As ShockProf
mentioned yesterday,
four people have been indicted for setting fire to the MSU Agricultural Research building in 1999 in an act of "eco-terrorism". The four individuals are members of the fringe environmental group ELF, or Earth Liberation Front.
According to the
Free Press article, "ELF is a radical group with a history of destroying property, often by arson, to deter residential developments and activities the group considers harmful to the environment."
OK. Maybe it's just me, but.....isn't burning down buildings to protest environmentally harmful practices a bit like murdering abortion providers? Number one, a massive building fire pollutes the air around it, not only with soot and smoke but also with chemicals from the burning plastics and other synthetic materials. Number two, extinguishing the fire requires tremendous amounts of water, one of Earth's most precious and valuable natural resources. (I find this point particularly ironic given that an attorney who used to represent two of the individuals describes his former clients as "serious environmentalists and water rights activists". Water rights activists who set fires? That's so absurd it's a shame it's not satirical, like the
flaming moat filled with fireproof crocodiles Colbert wants to build between the U.S. and Mexico.) Number three, reconstruction of the destroyed building requires -- drumroll, please! -- even more more natural resources! You know, like lumber for framing walls. Or natural gas to power the construction efforts. It just seriously makes zero sense to me -- am I the only one?*
Back in October when the California wildfires were raging, we
discussed on this blog which criminological theories could explain arson in the context of wildfires. However, I think that no such discussion is necessary with respect to the ELF eco-terrorists. (Or "eco-activists" as they prefer to be called). After all, you don't need criminology to explain crazy.**
*Of course, perhaps I should not be surprised at ridiculously illogical behavior from members of what the ELF website describes as "an underground movement with no leadership, membership or official spokesperson." (I won't link to it, lest you are reading this blog entry from a university computer.) Want more cuckoo? The website also features a story about a Norwegian couple whose environmental activism involves -- I swear I am not making this up -- having sex in the middle of endangered forests in the hopes of raising awareness and "overcoming the powerful negativity of the place". They've even created a related porn site called "F**k For Forest" that interested persons can visit to watch explicit video clips and learn more about the world's forests. Win-win!
**Or, rather, what is in my opinion crazy. I want to keep this a libel-free blog!
Increasing attention is being paid to the study of environmental or "green" criminology. (E.g., see here, here, and here.) As the subtitle of Beirne's book (linked above) suggests, this subfield is concerned, in part, with "harms against environments, humanity, and other animals". Being the crack team of criminologists we are (and given our deep and abiding love of bad jokes and good puns), we are pleased to offer you, dear readers, a GBOC Exclusive!
