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Sarah Gilman | Dec 22, 2008 01:20 PM

Back in 1998, the group Earth Liberation Front (a.k.a. ELF) set a series of fires at Vail ski resort in Colorado and caused $12 million in damage. Authorities at the time called it the most expensive "ecoterrorism" to date.

Burning stuff down is not an activity I personally condone (unless we're talking about Burning Man), but I think the term "arson" is more applicable to ELF's activities in Colorado and elsewhere. The group was protesting Vail's ongoing expansion into Canada Lynx habitat; they didn't kill or hurt anyone. Before people go haywire over misguided monkeywrenching in the West, they should consider what goes on in reverse in Brazil, according to a forthcoming report from Brazil's Catholic Land Commission detailed in the Guardian:

... at least 260 people, among them a Catholic bishop, live under the threat of murder because of their fight against a coalition of loggers, farmers and cattle ranchers.

Save the moniker eco-terrorist for someone who puts a hit on an activist for the work he does to protect rainforests and indigenous people.

 

intimidation is pervasive
begreen
begreen
Dec 30, 2008 12:24 AM
very true !

and if we're to be honest - threat of intimidation is real in the west even to this day. Consider wolf restoration, or the very real talk that takes place about what some folk would do to grazing or forest activists. it's real.

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