Battling eco-terrorism

Last year, 10 defendents went to trial in a U.S. District Court in Eugene, Ore. on charges of eco-terrorism. It took the Federal Bureau of Investigations over nine years to finally catch those members of the terrorist cell called “The Family,” which was responsible for firebombings that caused more than $20 million in damages. Working on behalf of the Earth Liberation Front and the Animal Liberation Front, the terrorist group wreaked havoc on federal ranger stations, lumber mill offices, meat-packing plants, wild horse corrals, and a ski resort. The attacks took place in five Western states: Oregon, Washington, California, Wyoming, and Colorado.

Today, trials against the accused environmental extremists continue to work their way through the legal process. Defendents could face 5 to 20 years on each count of arson.

Unfortunately, these headlines create negative publicity for legal attempts and scientifically valid efforts to save the environment. Thankfully, they’re in the minority and in a year when An Inconvenient Truth weighs heavily on the minds of many Americans, stories and isolated events like these can be seen in their true light.