I'm
writing because an opportunity exists for the animal liberation movement to grow
stronger. The most effective tactic we have, I believe, is to forge links, whenever
possible, with empathetic movements. The goal would be to blur the defining lines
until separate movements become unrecognizable. If and when many different
cogs stop turning, the great machine known as America will weaken. Check out the
government's (any) response when different liberation movements "join forces,"
maximizing their effectiveness. When Judi Bari, an Earth First! activist who was
organizing Redwood Summer, an effort to preserve the Redwoods, started organizing
the forest workers as well, her was car bombed. Fortunately she survived,
but much evidence leads us to believe that the FBI assisted or planned the bombing.
What Judi was doing was exposing the roots and causes of an environmental/worker
split. Should we preserve ecology or create jobs? It was the media's simplistic,
sports-like dichotomy and it was being shattered. Witness the article "Feds
Visit Canadian Activist" (No Compromise #5, Dec.,1996.) The activist describes
the RCMP's paranoia of activists involved with both Anti-Racist Action (ARA) and
the A.L.F. Europe is experiencing a commonality developing between anti-fascist
activists and the anti-vivisection crew. This is not implying that one should
drop their good work and join 18 different organizations. No way. The work we
do for the animals and wilderness is already volumes more than we can handle. I
am simply stating the need for an increased awareness of common interests: often
their fight is our fight. This awareness will be reflected in our thoughts and
actions. Reflect on the fact that animals are legally "property" under
U.S. law. So too were African-Americans and, to some extent, women. Self-determination
is still not a reality for these groups. I also must mention (and I know
that I'm not telling you anything new) the simple fact that any struggle for the
environment is a struggle for the animals, be it anti-nuclear, anti-car or forest
defense. Earth First!, for the most part, should be considered allies. The ridiculousness
of a goose-hunting protest (in '94) where protesters drove their toxic, fume-spewing,
earth-killing machines (cars) through the park while honking is self-evident. Concerning
tactics, remember to always support the (effective) non-militant activities. Equally
as critical as smashing laboratories and fur farms is teaching elementary school
kids vegetarianism and respect for ecology. McDonald's and factory farms would
become obsolete if we could avert the next generation from becoming insensitive,
unconscious, meat-munching automatons, right? | 
