During the nineteen eighties Animal Rights and Environmental groups sprang up and became a popular way to protest against the abuses and neglect by humanity, government(s), real estate developers and industry against nature and the natural environment. Since several industries and many corporations stood to lose face and business by becoming targets of public scorn or boycotts generated by Animal and Ecological groups, it is not surprising that industry and the government(s) began to fight back. It is and was a modern-day David and Goliath, only this time the bad guys are likely to prevail. In the subtle public relations battle waged by developers, industry, government(s), and corporations against the supposed threat posed by responsible individuals who care about the seemingly expendable (until recently) natural environment, such tactics as the following have been used: Filing so-called Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP suits) to sabotage freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of expression rights, etc.; The draconian PATRIOT ACT changed the definition of 'terrorist' to whatever the government wants it to be; And the coining of the label 'Ecoterrorist' as a cynical attempt to turn the public against those so-called 'kooks' who dare to care about nature and the natural environment.;;which is all-too often considered exploitable and expendable by developers, corporations, government(s) and industry. Big business and government are usually overly concerned with keeping the so-called Bottom Line In the Black no matter what the cost, especially permanent change to animal habitats and the environment. Sure, a small percentage of environmentalists may be criminals and 'the ends justify the means' terrorists, but I would wager very few of us are that way. (to be cont'd)
[The original version of this essay first appeared in my unpublished manuscript "In Mediocrity We Trust... In Debt We Die" And Other Essays and also appeared in my political blog "Rage Against the [Bush] Regime".]
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