Green Options » eco-terrorism

H20 Q&A: Thriller Novel Writer Karen Dionne Talks Water Crisis and Doom

Nayelli Gonzalez — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:48:55 +0000

Sometimes life imitates art. In Karen Dionne’s new thriller novel Freezing Point, melting icebergs are viewed as both the solution to the global water crisis and the source of man-made apocalyptic horror. In reality, giant melting icebergs raise global sea levels and unleash frozen methane gases into the Earth’s atmosphere.

According to recently discovered NASA satellite data, more than 2 trillion tons of land ice in Greenland, Antarctica and Alaska have melted since 2003 and have caused alarming global climate changes.

So melting icebergs are not just the stuff of fiction. Yet, one hopes that what transpires in Freezing Point (think toxic drinking water, corporate monopolies of icebergs and large-scale eco-terrorism) never becomes reality.

In our conversation, Karen Dionne, who wrote a Huffington Post column titled “Can a Novel Change the World?”, spoke with me about the power of the written word, killer rats, and environmental activism:

How did you become interested in the global water crisis?

My interest in water issues goes back pretty far. My husband and I were part of the “back to land” movement in the ‘70s. We wanted to not be so dependent on the system, so we lived in nature, grew our own food, got our water from nearby wells. I remember reading the book Silent Spring and one thing I took away from it is that there is no pristine place left on earth. I learned that DDT was showing up in bird eggs and that toxins were everywhere. For my generation, it was an awakening of how severe the problem was. So I’ve always been concerned about what man is doing to the environment.

Read more of this story »

The EPA Goes All COPS On Environmental Criminals

Jerry James Stone — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:37:29 +0000

The EPA has launched a new website hoping to enlist the public and law enforcement in capturing fugitives accused of environmental violations. The site, EPA Fugitives, includes photos of the accused along with summaries of their violations.

Read more of this story »

Link Center for Consumer Freedom to Terrorism, Win an Apron!

Michael A. Weber — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:32:30 +0000

In response to an advertisement from the Center for Consumer Freedom claiming that the Humane Society funds terrorists, GreenIsTheNewRed.com is offering a prize to the person who can link the the Center to terrorist activity in the fewest steps.

Read more of this story »

FBI Increases Reward for Suspected Eco-Terrorists to $50K Each

Timothy B. Hurst — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:03:23 +0000

Looking back on the actions of so-called “eco-terrorist” organizations like the now less-active Earth Liberation Front, they almost seem quaint as compared to the destruction wrought by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, or what I like to call, ‘the real terrorism.’

But the Federal Bureau of Investigation doesn’t think the ELF’s actions were so quaint. On Wednesday the FBI announced it is increasing the reward for information leading to the arrest of four people accused of sabotage attacks in five Western states,”including the largest eco-related arson in history, a $26 million arson at the Vail Ski Resort in Vail, Colorado.”

Read more of this story »

Fire Starters: ELF Torches “Green” Homes

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 23:31:37 +0000

The term “eco-terrorism” is getting thrown around again today after four multi-million dollar “green” homes in a Seattle suburb were torched by arsonists claiming affiliation with the Earth Liberation Front (ELF). Others have argued eloquently that “eco-terrorism” isn’t much more than a political language game: “terrorism” doesn’t describe the aims or methods of the “perpetrators,” but simply creates fearful associations. It’s an easy (and intellectually lazy) way to discredit environmentalism in general, and not worthy of the term “argument.”

With all of that said, though, I have to ask: What the hell do ELF members think they’re accomplishing?

Read more of this story »