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Eco Terrorism

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Eco Terrorism

Eco-terrorism is the term used to describe the violence in the interests of environmentalists. There have been cases when environmentalists have inflicted damage to the industrial factories, due to the fact that, they cause pollution and other environmental problems. According to Manning (2012), “Eco-terrorism can be defined as the act of violence or sabotage against person and property commits and support animal right activist.” There are some organizations that participate in it, such as, Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and Animal Liberation Front (ALF). These organizations managed to burn down a ski resort and blow up a laboratory among other things. On the other hand, some groups such as the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society are labeled as eco-terrorists although they do not commit such acts of violence against humans- they do not attempt to injure or kill people, but only provoke people through property. This has led to a debate that touches on whether or not to classify these actions as "terrorist" or not. The FBI has given the environmentalists a definition ‘the use or threatened use of violence of a criminal nature against innocent victims or property by an environmentally-oriented, sub national group for environmental-political reasons, or aimed at an audience beyond the target, often of a symbolic nature.’ John Lewis, a top FBI official says, ‘The number one domestic terrorism threat is the eco-terrorism, animal-rights movement.” Eco-Terrorists exploit direct action. This is a politically forced activity undertaken by individuals, groups, or governments to achieve political goals outside of regular social or political conducts. It can include non-violent and violent activities which target people, groups, or property. Direct action has been promoted by anarchists. A group calling itself the Olga Cell of the Informal Anarchist Federation International Revolutionary Front has claimed responsibility for the non-lethal shooting of a nuclear-engineering manager on the 7th May in Genoa, Italy. The same group sent a letter bomb to a Swiss pro-nuclear lobby group in 2011; endeavored to bomb IBM’s nanotechnology laboratory in Switzerland in 2010; and has ties with a group responsible for at least four bomb attacks on nanotechnology facilities in Mexico. Security authorities say that such eco-anarchist groups are forging stronger links. Eco-terrorist’s direct action is called ‘Ecotage’. This term is only referred within the context of the environment by the environmentalist’s movement. Some forms of Ecotage include, arson which is mostly used by ELF. They have attributed this tactic onto SUV dealerships, housing developments and chain stores. Also, bombing is an extreme form, in 1982 a radical ecologist, Chaim Nissim fired five rockets at Superphenix. Finally, tree spiking which involves hammering a metal rod into a tree trunk in order to prevent logging, with the intention of damaging the chainsaw or mill blades and may seriously injure the logger. This scheme was first used by EarthFirst! in 1984. These methods bring fear; they sometimes may conflict pain and injuries to the ‘enemy’ of the eco-terrorists hence, the reason for the alarm that they create to the people. Despite that, the Sierra Club and PETA are considered environmental activists, yet they have different approaches to getting their goals heard and achieved. Sierra Club is non-violent, they have their voices heard through fliers and speeches. Whereas, PETA is also non-violent but has created disruptions in society. The thought behind eco-terrorism rose from the radical environmentalism movement. They state that capitalism is the cause of the despoliation of the environment. They also believe that the society is at fault for the exhaustion that has been derived on Earth, and if society is not ensured it will surely lead to the degrading and devastation of the world. Eco-terrorists subscribe to the idea of biocentrism, which is portrayed as "a belief that human beings are just an ordinary member of the biological community" and that all living things should have rights and be worthy of protection enforced by the law. Eco-terrorism may not get as much attention from the media as suicide terrorists do, yet the do get some media for the effects that they try to achieve and there is a distinct difference between the two. The use of the word ‘eco’ exhibit this supposed paradox between the two movements, it demonstrates that in some way there is a clear dissimilarity and that not all environmentalists wish harm and are threatening towards people or a nation, such as most suicide terrorists do. Moreover, the mass media is a powerful tool, the opinion on a matter to determine the structure by which the public is given information. Researchers claim that ‘The mass media is an important factor to consider when evaluating current political phenomena because it provides a filter through which the ordinary American receives news of what is happening in the world’, stated Smith, in 2008. In conclusion, The motivation for committing such acts in the fight to save nature are very exclusive in that they can oblige educated, upper-middle class citizens to entrust acts of eco-terrorism in spite of concern for their own independence. What makes the crime of eco-terrorism so interesting, and at the same time confusing to criminal justice professionals, are the characteristics of eco-terrorists. As attacks become more frequent and violent, expect more media coverage on eco-terrorists to increase. Part of the reason for the growth of this violent expression and procedure is that the movement feels it has not made enough attention to the political change they had wished for. As James Inhofe, a Senate committee chairman declared, ‘Just like al-Qaeda or any other terrorist organization, ELF and ALF cannot accomplish their goals without money, membership and the media’.

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