Comments on: Yale Law School Event on the Green Scare http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/2007/01/25/yale-law-school-event-on-the-green-scare/ Will Potter reports on “eco-terrorism” witch hunts and the Green Scare, including: The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, Earth Liberation Front, Animal Liberation Front, Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty, and civil liberties. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:09:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Denise http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/2007/01/25/yale-law-school-event-on-the-green-scare/comment-page-1/#comment-6387 Denise Wed, 31 Jan 2007 16:45:22 +0000 http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/2007/01/25/yale-law-school-event-on-the-green-scare/#comment-6387 good article: AETA and the New Green Scare Are You the Terrorist Next Door? By CHARLOTTE LAWS I was an ordinary American until November 27, 2006 when I became a terrorist or more accurately what I call a "stand-by terrorist." Perhaps I cannot truly own this newfound nickname until the government decides to prosecute me for word crimes, if that day ever arrives. Until then, I just think of myself as being on stand-by, just as are most--if not all--Americans, whether they realize it or not. You may wonder how words can amount to a terrorist act in the land of the free and home of the outspoken. It is not widely known, but Congress recently passed legislation called the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA), which can be used to prosecute civil disobedience and speech as "domestic terrorism" when an animal-related business loses profits and property. The Act also protects corporations that pollute and destroy the environment. You may ask, what does this have to do with me because I'm no nature fan or animal lover? Well, it could eventually have very much to do with you because the AETA"a natural child of the Patriot Act"is likely to be the first of many assaults on the social justice movement in favor of corporations and other moneyed interests. If you think you may want to use your free speech someday to criticize something, anything, then you had better be very concerned. You should also be concerned about whether law enforcement protects you from the Bin Ladens of the world or fritters away your hard-earned tax dollars investigating pacifists. The American Civil Liberties Union says the FBI uses "counterterrorism resources to monitor and infiltrate (nonviolent) domestic political organizations that criticize business interests and government policies." An FBI special agent recently told me that planting undercover agents at legal, peaceful events"with hopes that they will somehow learn about illegal activities--is a favored tactic of the bureau. What are the parameters of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act and who could be tangled in its web, slapped with prison time and branded a terrorist? Could Oprah Winfrey--the beloved and successful talk show host"and her former vegetarian guest, Howard Lyman, be prosecuted as terrorists if they were to repeat anti-beef comments made to Winfrey's 15 million viewers in 1996? continues>> http://www.counterpunch.org/laws01262007.html good article:

AETA and the New Green Scare
Are You the Terrorist Next Door?
By CHARLOTTE LAWS

I was an ordinary American until November 27, 2006 when I became a terrorist or more accurately what I call a “stand-by terrorist.” Perhaps I cannot truly own this newfound nickname until the government decides to prosecute me for word crimes, if that day ever arrives. Until then, I just think of myself as being on stand-by, just as are most–if not all–Americans, whether they realize it or not.

You may wonder how words can amount to a terrorist act in the land of the free and home of the outspoken. It is not widely known, but Congress recently passed legislation called the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA), which can be used to prosecute civil disobedience and speech as “domestic terrorism” when an animal-related business loses profits and property. The Act also protects corporations that pollute and destroy the environment.

You may ask, what does this have to do with me because I’m no nature fan or animal lover? Well, it could eventually have very much to do with you because the AETA”a natural child of the Patriot Act”is likely to be the first of many assaults on the social justice movement in favor of corporations and other moneyed interests. If you think you may want to use your free speech someday to criticize something, anything, then you had better be very concerned.

You should also be concerned about whether law enforcement protects you from the Bin Ladens of the world or fritters away your hard-earned tax dollars investigating pacifists. The American Civil Liberties Union says the FBI uses “counterterrorism resources to monitor and infiltrate (nonviolent) domestic political organizations that criticize business interests and government policies.” An FBI special agent recently told me that planting undercover agents at legal, peaceful events”with hopes that they will somehow learn about illegal activities–is a favored tactic of the bureau.

What are the parameters of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act and who could be tangled in its web, slapped with prison time and branded a terrorist? Could Oprah Winfrey–the beloved and successful talk show host”and her former vegetarian guest, Howard Lyman, be prosecuted as terrorists if they were to repeat anti-beef comments made to Winfrey’s 15 million viewers in 1996?

continues>>
http://www.counterpunch.org/laws01262007.html

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