Comments on: Twenty-Five Years of Eco-Terrorism

By: Ben

Ben — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 02:51:40 +0000

Re: Yawn
On the image, you got me. Mea Cupla.
Second, I don’t state that ELF has been around for 25 years; the headline reads “25 Years of Eco-Terrorism”. I said this because I had ELF/ALF activity back to 1984, twenty-four years ago. The organizations are related, and I do think the rounding in the headline is ok, since we humans like those for whatever reason.
Third, I have to say, I couldn’t readily research the integration of ALF and ELF; the FBI treats them as related organizations, and the SPLC brief freely integrates the actions of the two. Apologies if I handled this in a way that bothered you.
And, finally, I think you misread my “way to stir up public support” comment. You see, there’s a big difference in accomplishing your goals (which very apparently happened) and receiving popular support. I feel certain that popular support is going to be something that evades any movement using these sorts of tactics for too long.

In all sincerity, I appreciate your feedback; the image being misplaced especially is the sort of thing that’s important to know about. But do keep in mind that my focus is on presenting short bites of news in a humorous or offbeat format; the sort of detail you obviously are familiar with and would like to see would serve to complicate the matter beyond a format where it could be easily presented.

By: yawn

yawn — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:05:12 +0000

Do your homework, Ben. First, the ELF image you use here is from the late ’70s militant group Environmental Life Force, not the Earth Liberation Front. Two totally different groups. Second, the Earth Liberation Front has been around for 16 years, not 25 as your article states; they began as an off-shoot from the British wing of Earth First! in 1992. Third, the 1984 action you reference was not an ELF action (since ELF didn’t exist at the time), but solely an ALF action. Fourth, that ALF action did indeed “stir up public support,” leading to the cessation of federal funding to the horrific head injury experiments on baboons, the closure of the lab, and the firing of the head veterinarian. You can see the experiments here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=B6W_hL_gyJo

By: Q

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:32:19 +0000

Ben, you can’t possibly be serious when you write the ELF is America’s “most successful paramilitary organization.”

Let’s put the ELF up against Blackwater and see who wins.

By: William

William — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:51:09 +0000

The word “Stupid” comes to mind. Violence ultimately did not work for Hitler, or any other despot. When you try to suppress others with violence, you only fuel their resolve.

I am all for saving the environement, but violence is criminal activity that needs to be punished with criminal prosecution.

One of these days ELF is going to hurt someone. They say they won’t. How do you keep an uncontrolled fire from hurting someone? ALF can’t say they haven’t hurt anyone anymore since the latest UCLA home attacke where they hit a man.

Violence leads to — more violence.

By: supporter

supporter — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:26:31 +0000

“actions like this cause me to consider Newton’s Third Law, and how much harder the job of the rest of us will be when extremists are running wild.”

does nobody understand what’s being done here?

i don’t doubt that im among very few people who watched the news last night with a smile on my face. these people (ELF) are only targeting those who are already bringing harm to animals/the enviornment which can’t defend itself. in my opinion, no one finds themselves to be the target of the attacks without fully deserving it. the monetary damage that the ALF/ELF causes is nothing compared to the things that are being done to animals, and in turn the bodies of all who eat them, and the earth, which-you know, kind of effects all of us….