See my comment to bikesexual, with the caveat that I wouldn't join ELF so I'm hardly in a position to advise them on tactics. I suspect that my goals differ significantly from theirs, or at least from the goals articulated by some members.
I'm not opposed to people doing destructive or illegal activities (as I'm sure you know!), but I need to be convinced that these actions are strategically intelligent and that the people doing them have an understanding of why they're doing it. ELF is hard to criticize in that respect because of their structure -- an ELF action can be (and this is the context of what they were talking about on CBC this morning) a kid setting fire to a car in a parking lot and writing "ELF" nearby. I don't think that kind of thing has convinced a single person to start taking public transit.
I don't see how direct action can't take place outside of the context of the affinity group -- not to denigrate affinity groups -- wildcat strikes being the most obvious example. In terms of environmental activism, large scale blockades have worked. Direct action by affinity groups works too, given a common understanding and community support, which doesn't exist in ELF's case.
Do you think that ELF's strategies have been effective? It seems to me as though the State is exaggerating their significance and impact.
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Date: 2005-11-24 09:31 pm (UTC)I'm not opposed to people doing destructive or illegal activities (as I'm sure you know!), but I need to be convinced that these actions are strategically intelligent and that the people doing them have an understanding of why they're doing it. ELF is hard to criticize in that respect because of their structure -- an ELF action can be (and this is the context of what they were talking about on CBC this morning) a kid setting fire to a car in a parking lot and writing "ELF" nearby. I don't think that kind of thing has convinced a single person to start taking public transit.
I don't see how direct action can't take place outside of the context of the affinity group -- not to denigrate affinity groups -- wildcat strikes being the most obvious example. In terms of environmental activism, large scale blockades have worked. Direct action by affinity groups works too, given a common understanding and community support, which doesn't exist in ELF's case.
Do you think that ELF's strategies have been effective? It seems to me as though the State is exaggerating their significance and impact.