Ecoterrorism (Final)

 

Ecoterrorism (Final)

            Ecoterrorism is when “people or groups commit or threaten to commit violent acts against people or property in support of environmental causes.” (RUSI, 2022) Due to eco-terrorism being an underground and unregulated series of groups, there are no clear rules as to what a group is allowed to or not allowed to do. Because these are largely renegade or revolutionary group, federal law does not apply. There are two main groups within the United States that have caused our government and many corporations trouble over the last several decades.

             The Earth Liberation Front (ELF) was established in Brighton, England (1992). They believed criminal acts would further push their environmentalist agenda than peaceful protest. Their attacks were mainly focused on property, not people, to cause economic damage. They believed a rollback of industrialization would best preserve the environment. Mostly targeted research labs (primarily animal or GMO), multinational organizations, and the logging industry. (Leader and Probst, 2010)

            The Animal Liberation Front (ALF) emerged in United Kingdom (1976), and currently has presence in 40 countries around the world. Their core ideology is as follows: free animals from abuse, damage those profiting from the suffering and exploitation of animals, expose hidden cruelties against animals through non-violent actions and freeing of animals, and take all necessary precautions to prevent harm to animals or humans. Despite calls for nonviolence in their core ideology, they have claimed responsibility for arson and vandalism on animal research facilities, farms, restaurants, and other businesses considered harmful to animals (fur companies, mink farms, etc.). Additionally, there have been bombings, arson, and attacks that have resulted in injuries regardless of their promise to ensure human safety. (Counter Extremism Project, 2022)

            In the United States, often times, groups from these two would split off from the main groups and come together in smaller “cells” referred to as “the family” because they often shared discontent with the same company’s and had similar plans of action (Counter Extremism Project, 2022). Though the ELF was more adamant about not harming human lives than the ALF, there was nothing to stop individuals from separating and creating their own, more violent groups such as the Animal Rights Militia or the Animal Liberation Brigade. For example, the Animal Liberation Brigade (ALB) is open to violent and non-violent methods as long as results can be seen (CSIS 2022). The cells that would form out of these primary groups were often more militant and eager for change than leaders of the main groups. Especially because most people in these groups would often be socially progressive, they began to expand their like causes past the environment or animals, they began to also promote communism, LGBT+ acceptance, etc.

            The height of activity for these kinds of groups was during the 90’s and early 2000’s. After the terrorist attack on 9/11, the government started hankering down on domestic terrorists and remain vigilant today. Additionally, as technology has advanced exponentially, the likelihood of doing jail time for no real change is almost assured. While I don’t agree with using violence to affect change, I do admire the non-violent acts, primarily conducted by the ELF, used to stop or hinder irreversible environmental damage. Though it may be costly to enact, if we required sustainability rather than recommended it, things like eco-terrorism would not be a problem.