Thanks for your responses.
I've edited the preface to the article link below due to the "shoot the messenger" response . I posted this article relating to a small portion of it to point out some freedom of speech issues which are being compromised each amd every day using "terrorism" as a means of silencing non violent dissent . I do not agree with violent action. So just ignore the article and take this as my meaning since it does not seem to be coming through. Obviously wrong article, but just to reiterate I'm not responsible for the article content . They are not my views, they are the views of the author.
I personally do not agree with violence as a way of pushing any issue. My point, is that it is apparent that governments are creating more and more laws under the guise of stopping "terrorism" to gain more control and destroy civil liberties and assist multinationals. They make laws based on the violent actions of a small non reprentative group of animal activist and then they extend and misuse those laws, little by little, to infringe on all animal activists groups (non violent) and eco groups. They do this because multinationals have the Government in their hip pocket.
Ironically, the same governments who make the terrorism laws, are the same governments who overthrow other governments violently, install dictators that will comply, and if they do not, they invade the country, economically imperialise their resources and call it "spreading freedom" and "wealth creation". It is the same governments who unethically trade with China that has an atrocious human and non human animal rights record and is fast becoming *the* economic power. This means any country that trades with China condones these violations. It means that non human animal rights will be of very little concern to most countries who are entangled in trade with China. Human rights violations will be overlooked as well; Tibetans and all the 250,000 or more people who are being tortured in Chinese "re-education" gulags.
The particular animal rights activists mentioned in the article who choose violence are an exception to the general animal rights movement that choose direct NON violent action. The US laws and probably soon to be Australian laws will be manipulated to quash *any* dissent from any NON VIOLENT animal rights group (non violent). Governments will stretch the law's meanings, make amendments and misuse them as they do with the terrorism laws already, eg detaining & deporting Scott Parkin, US peace activist recently.
Governments, particularly of late, have been misusing "terrorism" laws and creating paranoia as a means of dismantling democracy. In Australia recently Scott Parkin, a US peace activist was detained in Australia and then deported under the new terrorism laws. Animal welfare groups in Australia are being threatened with withdrawal of government funding if they have any anti-government campaigns eg RSPCA. The new "preventative" detention laws and the new workplace labour laws are just some of many ways to control. disempower, stop dissent and weaken what little is left of democracy, or the semblence of it. Free trade also weakens rights.
If I can digress for a moment to terrorism issues in general. The Australian government continues to deny that the upsurge of terrorism has anything to do with the illegal invasion of Iraq. Even blind Freddy can see that the more we are blindly following the US, the more we make ourselves a target. Also, the more we abandon the environment, human rights etc for greed and economic growth, trade at any cost etc we are all the poorer for it. One thing that seems to be missing entirely is any government questioning why terrorism is occuring or even considering talking to any groups. There is no attempt it would appear to me, to start some dialogue.
The US Governments, with lobbying from right wing anti animal rights groups like Committee for Consumer Freedom (CCF) is attempting to use those few activist's acts of violence to smear all groups, and to lobby to develop laws to encroach on all animal activists groups and reduce their power, particularly PETA. The US government assists multinationals also to circumvent animal welfare by moving industries to countries who have poor animal rights standards. Primate research will be moved to China's large primate research facilities because China has a lower standard of animal rights. Outsourcing of cruelty is common.
The use of "terrorism" in law is fast dismantling dissent in Australia and the US and is weakening the efficacy of social justice groups and non human animal rights activist groups who are trying to make change in a non violent legal way.
Here are a few quotes which are appropriate to the economic imperialists of the day:
"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been murderers and tyrants, and for a time they can seem invincible. But in the end they always fall. Think of this always". -- Mahatma Gandhi
"In order to rally people, governments need enemies. They want us to be afraid, to hate, so we will rally behind them. And if they do not have a real enemy, they will invent one in order to mobilize us. - Thich Nhat Hanh
"Without debate, without criticism, no administration and no country can succeed and no republic can survive." John F. Kennedy
"When the government fears the people, you have liberty. When the people fear the government, you have tyranny." Thomas Jefferson
"No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots." Barbara Ehrenreich
I hope that this makes more sense. Just ignore the article, and take this as my meaning from a small section of it.
From AL NSW:
STEPPING UP THE ATTACK ON GREEN ACTIVISTS (US)
By Kelly Hearn, AlterNet