Eco-Terrorism Threat Increasing in 2008-09
Earth First Target Warnings by International Agencies
Nov 10, 2008
Eco-terrorists associated with Earth First believe that reducing the Earth's population will help to protect the planet. A number of eco-terroists attacks during the past few months have been attributed to members of the organization. The expectation by international government intelligence agencies is that these acts will be done by a person acting alone while under the direction of Earth First.
Earth First Eco-Terrorism Aims 1979
Earth First was said to be inspired by Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, Aldo Leopold's land ethic and Edward Abbey's The Monkey Wrench Gang. A group of activists pledged, "No Compromise in Defense of Mother Earth. They felt that mainstream environmental activists had sold out during the Forest's Service's Roadless Area and Review Evaluation meetings, and envisioned a revolutionary movement to set aside multi-million acre ecological preserves all across the United States. Today Earth First includes groups in United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Netherlands, Belgium, Philippines, Czech Republic, India, Mexico, France, Germany, New Zealand, Poland, Nigeria, Slovakia, Ireland, Italy and Spain.
Eco-Terrorist Threats 2008-2009
The National Extremism Tactical Co-ordination Unit, (NETC) which collates intelligence and advice to police forces, has revealed that eco-activists are researching a list of target companies which they believe to be major polluters or are exacerbating the threat of climate change. According to the Guardian (11/9/08), the NETC has been monitoring blogs and internet traffic connected to a network of UK climate camps and radical environmental movement under the umbrella of Earth First. which has claimed responsibility for a series of criminal acts recently. Major companies in the UK which accused of being carbon polluters have been alerted as to what they have to do to avoid being attacked by eco-terrorist.
Eco-Terrorist Targets
Earth First have claimed responsibilities for vandalism in the UK which included attacks on seven German banks such as Deutsche Bank and Allianz AG because they apparently hold shares in UK Coal, which plans to build new coal=fired power plant stations.
Bombing of Canadian pipelines, with two explosions in one week, has raised worries of eco-terrorism in that region. According to the Christian Science Monitor (10/17/08), the Globe and Mail reported that the latest bombings took place near a transfer station owned by an energy company EnCana in norther British Columbia. It has been described as an act of sabotage.
John Thompson, president of the Mackenzie Institute, a Canadian think tank that studies political instability and organized violence issues, was quoted as saying that attacks like these have, "happened before and will happen again....the attacks appear to be 'amateurish'...they are gaining experience that could make them more dangerous in the future."
In the United States, the FBI currently has 180 ongoing eco-terror investigations and over the last several years has tied them to some 1,800 criminal acts. One investigation of an eco-terrorist arson crime that was committed on New Year's eve 1999, at Michigan State University resulted in the conviction of two terrorists, Frank Ambrose and Marie Mason, who were sentenced to eight years in prison and a fine of $4 million. However, this is not expected to deter other eco-terrorists.
The intention of eco-terrorists, such as Earth First, is to create an atmosphere of intimidation and fear aimed at businesses that are considered polluters of the planet. As the terrorists continue to become more sophisticated, it is expected that eco-crimes will continue to increase.
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