balducci+movie3

//The Forest for the Trees//

Written and directed by Maren Ade in Germany, 2003, // The Forest for the Trees // is a story about activist Judi Bari and her fight with loggers and the FBI. The film is about a woman leading activists in support of saving Northern California old growth and battling the logging companies. An extra twist of complexity is thrown in when, lead activist, Judi Bari’s car is bombed and instead of being labeled a victim she is labeled as a terrorist. This twist brings in a new argument about the government’s ploy to stop activists. The movie highlights how difficult it is for activists to save ancient trees and be heard because of corporation and government power.

The fight for rights and to save trees in the film is targeted towards activists and anti-government groups but also towards uneducated young adults. The problems come from logging and its contribution to land exhaustion and the current way of living in a resourced based economy. The logging problem cuts down trees which affects the air, water and ecosystems. It is not a matter of simply saving trees but also saving the jobs of the loggers. The government stepping in and stopping the activists introduces the problems of government control, corporation influence and FBI authority. It is mind blowing to think that 97% of the old growth forests have been cut down and with only 3% remaining, logging of this forest is still allowed. It was admirable when the activist group planned their “Redwood Summer” protest and organized a meeting with the county to go over the terms of the protest. It was surprising to hear that with such a peaceful approach, the group members, especially Judi, were still receiving death threats before the event. What didn’t help the cause to save the trees was some of the extreme methods used to protest before like human blockades and monkey wrenching. Creating a window for a worker or protestor to be injured or killed does not create any progress.

The struggle Judi fought with the logging companies and then later, the law, all for what is right for the earth, brings tears to the viewer’s eyes. The tears of sadness turn to tears of joy when even after her death her dream lives on through the lives of friends and fellow activists who continue her legal battle with the loggers and FBI. The way the case against Judi was constructed was appalling. No evidence was taken the day of the bombing but later at court the FBI was able to show various pieces of evidence against her. Most of which was falsified. Why the government would take an activist issue and turn it into a terrorist act, shows just how much of a pull corporations have on the government. It was frustrating to think that someone could be framed, imprisoned and separated from her child over trees and a corporate battle.

A majority of the film was based on the court case and the questioning of the evidence and not enough information on the forests and how important they are to the earth. There is a great need for a more constructive and effectual process for communicating the need for change and instituting the change. Somehow, state and national, forest and environmental groups need to acquire some political power and get some of their operations and core purposes legally bound in laws and acts. If this is done, whether or not over half an ancient forest can be cut down isn’t even questioned because it is protected by law.

There is a large organization called Save the Redwoods League that is working hard to save the redwood forests of the west coast. Currently there is estimated to be only 5% of the original 2 million acres left between California and Oregon. Save the Redwoods League has worked over the years to save over 180,000 acres. The group purchases land from various sellers and then donates or sells the land to state parks and government agencies. Through this process over 63 state parks and reserves have been saved or created. To donate and support this cause or to learn more about the organization, visit [|http://www.savetheredwoods.org].