Self defense Essay Example for Free

Self defense Essay Representing a group that is fighting in self defense, for preservation of our species, and all species of life on earth is usually the main goal of an eco-terrorist. Eco-terrorists operate through self-sufficient units, and are unconstrained by geographic boundaries. They are very difficult to permeate and stop. Unlike racial hate groups with membership requirements, an eco-terror activist can become a member of the eco-terror movement simply by carrying out an illegal action on its behalf. In recent years, an increasing amount of eco-terrorism activity has been carried out, and the amplified nature of these attacks suggests that the actions and beliefs behind the groups are not coming to an end anytime soon. II. Definition Eco-terrorism has numerous definitions. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, eco-terrorism is defined as the acts of terrorism, violence or sabotage committed in support of ecological, environmental, or animal rights causes against persons or their property. The term itself can refer to the use of violence of a criminal nature against innocent victims or property for environmental and political reasons. Often of a symbolic nature, acts of eco-terrorism are usually committed by individuals who believe that the exploitation of natural resources and vandalism of the environment are becoming so severe that action outside of conventional legal and environmental channels is required. By the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), it is defined as the use or threatened use of violence of a criminal nature against people or property by an environmentally oriented, subnational group for environmental-political reasons, or aimed at an audience beyond the target, often of a symbolic nature (Jarboe, 2002). The FBI has credited to eco-terrorism, $200 million in property damage from 2003 to 2008, and a majority of states within the USA have introduced laws aimed at eco-terrorism. Ultimately, any definition is possible but the commonly held definition of terrorism is that its goal is ideological, not financial. III. History The term eco-terrorism is believed to have been coined by Ron Arnold, the executive director of the center for the Defense of Free Enterprise. He first used the term in a 1983 article in Reason Magazine. In 1991, Ron Arnold told Outside magazine that he chose the term eco-terrorism because it was ambiguous and fit neatly in newspaper headlines. He defended the word by stating Facts dont really matter. In politics, perception is reality (Berlau, 2007). † According to Mr. Arnold he wanted to destroy environmentalists by taking away their money and their members. He spoke of his efforts as We (CDFE), Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise, created a sector of public opinion that didnt used to exist. No one was aware that environmentalism was a problem until we came along (Burke, 1993). Ron Arnold was trying to eliminate eco-terrorists and destroy environmentalism once and for all for two main reasons. First, for him personally, it was financially rewarding to oppose environmentalism and second it was a political gain on his part with the government and politicians. Arnold has been very busy writing a series of highly critical books on the environmental movement. He has always been aimed at mobilising those receptive to his argumentative language and comparitive policy debates as being a war. Arnold once stated We are sick to death of environmentalism and so we will destroy it. We will not allow our right to own property and use natures resources for the benefit of mankind to be stripped from us by a bunch of eco-facists (Burke, 11993). † To understand Ron Arnold’s term of eco-terrorism, one must look back into history as to how the activities of threats began. The eco-terrorist movement was said to begun in the 1960’s, when a group of animal rights advocates in England formed the Hunt Saboteurs Association. This assembly disrupted fox hunts by blocking roads, protesting the hunters by using bullhorns, and confusing the hunting dogs trail by spraying chemicals that eliminated the scent left by foxes. After effectively ending a number of traditional hunting events across England, the members of the Hunt Saboteurs Association decided more militant action was needed and in 1972, they became the Band of Mercy, a much more violent activist group that damaged property and held frequent meetings to attract new advocates. The ideas of violent activities to ensure the activist’s points were made brought about the forming of many more organizations that even exist today. IV. Organizations There are many organizations alive in today’s societies, which are fighting for environmental causes and animal rights. The Animal Liberation Front (ALF) is one of the most extreme animal rights groups in the United States. Their purpose is to inflict economic damage to those who profit from the misery and exploitation of animals. They oppose any form of animal experimentation and perceived mistreatment towards animals. Their principle activities include freeing animals from places of abuse such as labs, and zoos, and then committing property destruction. The origins of ALF trace back to the Hunt Saboteurs Association that was formed in England in the 1960’s, which later became the Band of Mercy. ALF claimed full responsibility for a 1987 arson at a University of California-Davis veterinary laboratory, which ended up causing $3. 