Despite the sweeping political change that American environmentalism has wrought in just 30 years, there remains a stubborn strain of bitterness among some of its most dedicated activists. All I've done is slow the rate at which things get worse. Among radical activists, this sense of desperation and hopelessness, combined with a fervent belief in the righteousness of their cause, leads to a climate in which compromise becomes synonymous with betrayal. The only activist who can't be accused of selling out is the one who doesn't negotiate. They've seen environmental laws sidestepped.
Direct action puts muscle behind the words of the environmental movement.
Most mainstream environmental leaders, however, see underground actions as a pain in the ass. He has little patience for groups that claim their commitment to an issue with a single night of violence. Nobody's heard a thing from the ELF on the issue before or since that fire. That said, you've got to give the devil his due. The fact is, one fire spread more awareness of lynx habitat than five years of legal work.