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The Power of One Julia Butterfl y Hill Asks, ‘What’s Your Tree?’ by Judith Fertig
F
or 738 days, Julia Butterfl y Hill lived in the canopy of an
ancient redwood tree called Luna to increase awareness of threats to our ancient forests. Her courageous act of civil disobedience gained international attention for California’s redwoods,
together with related ecological and social justice issues. When she claimed victory for Luna on December 18, 1999, she was recognized worldwide as both a heroine and powerful voice for the environment. Today, Butterfl y Hill’s commitment to
such causes continues to inspire people worldwide. She has helped found and launch a host of nonprofi t organizations and currently serves as ambassador for the Pollination Project, which awards $1,000 a day to individuals making a positive difference. The impassioned activist is the inspiration for the What’s Your Tree initiative and also leads workshops at eco-villages such as Findhorn, in Scotland, and Damanhur, in Italy. She lives in Belize, where she describes her life as, “Before tree, during tree and after tree.”
What prompted your life shift from being the daughter of a traveling preacher to an environmental activist? Before Tree, when I was 22, I was rear-ended by a drunk driver and spent 10 months recovering. As I got better physically, I realized that my
32 Central Florida natural awakenings
whole life had been out of balance. I had been working nonstop since graduating from high school—obsessed by my career, worldly success and material things. This pivotal experience woke me to the importance of the moment and doing whatever I can to make a
positive impact on the future.
How did you come to climb up a 1,000-plus-year-old redwood tree and stay there for two years? After I recovered from the accident, I went on a road trip to California. There, I volunteered at a reggae festival. That year, the event was dedicated to the protection of ancient forests. I listened and learned from the speakers and activists passionate about educating people on the destructive logging practices of the Maxxam-controlled Pacifi c Lumber Company. Returning to my place in Arkansas, I sold everything I owned and returned to California to see how I could help. Earth First! was doing tree-sits to call attention to the urgent need to protect ancient trees, and they needed someone to stay in a redwood tree so the loggers couldn’t cut it down; because nobody else volunteered, they had to pick me.
On December 10, 1997, I put on the harness and ascended Luna, 180 feet up. What I thought would be three or four weeks in the tree turned into two
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