And Muffins. The background from Zombie:
In 2006, the University of California announced plans to build an athletic training center next to Memorial Stadium on the U.C. Berkeley campus. But the construction of the new building would entail the removal of several trees currently occupying the proposed site. A cry to "Save the trees!" spread throughout the local activist community, and a small protest movement quickly arose to stop the training center. Although everything the university does elicits some kind of protest, this one, as trivial as it might have first appeared, soon became a cause célèbre.
On December 2, 2006, several protesters climbed into the trees to "occupy" them as a way to prevent their destruction (even though there was and remains no imminent plan to cut them down, since the construction is being challenged in court). And since that day, these "tree-sitters" (as they have come to be called) have remained in the trees, becoming celebrities in the process.
The saga continues, June 17, 2008:
As mentioned in an earlier zombietime report, a ragtag group of protesters have for the last year and a half been “occupying” a small grove of oak trees near the U.C. Berkeley campus, in an attempt to prevent the university from building a new student athletic facility on the site. For unknown reasons, the university never evicted the protesters, who had taken to living in the trees themselves. That is, until today, June 17, 2008, when without warning the university began to dismantle the illegal “tree-sit.”.
There is at least one stubborn tree-sitter who refused to come down:
The sitters had constructed an insanely perilous aerie towering far above the highest branches. It was occupied by a protester with the too-perfect name Dumpster Muffin (yes, her name really is Dumpster Muffin), who would go into convulsions whenever one of the dismantlement-minded arborists neared her outpost. She’d screech and scream and shake the platform violently, forcing her opponents (who were dangling from a cable attached to a crane) to back off, fearing she’d martyr herself by plummeting to the ground rather than be captured. Using this technique repeatedly, Dumpster Muffin (seen here warily eyeing the crane in the distance) successfully defended her perch, to cheers from supporters down below. (Photo credit, Zombie):
She said she's been sitting in those trees for seven months. Check out this video. (H/T: Ringo the Gringo, commenting at zomblog)
I would like to take this opportunity to thank my ancestors for settling in Alabama.
Protest Shooter also has some great pics and commentary. And video!
Sit in a tree for 7 months or shower and get a job... hmmm tough decision...
Posted by: Scott Allan | June 20, 2008 at 03:08 PM
Have you decided yet? I've got quite a few trees in my yard, never occurred to me to live in one. Of course if Obama is elected President that might be my best bet. I could save a boat load of money on utility bills. And soap.
Posted by: Julie | June 20, 2008 at 03:38 PM
They should do a surprise visit with a big saw! She obviously needs medical attention! That's one big nut!
Posted by: linda | July 03, 2008 at 06:29 PM
The nut finally came down from the tree. And she's a HERO! She needs some serious medical attention. I've been called a nut, and worse, but Dumpster Muffin has set a whole new standard!
Posted by: Julie | July 03, 2008 at 07:43 PM