Julia Butterfly Hill at Wild & Scenic: The Courage to Make a Difference

A Change of Course! Elisa Parker, host of the Wild & Scenic Film Fest Media Lounge interviews activist, Julia Butterfly Hill.

SYRCL’s Wild & Scenic® Film Festival inspires people and unites communities to heal the earth. WSFF is the largest film festival of its kind.

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. Her courageous act of civil disobedience gained international attention for the redwoods as well as other environmental and social justice issues.

On December 18, 1999 Julia Butterfly Hill, then 26, came down to a world that recognized her as a heroine and powerful voice for the environment. Her courage, commitment and profound clarity in articulating a message of hope, empowerment, and love and respect for all life has inspired millions of people worldwide.

Julia's brave and inspiring action brought international attention to the plight of our dwindling ancient redwoods. For many years after she returned to the ground, Julia toured the world speaking abour her experience in the media and to audiences large and small and about the many lessons she learned. She wrote a bestselling book, The Legacy of Luna, which is available in 11 languages, followed by her environmental "handbook", One Makes the Difference. Her story has inspired millions around the globe to take action in their own communities.

Julia has since helped to launch, grow and strengthen many nonprofits. Some of her current favorites are HERO (http://herohousing.org/) the Pollination Project (http://thepollinationproject.org/) and Women's Earth Alliance (http://womensearthalliance.org/)

Wild & Scenic is a call to action. At the festival, film-goers are transformed into a congregation of committed activists, dedicated to saving our increasingly threatened planet. We show environmental and adventure films that illustrate the Earth’s beauty, the challenges facing our planet and the work communities are doing to protect the environment. Through these films, Wild & Scenic both informs people about the state of the world and inspires them to take action.