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Burning Rage of a Dying Planet: Speaking for the Earth Liberation Front
The Earth Liberation Front (ELF) has been active in the United States officially since 1997, causing more than $45 million in damages to various entities. As the organization continues to grow and expand its range of targets, ELF has taken an extreme position against individuals, corporations, and governments that, in the organization's view, places monetary gain ahead of the natural environment. Rejecting state sanctioned means of legal protest, ELF uses economic sabotage to inflict financial suffering on those deemed objectionable. In February 2002, the FBI listed the ELF as the largest and most active US-based terrorist group. Although no one has died in any of these operations, ELF's campaign against loggers, SUV dealerships, and others it considers threats to the planet have galvanized and polarized the environmental movement. Former ELF spokesperson Rosebraugh charts the history and ideology of ELF and explores their tactics, successes, and limitations. He shows how ELFers offer an uncompromising vision of an earth under assault from the forces of greed and corporate violence, and how they employ direct action against those they deem a threat to the planet. Rosebraugh also examines the issues of whether violence is or is not justifiable, and the short- and long-term political benefits and drawbacks of using violence. Finally, he offers a trenchant vision of the future of the environmental movement, radical politics, and US democracy under the so-called Patriot Act. Whatever your view of direct action or violence, Burning Rage of a Dying Planet is essential reading for those trying to understand the mindset and motivations of contemporary radical environmentalists.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 31, 2004
7 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 4, 2011
Reading this book renews my love for activists. It's such hard work, but filled with such fun and heart! Reading Craig's account of what his days looked like staffing ELF's press office reminded me of so many periods of my own life doing support work for political prisoners in Philly.
I had the good fortune to meet Craig a few years ago when I accompanied Ramona Africa on a speaking engagement in Portland. He's an incredible speaker and great activist.
It's funny, some of his amazing ability to narrate a struggle is present in "Burning Rage" but it often read like a record. That's a really useful tool-- so often the Left is organizing in crisis mode and don't have the time or energy to account for our work. However, stylistically, a little more prose would have been welcome.
This is not a book for the uninitiated. It seemed to me that Craig had made a conscious choice to write for an activist audience that already understands radical environmentalism. It's a valuable book for the initiated. Not only does he offer us a piece of our own history but he raises really important questions of how to organize and resist effectively, how to resist governmental repression, how to reflect, and grow. Again, I think so many of us are so engaged in the task at hand that we don't stop for a project like this and after reading Craig's book, I think more of us should!
I had the good fortune to meet Craig a few years ago when I accompanied Ramona Africa on a speaking engagement in Portland. He's an incredible speaker and great activist.
It's funny, some of his amazing ability to narrate a struggle is present in "Burning Rage" but it often read like a record. That's a really useful tool-- so often the Left is organizing in crisis mode and don't have the time or energy to account for our work. However, stylistically, a little more prose would have been welcome.
This is not a book for the uninitiated. It seemed to me that Craig had made a conscious choice to write for an activist audience that already understands radical environmentalism. It's a valuable book for the initiated. Not only does he offer us a piece of our own history but he raises really important questions of how to organize and resist effectively, how to resist governmental repression, how to reflect, and grow. Again, I think so many of us are so engaged in the task at hand that we don't stop for a project like this and after reading Craig's book, I think more of us should!
Currently reading
August 21, 2009wonderful first-hand experience of former NAELF press director Craig Rosebraugh and his indirect involvement with Earth Liberation Front actions in North America. Also explores his many confrontations with the Feds who were constantly in search of ELF members involved in subversive actions against "earth rapers." Wonderful book and very informative about a non-violent eco-activist group who have caused hundreds of millions in damages without taking a single human or animal life.
July 12, 2015
as of this review, this book is 11 years old. the events and issues that rosenbraugh discusses are even more timely now. the author is open and honest on the events described. his breakdown of the issues concerning gm crops and the corrupt corporate/govt system was ahead of the curve.
September 14, 2020
Although my politics have changed somewhat dramatically and I now disagree strongly with some of the conclusions in this book that lead away from mass action politics, it is well-constructed and is worth reading to learn more about tactics and strategies used in the not-distant past.
“As of this writing, the popular environmental movement in the United States has been active for over 30 years, during which time the level of environmental destruction has continued to increase.”
“As of this writing, the popular environmental movement in the United States has been active for over 30 years, during which time the level of environmental destruction has continued to increase.”
January 23, 2024
More of a memoir of Rosebraugh’s involvement than a deep dive into the ELF. Regardless, still an interesting read and it does provide insight into the emergence of the ELF, particular government actions that attempted to stop it, and questions about direct action tactics. This book does aim to support the ideology and actions of the ELF, so those reading should keep that in mind.
April 15, 2020
Dear FBI. I enjoyed this book but am not a member!
May 25, 2011
http://www.politicalmediareview.org/2...
