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BIO
Julia Butterfly Hill, twenty-six, is a writer, a poet, and an activist. She helped
found the Circle of Life Foundation to promote the sustainability, restoration, and
preservation of life. The foundation is sponsored by the nonprofit Trees Foundation, which
works toward the conservation and preservation of forest ecosystems. Hill has been the
recipient of many honors and awards, and is a frequent speaker for environmental
conferences around the world.
INTERVIEW
July 27, 2001
In December of 1997, Julia Butterfly Hill ascended a redwood tree in the coastal
mountains of Northern California. Part of a group of environmentalist protesters who took
to the trees to stop loggers from cutting down the ancient forest, Hill stayed in her
tree, dubbed Luna, for 738 days. She suffered through inclement weather, media firestorms
and violence from the loggers and their supporters. In THE LEGACY OF LUNA, newly published
in paperback, Hill recounts her journey from daughter of a preacher to crunchy poster
child. Bookreporter writer Jana Siciliano had the good fortune to speak with Hill about
clear cutting, celebrity status and the daunting process of writing down one's life.
TBR: You had gotten so much publicity about your stay in Luna, appearing
on television and radio. Why did you decide to write a book instead of, say, make a
documentary about your plight?
JBH: Actually, there are documentaries that have been
done about my treesit and the plight of the redwoods. I chose to write a book as well
because, for me, the story is about the message that our planet and much of the life on it
--- human and otherwise --- is in serious trouble and needs all of us to care and get
involved. It is a book about changing the world through love, action, commitment and a
deep connection to the sacred spirituality of all life.
TBR: What is the next step in your vocation as an activist?
JBH: I am currently working on numerous projects. I
have more requests for my help and time than I can possibly give. A lot of my work is
focused on raising awareness and helping people get active on issues ranging from the
prison industrial complex and political prisoners to organic food and food safety to
environmental racism and, of course, old growth forest issues. I see how all environmental
and social issues are truly connected and, as a movement with many facets and faces, we
need to constantly strive to show that, to work together and help one another. The same
forces that are oppressing and destroying nature are the same ones that are oppressing and
destroying animals and humans. When we find unity in our work, we add strength, balance
and beauty to the whole.
TBR: What was the single proudest moment you had on Luna?
JBH: I could not answer this question --- I do what I
do because I am completely compelled to do it, because I know in my depths it is the right
thing to do regardless of the outcome. To not take a stand against injustice is to be a
part of it. I live a life of love in action, every moment of every day. I am human
so I make mistakes, but what I strive for is always living a life of loving, joyous
service to this Earth and all the life it sustains.
TBR: Do you now consider yourself a writer? Will you write additional books in order to
further your cause?
JBH: I do not feel like a writer as much as I feel
like writing is more a tool in my toolbox of ways to change consciousness and help protect
all that is good in our world. I am currently working on my second book entitled ONE MAKES
THE DIFFERENCE. It combines inspirational stories of people who have made a difference in
the world with actions that everyone can take to be a positive part of change. It includes
information on what we are currently doing in our daily, community, and global lives that
is destructive and what kind of an impact that has on our world. This is then followed by
the solutions to those problems. It includes everything from how to "GREEN"
one's home to how to write letters to governmental representatives to taking direct
action. I am really excited about this book because it is not just a "How To"
book, it is infused with joyous heart and spirit. It is due out in April 2002.
TBR: When you were writing LEGACY OF LUNA, did you surprise yourself at all --- did any
emotions or thoughts that you weren't aware of reveal themselves to you?
JBH: I began writing LEGACY OF LUNA in the last 7-8
months of the treesit. I actually spoke the book into a tape recorder because I am more of
a speaker than a writer, (although I never was much of a speaker at all until I had to
learn while in the tree.) Writing this book was really difficult for me because the
experience was so intense and ingrained in who I am to the point where there is little to
no separation between the experience and myself. It was difficult enough for me to live
through it once, but for me to write the book the way I knew it needed to be written, I
had to live through the experience again. I cried a lot.
TBR: What was the one gift you received from admirers following your story that helped
you stay inspired during the hardest times?
JBH: Every gift that was sent was given from the heart
by the person who sent it and that, to me, makes each one so important. The best ones for
me, though, were the ones where people wrote me about how what I was doing had inspired
them to take action. The best gifts people could ever give me or the world is the gift of
taking action. Words are important, but what we do adds volumes.
TBR: While working on the book, what sort of writing schedule did you adhere to?
JBH: I worked on it mostly at night when I had the
most peace and quiet. I worked with two different authors, Ray Raphael and Linden Gross to
tell all the facets of the story, then to pare what is more like ten books down to one
that flows and invites the reader to become a part of the journey.
TBR: What is the Circle of Life Foundation and what do you hope for it to accomplish?
JBH: CoLF is a group I helped form while I was in the
tree whose mission in one word is "INTERCONNECT". We work to help the world
through connecting individuals, organizations and communities through education,
inspiration and action.
TBR: Do you have plans to continue writing?
JBH: THE LEGACY OF LUNA was recently released in
paperback, and the upcoming ONE MAKES THE DIFFERENCE.
Thanks and blessings!
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