From: eugene@amelia.nas.nasa.gov (Eugene N. Miya)
Subject: [l/m 4/15/92] Eco-warriors		Distilled Wisdom (22/28) XYZ
Followup-To: poster
Organization: NAS Program, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 92 12:20:13 GMT
Reply-To: eugene@amelia.nas.nasa.gov (Eugene N. Miya)

Panel 22

This note is not an endorsement of certain techniques which might
be construded as illegal.  It is provided purely for informational
and amusement purposes only.

From Dave Foreman

Strategic Monkeywrenching:
Monkeywrench alone or with few and absolutely trusted partners.
Keep a low profile
Avoid sporting "Hayduke Lives" bumperstickers or patches or other visible
emblems.
Keep "Ecodefense" out of sight.
Keep a closed mouth.
Do not draw media attention.
Avoid targeting national security-related targets or major industrial
facilities.
Avoid those who talk about monkeywrenching.
Avoid or ostracize lunatics, advocates of violences, or immature, macho
bigmouths.
Minimize the use of monkeywrenching techniques that might be characterized as
"violent."
Avoid public statements or writing that can be construed as advocating
violence.
Be willing to disavow stupid acts.
Avoid the use or possession of illegal drugs.

Remember:
Monkeywrenching is nonviolent.
Monkeywrenching is not organizaed.
Monkeywrenching is individual.
Monkeywrenching is targeted.
Monkeywrenching is timely.
Monkeywrenching is dispersed.
Monkeywrenching is diverse.
Monkeywrenching is fun.
Monkeywrenching is not revolutionary.
Monkeywrenching is simple.
Monkeywrenching is deliberate and ethical.

Intellectual masturabation provides philosophical counters to
monkeywrenching.  By checking the written literature, the reader will find
all the counters to these arguments (some over 200 years old):
	The destruction of property is wrong.
	Breaking the law is wrong.
	Current resource management is sound; these is no bioloigcal crisis;	
	so monkeywrenching is unnecessary.
	Monkeywrenching is undemocractic, and imposes extremist beliefs on
	others. [One of the best sounding and most misguided old arguments
	is the belief in "multiple-use."  It isn't.]
	Monkeywrenching is a tactic of poor losers.
	Monkeywrenching isn't playing fair.
	Monkeywrenching threatens human being with injury or death: it is
	"eco-terrorism." [Foreman says it up there.  Read it yourself.
	You have just heard propaganda.]
	Monkeywrenching turns one into a criminal.
	Monkeywrenching leads to vandalism, disrespect for law, and the
	breakdown of society.
	By advocating monkeywrenching, one is liable for all excesses --
	even those where someone has obviously strayed from published
	guidelines.
	If you monkeywrench, you should take credit for your actions
	and accept punishment as one does for any act of civil disobedience.
	Monkeywrenching "lowers the standards of civility another notch."
	By using economic loss as a deterrent, monkeywrenchers buy into the
	materialistic system.
	Destroying machines is wrong.
	Monkeywrenching costs jobs. [E. Abbey: "Cancer causes jobs."]
	Monkeywrenching is ineffective.
	Monkeywrenching give the entire environmental movement a bad name
	and causes an antienvironmental backlash.
Read Foreman for elaborations on all of the above.

Advice from George Washington Hayduke:
1. Prepare a plan.
2. Gather intelligence.
3. Buy away from home.
4. Never tip your hand.
5. Never admit anything.
6. Never apologize; it's a sign of weakness.

*Published in several of his books.  Check Books-in-Print for current books.

A couple of suggested additions to your distilled wisdom:

1. Monkeywrenching is illegal.
2. Monkeywrenching is deliberate damage to property so as to make
   it unusable to various legal uses.
3. Monkeywrenching is deliberately placing the life and property of a
    human being at risk. 
4. Monkeywrenching is deliberately violating the constitutional rights
    of another human being (if done in the USA).
5. Monkeywrenching is an aspect of intellectual arrogance.

Notes:
1. This should be obvious, given the advice of Foreman that you cite,
   but you probably should clarify it.
2. This again should be obvious -- but it points up WHY
   monkeywrenching is illegal.
3. "Ethical" monkeywrenchers seek to minimize the risk to life -- but
   they can't escape the fact that people have been seriously injured
   due to their actions. (Anyone killed yet?)
4. See "due process" and "protection of property rights" decisions of
   the Supreme Court.  
5. As in "I know better than any opponent what should be done here."

Conclusary note:
  Even given all of the above, there may be times when Monkeywrenching
is all that remains to prevent an atrocity.  But remember what happened 
to the Luddites and be prepared to suffer likewise!
				Tim

"Here be monsters."

TABLE OF CONTENTS of this chain:

22/ Words from Foreman and Hayduke		<* THIS PANEL *>
23/ A bit of song (like camp songs)
24/ What is natural?
25/ A romantic notion of high-tech employment
26/ Other news groups of related interest, networking
27/ Films/cinema references
28/ References (written)
1/ DISCLAIMER
2/ Ethics
3/ Learning I
4/ learning II (lists, "Ten Essentials," Chouinard comments)
5/ Summary of past topics
6/ Non-wisdom: fire-arms topic circular discussion
7/ Phone / address lists
8/ Fletcher's Law of Inverse Appreciation and advice
9/ Water Filter wisdom
10/ Words from Rachel Carson
11/ Snake bite
12/ Netiquette
13/ Questions on conditions and travel
14/ Dedication to Aldo Leopold
15/ Leopold's lot.
16/ Morbid backcountry/memorial
17/ Information about bears
18/ Poison ivy, frequently ask, under question
19/ Lyme disease, frequently ask, under question
20/ "Telling questions" backcountry Turing test (under construction)
21/ AMS

Newsgroups: rec.backcountry