Forwarded by Jane Clark at [log in to unmask]

>Subject:        Luna
>
>They cut her.
>
>ANCIENT REDWOOD TREE LUNA WHERE JULIA BUTTERFLY HILL LIVED FOR OVER TWO
>YEARS HAS BEEN ILLEGALLY CUT AND ENDANGERED
>
>
>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November, 27 2000
>
>Contact: Circle of Life Foundation: (707) 923-9522, (707) 923-4619
>
>The small hamlet of Stafford, California is the site of a landslide that
>originated on PL/Maxxam 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. The tree was named Luna by forest activists who used the
>light of the full moon to rig a treesitting platform 180 feet high in the
>redwood in October, 1997.
>
>On December 10, 1997 Julia Butterfly Hill climbed into the tree to protect
>the magnificent redwood and to help make the world aware of the plight of
>the ancient forests. From her perch she carried out a tremendous amount of
>outreach to politicians, religious leaders, school children and citizens
>worldwide.  After two years of risking her life, Julia, with the help of
>members of the US Steelworkers of America and other forest activists,
>successfully negotiated the permanent protection of Luna and a nearly
>three-acre buffer zone.
>
>The tree was protected by a Deed of Covenant, similar to a conservation
>easement that is held by the land trust Sanctuary Forest. The Luna
>Preservation Agreement, signed by Julia Hill and PL/Maxxam Corp., was
>designed to protect Luna in perpetuity so the tree could live for another
>millennium.
>
>On Thanksgiving weekend it was discovered that a critical cut had been
made
>into Luna by a large chainsaw. The perpetrator made one deep and precise
cut
>that went through a significant portion of the tree. While the tree is
still
>alive and standing, Luna is extremely vulnerable to a windstorm. Judging
>from the precision of the cut and the fresh sawdust, the criminal action
>appears to have been committed by an experienced treefaller within the
last
>few days.
>
>Julia Butterfly was devastated to learn of the injury to Luna, "Luna is
the
>greatest teacher and best friend I have ever had. I gave two years of my
>life to ensure that she could live and die naturally.  But two years is
>nothing compared to the thousand years she has lived, providing shelter,
>moisture and oxygen to forest inhabitants. It kills me that the last 3% of
>
>the ancient redwoods are being desecrated. I feel this vicious attack on
>Luna as surely as if the chainsaw was going through me. Words cannot
express
>the deep sorrow that I am experiencing but I am as committed as ever to do
>everything in my power to protect Luna and the remaining ancient forests."
>
>Circle of Life Foundation and Sanctuary Forest are researching what can be
>done to stabilize the critically injured tree. There is a criminal
>investigation at the crime site for clues as to who may have committed
this
>spiteful and malevolent action against this permanently protected tree.
>
>The forests surrounding Luna are sacrifice zones that were not protected
>under the Headwaters Forest Agreement. Other sacrifice zones include the
>old-growth Douglas fir forests on Rainbow Ridge in the Mattole River
>watershed. Police convoys are actively trying to stop forest activists
from
>defending these forested steep slopes that are slated to be clearcut
during
>this rainy season.
>
>

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