Activist Site Defends MSU Arson

Media Mouse

Grand Rapids Independent Media

Four Indictments Issued in ELF Arson at Michigan State University
http://www.mediamouse.org/features/031108four_.php

Today, four people--three of whom are Michigan residents--were indicted on charges stemming from a 1999 arson at Michigan State University (MSU) in East Lansing. The four--Marie Mason, Frank Ambrose, Aren Burthwick, and Stephanie Fultz--were indicted on multiple counts for a December 31, 1999 fire that destroyed an agricultural research office and a January 1, 2000 fire that destroyed commercial logging equipment near Mesick, Michigan. The charges could result in up to twenty years in prison.

While the media quickly labeled these as "terrorist" acts, it is important to remember that the two arsons in question caused no harm to human life. In fact, of all the actions undertaken by the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) -the group that claimed responsibility for the two arsons--over the past several years, none have resulted in the loss of human life and specific steps have been taken to prevent such a result. Moreover, those who have been indicted--whether they be found guilty or not--deserve the support of left and progressive movements. While there is debate in our movement over tactics and strategy, none of us can doubt the commitment and dedication of individuals who take such actions in defense of the earth. It is also worth remembering that two of the accused, Frank Ambrose and Marie Mason, have been repeatedly harassed by federal authorities pertaining to a failed arson at an Ice Mountain bottling facility in Michigan. Ambrose was also indicted several years ago over anti-logging activities in Indiana and was portrayed as a "terrorist" for nine months before the government dropped the charges in the case.

The government has protrayed these indictments as being critical arrests in the so-called war on "domestic terrorism." US Attorney Charles Gross, who is based in Grand Rapids, said "This was an act of domestic terrorism, plain and simple... There's no two ways about it. The use of violence and the destruction of property to make a political statement cannot be tolerated in a civilized society." Rather than attempting to understand why the facility at Michigan State University and the logging operation in Mesick were targeted, the media has been more interested in focusing on the "terrorist" angle and has entirely downplayed the reasons why the actions were undertaken.

As such, we thought it would be important to highlight the rationale given by the Earth Liberation Front for these actions. The original communique from the ELF taking responsibility for the fire said:

"On the eve of the new millenium, the ELF struck back at one of the many threats to the natural world as we know it. On December 31, 1999 at approximately 9:00pm, the ELF entered the Agricultural Hall at Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan. Our destination was room 324, the offices of Catherine Ives et al. The project being conducted through this office is funded by Monsanto and USAID and was designed to not only pursue research concerning genetically engineered sweet potatoes, corn and other crop vegetables, but to lobby developing countries to abandon their current agricultural practices and to rely on genetically engineered plants and thus corporations like Monsanto. Local newspapers have put the damage done to the building at $400,000, with documents and equipment totally destroyed. Cremate Monsanto! End G.E.!"

A press release from the Earth Liberation Front's press office furthered explained the rationale for targeting the MSU office:

"LANSING, MI - The Earth Liberation Front (E.L.F.) has claimed credit for property damage estimated at $400,000 that occurred at Michigan State University on December 31, 1999.

A communique sent by the E.L.F. stated, "Our destination was room 324, the offices of Catherine Ives et al." The project being conducted Agency for International Development) and was designed to not only pursue research concerning genetically engineered sweet potatoes, corn and other crop vegetables, but to lobby developing countries to abandon their current agricultural practices and to rely on genetically engineered plants and thus corporations like Monsanto.

The Earth Liberation Front is an international underground organization that uses direct action to stop the systematic exploitation and destruction of the natural environment.

Referring to genetic engineering and corporations who are promoting it at the international level (such as Monsanto), the communique continued, "On the eve of the new millenium, the ELF struck back at one of the many threats to the natural world as we know it.

The communique ended by stating, "Local newspapers have put the damage done to the building at $400,000, with documents and equipment totally destroyed. Cremate Monsanto! End genetic engineering!"

