What Is Your Tree?
Julia Butterfly Hill is an American activist and environmentalist. She lived in a 180-foot tall, 600-year-old California Redwood tree for 738 days. Hill lived in the tree, affectionately known as “Luna” to prevent loggers of the Pacific Lumber Company from cutting it down. She was awarded the Courage of Conscience award October 31, 2002. Julia was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
UBBT Coach Tom Callos interviewed Julia recently. You can hear the recording by going to the ubbt site.
What Is Your Tree?
That is the question that Julia asks. What do you believe deeply and passionately about? Anything? Are you willing to actually DO something instead of TALK about it?
Your Tree does not have to be something tied to the environment.
MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers)
Candy Lightner founded MADD in 1980 after her daughter, Cari, was killed by a repeat drunk driving offender. Cindy Lamb—whose daughter, Laura, became the nation’s youngest quadriplegic at the hands of a drunk driver—soon joined Candy in her crusade to save lives.
Susan G Komen Foundation
Susan G. Komen fought breast cancer with her heart, body and soul. Throughout her diagnosis, treatments, and endless days in the hospital, she spent her time thinking of ways to make life better for other women battling breast cancer instead of worrying about her own situation. That concern for others continued even as Susan neared the end of her fight. Moved by Susan’s compassion for others and committed to making a difference, Nancy G. Brinker promised her sister that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever.
Andy Mandell “Mr. Diabetes”.
I had the honor of meeting Andy in Greensboro, AL. A fellow martial artist, Andy, at age 62, just completed walking the perimeter of the United States in order to raise awareness about diabetes and how it can be prevented by a healthy lifestyle. He is the founder of the Defeat Diabetes Foundation, and the author of a curriculum that I will be using at LRMA and in the local schools to educate the public about diabetes.
These are examples of ordinary people that have found their Tree and taken action in a life changing, history changing way. We can’t all make such a huge impact, but we can take steps to change ourselves, our family, our community.
Green Belt and What Is Your Tree
While the concept of finding your Tree goes way beyond the environment, we are going to use it for the title of our Green Belt Project. All students at LRMA are required to complete this project as part of their training to become a Black Belt.
Step One
Pick a subject related to the environment that interests you.
Step Two
Do some research, look into the problem, what caused it, what can be done.
Step Three
Write a report so that you can share with your instructors and fellow students what you have learned.
Step Four
Take action! Do something to make a positive change in for our environment. Start with yourself and your family. Then, how about showing what true leadership is, and make a change at your school, your place of business, the community.
Michelle Rae 