An ELF with convictions
Published Thu, Mar 6 2008 4:23 PM
Two of them, according to the Seattle Times. The newspaper still has a hard time calling it terrorism though. The article begins with a sympathetic tone too…
TACOMA — A 32-year-old violin teacher from California was found guilty this morning of two counts of arson for the 2001 fire at the University of Washington's Center for Urban Horticulture.
A federal jury found that Briana Waters, a former Olympia resident, was among a group of ecosaboteurs who torched the center in the predawn hours of May 21, 2001, causing about $1.5 million in damage. The center was later rebuilt at a cost of about $7 million.
Waters faces at least five years in prison for each count of arson.
So let's get this straight. It's important for us to know that the felonious ELF was a violin teacher. Also, it's not terrorism, it's ecosabotage.
This is all because a few ELFs (shouldn't that be elves?) made a mistake about what a UW researcher was doing. Apparently, committing arson, to burn down a research laboratory is justified if you only think that the researchers are genetically engineering trees. It's environmentally friendly after all to burn down a research lab to prevent something that nature does all the time anyway (the co-mingling of genes from plant species happens all the time thanks to bacterial plasmids).
The Earth Liberation Front claimed responsibility for the fire because it believed, mistakenly, that a UW researcher was genetically engineering trees.
Meanwhile, as jurors were getting confused about whether there was a consipracy involved, and whether or not the arson used an "explosive device" (the firebomb that was used to set the fires) in a "violent crime" (since when is arson not violence?), other ELFs were claiming responsibility for more arsons.
On Monday, the jurors' first full day of deliberations, arsonists destroyed three multimillion-dollar homes in Snohomish County and damaged a fourth in what federal officials are investigating as crimes that may be linked to the Earth Liberation Front.
Something has to be done about the terrorists from Rivendell!
The trial was the first to result from a lengthy federal investigation into a series of high-profile arsons at a ski resort, wild-horse corral, a slaughterhouse, timber-company offices, the UW and other targets. The militants who carried out these actions claimed credit on behalf of the Earth Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front.
Eighteen people were eventually indicted on charges involving one or more of attacks, as well as what federal prosecutors claim was a broader conspiracy in attacks that caused tens of millions of dollars.
Twelve of those indicted opted to strike plea deals, with sentences ranging from probation to 13 years in prison. Four others fled and a fifth — Bill Rodgers, an alleged ringleader — committed suicide after being taken into custody.
And yet the jury couldn't agree that a conspiracy was going on?
Bruce Bare, dean of the UW's College of Forest Resources, said he was pleased with the verdict.
"Somebody was held accountable. It will never cover the emotional anguish that some of our folks suffered," Bare said. "It impacted a lot of students because of the research that was lost. It effected faculty and staff even to this day."
So the violin teacher is looking at ten years in prison instead of forty. Maybe while she's in jail I should go visit so she can teach me to play a microscopic violin in sympathy for her. At least there's small justice for the victims of ecoterrorism. Even so, the war on Rivendell continues. I hope they catch the ELFs that burned down the street of dreams.
At least "officials" still know terrorism when it happens, even if the Seattle Times doesn't…
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Ben Paris responded with:
 | You contradict yourself. You were right when you referred to this incident for what it is: sabotage, not terrorism. Then you end your post calling it terrorism instead of sabotage.
This isn't terrorism. There is no such thing as ecoterrorism. ELF commits acts of ecologically driven acts of sabotage. This was arson, that's it, just arson.
But comparing those acts to sabotage to 9/11 is insane and insulting to the victims of real terrorism. The term "ecoterrorism" belittles true acts of terrorism and the term should be gutted and discarded from usage out of respect. |
Perri Nelson responded with:
 | I don't contradict myself. I'm consistent in calling it terrorism. The Seattle Times calls it sabotage, as do you. The Justice Department calls it terrorism, as do I. I guess it's hard to inject a detectable tone of sarcasm into the printed word.
If you read the linked articles, you would see the distinctions. Here's a quote from one...
