[.uk] Ecodefense: A Field Guide to Monkeywrenching (ISBN 0963775103)

Do the ends justify the means?:
This book is actually banned in Australia, as I unsderstand. I'm sure Australia is not the only country where sales and publication of the book are illegal. Do you want to know why? I think this book is exceptionally well written, thorough, smart and interesting even for those who are not about to run around Texas with bolt cutters. It is a straight forward manual for how to prevent corporate greed (among other modern ills) from destroying this nation's remaining wilderness through acts that would be best described as sabotage, or as the "authors" call it, ecotage. The book gives you all you need to know about how to do it and how not to get caught doing it. I think the chapter on spiking trees was amazing. The morality of the methods the authors suggest is questionable, however. The actions described are illegal and thus a lot of the book deals with security and hiding the "monkeywrencher's" identity. From dealing with guard dogs to giving anonymous interviews, this book is a comprehensive how to for covert illegal activities. This book is the kind of thing that could have been read by the Unabomber when he planned his attacks, except that the book constantly reinforces the idea that violent means against humans should never be employed and that great care should be taken to avoid harm to human life. However, virtually everything the authors suggest could lead to injury or death, the way sabotage often does. (The suggestion to spike roads used by ORVs, for example.) I think if you are a mature and responsible adult you can read this book and enjoy it without being driven to carry out any of the acts described therein. But beware that this is one of those books that the FBI is interested in, along with the people who read it. I would not go so far as to classify Ecodefense a "how-to for terrorism," the way some in corporate America and the FBI may want to. Unfortunately the corporations have plenty of money to contribute to politicians who then direct the FBI towards such an incindiary mind set. In fact, I think the word terrorism is tossed about too carelessly these days. It makes one wonder how the book would read if it was written in 2002 rather than 1985. The book is moderate in tone, non-violent and certainly not extremist in any sense. This is not the Turner Diaries or similar lunacy. However, it describes acts that mostly constitute the illegal destruction of private property, and while the cause may be just, and the ends may be virtuous, I think there are better and more legal means for activists to employ. This book focusses on methods and assumes you already have the mindset to follow through. In that sense it reads more interestingly and it doesn't waste time giving the authors' political motivations or justifications.

Some Good Ideas:
I came across this book while researching eco-terrorism in Alberta's oil patch. The book, actually a loose collection of sabotage ideas by varied contributors, offers an intriguing insight into the methodology and ideology of 'earth defenders' in the war to protect natural spaces.

Most important monkeywrenching guide...:
This is the most important book when it comes to ecodefense. Our planet needs underground warriors to halt production. This book has it all... what; where; when; how; why; This is the one book that all of the others refer too when discussing tree spiking, or lock picking, or large machinary dismanteling... etc. It was a fine read, and great reference. And full of motivational works. I would recommend this book to anybody ready to get out there and start protecting their landbase... GO MONKEYWRENCHING!

Another Book From The Terribly Misinformed:
Anti-Hunters, treehuggers & the "eco" crowd are some of the most misinformed people on this planet. They ignore real facts. If you would do your research, you would actually find that it's the hunters, trappers and fishermen that PAY the most for actual wildlife preservation and habitat maintenance and who truly CARE the most about wildlife. It was trappers that re-introduced the timber wolves to Yellowstone National Park with, guess what? Foot hold traps. It was trappers who reintroduced the river otter in Indiana, with what? Foot hold traps. It's the sportsmen who hunt wild game and fish that maintain the healthly numbers of wild game. It's because of sportsmen that wild animals thrive and their numbers continue to grow through effective wild life management (which IS necessary). But listening to the anti's and they'll try to convince you that wild animals are on their last leg and getting ready to fall off the face of the earth? And where do they get their information? Your guess is as good as mine because they sure don't get it from the facts. The mentality that since the majority of Americans don't hunt means that the majority is against it is absolutely ludicrous. More people live in larger cities now then ever. With constant expansion and growing technologies, Americans have more to do now than ever before. So just because someone may not hunt or fish, does NOT mean they are against it. The majority of Americans don't snow ski either. I'd be willing to bet that less Americans snow ski than hunt. So with the majority mentality that the anti's prescribe to, that must mean that the majority of Americans are against snow skiing and it should be banned. To end I'd just like to say that reading a book like this truly only further mis-educates you. By the way, "monkey wrenching" legally set traps, etc. is against the law. Going to jail doesn't make you a hero, just a criminal.

A must for monkeywrenchers:
The do-it-yourself guide to monkeywrenching. Guarunteed to give you many sleepless nights. If you don't have a copy, get one today.