Utah bill would make environmentalists like Tim DeChristopher “eco-terrorists”
Yesterday’s article on the sentencing of Marie Mason to prison, as a terrorist, for 22 years has made quite a buzz. Nearly everywhere the piece has been posted (news sites, environmental sites, Digg, punk forums) there has been a slew of angry comments (by “green” folks, no less) supporting her sentence and condemning illegal activity. Here are some samples:
* “Arson is not getting the environmental movement anywhere - that’s the kind of tactics that just turn people off from the message.”
* “You can’t burn down a building because you disagree.”
* “In the United States, one does not resort to fear and intimidation to make a point or to effect change, but that is what the ELF is all about: violence, arrogance and self-righteousness. It takes time and effort to effect change legally, because other people and other institutions may have different priorities and different viewpoints. Rather than engaging those people and institutions with reason in broad daylight, ELF chooses to engage them with fire and violence in the middle of the night.”
[Oops, that last one is actually a news release quote from the government. It seems that that federal prosecutors and mainstream environmental groups are using the same talking points.]
The recurring message goes something like this: Marie Mason broke the law. She used arson and economic sabotage as political tactics. She’s an extremist. If you protest the right way, though, you don’t have anything to worry about. The government is only going after the radicals.
Here’s the deal folks: naming names, condemning “radicals,” and pledging loyalty oaths didn’t protect anyone during the Red Scare, and it’s not going to protect environmental activists now.
A perfect example of this: A Utah lawmakers is promising to introduce new “eco-terrorism” legislation. His target? It’s not the Earth Liberation Front, Animal Liberation Front, or some shadowy underground group. He’s openly, proudly targeting mainstream environmentalists.
He points to people like Tim DeChristopher, the University of Utah student who disrupted an oil and gas auction by bidding on parcels of land.
Noel [the legislator] said stopping a legal oil lease is no different than “burning down a man’s cattle operation — eco-terrorism.” DeChristopher “took millions of dollars away from us, and he’s laughing at us. It’s not right. It’s not fair.”
This isn’t an isolated example. When incendiary devices were left at the home of a California researcher, the government recklessly blamed it on animal rights activists. The Humane Society of the United States donated money to an “eco-terrorist” witch hunt in order to distance itself from any illegal activity. And you know what happened? It didn’t protect them from industry groups.
I never discuss tactics on this site or in my speaking events. I never talk about the efficacy or morality of direct action, sabotage, arson, or violence. And that’s for one reason: When it comes to the government and corporate campaign to label activists as terrorists, tactics don’t matter.
These people are hitting ELF activists, Greenpeace and Animal Planet with the same, sweeping label. It’s a coordinate campaign to instill fear and chill dissent, and it’s growing every day.
The only way the environmental and animal rights movements are going to make it through this is if mainstream groups stop blaming activists for their repression, stop repeating the government sound bites, and start fighting back.
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To read about the green scare and what it is, go here: http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/green-scare/
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- tags:
- Green, Environment, Animal Videos and News, Terrorism, 9 more + add
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- animalia_libero
- added this
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OMG!! 22 years for disrupting an oil auction?? WTF??
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I had a feeling it would come to this. It will come to the point that even people who arrange environmental boycotts, peaceful marches, petitions, etc. will be considered terrorists seeking to take away profits from corporations. That is why I am outraged by the Homegrown Terrorism Act because it is vague enough to be abused to place a domestic terrorist label on anyone who conducts cilvil disobedience in this country. It is chilling. And while I do not condone violence or actions such as arson to get a point across, I certainly do not condone the sweeping undemocratic unAmerican actions of those who wish to use that as a way to take away all of our freedoms of assembly, expression, and speech. It is McCarthyism all over again. Well I know one thing, I'm not changing anything I do to stand up for this planet. As for this "bill" in Utah, is there anyone I can write to regarding my dissent against it?
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They're trying to make any anti-corporate/government action illegal. Once they do, we won't be able to speak out against their actions worth shit. And at the point, if we really do care for our liberties, our only choice left would be to wage a civil war. But by that time, Obama's standing militia will already be in play.
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- cerealforeal
- 9 months ago
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this is more of the "if you don't believe exactly as we do, then you are to be eliminated" tactic that has been used by everyone from the muslim extremists to the bush administration. they have the same thought processes and are equally as dangerous.
any disruption of their 'rights' is punishable to the maximum allowed by law. -
OK, I am pretty easy going and fairly pro government, but this is freaking ridiculous. If no law is broken then this is exactly the kind of tactics that should be employed. I really hope this gets voted down because it is almost criminal that it is even brought up.
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free speech, the right to organize and demonstrate peacefully: these are things worth fighting for - by any means necessary.
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- unimatrix0
- 9 months ago
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My friend lost work for a couple of weeks because of this kid. So did a whole lot of good people. If you don't like oil. Don't use it. I'm sure you can go without but I drive to work so I'm quite fond of oil. Oil will be here forever. Face it. Even if we started using solar panels on every house what would deliver the panels? A solar paneled truck. Ha. I'd like to see it. As far as animals go I'm glad you people care but hurt people over animals? People who hurt animals are just ignorant. People who do research on animals do it for the better of science.
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- Mikeysfake1
- 9 months ago
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Typical of Utah. Those damn conservatives.
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As the founding Fathers said...it's your RESPONSIBILITY to probe and protest government.
Government feeds itself on tax dollars, and tax dollars come from consumption. Consuming the resources. Burning them, drilling them, hauling them, selling them.
The people who are the REAL terrorists are those who care not for the future, neither for the children nor the planet. Those who would not maintain, preserve and protect the earth... THEY are the terrorists.
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- handibaby_tgdallas
- 9 months ago
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Did we all seemingly forget that this person committed ARSON?
Yes, I understand that they have a decent cause.
Does that mean I get to go and burn down homes or murder people because I'm in the right?
Uhhhh, no, it doesn't.
Civil rights and civil disobedience are NOT the same as BURNING SOMETHING DOWN. That'd be a crime.
Plus, she burned down a fucking genetics research lab at a university, that's hardly heroic.
21 years IS harsh, but she SHOULD fry for burning down a fucking building.
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it looks like the auction that Tim DeChristopher disrupted will be abandoned by new Sec of the Interior Ken Salazar! Win! I thought that Tim's action was nothing short of genius, but it goes to show that the best way to not just protest but win is to change the administration :)
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Actually she admitted committing multiple arsons in several states over a couple years. It was only a matter ot time before some one was killed. Unfortunately many earth rights people seem to be just as rigid, selfrighteous and down right scary as the terrorists the goverment compares them too.
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Due to recent legislation it is currently illegal to boycott any specific corporation. It goes along with this new "eco/homeland" terrorist bullshit.
Keep investigating vegans! That's where you'll find murderers!!!
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- TopScruffy
- 9 months ago
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good. sometimes those eco extreamists take things too far.
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- RoBot_rOcKer
- 9 months ago
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Tim prevented other people from doing their own thing. If he were boycotting, that is one thing. But he prevented a legal oil lease from occurring.
