Eco-terrorism
by Michael E. Berumen

One of the unfortunate crimes coming to the fore in recent years is so-called eco-terrorism, which is a special kind of vandalism, one that can result not only in harm to private or public property, but also to people. Eco-terrorists are self-appointed, avenging angels, who believe that certain activities that affect the environment are immoral, and that their sensational destruction of property is therefore justified in order to stop the activity and, more perhaps importantly, to make a larger point to the public. They are fanatics who believe the ends justify the means, and who, as in the case of more garden-variety arsonists, enjoy the feeling of control and attention they derive from their crimes.

The typical object of the eco-terrorists’ attention is new construction, which they believe encroaches on an area or wildlife that ought to be protected, or vehicles (e.g., SUVs) or factories that they believe will have an adverse environmental impact. Aside from jeopardizing lives, eco-terrorism can result in a cost of millions of dollars. These people do no moral or economic cost-benefit analysis, however, for they approach environmental issues with the kind of religious fervor that ignores inconvenient facts or the interests and rights of others.

Construction sites are especially vulnerable to eco-terrorists. The so-called Earth Liberation Front set off seven firebombs at an apartment complex in Amador County recently, which caused thousands of dollars worth of damage. People in our area will recall the fire set on the construction site of new luxury homes is San Diego County in 2003 and the destruction of the Hummers of a car dealer around the same time. The psychology of these people is reminiscent of those who put spikes in trees to stop loggers from cutting them down; something that could result in a logger’s incurring serious injury or death.

Builders and developers are accustomed to vandalism and theft, a high percentage of which is caused by employees or neighborhood kids; but now they are turning their attention more and more to the kind of large-scale damage that can result from eco-terrorism, which requires heightened vigilance and restricted access, including a combination of roving security officers, restricted access, perimeter fencing, cameras, and lighting. To be sure, there are not many eco-terrorists, or for that matter, terrorists of any kind; thus, the odds of being struck by one are not very high. Even so, if one is the victim of such an act, one doesn’t reflect on the low probability, but on the certainty of its having already occurred, and, of course, what one might have done to prevent it from happening in the first place.

Four Star Private Patrol, Inc., headquartered in Temecula, offers a wide range of standing guard and vehicle patrol services in Southern California. For a quotation, call 951-695-4245 or e-mail fourstar@tstonramp.com