When I was in Portland, Oregon, I sat down with the nice folks at Because We Must to film a video interview about my work, and some of the lessons learned from the corporate-led war on dissent as “terrorism.”

We filmed it in this beautiful park, and our discussion of a pretty dark topic was interrupted at one point by bald eagles cutting lines through the sky. The three of us all looked at each other after being hit with the same reminder: this is all worth fighting for.

I think this video turned out really well (and I love the Godspeed in the background — that album was on repeat many late nights writing the book). It’s really an honor to me that folks spend their time and energy producing things like this. I don’t think I say this nearly enough, but thank you all for listening to what I have to say.

Interview with Will Potter from Because We Must on Vimeo:

We are are excited to post our interview with our good friend Will Potter. Will runs the very informative blog Green is The New Red and is also the author of the recent book ‘Green Is the New Red: An Insiders Account Of A Social Movement Under Siege’. Will focuses on how the animal rights, and earth liberation movements have been targeted by the Government and labeled as ‘eco-terrorists’ and how dangerous this is for all social justice movements, present and future. After watching the interview, we would love it if you shared it with comrades, friends and family!

Every activist should know sht the FBI says.

I tried to resist. I really did. But when I jokingly posted on the GreenIsTheNewRed Facebook page that I wanted to make a “Sh*t the FBI Says” video, ya’ll went nuts about the idea.

Like the videos that started the trend, it’s pretty goofy. But sadly, it’s all based on statements the FBI has made in court, in the press, or to activists themselves (I’ve heard quite a few of these myself).

So on a serious note…

After you watch the video, please check out this great Know Your Rights booklet.

Thanks to Chris, Greg, Michael, Shannon, Brad and everyone else who helped out in the f-f-freezing cold. Please like this on YouTube or Facebook if you think they should wear the fake mustaches every day.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here are some of the articles that inspired this video:

* “FBI Looking for Informants to Infiltrate Vegan Potlucks”

* “Eric McDavid Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison as a Terrorist”

* “FBI: “Eco-terrorists” Are Bigger Threat Than Osama bin Laden, Hate Crimes, and Attempts to Assassinate Obama”

* Jordan Halliday prohibited with associating with the “Vegan Straight Edge”

* “Activist Secretly Videotapes FBI Visit”

* “IRS Suicide Pilot Is Not a ‘Terrorist,’ But Environmental Activists Are?”

* “FBI Harasses Sociology Professor Who Has Spoken Against Labeling His Student a ‘Terrorist’”

* “Discussion of Government Surveillance of Activists with Will Potter, Former FBI Agent, ACLU and More”

The Rumpus is one of my favorite websites on all of the Internetz. It’s a smart, sharp, literary site, and it was a treat to speak with Caroline Paul about my new book.

Here’s an intro from Caroline:

In 2007, I was put on Homeland Security’s Watch List. True, my brother had just been arrested. He had been a member of the underground Animal Liberation Front, freeing wild mustangs, mink, and lab animals for nigh on twenty years. But the Watch List? Me? Isn’t that for terrorists? It didn’t fully make sense until I picked up Will Potter’s book.

I was eager to speak to Potter, whose Green is the New Red: An Insider’s Account of a Social Movement Under Siege shows how the US government is colluding with corporate America to suppress animal and environmental activism of all stripes.

Please head over to The Rumpus and check out the full interview, then pass it on if you like it. Thanks!

Grist.org is featuring a discussion I had with Robert Jensen, who is a journalism professor at the University of Texas at Austin and author of Citizens of the Empire (among many books). I think the interview turned out really well, and is particularly relevant in the wake of Tim DeChristopher’s sentencing. I hope you’ll check it out. You can read the full interview on Grist, and here’s an excerpt:

Q. Whatever one thinks of the specific analyses or tactics of groups such as the Earth Liberation Front, the accelerating pace of ecological collapse suggests their call to consciousness about the larger living world is more important than ever. After your investigation into the Green Scare, what is your assessment of the likelihood the culture will listen?

A. As the scale of the ecological crisis we are facing becomes more apparent, and as the backlash against social movements that are challenging our self-destructive culture intensifies, it is difficult to not feel dark, to feel helpless. I certainly feel that way quite often — not just because of the content of my own work, but from the near-blackout in the mainstream press. Unfortunately, I do not see any of this changing anytime soon. As the ecological crisis accelerates, the accompanying crackdown by corporations and people in power will intensify as well. The people who have the most to lose will cling desperately to that culture as it is threatened, and this includes not just CEOs but much of the overwhelmingly privileged United States and so-called First World.

After all of that, this will probably sound quite odd, but in the face of this I would argue that there are reasons to be inspired. Through my work, and in particular through book and media tours, I have been fortunate to meet people all over the country from diverse backgrounds. What has been striking to me is that, even if people are unfamiliar with the Green Scare or the targeting of political activists, they are rarely surprised. People may not know the specifics, but they know that corporations have more power than people. They know the scope of ecological destruction is increasing. They know we have no choice but to change but that people in power will not change willingly. I’m not convinced that the question at hand is whether or not the culture will listen, because I think that so many people already feel this. I think the question is: Will we find the courage to be heard?

Jacob Ferguson was the lead arsonist in the Earth Liberation Front cases dubbed “Operation Backfire,” but the heroin addict avoided any prison time by wearing a wire and recording conversations with his former friends that could be used against them in court. By being an informant, Ferguson got a free pass on all of his crimes, and avoided decades in prison.

