As long as it's an individual choice and it makes you feel better, I see nothing wrong with hugging a tree. The impression I got from reading the article, was that the guy wasn't hugging the tree to save it. He was trying to communicate with it, or more likely, feel the spiritual essence of the tree....the kind of thing Indian medicine men used to do.
It's weirdo, that's for sure. I would be willing to bet that fellow is a city slicker, weekend tree hugging warrior.
I can try to understand the frustration lumberjacks feel toward these folks...it interferes with their livelihood. At least in the case of this article, it seems to me more of a New Age thing, than a political agenda.
Les
