Eco-Terrorism

At what point does taking direction action in defense of the planet turn a person into a terrorist? Do they have to take a human life? Or put one in jeopardy? Destroy property?

I’ve been watching this Australian show on Hulu called “Sea Patrol.” It’s just a military adventure series—more about saving lives and chasing drug smugglers than an equivalent American show might be—and I noticed the episode I was about to watch was about “eco-terrorists.” And that’s when it occurred to me to wonder. What, precisely, makes a person into an “eco-terrorist?”

Is the line as clear as the difference between a “pro-life” activist and a “birther terrorist?” At what point do those people become “terrorists?”

And what about animal rights activists? At what point might they become “terrorists?”

I think this is an important question to ask because we each will have our own innate definition of the term… even if we’ve chosen to accept someone else’s.

“One man’s ‘terrorist’ is another man’s ‘freedom fighter.’”

And so it goes.

That instead it is generally taken to mean opposition to the rape and pillage of the Earth says something interesting about our society's priorities.

"Terrorism is the exploitation of a populations fears and weaknesses in order to accomplish a moral, social, economic or political goal."

I don't know if that helps at all, but I find that it helps me better use the word "terrorist". It is kind of an overused term.

just belonging to an environmental or animal rights group you could be considered a terrorist. :-(

instead of corporate interests...just bend over and accept it like a good little boy. Otherwise we'll have our police put you away -- cause you are obviously anti-amerkun.

I paid good money for this beach and you keep your snot-nosed kids off it!:sarcasm:

it was shocking to me that a person could get charged with eco-terrorism (and the very stiff penalty involved since it falls under terrorism) for an act like chaining oneself to an old growth tree or "tree sitting" in old growth trees that are going to be logged.

I hope the Obama administration is willing to drop the "terrorist" label when it comes to action oriented environmental groups.

both are terms that relate to motive, as a way to pile on additional penalties to something that's already a crime.

Murder is murder, whether it's a hate crime or not.

Arson is arson, whether it's done as a political statement or not.

(1) A person that threatens to, or actually commits violent acts, in the name of a political goal, that threaten to harm, or actually harm human beings.

(2) A person that threatens to, or actually commits violent acts, in the name of a political goal, to physical property such that a human being using said property in a normal legal manner could be harmed. (tree spiking as an example)

(3) A person who commits arson or bombing of any structure or any vehicle at any time in the name of a political goal.

(4) Animal rights activists who interfere with legitimate medical research or researchers that could help human beings. "Legitimate medical research" means research being done under circumstances where it is, or will be peer reviewed by other scientific / medical professionals.