Ferguson was unable to stay away from heroin, though, and in April he was arrested on drug charges. Now he has been sentenced to five years in prison. He pleaded guilty to manufacturing and selling heroin (he was caught with two grams at his home), possessing cocaine, and neglecting and endangering his 4-year-old daughter.

That 5-year sentence is just for the drug charges, though. Another consequence of his guilty plea is that it means he has violated the conditions of his probation in the ELF cases. In other words, a federal prison sentence will likely be on the horizon. Ferguson– one of the most notorious government informants in recent FBI history– is going to have a difficult time in prison as a well-known “snitch.”

More broadly, Ferguson’s heroin charges should also raise some questions about the type of people the FBI is willing to rely upon in their desperation to convict “eco-terrorists.”

It should also raise some questions about sentencing disparities in the criminal justice system. Ferguson, a drug addict who neglected and endangered his child, was sentenced to 5 years  in prison. Daniel McGowan — one of the people Ferguson informed on, who destroyed property in the name of defending the environment — was sentenced to 7.

Previously: Lead ELF Informant Jake Ferguson Arrested on Drug Charges

In addition to their incredible work day in and day out, the folks at Human Rights Watch also run an international film festival. This year, they are featuring two important films that examine the government’s “domestic terrorism” priorities.

“If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front” tells the story of Daniel McGowan, and “Operation Backfire.” And “Better This World” looks at the case of two Texas activists who were prodded into action by a disturbed government informant named Brandon Darby. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the opportunity to see either of them yet (I’m seeing “Better this World” at SilverDocs, and hope to see “If a Tree Falls” in the next couple weeks), but I have heard great things.

It’s wonderful that a group like Human Rights Watch is raising awareness of these issues, and talking about them on the Human Rights Watch podcast. It reflects a growing public awareness, and a recognition that these aren’t just compelling stories (as mainstream media often has treated them), but that they raise serious questions about human and civil rights.

When Jeff “Free” Luers was sentenced to more than 22 years in prison for his role in setting fire to 3 SUVs, June 11th became an international day of action to show support for Luers, and raise awareness about his case. Luers is out of prison now, but the disproportionate crackdown on environmentalists– including outrageous prison sentences that do not fit the crimes– continues.

Over the next week, there are dozens of events planned around the world to raise awareness about these issues, and about two prisoners in particular who have received particularly harsh sentences. Marie Mason was sentenced to nearly 22 years in prison for her role in two arsons in the name of the Earth Liberation Front. In another case, Eric McDavid was sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison for “conspiracy.” In McDavid’s case it was revealed that the a paid FBI informant had provided the group with bomb-making recipes; at times financed their transportation, food and housing; and poked and prodded the group into action.

Part of the explanation for why Mason and McDavid received such disproportionately harsh sentences is that throughout their traumatic ordeals, even as their friends agreed to cooperate with the government and turn against them, they stood their ground and refused to “name names.” Outrageous prison sentences like this are intended to send a message to the broader environmental movement, and scare people into becoming informants.

At minimum, June 11th is an opportunity to take part in these support events (I’ll list a few, below) and write these prisoners a letter. It’s critical that they receive continued support. However, this is also an opportunity to talk about these issues in your community.

Here are a couple of the events scheduled:

San Francisco: Film screening of “If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front” and an auction. June 11.

New York City: Vegan BBQ and raffle. June 11.

For a full listing of events, visit June11.org.

For more information:

• Supporteric.org
• Supportmariemason.org

The government’s roundup of environmental activists in “Operation Backfire” was only possible because the lead arsonist, Jacob Ferguson, had agreed to wear a wire, travel the country, and prod his friends into talking about the crimes with the Earth Liberation Front.

The government has repeatedly called Ferguson a “hero.” U.S. Attorney Kirk Engdall has said he was “essential” to the largest investigation of the radical environmental movement in U.S. history.

In exchange for doing the government’s work for them, Ferguson, who was involved in about 18 arsons, was sentenced to no jail time and five years probation. In other words, the most prolific arsonist in the history of so-called “eco-terrorism” got a free pass.

But Ferguson was arrested on April 6, 2011, on drug charges and now faces prison time for violating these conditions. Today will be his first probation violation hearing at the Eugene federal courthouse.

I think this is worth highlighting for a few reasons. Ferguson’s drug history is not new information. In fact, the government used this against him in order to pressure him to become an informant. The FBI was well-aware of his personal history, but chose to ignore this because it was the only lead they had in arresting members of the ELF.

This is  yet another example of how far the FBI has been willing to go, and the shady deals that agents are willing to make, in order to secure a victory in the “War on Terrorism.”

Earth Liberation Front prisoner Daniel McGowan has recently been moved to another secretive prison, called a Communications Management Unit, or CMU.

He was previously housed in the CMU in Marion, Illinois, and designated as a “domestic terrorist.” Several weeks ago he was transferred out of that experimental facility, and into general population. Now, he has just been transferred back to a Communications Management Unit, this time to the one in Terre Haute, Indiana.

There are few details I can report at this point about McGowan’s transfer. The most salient point, however, is that neither he nor any of the other CMU prisoners are able to challenge this terrorist designation before they are transferred. And once they arrive at these secretive prisons, which radically restrict their communications with the outside world, they have little recourse.

For an overview of Communications Management Units, and the constitutional concerns they raise, please read:

• “Government Acknowledges Secretive Prisons for “Domestic Terrorists,” Proposes Making Them Permanent“
• 5 Things You Should Know About America’s “Little Guantanamo”

To write McGowan a letter, visit his support website, SupportDaniel.org.