The Earth Liberation Front (ELF) has
been active in the United States officially since 1997, causing
more than $100 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 suffereing 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 Leslie James Pickering traces the
first five years of ELF activity through communiques, underground
newspapers, interviews and news media releases.
The first book to be published on the
ELF, Earth Liberation Front 1997-2002 is a must read for
anyone interested in understanding
the radical environmental movement in the United States and
the birth of a clandestine, underground organization acting
in defense of the planet.
Leslie James Pickering was a founder
and spokesperson for the North American Earth Liberation
Front Press Office,
serving with the organization from early 2000 until
the summer of
2002.
During this period, the Press Office sustained two raids
by the FBI, BATF, and local law enforcement agencies, responded
to over half a dozen grand jury subpoenas, conducted public
presentations, produced booklets, newspapers, magazines,
and
a video on the ELF and handled the public release of communiques
for dozens of the most vital ELF actions.
Through the Press Office, Leslie was
the editor of Resistance, the Journal of the North American
Earth Liberation Front
Press Office, and many other independently produced materials
regarding
the ELF. Leslie has handled countless local, national
and international media inquiries resulting in articles
in
the NY Times, Washington
Times, LA Times, USA Today, Christian Science Monitor,
Rolling Stone, Village Voice, and many more. He has also
conducted
interiews with ABC, NBC, CNN, FOX, CBC, BBC, National
Geographic TV and many others, and has given lectures
at American
University, Lewis & Clark College, Saint Michael's
University, Furman University, Bard College, NYU, Fresno
State, Macalester, University
of West Los Angeles, Princeton, Mercyhurst College, Syracuse
and others.
Leslie has a California High School
Equivalency Diploma, a BA in Community Organizing and Journalism,
and a
MA in History
of American Social Justice Struggles and Journalism
from Goddard College. He lives in his hometown of Buffalo,
NY.
Earth Liberation Front 1997-2002 is available for $17.95 (U.S.).
For bulk quantities and distribution information please email
Arissa Media
Group. |
