Eco-terror
Watercolor-Keith G. Tidball.
Watercolor-Keith G. Tidball.
Night tree
Mixed media- Keith G. Tidball
Mixed media- Keith G. Tidball
Eco-terrorism
Green Security Project
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In the summer of 1998, Louis Freeh, Director of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI), traveled to Europe where he addressed a group of
people involved in animal and resource-based industries. Freeh was
asked about eco- and animal rights terrorism in the United States. Eco-
and animal rights terrorism, said Freeh, was not an issue, not a priority
and not on the agency's "radar screen.”
Less than a year later, on February 4, 1999, Freeh addressed the
Senate Appropriations Committee for the Departments of Commerce,
Justice, State and the Judiciary Subcommittee. His 17-page statement
included the following:
"Domestic terrorist groups represent interests that span the full political
spectrum, as well as social issues and concerns. ... The current domestic
terrorist threat primarily comes from right-wing extremist groups, Puerto
Rican extremist groups and special interest extremists ... Special interest
or single issue extremists advocate violence and/or criminal activity with
the goal of effecting change in policy vis à vis one specific aspect of
society. The most recognizable single issue terrorists at the present time
are those involved in the violent animal rights, anti-abortion, and
environmental protection movements. Each of these issues evoke
strong emotions within society at large, and violent aberrants continue to
tarnish the legitimate public debate on each issue. ... Animal rights
extremists continue to pose significant challenges for law enforcement as
well. Various arsons and other incidents of property destruction have
been claimed by the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and the Earth
Liberation Front (ELF). For example, on October 19, 1998, the Vail Ski
Resort suffered a series of arson attacks that damaged or destroyed
eight separate structures and resulted in approximately $12 million in
property damage. In a communiqué issued to various news agencies in
Colorado, ELF claimed responsibility for the arsons in retaliation for the
resort's plans to expand its ski areas. The group claimed that the
proposed expansion would destroy the last remaining habitat in Colorado
for the lynx."
With the public still reeling from the animal rights/eco-arson fire in Vail,
Colorado, animal rights extremists struck the Pipkorn Mink Ranch in
Powers, Michigan, releasing over 5,000 mink. The terrorists' trail led
directly from fires in Vail to mink in Michigan. Recently, there has been a
spate of ecoterror incidents in the US and around the globe, including:
Domestic terrorism affects small family farms, food producers, research
scientists, loggers, miners, conservation and other law enforcement
personnel, and the recreation industry. With increasing complaints about
these illegal acts and the potential risks now facing people who work or
recreate in “the outdoors,” government agencies are grappling with how
to approach this new kind of crime. Meanwhile, academia must make an
effort to understand why industrialized society is experiencing this
negative symptom.
Investigation (FBI), traveled to Europe where he addressed a group of
people involved in animal and resource-based industries. Freeh was
asked about eco- and animal rights terrorism in the United States. Eco-
and animal rights terrorism, said Freeh, was not an issue, not a priority
and not on the agency's "radar screen.”
Less than a year later, on February 4, 1999, Freeh addressed the
Senate Appropriations Committee for the Departments of Commerce,
Justice, State and the Judiciary Subcommittee. His 17-page statement
included the following:
"Domestic terrorist groups represent interests that span the full political
spectrum, as well as social issues and concerns. ... The current domestic
terrorist threat primarily comes from right-wing extremist groups, Puerto
Rican extremist groups and special interest extremists ... Special interest
or single issue extremists advocate violence and/or criminal activity with
the goal of effecting change in policy vis à vis one specific aspect of
society. The most recognizable single issue terrorists at the present time
are those involved in the violent animal rights, anti-abortion, and
environmental protection movements. Each of these issues evoke
strong emotions within society at large, and violent aberrants continue to
tarnish the legitimate public debate on each issue. ... Animal rights
extremists continue to pose significant challenges for law enforcement as
well. Various arsons and other incidents of property destruction have
been claimed by the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and the Earth
Liberation Front (ELF). For example, on October 19, 1998, the Vail Ski
Resort suffered a series of arson attacks that damaged or destroyed
eight separate structures and resulted in approximately $12 million in
property damage. In a communiqué issued to various news agencies in
Colorado, ELF claimed responsibility for the arsons in retaliation for the
resort's plans to expand its ski areas. The group claimed that the
proposed expansion would destroy the last remaining habitat in Colorado
for the lynx."
With the public still reeling from the animal rights/eco-arson fire in Vail,
Colorado, animal rights extremists struck the Pipkorn Mink Ranch in
Powers, Michigan, releasing over 5,000 mink. The terrorists' trail led
directly from fires in Vail to mink in Michigan. Recently, there has been a
spate of ecoterror incidents in the US and around the globe, including:
Domestic terrorism affects small family farms, food producers, research
scientists, loggers, miners, conservation and other law enforcement
personnel, and the recreation industry. With increasing complaints about
these illegal acts and the potential risks now facing people who work or
recreate in “the outdoors,” government agencies are grappling with how
to approach this new kind of crime. Meanwhile, academia must make an
effort to understand why industrialized society is experiencing this
negative symptom.