Craig Rosebraugh was spokesperson for the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and eventually and predominantly, for the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) from 1997-2001. In Burning Rage of a Dying Planet, Rosebraugh weaves his personal history with activism in Animal rights & Animal liberation with the history of the ALF and ELF. He began receiving anonymous communiqué’s from the ALF and ELF describing the motivations for their economic sabotage against institutions deemed threats towards animals and ecoshttp://www.goodreads.com/user/show/47....
Presuming these communiqués were being sent to him so that he could disseminate and describe the motivations for the underground actions, Rosebraugh becomes an informal above-ground spokesperson for the ELF. Acting as an intermediary between the anonymous, autonomous cells of the ELF and “the public”, his role was to relay that their actions were meticulously researched, logically compelling, ecologically necessary, well-planned, usually directly effective and had caused harm only to property and profits, but never to life. He often attempted to show that the ecological destruction caused by greed for control of property and profit by industries and government made such targets deserving of these actions. In doing so, he discretely (and sometimes overtly) challenges us to question our definitions of violence and assumptions about acceptable tactics of resistance. This is done, however, from more of a research, logical and autobiographical method rather than by conceptual or philosophical probing.
Indirectly highlighting his contribution to the spread of the ELF, Rosebraugh states that “the primary way in which an organization such as the ELF can grow is through the spread of its ideology.” “New cells can be created only if the ideology reaches and appeals to more people.” (Rosebraugh: 120). He sees his role in this context as multifunctional: disseminate the ideology of the ELF (in turn, spreading ELF actions), provide context to their actions, and not only force issues such as Habitat destruction, logging, genetic engineering, urban sprawl and Animal testing into public consciousness, but do so from a radical, uncompromising and biocentric perspective. From the time of the first communiqué’s until around 2001, the ELF in the United States had evolved from a relatively localized set of militant direct action & sabotage throughout the Pacific Northwest to a nation-wide and now international movement.
In describing their actions, Rosebraugh highlights how in many situations, legal, peaceful and socially acceptable actions and forms of resistance to ecological destruction had failed to effectively stop destructive projects. Yet, despite their effectiveness, ELF actions only polarized the environmentalist community-a weakness, he notes, that is frequently exploited by the authorities. By sharing his research into the actions of the ELF, he informs the reader about not only the actions themselves and their implications, but the larger context in which they took place. Not only do we learn his personal history and the history of ELF actions, but we get well-researched introductions to several pressing issues regarding environmental justice & ethics.
As Rosebraugh becomes further entangled in publicly defending the militant economic sabotage of the ELF through the North American Earth Liberation Front Press Office (NAELFPO), government repression steps up. Every step of the way- grand juries, harassment, strategically timed raids and constant surveillance haunt Rosebraugh; and for his trouble the readers also get some valuable lessons in security culture, police tactics and legal defense.
As the primary spokesperson for a growing movement labeled as the most dangerous domestic terrorist threat in the United States, the pressure of being ELF’s public defender as well as other concerns convince Rosebraugh to step aside from his position. He notes the potential contradiction in being the spokesperson for an anonymous, autonomous, militant direct action movement, and of the need for there to be more public defenders of Earth Liberation tactics in general.
Some literature whose material heavily overlap with Burning Rage:
Earth Liberation Front 1997-2002 by Leslie James Pickering
Igniting a Revolution: Voices In Defense of the Earth by Steven Best & Anthony J. Nocella II (editors)
Terrorists or Freedom Fighters? Reflection on the Liberation of Animals by Anthony J. Nocella II & Steven Best
Confessions of an Eco Warrior by Dave Foreman
Flaming Arrows: A Compliation of Works by Rod Coronado.
Ecological Resistance Movements: The Global Emergence of Radical and Popular Environmentalism by Bron Raymond Taylor
Craig Rosebraugh was spokesperson for the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and eventually and predominantly, for the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) from 1997-2001. In Burning Rage of a Dying Planet, Rosebraugh weaves his personal history with activism in Animal rights & Animal liberation with the history of the ALF and ELF. He began receiving anonymous communiqué’s from the ALF and ELF describing the motivations for their economic sabotage against institutions deemed threats towards animals and ecoshttp://www.goodreads.com/user/show/47....
Presuming these communiqués were being sent to him so that he could disseminate and describe the motivations for the underground actions, Rosebraugh becomes an informal above-ground spokesperson for the ELF. Acting as an intermediary between the anonymous, autonomous cells of the ELF and “the public”, his role was to relay that their actions were meticulously researched, logically compelling, ecologically necessary, well-planned, usually directly effective and had caused harm only to property and profits, but never to life. He often attempted to show that the ecological destruction caused by greed for control of property and profit by industries and government made such targets deserving of these actions. In doing so, he discretely (and sometimes overtly) challenges us to question our definitions of violence and assumptions about acceptable tactics of resistance. This is done, however, from more of a research, logical and autobiographical method rather than by conceptual or philosophical probing.