This latest action by the E.L.F. occurred just four days after the group claimed credit for burning down the Northwest headquarters of Boise Cascade in Monmouth, OR on December 25. The E.L.F was also recently responsible for the $12 million blaze which destroyed buildings at the Vail Ski Resort in Colorado."

Will Potter, who writes on the government's ongoing campaign against radical environmental activists, highlighted a document from the ELF on his "Green is the New Red" blog that provides an additional explanation for the fire.

"Just six days later, on New Years Eve, 1999 the ELF for the first time turned to the subject of genetic engineering. At Michigan State University, Catherine Ives worked as a researcher, according to her, to help feed the starving people of the world through biotechnology. One of her programs funded in part by Monsanto and the U.S. Agency for International Development involved attempts to coerce farmers in less westernized countries to give up sustainable agricultural practices for reliance on the biotech industry, in particular Monsanto who among numerous other creations brought the terminator seed to life. These seeds which do not reproduce require farmers to purchase new seeds annually from Monsanto.

The idea that there just is not enough food in the world to feed the current population is an absolute myth being used by the biotech industry as one of their reasons to continue into the area of gene manipulation. The public relations departments at Monsanto and in other firms within the biotech industry are being far from truthful by presenting this appearance of altruism as though they are helping people in, as they refer to them, the "developing nations" to improve their lives. It is nothing but another form of largely U.S. based imperialism attempting to control and destroy non-westernized cultures for the sake of monetary gain.

In response to this program and Catherine Ives work, the ELF set fire to her offices at Michigan State University causing an estimated $400,000-$900,000 in damages. Ives herself admitted the fire destroyed years of her work."

Media Mouse was unable to find any ELF communique claiming for the January 1, 2000 arson at the Mesick, Michigan logging facility and it is not listed on any chronicle of ELF actions maintained on websites sympathetic to the ELF. However, according to press accounts, "ELF" was spray painted at the site.

http://infomotions.com/etexts/gutenberg/dirs/1/5/5/9/15597/15597.htm

This is not really a sanity test. It's a test to determine if you have been in the public school system which, for the purpose of social control, gets people in the mode of following suggestions instead of thinking for themselves.

Getting your head into a different kind of reality than the 'spoon-fed' stuff.

By Sara Minogue saram@nunatsiaq.com or 867-979-5357

Special to the Globe and Mail

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Copyright 2007, The Globe and Mail

Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada [north of Quebec; south and west of Greenland, on the eastern coast of the Melville Peninsula] - Five days after disappearing in a storm on a 70-kilometre snowmobile trek over Arctic tundra, 63-year-old Laimiki Innuarak was found walking toward the Nunavut hamlet of Igloolik, with barely a chill, and able to direct searchers to his wife and four-year-old child camped in an igloo nearby.

"He was a bit cold, but he didn't even freeze," said Paul Haulli, who coordinated the search from Mr. Innuarak's hometown of Hall Beach.

"Because of his knowledge, he was able to build a shelter and he was able to comfort his wife and child," Mr. Haulli said. "The little boy was able to survive because he was wrapped in a caribou skin."

Yesterday morning, Mr. Innuarak, a unilingual Inuktitut speaker, sounded in good spirits as he recovered at a sister's home in Igloolik, surrounded by grown children who had traveled from north Baffin Island.

The ordeal began when Mr. Innuarak and his family left the hamlet of Hall Beach, population 654, late on Saturday evening to visit his two sisters in Igloolik, a snowmobile ride away. About three-quarters of the way along, the snowmobile broke down.

Stormy weather made a bad situation worse. Winds up to 50 kilometres an hour quickly erased their tracks, which were already on an unusual path because the shorter route over the sea ice is not yet frozen. Temperatures dropped into the minus 30s.

Fortunately, Mr. Innuarak is an experienced hunter who spends much of his time on the land. He was able to build an igloo, and was traveling with a small stove.

When the fuel ran out, he fashioned a makeshift qulliq, or Inuit seal oil lamp, and fuelled it with lard.

"The fact that they survived without even frostbite had a lot to do with Inuit traditional knowledge," said Lucassie Ivalu, an Igloolik elder and distant relative of Mr. Innuarak, who coordinated that community's search.

