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New group aims to stop eco-terrorism By PAUL FATTIG Mail Tribune Don't be fooled by the relative tranquillity in the Northwest woods, said Kelly Stoner. "It's only a matter of time before someone is injured or killed," warned the executive director of the newly formed Stop Eco-Violence! (SEV), an Oregon-based group founded to stop terrorism in the name of the environment. "Eco-terrorism is an issue that extends far beyond natural resources," she added. "We intend to expose the true nature of eco-terrorism, and the social and economic costs of this terrorism." Stoner, a former media relations director for Louisiana-Pacific Corp., said the nonprofit group is launching a public awareness campaign across the state and beyond. It also intends to monitor and investigate eco-terrorists, she said. "The Pacific Northwest has been the traditional hotbed for eco-terrorists," she said. As evidence, she noted that it was only a year ago - May 21, 2001 - that eco-terrorists bombed the University of Washington's Center for Urban Horticulture in Seattle as well as an experimental tree farm in Clatskanie. The extremist Earth Liberation Front claimed responsibility for both bombings. It also claimed credit for the Jan. 2, 2001, fire-bombing of the Superior Lumber Co. office in Glendale, which police say caused more than $400,000 in damage. In addition, ELF has taken credit for the 1999 Christmas Day fire that destroyed a $1 million Boise Cascade Corp. office in Monmouth and a blaze that gutted the two-story Medford headquarters of U.S. Forest Industries on Dec. 28, 1998. That fire caused $500,000 damage. The ELF is an international underground organization that uses economic sabotage to stop alleged environmental destruction. The FBI describes ELF as one of the nation's leading domestic terrorist organizations. Since 1994, ELF and a sister organization known as the Animal Liberation Front have claimed credit for 16 acts of arson or sabotage, including eight in Oregon. The acts have been against resorts, timber companies, hybrid tree farms, luxury homes and SUV dealers. "We believe it's time to speak out," Stoner said. "No one has been speaking out in behalf of the victims, whether they are in academia or business." But Steve Marsden, a longtime environmental activist and executive director of the Siskiyou Regional Education Project based in the Illinois Valley, questions the group's creation. "In my opinion, they don't have any interest in the environment," he said. "They are anti-environment. This is another fringe group with a right-wing agenda." Eco-terrorist activity already was waning before international terrorists struck on Sept. 11, he noted. "No one in the legitimate conservation community endorses this kind of stuff," he said of eco-terrorism. "The American public certainly doesn't support it. "We've been doing this long enough to know those kinds of things are harmful to protecting the environment," he added. "I can't see what the point is, besides raising some money from large companies." David Hill, executive vice president of the Southern Oregon Timber Industries Association, disagreed. "It has been quiet for the last year or so, but I suspect it is still a problem," he said. "Eco-terrorism still needs to be dealt with, in terms of resolving past actions and being prepared for it returning." No arrests have yet been made in either the Glendale or Medford firebombing cases, he observed. "It's still a problem," he said. "I'm not sure how much 9-11 had to do with tempering the activities of local extremists. I like to think they are somewhat rational but they are probably not." Although Stoner noted her former ties to the timber industry, she said the group doesn't have an agenda other than to halt eco-terrorism. "We're here to talk only about criminal activity," she said. "Unfortunately, these eco-terrorists have generally been thought of as pranksters. There is a lot of sympathy and support out there for them by the general public. "These are very savvy criminals," she said. "A lot of the eco-terrorist crimes have gone unsolved." While the Sept. 11 attack did make the American public conscious of what terrorists can do, most people need to be educated about the problems of eco-terrorism, she said. Her group is building a broad-based coalition to garner support for more aggressive legislative and law enforcement action to stop eco-terrorism, she said. "We don't support the industry nor do we condemn non-violent environmental activism," she said, later adding, "We believe bringing into this coalition environmentalists. We believe that by opening up a dialogue we can address this issue." However, she declined to name the individuals, groups and firms who are supporting the coalition. "...Those criminals who commit acts of eco-terrorism have made it clear that they will not hesitate to attack anyone who stands in their way," she said. "We simply will not put our donors' safety at risk." The group will serve as a central clearinghouse for information about eco-terrorist activities, conduct independent investigations and work with law enforcement, business and public officials to more effectively apprehend, prosecute and punish eco-terrorists, she said. Its database will be made available to news organizations, law enforcement, legislators and other public officials, she said. For additional information on SEV, check out its Web site at www.stopecoviolence.com. Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.