Earth Liberation Front

The Earth Liberation Front (ELF) is a loosely-knit, non-hierarchical organization that "uses direct action in the form of economic sabotage to stop the exploitation and destruction of the natural environment" [1] (http://www.earthliberationfront.com/library/elf_faq.pdf), mainly in the United States and Canada. Their techniques involve destruction of property that they believe is being used to hurt animals or the environment via arson or other means, and the "liberation" of animals from research facilities.

The group's first claimed action was in 1997; since then they have claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks [2] (http://www.earthliberationfront.com/about/)-- 32 in 2001 alone [3] (http://www.earthliberationfront.com/library/2001DirectActions.pdf)--resulting in "$30 million in damages," including one attack in which they released animals involved in research into Alzheimer's disease and cancer at the University of Minnesota. [4] (http://www.naiaonline.org/body/articles/archives/cunning.htm)

The ELF has been classified as a terrorist group by the FBI, among others, even though it publicly disavows harming any living being.

Earth Liberation Front homepage (http://www.earthliberationfront.com/)