When family members reported the three missing on Tuesday, a ground search began in Hall Beach. Mr. Ivalu sent out his own searchers from Igloolik. On Wednesday, a Hercules plane arrived from the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Trenton, Ont., to help.

By late Thursday afternoon, however, the search plane had returned with no sightings, Mr. Ivalu said, and it was followed by the snowmobilers who said they couldn't find any tracks. But around 5 p.m., another hunter came into the hamlet office to report that he had found footprints in the snow.

Fifteen minutes later, three snowmobiles were on the trail, soon to run into Mr. Innuarak, who told them he had been walking since 7 that morning. One snowmobile returned to town with Mr. Innuarak, who was tired but otherwise fine, while two more followed Mr. Innuarak's directions to a snow house he had built for his wife and child.

They, too, were unharmed.

"This is not the first time some of us have been in very hard, very stressful and emotional situations," Mr. Ivalu said, referring to another search for a missing elder in June that lasted 28 days and turned up 81-year-old Enoki Kunuk.

Just last week, Mr. Ivalu said, the Igloolik search-and-rescue committee saved another young couple travelling the same trail.

Travel between relatively isolated Arctic communities is not unusual in Nunavut. There are no roads in the territory, but once the snow falls, snowmobile trails usually follow in areas where communities are less than a day away.

There are two main routes between Hall Beach and Igloolik, one over sea ice, which has not yet formed, and one over land. Mr. Innuarak encountered open water even on the latter trail, and was discovered on an even less-used trail.

While many in Nunavut lament the gradual loss of traditional Inuit survival skills, Mr. Haulli says he knows many people in Hall Beach who could get by in such an ordeal, and Mr. Ivalu says many people in Igloolik could as well.

There are those of us who were brought up in the camps," Mr. Ivalu said. "I learned how to build an igloo when I was eight years old, and once you learn, you never forget. Unfortunately, that is not really being passed on to the next generation.

The Winnipeg Free Press- TUESDAY, MARCH 22, I960

The Rifleman - himself. Chuck Connors. His letter reads Dear Mr. Telphner

The Rifle is 1892 Winchester carbine. by inserting a screw into the trigger guard which when set in position, converts it into an automatic  piece, firing each time the screw contacts the trigger. The: rapid fire is accomplished with a fast pumping action. To restore it to a single action weapon, we Simply lower the screw- away from the trigger.  "In this position, the gun is fired in the conventional manner, We also enlarged the lever which permits me to flip  and dropcock the rifle I hope this clears up some of the mystery".

My best to you and Looking forward to my visit in Winnipeg.

Sincerely,

Chuck Connors

Reuters News Service
Fur is alive and kicking, despite campaigns
By John Ruwitch
Mon Mar 3, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/inDepthNews/idUSHKG33984220080304

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Anti-fur campaigners have tried everything from impassioned appeals to pet lovers, gruesome videos, name-and-shame campaigns and adverts featuring nude stars proclaiming they'd rather go naked than sport a pelt.

But despite their best efforts, wrapping up in fur is a trend that has failed to go away.

"Without a doubt, there are more people wearing fur today than ever before," said Timothy Everest, a member of the Hong Kong Fur Federation.

Still, while industry insiders gush about growing sales and new frontiers, public relations remains the crucial battleground for a $13.5 billion fur industry dogged by accusations of being inhumane and unnecessary.

In Hong Kong last week, 245 fur companies set up elaborate exhibits, some featuring their own mini-runways, at one of the industry's main trade shows of the year. It was the biggest show since the fur fair's inception in 1982.

Despite subtropical weather, Hong Kong inherited the fur tradition when Shanghai's world-renowned pelt craftsmen fled the Communists in the 1940s. It is now the world's biggest importer of farmed fur skins and the leading exporter of fur garments.

At Dennis Fong's expansive booth, gaggles of fur buyers from Russia, China and beyond crammed in to watch lithe Asian and European models strut the latest designs from the Isla brand of furs that he manages.