No injuries were reported in the three-alarm fire. A terrorism task force which includes police, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating.
I'm afraid we'll have to agree to disagree on the terminology. It's my belief that politically motivated arson is terrorism just as bombing a recruiting center in the middle of the night is as happened in New York recently. |
ablur responded with:
 | Terrorism is the act of persuading others to change through violence and threats. Creating change not for value but to stop the threats.
Fear is the key here. Fear of losing life or finance is till fear. All these acts use fear and violence to attempt to change others. Simply put Terror.
Sabotage is to throw a wrench in the works or gum up the process. Threats do not come with it. It is a form of negative re-enforcement to effect change. The act is generally small and minor but can occasionally fail catastrophically.
You are right on the mark Perri. |
Patrick Cunningham responded with:
 | Right wing radicals seem to never make headlines. Why? Because these financial fascists are providing much of America's
budding capitalists with daily bread and butter, which in turn ensures their grip on power. The horrific destruction of mindless
consumption (corporate fascism) destroys
earth, lives, and dreams daily. ELF chooses
a less subtle or deceitful approach when expressing opinions and policy. |
Perri Nelson responded with:
| Fascism is defined as "A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism."
Are these the principles upon which conservatism is based? Somehow, I don't think so.
Modern day conservatism is based upon the idea that smaller government is more supportive of freedom than larger government. You will find very few true conservatives advocating state control of the economy, or a strong, centralized government. These seem to be more the policies espoused by the Democratic party.
As for your statement that "(corporate fascism) destroys earth, lives and dreams daily", nothing could be further from the truth. Our current free and capitalist society has raised the standard of living for the world, lifting people out of poverty and squalor. Our air is cleaner, our water purer than it was more than 100 years ago. These are facts.
Socialism destroys lives. It makes dependent slaves out of the "poor" that come to need it's bloated, outrageously expensive entitlement programs. Socialism encourages sloth and punishes entrepreneurship and accomplishment.
Finally, ELF doesn't choose a less deceitful approach. The ELFs are cowards commiting arsons and firebombings in the middle of the night, skulking in the shadows. ELF hasn't done anything constructive, only destructive.
This isn't to say that all corporations are good, or that they have the environment as a noble goal. They're driven by profit. Even so, many responsible corporations have come to realize that there's more profit to be made sustaining the environment than merely raping it.
ELF chooses terror rather than reason or engaging the public in debate. ELF would limit our socioeconomic choices. ELF would have us all live lives of squalor, in primitive "pristine" conditions. ELF would bring us all down to the level of the beasts rather than offer opportunities to people to live better lives.
They are an evil "non-organization" comprised of social anarchists, socialists, and anti-capitalist terrorists pretending to be environmentalists. There is nothing whatsoever good to say about them. |
Perri Nelson responded with:
| Except that one of the terrorists teaches people how to play the violin. |
Patrick Cunningham responded with:
| Yes, I agree "the air is cleaner, the water purer than it was 100 years ago". Why was the air and water so dirty 100 yrs. ago? I say due to unbridled industrialism. Cleaning up the mess you made in the first place is like the Rockefellers donating libraries to the public with money they acquired through cheap labor, brutal working conditions, and union busters in their polluting factories. The hypocracy is nauseating.
It's been sometime since this "free" country
has been governed by liberals or conservatives. Corporations control the delusionary consumer herd of today.
And I submit that those lowly "beasts" enjoy
more freedom and worldy pleasure than elitist humans dare to admit......if we give them the chance. God forbid that humans are the center of the universe, as so many people wish.
Joseph McCarthy smiles in his grave whenever the word "terrorist" gushes forth like vommit from the fearmongering lips of
frightened capitalists across the earth.
And finally, the well stated description of "fascism" needs only a person posessing a few grains of imagination to realize that this country now is flirting with this aggressive brutal uncaring system of power.
I admit we are not there yet. A November win by the Democrats will be one step closer. |
Perri Nelson responded with:
| Thank you for illustrating my point so well. |
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