5 million worth of damages. Their next major claim was at a 1992 firebombing at an animal research laboratory at Michigan State University. The Department of Justice and Agriculture stated that ALF was the most significant â€Å"radical fringe† animal rights group and reported more than 313 incidents of break-ins, vandalisms, arson and thefts committed in the name of animal rights between 1979 and 1993 (Anti-Defamation League, 2005). In 1975, Peter Singer who was an Australian philosopher; wrote the most influential book titled â€Å"Animal Liberation†. It was one of the first books to cover animal rights and it gave great motivation to activist groups such as ALF, to become more active and more violent in their protest activities. In his book, Singer says that any living being that has a face, must have a soul and is able to feel pain and sadness (Singer, 1975). Although he did not specifically advocate violence, Singer did suggest that animals deserve the same rights as humans. Another well known organization is Earth First, which came about in the 1980’s. This group engaged in acts of civil disobedience by using the method of tree spiking. This is the practice of hammering nails and large metal spikes into the trunks of the trees, to prevent it from being cut down. When the loggers’ saws hit the spikes they would be damaged upon repair, forcing the workers to stop, which ultimately slowed the rate of logging, and in return cost the logging companies time and money. They insisted no harm to the loggers but the spikes were known to severely injure the loggers, and they were forced to abandon their tactics of tree spiking which resulted in loss of popular support. Earth First brought about a more radical organization of themselves and in 1992 they renamed the organization as the Earth Liberation Front (ELF). ELF sees its own actions as a matter of self defense, protecting the earth from the greedy individuals and corporations that it views as destroying the environment’s ability to sustain life. They view politicians as ineffective and believe that if something is to be done, they must do it themselves. ELF claimed sole responsibility for an attack in the United States in 1997 when activists burned down a Bureau of Land Management horse corral in Oregon. The group also made national headlines when it claimed responsibility for the arson of a ski resort in Vali, Colorado, which caused $12 million in damages. Their reasoning for this attack was that putting profits ahead of Colorado’s wildlife will not be tolerated, and that the greedy corporation continued to trespass into the wild and un-roaded areas. ELF views the ongoing battle with urban and leisure building, as a wasteful and unnecessary infringement on natural habitats. Car dealerships and sport utility vehicles are also a common target for members of the ELF organization. They have been known to set fire to, blow up, and spray paint such vehicles and facilities. The organization defends their actions with the view that they are eliminating the profit motive from killing the natural environment. Ultimately since 1996, ELF’s campaign of property destruction has cost some $43 million, and has yet to result in permanent closure of a business or facility. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has formed joint terrorism task forces with police around the country to investigate ELF actions and potentially stop them altogether. Another well known organization is Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC). This organization came about in 1998 when a British television broadcast, BBC, did a graphic documentary alleging mistreatment of animals by Huntingdon Life Sciences, a British-based research firm. In response to this documentary, outraged animal rights activists began to pressure financial institutions associated with Huntingdon Life Sciences to drop their support of the company and thereby force them to discontinue animal use in their tests. This campaign named themselves Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty. SHAC quickly became a transatlantic cause among radical animal rights activists, with chapters in Germany, Italy, Portugal, and the United States. Today, the group has claimed responsibility for several bombings and numerous acts of vandalism as well as harassment in both the United States and Europe. The SHAC uses the internet more effectively than any other eco-terrorist group. On their website, they provide activities with specific targets that include information such as the names and addresses, spouse’s names and even social security numbers of its intended targets, whether it is an individualized person or a company/organization. Once the information is relayed electronically, SHAC activists protest outside the homes of the targeted employees. A new nonprofit organization recently formed in Portland, Oregon, called Stop Eco-Violence (SEV), was made to demonstrate the harm of eco-terrorism to communities where it occurs. SEV was founded on the core principle that violence is no solution to addressing environmental and social issues. Stop Eco-Violence hopes to expose the terrorists and their founders, as well as assist law enforcement agencies, by serving as a public clearinghouse to track eco-terrorism cases. Despite the few successes by law enforcement in capturing those responsible for eco-terror related crimes, most of the acts made by these organizations remain unsolved. Eco-terrorist groups remain extremely difficult to identify and infiltrate, and it is very unlikely that the rapidly growing movement of eco-terrorism will disappear soon. However, I feel that these organizations should be allowed their activist movements as long as their position of the acts themselves include such attitudes that the kind, compassionate, caring of other people is included.