and face the storm instead of fighting with it and this certainly is created both Hills and public awareness due to her role of civil disobedience. A person with passion, good intentions and commitment turns out to be an educated and capable activist from all the knowledge about the forest, logging and life that she gained with her stay up on Luna for two years
The purpose of civil disobedience can be to publicize an unjust law or a just cause; to appeal to the conscience of the public; to force negotiation with recalcitrant officials; to "clog the machine" (Thoreau's phrase) with political prisoners; to get into court where one can challenge the constitutionality of a law; to exculpate oneself, or to put an end to one's personal complicity in the injustice which flows from obedience to unjust law or some combination of these.(Peter). Her act forced everyone to grab their attention to those areas which would be unnoticed otherwise; if Hill had not tree-sat for two years Luna who would have cared about Luna and her survival. Hill definitely took her public role as a modern-day civil disobedient seriously which created an awareness that added to her credibility as a writer and an activist; she came out educated, experience and capable person as a writer as well as an activist. She inspired millions of people worldwide with her commitment, courage, message and spirituality. If there is something you desire to do in order to make the world a better place then you will need to stick with your convictions, passion, good intentions and a strong commitment; then you will reach your goal.
Bibliography
Hill, Julia Butterfly. The Legacy of Luna. San Francisco: Harper Collens, 2000.
Thoreau, Henry David. Civil Disobedience. New York: Applewood Books, 2000.
Oldenburg, Don. Julia Butterfly Hill, From Treetop to Grass Roots. Washington Post. Wednesday, 22nd September, 2004: Page C01
Suber, Peter. Civil Disobedience. Philosophy of Law 1999: Earlham College. Indiana.
http://www.earlham.edu/~peters/writing/civ-dis.htm
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