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The ELF was classified as the top ''.http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/10/60minutes/main1036067.shtml Their techniques involve served as an unofficial spokesperson for the ELF from 1997 to early September 2001.http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2006/02/334091.shtml However, doubts have been raised about whether Rosebraugh or other unofficial spokespeople for ELF actually have any ties to the group.http://www.laweekly.com/news/news/earth-to-elf-come-in-please/20/ HISTORY The Earth Liberation Front was founded in 1992 in Brighton, England by members of the " Earth First! " environmental movement. The name was derived from the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), a group that uses similar tactics to liberate animals or sabotage companies using them.http://greenfield.fortunecity.com/tree/16/fire.html# In the September–October 1993 issue of the Earth First! Journal, an anonymous article announced the creation of the ELF in England. It said the ELF "is a movement of independently operating eco-saboteurs" that split from the "British EF! movement, which has focused directly on public direct actions." The author noted that, unlike the ALF which seeks publicity, "ELF cells, for security reasons, work without informing the press and do not claim responsibility for actions... The surest way to be done for conspiracy or to attract surveillance or infiltrators is to seek attention." EARTH LIBERATION FRONT IN THE UK In contrast to their US counterparts, the actions of the ELF in the United Kingdom have mainly focused around small, unreported, Covert ecotage, and have fallen short of eco-terrorism or major arson. Such actions are often attributed to the " Elves " and " Pixie s", a Pun on the Acronym . ELF(UK) has never had its own media outlets; instead actions have been reported in EF!(UK) publications such as ''Action Update'' and ''Do or Die!''. Many acts were reported around co-ordinated ''Earth Nights'' or protest camps connected with road-building, airports, or quarrying. Since 1996 virtually no actions have been claimed by the UK ELF, although covert ecotage does continue.http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/cplan/teaching/cpt637/background/article1.pdf ELF GUIDELINES FOR ACTION The Earth Liberation Front has published guidelines for action. These guidelines say: Any direct action to halt the destruction of the environment and adhering to the strict nonviolence guidelines, listed below, can be considered an ELF action. Economic sabotage and property destruction fall within the guidelines.http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=41 #To inflict maximum economic damage on those profiting from the destruction and exploitation of the natural environment. #To reveal to, and to educate the public about the atrocities committed against the earth and all Species that populate it. #To take all necessary precautions against harming life. ACTIONS, POLICE RESPONSE, AND CONVICTIONS See Also: Timeline of Earth Liberation Front actions ELF " Monkeywrenching " has been carried out against facilities and companies involved in Logging , Genetic Engineering , home building, automobile sales, energy production and distribution, and a wide variety of other activities, all charged by ELF with exploiting the environment. Individuals work in autonomous Affinity Groups and are self-funded.http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=41 In late 2005 and early 2006, as part of '' Operation Backfire '', US Grand Juries indicted a total of 18 activists on a range of charges related to "violent acts in the name of animal rights and environmental causes".http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/speeches/mueller012006.htm According to the FBI, many of these acts were carried out on behalf of the ELF.http://www.fbi.gov/page2/jan06/elf012006.htm Although some of those arrested deny any affiliation with the ELF,http://www.indymedia.org/en/2006/01/831928.shtml others, including Rod Coronado, have established ties to the group.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=2&ObjectID=10370129 In late 2006 a number of self-described ELF members pled guilty to arson and other charges in U.S. federal courts. {Link without Title} On November 11, 2006 Joyanna Zacher , Nathan Block , Daniel McGowan and Jonathan Paul pleaded guilty to several eco-sabotage related charges, as part of a global resolution agreement with prosecutors. Judge Ann Aiken presided over the hearings. The change of pleas from the four defendants resolves all current “Operation Backfire” cases in Oregon. {Link without Title} On December 15, 2006 Chelsea Dawn Gerlach and Stanilas Gregory Meyerhoff , pleaded guilty to $20 million worth of arsons committed between 1996 and 2001 by the Eugene-based cell of the ELF known as "The Family". Their fire-bombing of a Vail ski resort resulted in $12 million and the FBI characterized the ELF as the United States' "top domestic terrorism threat". Gerlach has previously pleaded guilty to 18 counts of arson in other attacks, saying she was motivated by "a deep sense of despair and anger at the deteriorating state of the global environment," but adding that she has "since realized the firebombings did more harm than good." Meyerhoff has renounced ELF and pleaded guilty to 54 counts, but is still under indictment in Michigan, Arizona, Washington, Wyoming and California. {Link without Title} The FBI alleged that the group was led by William C. Rodgers , who was arrested in December 2005 and committed suicide in jail just before he was to be transferred to Oregon. Two other ELF members indicted in the Vail arson, Josephine Sunshine Overaker and Rebecca J. Rubin , have not been apprehended. Vail Resorts Inc. has since rebuilt the firebombed lodge. CRITICISM OF ELF The FBI designated the ELF as ", then chairman of the US House Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health, subpoenaed Craig Rosebraugh in an effort to investigate the ELF's activities. On hearing Rosebraugh's testimony, McInnis suggested it was "luck" no one has been killed by an ELF (or ALF) attack.http://www.stopecoviolence.com/pdfs/2_12_02.pdf Referring to the Earth Liberation Front and the Animal Liberation Front , ATF Deputy Assistant Director Carson Carrol has said, "The most worrisome trend to law enforcement and private industry alike has been the increase in willingness by these movements to resort to the use of incendiary and explosive devices."http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/05/19/domestic.terrorism/index.html It has also been claimed the ELF's actions harm the environment, a spokesman for the 's Center for Urban Horticulture in with the aim of disrupting research into Genetic Engineering . However, the targeted researcher was investigating Hybrid ization in Poplar trees, and the resulting fire killed a significant number of endangered plants.http://www.museum-security.org/01/116.html ELF was also featured in commentator Bernard Goldberg 's book 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America as #23, "The Unknown American Terrorist". They were listed and criticised for damaging property and acting like a terrorist group in the name of saving the environment.http://www.philosophistry.com/specials/100-people.html IN POPULAR CULTURE
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