So after hearing about a friend's dream about a teacher being hauled out of our school's greenhouse by the FBI for

eco-terrorism,

I decided to look it up on Wikipedia. (Don't look at me like that. You know you all love Wiki.)



First thing I'm going to address is the definition by said FBI:

Eco-terrorism is defined by the FBI as "the use or threatened use of violence of a criminal nature against innocent victims or property by an environmentally-oriented, subnational group for environmental-political reasons, or aimed at an audience beyond the target, often of a symbolic nature."

The first thing that popped out and jabbed me in the eye with a fork was the "against innocent victims" part. Obviously, if they're being targeted by an eco-terrorist(s), they're not "innocent". Unless, that is, the eco-terrorist is insane, in which case they would just be a plain ol' terrorist.

The second thing that popped out but only mildly poked me on the nose, but it nevertheless caught my attention. That last part about how eco-terrorism can be "of a symbolic nature" didn't really make sense to me with the viewing of this picture on the same page. Not so much symbolic as "I want to save puppies and, by God, I will, even if it takes wearing a ski mask!", eh?



Second, is this:

Acts of civil disobedience may be described as eco-terrorism.

Again, if the eco-terrorist in question is not a lunatic, then this makes little sense.

Civil disobedience is "the active refusal to obey certain laws, demands and commands of a government, or of an occupying power, without resorting to physical violence."
In my understanding, eco-terrorism is a sort of eco-avenging. If some part nature, be it plants or animals, is wronged, an eco-terrorist punishes the wrong-doer. This would probably be regardless of laws rather than an active refusal to obey them.



Third, the word itself. I myself was at first misled to think that eco-terrorism meant a terrorizing of the environment. (That long, confusing definition by the FBI up there didn't help. )

Canadian environmentalist Paul Watson, the founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, has presented his own definition: "an act that terrorizes other species and threatens the ecological systems of the planet."

This just makes so much more sense. Eco-terrorist. Terrorist of ecology. Simple logic, in my mind, but whatever. >_<



Fourth, the list of "Individuals" on Wikipeida.

Rod Coronado – at a public gathering, explained how to create an arson device.

.....awesome.

Jeff Luers and William Cottrell – arsonists of SUVs.

Stupid. Burning SUVs will not only add to atmospheric pollution, but will also make many hardworking car-owners very angry with you.

Marie Mason - environmental activist sentenced to twenty-two years for arson

o_O And just what the hell did she burn??

Daniel McGowan – set fire to a lumber farm.

Again, stupid. Waste of wood and more CO₂ in our atmosphere. Good job, man.

Peter Daniel Young – released mink into the wild from fur farms.

Can you believe this guy even managed to hide from the government for seven years?? x2



Finally, three words. Eco-terrorism in fiction.
Sweet.