Goodbye tree sitters

The tree sitters have finally left their perches at the University of California here in Berkeley (Cal). They have been there protesting for 22 months (almost as long as the presidential campaign). Most are from out-of-state, it seems, and their interest has been to draw attention to themselves rather than to work for the environment either of the planet or the safety and well-being of the students. It has been an abusive action on their part.

The trees that they claimed to want to protect were old oak trees. Yes, wonderful, beautiful trees. The University wanted to eliminate 48 trees from a grove of over 100 to make room for new, regulation athletic facilities for the students. Every one of these trees had been planted by the university, and the university had plans to plant two new trees for every one that it cut down. But no! The hero tree sitters have insisted that these trees not be cut. It was more emotion than logic; more romanticism than educative concern… more a thirst for media exposure than any concern for justice, reason, environmental or student welfare.

So, after all the court methods have been exhausted, and all the expenses thrown on to the university, the appeals courts finally lifted the restraining orders and the police began to order the sitters down two days ago. When they again refused to come down, the trees were ordered to be cut and scaffolds placed up for the sitters safety. One by one they came down, made their last statements before being arrested and taken away. The last tree sitter came back to the ground of reality last night.

The media loved it.

My question: who is going to pay for this? the students? their families? the taxpayers? This was abusive conduct, but we have seen a lot of this lately… and poor Berkeley gets the bad name.