I am so saddened to hear of the young life cut short by what appears to be an accident. Robin, who died while defending "Esperanza" a tree marked for cutting by a logging industry which only prizes giant trees for their profitability. An Earth First!er, he had been putting his body on the line to defend trees from destruction on steep slopes in critical watershed areas. He and all Earthfirst!ers know that treesits are inherently dangerous. If only Robin could have saved Esperanza by sitting in a board meeting instead of on a platform 50 feet off the ground.

If only....

When we act to defend what we know to be precious and irreplacable, a casual act which is of no consequence to our personal lives barely counts. It is only when we put ourselves at some level of risk, do our actions start to mean something. Robin did this. I didn't know him, but he must have deeply cared for the big trees, and was willing to face physical discomfort, risk of arrest, serious injury, or, sadly even death.

I certainly hope that Roger Burch of Redwood Empire will spare "Esperanza" in Robin's memory.