Daryl, the tree, and the garden

Earlier this year, Richard Bangs Adventures traveled to Rwanda to cover a story on water reclamation projects and how they can help save the mountain gorilla habitat. Daryl Hannah joined us there, and we came to know her as a sincere and thoughtful environmentalist, willing to put her fame in play for causes she believed in. In the last few weeks a local community issue in south central Los Angeles boiled over into headlines, and again Daryl became part of the story. Richard Bangs talked with her about this latest cause, her global perspective, and her reflections on the mountain gorillas of Rwanda in the accompanying video.

SANTA MONICA, Calif – Few there are who would venture to the ends of the earth for a cause. Daryl Hannah is one such knight.

I met Daryl a few months ago at a reception for the Environmental Media Association, the non-profit that educates and encourages the media to incorporate green messages in feature films and television shows.

I mentioned that we were setting out in a matter of days to install a cistern in a drought-affected region of Rwanda on the edge of the mountain gorilla sanctuary, a project we were undertaking in coordination with the UN-designated World Water Day. I teasingly asked if she might want to join, as her involvement could only heighten attention and awareness.

To my utter surprise, Daryl said yes, and a few days later she was winging her way to Africa. She didn't care what class of service she flew, that she would have no handlers, that we would be bumping about on the worst roads in the world, and crawling through mud and stinging nettles — she only cared about the cause, and the fact that she might be able to make a difference.

So, it was not astonishing to me when I ventured down to the urban farm in south central Los Angeles a week ago and found Daryl on a vigil to help keep this little patch of paradise from being paved. As we walked around the perimeter of the 14-acre garden there were hand-painted signs on the fence that accused those who sought development of being odious. Daryl tore them down  whenever she saw them. "We cannot succeed by making personal attacks... we can only come to resolution by trying to find solutions that work for all sides."  I found this attitude enlightened, and fully expected her sway and outlook would carry the day.

Two days later Daryl was plucked from the walnut tree where she had slept in protest for three weeks, and arrested. All the farmers were evicted. And bulldozers began their plow.

Yet when I saw Daryl in Santa Monica soon afterward she was still hopeful, still reaching out to the media, still seeking solutions. She is one who not only thinks globally and acts locally, but she thinks locally and acts globally, believing that all environmental causes are interconnected, and that all justify "gorilla" (sic) tactics in a purpose-driven adventure to help the planet, its people, and all living things.

Other resources:

• Video documentary on South Central Farm
• South Central Farmers organization 
• Daryl Hannah visits the mountain gorillas