Fong, a third-generation producer of fur clothing, entered the family business around the beginning of the decade.

"That was a good time to come back because fur was coming back," said the 29-year-old.

TURNAROUND INDUSTRY

From its heyday in the early and middle part of the 20th century, the fur industry slumped and its iconic ankle length mink coat started looking old. In the 1980s, it hit bottom.

"You could see from the late '80s that the realization hit that unless we changed the way that we were marketing the product then there wasn't going to be the demand because the product was boring," said Everest.

Around the late 1970s and early 1980s, the annual global mink harvest, an industry benchmark, bottomed out at about 22 million, said Frank Zilberkweit, director of the London furrier Hockley.

But just when things looked their bleakest, a fur renaissance started.

"In the '90s, suddenly the fashion industry discovered fur," he said, speculating that designers probably saw it as a way to tap into freshly opened fast growing economies in places with strong fur traditions -- Russia and China.

"The first guy who really got into fur for the fashion industry was Jean Paul Gaultier," he said.

On Tuesday night in Paris, the French designer's fall 2008 collection showed in no uncertain terms that he was still into the medium. Runway models were draped in wild furs, some of which still had tails, ears, noses, even teeth.

Others, including Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Dior, have also made fur a prominent feature of their collections.

Designs at the Hong Kong show ranged from the conservative to the imaginative, including wedding cake layered dresses with puffy fur trim, ponchos with shaggy fur shoulders that resembled a thatched roof, and blood red sentry jackets of fur.

Now, the mink harvest is a record-beating 55 million -- and expanding, Zilberkweit said.

According to the International Fur Trade Association, retail sales of fur hit $13.49 billion in 2006, growing 5.6 percent from the year before.

In mid-February, pelt prices reached record highs at auction in Seattle on the back of a cold winter, according to Everest.

The uses of fur have expanded, experts say, and growing sales of luxury goods worldwide has also helped fur sales. But the key factor in the growth trend has been the emergence of Russia and China as major fur markets.

Zilberkweit estimates that Russia accounts for about 40 percent of fur sales and China makes up about 30 percent.

CHINA WORRY

In the face of perennial criticism, the fur industry last year launched an initiative called "Origin Assured", or OA, a label designed to assure customers their fur was made from animals treated as well as possible under existing standards.

But critics say serious concerns remain, particularly when it comes to China, the world's biggest source.

The Humane Society of the United States in late December warned consumers to be on the lookout for real fur described as "faux fur" or "ecological fur", and named department stores like Saks-Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdales. DNA tests showed some were in fact rabbit, raccoon and raccoon dog fur.

Reports have also emerged of cat and dog pelts from China being passed off as fur from other animals.

China has yet to qualify for the OA label.

Care For The Wild International, a UK-based animal welfare and conservation charity, did a survey in 2005 of several fur farms in China's Hebei province, near Beijing, and reported problems, including animals sometimes skinned alive.

"China's colossal fur industry routinely subjects animals to housing, husbandry, transport and slaughter practices that are unacceptable from a veterinary, animal welfare and moral point of view," the report said.

Despite the growth figures sited by industry insiders, Ashley Fruno, senior campaign coordinator with People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in Asia, says fur is passe.

"Now that people are becoming more compassionate, it's going out the window," she said. "I think if you just go out on the street and you talk to people about fur you'll definitely get mostly a negative reaction.

In January, demonstrators from PETA hopped onto a runway at Hong Kong Fashion Week with "Fur scum" and "Fur hurts" banners.

The group was not campaigning around the Hong Kong fur show last week, however, preferring to target mainstream designers rather than "a few people at a fur fair who are more interested in economics than ethics", Fruno said.

"Those people are very hard to convince when they're that dedicated that they are actually attending a fur fair.

Still, about three dozen large men in black suits, with black shirts, black ties and secret service-like earpieces patrolled the crowd at the fur fair's gala fashion show on opening night.

Asked about the threat of anti-fur guerrillas, one replied: "That is why we are here."

"The biggest challenge," said Herbert Wurker, president of the German Fur Association, "is the PR."