SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA. Julia Butterfly, 24 has gone out on a limb for her beliefs. She has spent two years living in a giant redwood tree in Northern California, 180 feet above the ground. "I'm trying to save this tree," she says.
Butterfly is a member of Earth First!, an environmental protection group. She and her group are going head to head with a lumber company, which owns the forest. The company wants to chop down the 1000-year-old trees and sell the wood. To protect the tree, Butterfly stays in it around the clock. Only 3% of the redwood forests remain, according to Butterfly. "The world needs to know that the magnificent redwood forests are almost gone. I'm taking a stand for life in its beautiful form."
Butterfly puts up with horrible weather. Powerful storms often hit her tree house. She pulls up all her food with a rope. She cannot bathe. Her only convenience is a cell phone to keep in touch with her family.
Butterfly plans to stay in the tree as long as she can. What does she look forward to back in civilization? "I'd like to take a hot shower," she says.
Idioms and Expressions:
- go out on a limb---do something that has dangerous consequences
- go head to head (with someone)---argue or fight (with someone)
- around the clock---continuously without a break
- take a stand---clearly and loudly declare your point of view
- put up with someone or something---endure or tolerate someone or something
- spend time doing sth---use time to do something
- chop something down---cut sth down usually a tree
- according to someone or sth---as said by someone or something
- keep in touch (with someone)---communicate regularly (with someone)
- look forward to (doing) something*---anticipate (doing something with pleasure
- take a shower or bath---wash yourself in the shower or bath
Answer The Questions
About the story.................................................................
- Why is Butterfly in the tree?
- How much time has she spent living there?
- What is Earth First? Why is it going head to head with a lumber company?
- According to Butterfly, why is it important to take a stand?
- What problems does she have to put up with in the tree house?
- Why does she need a cell phone?
- Do you think Butterfly has the right to stay in the tree? Why or why not?
About you........................................................................
- Which social or political causes are important to you? Which one(s) would you go out on a limb?
- Do you care about the environment groups in your country? What are their goals?
- tell about the time when you put up with an inconvenience such as horrible weather or no electrical power.
- Imagine that you were living in a tree for a year. What would be difficult to put up with? What would you look forward to? What would you spend time doing?
