Terrorists Or Freedom Fighters?: Reflections on the Liberation of Animals

Steven Best, Anthony J. Nocella, II

Lantern Books, 2004 - Nature - 402 pages

The first anthology of writings on the history, ethics, politics and tactics of the Animal Liberation Front, Terrorists or Freedom Fighters? features both academic and activist perspectives and offers powerful insight into this international organization and its position within the animal rights movement. Calling on sources as venerable as Thomas Aquinas and as current as the Patriot Act--and, in some cases, personal experience--the contributors explore the history of civil disobedience and sabotage, and examine the philosophical and cultural meanings of words like "terrorism," "democracy" and "freedom," in a book that ultimately challenges the values and assumptions that pervade our culture. Contributors include Robin Webb, Rod Coronado, Ingrid Newkirk, Paul Watson, Karen Davis, Bruce Friedrich and others.

What people are saying

Review: Terrorists or Freedom Fighters?: Reflections on the Liberation of Animals

User Review  - Eddy Allen - Goodreads

The first anthology of writings on the history, ethics, politics and tactics of the Animal Liberation Front, Terrorists or Freedom Fighters? features both academic and activist perspectives and offers ...

Review: Terrorists or Freedom Fighters?: Reflections on the Liberation of Animals

User Review - Goodreads

I was really challenged by this book. What do we do to address ongoing situations of cruelty and abuse? Does lobbying, consumer pressure etc. bring about the desired effect on its own and what about ...

Contents

• Introduction: 10
• Thirty Years of Direct Action: 68
• Animal LiberationBy Whatever Means Necessary: 76
• A Personal Overview of Direct Action in the United Kingdom and the United States: 82
• Legitimizing Liberation: 94
• The ALF and the Legacy of Holocaust Resistance: 107
• Coming to a Fur Farm Near You: 129
• Feminist Imperatives and the ALF: 138
• Aquinass Account of Anger Applied to the ALF: 160
• Direct Actions Speak Louder than Words: 179
• Touch the Earth: 186
• Western Wildlife Unit: 190
• From Critical Analysis to Critical Pedagogy: 196
• Putting a Face on the Rescuers and on the Rescued: 203
• From the Front Line to the Front PageAn Analysis of ALF Media Coverage: 214
• How to Justify Violence: 232
• Progress Peril or Both?: 238
• Defending Agitation and the ALF: 253
• Bricks and Bullhorns: 264
• Revolutionary Process and the ALF: 273
• ALF and ELFTerrorism Is as Terrorism Does: 280
• Implications of the USA Patriot Act on Animal Liberation: 289
• Its War The Escalating Battle Between Activists and the CorporateState Complex: 301
• The ALF Who Why and What?: 342
• Appendices: 346
• Letters from the Underground Parts I and II Anonymous: 355
• Defining Terrorism: 362
• Contact Resources: 380
• About the Authors: 384
• Index: 394

About the author

Steven Best, Ph.D. is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Texas, El Paso, and has published numerous books and articles on philosophy, cultural criticism, social theory and animal rights.

A. John Nocella is a peace activist who teaches workshops on mediating and negotiating in revolutionary environments.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Terrorists Or Freedom Fighters?: Reflections on the Liberation of Animals
• Editors: Steven Best, Anthony J. Nocella, II
• Publisher: Lantern Books, 2004
• ISBN: 159056054X, 9781590560549
• Length: 402 pages
• Subjects: Nature / Animal Rights; Nature / Environmental Conservation & Protection