Ji FU reviewed Ecodefense by Dave Foreman
This book starts with a disclaimer that it is for entertainment purposes only. It is certainly entertaining.
4 stars
I really appreciated the editors'& authors position that defense of the planet should never put human life at risk. Ecodefense is one that is going in my "To Buy" list. But it is also one I really shouldn't have borrowed the library, and I will not purchase online, due to its subversive nature it would be better if there was no record associated with one's name and should be purchased with cash. Radical environmentalism has never really been my cup of tea, but I was hoping this book would give me some insight into sabotage as a political strategy for industrial unionization, particularly being co-edited by Bill Haywood. Well, this book was written decades after the death of Big Bill Haywood, so it certainly wasn't' the legendary labor organizer, and probably just a pseudonym. But it certainly had some good insight that could be used for all sorts of political rational and even made some arguments that make me more open to radical environmentalism in general. Granted, some of the book is completely out-of-date. How to put nails in trees so they don't hurt people or trees, but wreak havoc on chainsaws, probably going to universally useful. How to purchase things by finding information through magazines, likely out of date. Late 20th century directions on sabotages computers probably absolutely worthless at best, and out right dangerous at worst. I really wish they'd come out with an updated edition for the 21st century, but it might not make finical sense anymore. Then again keeping identifiable data, such as an IP address, cellular ping responses or fingerprints, out of law enforcements view is even more critical now than it was 30 years ago so communicating this via dead trees, no pun intended, rather than 1s and 0s makes a lot of sense to me.