Terrorism Under Any Name, Including Green is Wrong...Turn in ELF Members

I am pretty passionate about certain issues where our environment is concerned, with the crimes of the nuclear industry at the top of my list. I can date my environmental activism back over 30 years; have been green to some degree for a long time before it became popular. I’ve protested written letters, campaigned for change and gotten angry with polluters and companies that were raping our environment. What I have not done, what I do not condone is violence in the name of our Mother Earth, destruction of property in the name of the cause, regardless of what that cause is…there is no place in this world for terrorism under any guise.

Today on CNN breaking news involved firefighters attempting to douse an out of control fire in Wooinville, Washington, a suburb of Seattle, involving three model homes (unoccupied). Early news states a sign from the radical environmental group Earth Liberation Front (ELF) was found at the scene of the fires. The spray painted sheet bore the initials of ELF who has claimed responsibility for dozens of destructive attacks on property since the 1990’s.

A spokesperson for the local sheriff’s office stated the pre-dawn fire caused $7 million dollars to the project known as the “Street of Dreams”. The row of furnished luxury model homes were toured last summer by tens of thousands of visitors wanting to see the latest in high end landscaping and interior design. Three homes were burned to the ground while two others suffered serious smoke damage. One has to ask why? Does ELF really believe such destructive actions win people to their cause?

Fire Chief Rick Eastman said incendiary devices were found in and removed from the homes, but Kelvin Crenshaw of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms in Seattle says no evidence show use of such devices. The FBI is now investigating the fire as a potential Domestic Terrorist Act said their spokesperson Rick Kolko from their office in Washington, DC.

The sign left behind at the site stated, “Built Green? Nope black!” and McMansions in RCDs r not green” referring to development of rural cluster developments blighting scenic America. Do I have a problem with Mc Mansions blighting America’s rural communities? Yes I do, but destruction of property, risking lives, wasting all those building materials is not the way to make a political statement, does more harm to the Green Movement than good. No injuries were reported, but that does not matter.

Citizens need to get involved, supporters of ELF need to rethink their positions, start reporting to authorities what it is that they know. Someone out in the Seattle area knows who started these fires, and that person or persons needs to report what they know to the authorities, turn in those responsible. There is simply no excuse for terrorism in society, even in the name of saving the environment. Those who support groups like ELF, groups such as PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) need to rethink their support of groups that embrace violence as a part of their political platform for change.