1. Earth liberation Front (ELF) Origins, Doctrine, and Objectives
By Tristan Siner

2. ORIGINS John Hanna (creator of the original elf)
Dave foreman (co-creator)
Brighton England 1992 Earth First!

3. DOCTRINE Follow 3 rules follows into objective
Believe that all life is sacred
ELF rejects ‘liberal identity’, Marxism, and all other forms of single-issue politics
Ideology molded from theories of deep ecology, social ecology, and ‘anti- civilization’ or ‘green anarchism’
Little sister of ALF

4. OBJECTIVE Create eco-revolution
Cause as much economic damage as possible to those exploiting the natural environment and life, for profit
Educate the masses
Take any and all actions against harming life. Protect all life

5. END-GOALS Protect all life no matter what
Attack what destroys environmental life (monkeywrenching)
Destroy any business the profits off of environmental life

6. Strategies, Targets, and Methods of Operations
Earth Liberation Front
Allison Bailey

7. Strategies
Direct Action: the use of strikes, demonstrations, or other forms of public protest rather than negotiation to achieve one’s demands
Seek to cause damage to populated areas
Arson, vandalism, tree spiking, destruction of property

8. Publicity Strategies Guidelines of ELF Communiques
1. To cause as much economic damage as possible to a given entity that is profiting off of the destruction of the natural environment and life for selfish greed and profit
2. To educate the public on the atrocities committed against the environment and life
3. To take all necessary precautions against harming life
Communiques
Documents announcing details of attack after attack has occurred
Publicity

9. Targets
Target companies supporting deforestation, genetic engineering, and anything deemed to be harmful to the environment.
Vail Resorts, Inc.
Oct. 19, 1998: Vail Resorts set on fire by ELF
Burned 5 buildings and 4 chairlifts
Called for them to cancel plans of expansion in a communique
University of Washington
May 2001
Firebomb in the office of Toby Bradshaw, who was believed to be genetically engineering trees

10. Methods of Operation
ELF operates in isolated cells that have no connection to each other
Set up like this purposely so that it is extremely hard to trace other members
No communication between cells
All ELF members have access to introductory materials on arson techniques

11. Counterterrorism Efforts: Earth Liberation Front
Rachel Billeter

12. Beginning Stages of ELF
ELF gained little to no attention as a domestic terrorist force, primarily handled by local law enforcement
1996: First instance where ELF openly claimed responsibility for arson when they burned down Bureau of Land Management horse corral
2001: Finally noted as domestic terrorist group by FBI
JTTFs came into play when local law enforcement wasn’t enough
2002: More than 26 FBI field offices that had investigations into ELF

13. Operation Backfire Started in 2004
Consisted of 7 independent operations from several Oregon FBI field offices
“The Family” - independent ELF terrorist cell of 11 members captured by Operation Backfire and charged with multiple counts of domestic terrorism
Operation Backfire was most successful against ELF

14. Counterterrorism Legislation
Most Effective Legislation:
Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996
Enhanced Policies for Use of Explosives or Arson Crimes Clause - 5 to 20 years in prison if property damage - 7 to 40 years in prison if persons harmed - Death penalty possible for cause of death of individuals
This act was crucial in the success of Operation Backfire

15. In Conclusion
FBI has not been able to completely eliminate ELF (decentralized)
2009 was last noted attack
ELF technically still exists; ELF has ability to reemerge
FBI’s efforts seemed to have mostly keep them down