Indirectly highlighting his contribution to the spread of the ELF, Rosebraugh states that “the primary way in which an organization such as the ELF can grow is through the spread of its ideology.” “New cells can be created only if the ideology reaches and appeals to more people.” (Rosebraugh: 120). He sees his role in this context as multifunctional: disseminate the ideology of the ELF (in turn, spreading ELF actions), provide context to their actions, and not only force issues such as Habitat destruction, logging, genetic engineering, urban sprawl and Animal testing into public consciousness, but do so from a radical, uncompromising and biocentric perspective. From the time of the first communiqué’s until around 2001, the ELF in the United States had evolved from a relatively localized set of militant direct action & sabotage throughout the Pacific Northwest to a nation-wide and now international movement.
In describing their actions, Rosebraugh highlights how in many situations, legal, peaceful and socially acceptable actions and forms of resistance to ecological destruction had failed to effectively stop destructive projects. Yet, despite their effectiveness, ELF actions only polarized the environmentalist community-a weakness, he notes, that is frequently exploited by the authorities. By sharing his research into the actions of the ELF, he informs the reader about not only the actions themselves and their implications, but the larger context in which they took place. Not only do we learn his personal history and the history of ELF actions, but we get well-researched introductions to several pressing issues regarding environmental justice & ethics.
As Rosebraugh becomes further entangled in publicly defending the militant economic sabotage of the ELF through the North American Earth Liberation Front Press Office (NAELFPO), government repression steps up. Every step of the way- grand juries, harassment, strategically timed raids and constant surveillance haunt Rosebraugh; and for his trouble the readers also get some valuable lessons in security culture, police tactics and legal defense.
As the primary spokesperson for a growing movement labeled as the most dangerous domestic terrorist threat in the United States, the pressure of being ELF’s public defender as well as other concerns convince Rosebraugh to step aside from his position. He notes the potential contradiction in being the spokesperson for an anonymous, autonomous, militant direct action movement, and of the need for there to be more public defenders of Earth Liberation tactics in general.
Some literature whose material heavily overlap with Burning Rage:
Earth Liberation Front 1997-2002 by Leslie James Pickering
Igniting a Revolution: Voices In Defense of the Earth by Steven Best & Anthony J. Nocella II (editors)
Terrorists or Freedom Fighters? Reflection on the Liberation of Animals by Anthony J. Nocella II & Steven Best
Confessions of an Eco Warrior by Dave Foreman
Flaming Arrows: A Compliation of Works by Rod Coronado.
Ecological Resistance Movements: The Global Emergence of Radical and Popular Environmentalism by Bron Raymond Taylor
April 1, 2010
I read only about half of this book and then skimmed some of the rest.
I liked this book because it conveyed very well how the ELF (and probably the ALF) actually work. It's not a secret organization. There is no central organization or ideology. People just get mad and then do stuff, mostly illegal. I admire the passion of the people involved. Evidently the author becomes a spokesperson for the group despite having never really participated in their actions (the really illegal ones, anyway), and not even knowing who the persons were. In fact, not knowing the people who actually committed the actions is a plus for being the spokesperson, since even if the FBI has captured the person and administers truth serum (or whatever) they can't implicate the guilty parties.
I do not identify with the ELF or ALF, not so much because of the violence / nonviolence issue -- the ELF actions were against property -- but for other reasons. It seems an odd way to build a movement in such a chaotic way, and the author documents very well the kind of problems this level of disorganization creates. Also, there is no need to inflict further "damage" to "the system." The system is apparently going to implode of its own accord; this process has already started. The October 2008 financial crisis, just by itself, inflicted more damage than the ELF could ever hope to do, and there's more on the way. Stay tuned.
I liked this book because it conveyed very well how the ELF (and probably the ALF) actually work. It's not a secret organization. There is no central organization or ideology. People just get mad and then do stuff, mostly illegal. I admire the passion of the people involved. Evidently the author becomes a spokesperson for the group despite having never really participated in their actions (the really illegal ones, anyway), and not even knowing who the persons were. In fact, not knowing the people who actually committed the actions is a plus for being the spokesperson, since even if the FBI has captured the person and administers truth serum (or whatever) they can't implicate the guilty parties.
I do not identify with the ELF or ALF, not so much because of the violence / nonviolence issue -- the ELF actions were against property -- but for other reasons. It seems an odd way to build a movement in such a chaotic way, and the author documents very well the kind of problems this level of disorganization creates. Also, there is no need to inflict further "damage" to "the system." The system is apparently going to implode of its own accord; this process has already started. The October 2008 financial crisis, just by itself, inflicted more damage than the ELF could ever hope to do, and there's more on the way. Stay tuned.
February 14, 2012
This is a pretty good look into the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) from a former press officer who stepped up to publicize the group's actions.
It has a first-hand story of Rosebraugh's experience with communiques from the ELF mixed in.
It has a first-hand story of Rosebraugh's experience with communiques from the ELF mixed in.
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August 16, 2012new
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews