Eco-Defense is Not Terrorism

Over the past couple of months, the government has arrested several activists, claiming they are members of the Earth Liberation Front and are responsible for a variety of actions against corporate and government installations. 

With the help of a mole and two creatures of the lowest order - snitches - six people were arrested in December (including one who tragically killed himself in his cell, and another, Stanislas Meyerhoff, who turned snitch) and three people were arrested last Friday.

All are facing very serious charges.  Four of the six have multiple 30-year indictments against them.  The three recently arrested are charged with conspiracy to bomb federal property.

The media, including tonight's CBS Evening News, has been fanning the flames, calling these people "eco-terrorists."  That's complete rubbish, a hyperbolic label used solely to arouse fears of violence and to sway public opinion.  CBS' broadcast even mentioned that one of the arrestees was at "a protest where a police officer died," making it sound like the arrestee is a kop killer. 
What they conveniently left out was that the officer had a heart attack and his death had nothing to do with the protest. 

The fact of the matter is eco-defense actions - including those for which these innocent individuals are being charged - are non-violent actions.  Both the Earth and Animal Liberation Fronts have strict operational guidelines, which include taking "all necessary precautions against harming any animal - human and nonhuman."  It is an inversion of logic that those who are destroying this planet - the government and corporations - are calling those who are trying to protect it "terrorists."

For information on how to support these prisoners and others, visit the Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network.

Comments

[Reece]

"With the help of a mole and two creatures of the lowest order - snitches" - Scott

You're a serious piece of slime, Scott. Honestly. I'd rather contribute something other than insults here, but you really have proven yourself nothing but a worthless scumbag. "Snitches". I'd call you a thug for such an anti-intellectual, insanely juvenile and ignorant label against people who help the police prosecute criminals, but that would just fuel your ego, since you obviously like to pretend that you're some sort of rebel, when, in reality, you're just an obnoxious, white suburbanite without a clue.

I'm glad these idiots from the ELF were brought in. It's definitely a good thing. You should check out "Penn and Teller's "Bullshit!" " sometime on HBO, generally it runs on the weekends. They did a special on PETA and ELF.

[scott]

Definition of snitch from the American Heritage Dictionary:

snitch (snĭch) Slang.

v.intr.

To turn informer: He snitched on his comrades.

n.

1. A thief.
2. An informer.

So now that I've proven I've used the correct word, what is your disagreement?

[Reece]

Informers on criminal activities are good. I guess to you they're bad because they don't follow the party line and do what they're told.

That was my point. The Ku Klux Klan could have used a guy like you, Scott. If they had, maybe they wouldn't have been riddled with so many "snitches", i.e. FBI informants.

[Sinjin von Hoogstraaten]

So according to you, Reece, if I snitched on you for driving 36 in a 35 zone, I'd be doing an honorable thing because afterall, driving over the speed limit is against the law thus making one who does so (without permission) a criminal.

The ELF members that AG Gonzalez just came down on, you must remember, are currently innocent of all crimes they are alleged to have committed. Now I could easily call you a thug for jumping to the conclusion that they are indeed criminals because I understand that in America it's 99.9% common to call someone a criminal before the Guilty sentence comes down... but that's not the way this country is supposed to be.

This country also shouldn't be a land where it's okay to pollute as much as one can get away with. This country shouldn't be a land where farms and forests should be turned into subdivisions with Starbucks and Wal-Mart filled stripmalls. This country should be a land where where the earth is preserved, where we try to live as cleanly as possible. But that's not so. So many corporations and elected govenment officials don't seem to give a damn. Speaking out against injustice is often a means to try but fail. Actions always speak louder than words. Had ELF been planning to physically hurt people, even the very worst people, then their actions would be nothing less than reprehensible. Terrorists don't care who they hurt or kill but ELF goes out of their way to make sure a single innocent person won't get so much as a scratch that doesn't even need a band-aid. ELF doesn't make people cower in their closets afraid to leave their homes for fear they might get killed if they get onto a train or walk into a mall. Alberto Gonzalez is the true thug for coming down on ELF as hard as he has. One question, Mr. Gonzalez: these people don't instill a sense of terror in anyone so aren't there more important things you could be doing??!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Now, I cannot condone breaking the law no matter what law it is. Used to be I wouldn't give a damn but then I got mature. That means that ELFs actions are illegal and if caught they should be prosecuted. But aside from the illegality I applaud them 110% for what they do. Signing a petition, writing a congressman doesn't do squat. But ELF's actions can indeed make people think. The more people agree with ELF's ideas, the more chance there is to help protect the Earth. If no actions are ever taken then issues stay hidden away for only some people to know and care about. Kind of like how zoos can be a good thing. Raising some animals in zoos gives kids a chance to see them and become interested in helping animals live, animals that might be near extinction or in danger situations in the world. Zoos can suck by stealing animals from their natural habitat but zoos hoepfully do more good than bad. ELF's actions maybe can put a few people out of a job, maybe cause a few people some headaches but their actions will ultimately do more good than bad by raising awareness. Without zoos, without ELF's actions - less awareness and what gets accomplished? Goddamn diddly squat, that's what.

So to snitch on ELF was good in a way because people shouldn't be breaking the law. Having rule of law and obeyance of it is important. But it's not the only thing that is important. If strictly following rule of law is all one cares about then that's sad and I suggest you consciously watch your speedometer extremely carefully since speeding is against the law.

But many laws don't allow people to take action for positive purposes so in a way snitching can be very bad such as with anyone snitching on non-human harming actions by ELF. Those actions ultimately will do more good than bad. Of course a law man like AG Gonzalez and Feds and pigs in uniform must uphold the law... but those breaking the law should respect the law while at the same time decide if it's better to break the law for the good of what they're trying to accomplish... and with ELF it's always better to break the law to carry out actions so long as no one gets physically harmed.

No one in their right mind should condone corporations' raping of the earth or the governments cooperation or approval. And no one in their right mind should think that signing your signature is all you should be able to do because that would be like fighting WWII with slingshots. Why fight to fail? Why not try harder? It looks like the snitch was the white, suburbanite without a clue... and perhaps the desire for more Wal-marts, paved over forests and farms, and cookie cutter subdivisions.

[Hank]

Somebody is suffering from overblown notions of their own importance. If you choose to go the route of civil disobedience you should be prepared to do some time in jail. If you aren't willing, then maybe the point you were trying to make wasn't that important after all.