A Historical Scholarly Collection of Writings on the Earth Liberation Front

Since 1992, clandestine radical environmentalist cells, calling themselves the Earth Liberation Front (ELF), have carried out arson attacks in an effort to punish corporations for environmentally deleterious practices. I examine the radical environmental movement and find that its recent rise to prominence and notoriety is part and parcel of the larger development of the more general anti-globalization/anti-capitalist movement. Specifically, I examine how, despite its libertarian conservative origins, the ideology of Earth First! changed after an influx of new members with anti-state, anarchist sympathies. Finally, I assess the applicability of three major criticisms of “globalization from below” to the case of the ELF, namely: a) that its preoccupation with the transnational sphere and abandonment of electoral politics is misguided, b) that direct actions such as property destruction are counterproductive to the wider aims of the movement, and, c) that its strategies of contention are too episodic, and do very little to encourage practical, inclusive, local, and sustained action in the service of global justice

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Radikalisme dalam Aksi Pergerakan Lingkungan: Studi Kasus terhadap Earth Liberation Front (Periode 1996-2011)

Global Jurnal Politik Internasional ◽

10.7454/global.v15i2.35 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Annisa Nirbito

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Content Analysis ◽

Civil Disobedience ◽

Environmental Movement ◽

Peter Singer ◽

Capitalist System ◽

Gaia Hypothesis ◽

The Earth ◽

Environmental Norms ◽

James Lovelock ◽

Earth Liberation Front

Earth Liberation Front (ELF) is an environmental movement which carries out radical direct actions, making it distinct from the mainstream environmental movements which implements peaceful methods in articulating their voices. Although its radical actions encounter negative responses, ELF still uses direct actions as their main tactic. In this writing, the writer seeks to uncover the reasons behind the use of radical actions by ELF. The writer uses three main concepts to arrive at the answer: civil disobedience, violence, and terrorism by Peter Singer; Gaia hypothesis by James Lovelock; and new radicalism in social movements by David Solnit. Through interviews, qualitative content analysis, and network approach, four main reasons behind the use of direct actions by ELF are found: (1) ELF fights for its environmental norms; (2) commitment to uproot capitalist system; (3) urgency to stop environmental degradation; and (4) its actions are aimed to protect the earth. The key finding in this research is anonymity within ELF, which turns out to be the most important aspect for ELF to maintain the sustainability of its movement.

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Elves, environmentalism, and “eco-terror”: Leaderless resistance and media coverage of the Earth Liberation Front

Crime Media Culture An International Journal ◽

10.1177/1741659011433366 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 75-93 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Paul Joosse

Keyword(s):

Media Coverage ◽

The Earth ◽

Earth Liberation Front

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Expansion: Night Moves

ReFocus: The Films of Kelly Reichardt ◽

10.3366/edinburgh/9781474411127.003.0008 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

E. Dawn Hall

Keyword(s):

Oklahoma City ◽

Occupy Wall Street ◽

Oklahoma City Bombing ◽

Wall Street ◽

Special Effects ◽

Production Methods ◽

The Earth ◽

Earth Liberation Front ◽

Terrorist Acts ◽

Activist Groups

This chapter discusses Night Moves as a political thriller about ecoterrorism, and focuses on Riechardt’s adjustments in form, style, and content as compared with her prior body of work. While on the surface, Night Moves appears to have more commercial intentions, it is an overt challenge to cinematic commercialisation. Although the thriller genre promises sex, action, and special effects, Night Moves, in true independent cinematic fashion, never shows these events on screen. Night Moves invites ethical questions through the ecoterrorist actions of the protagonists and the gender commentary supplied through the sparse dialogue and character interactions. Through interviews with Reichardt and her cast and crew the chapter covers production methods and makes connections with contemporary environmental activist groups, such as the Earth Liberation Front, the Occupy Wall Street movement and to terrorist acts such as the Oklahoma City bombing.

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