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Dean Seeman
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  • symbolic blockades than other groups. Because of this, direct action is the preferred Earth First! tactic, but it must be emphasized there is a time and a place for it. Civil disobedience itself may not be a necessary or the best tactic all the time; rallies, slideshows, and educational events may be more effective depending on the specific political circumstances. Monkeywrenching and civil disobedience don't mix. Monkeywrenching should never occur in an area where other activists are doing civil disobedience; this endangers the activists by making them prime suspects of police investigations and targets of violent, redneck wrath. Monkeywrenching is generally most effective in areas that are not the centre of public campaigns; threatened suburban fields and woodlots or even large tracts of wilderness not yet privileged to be the focus of organized environmental campaigns are the most effective monkeywrenching sites. Monkeywrenching may also effectively be used in the advanced stages of a campaign where the natural progression of tactics have taken place, from letter writing to civil disobedience, all failing to prevent the Freddy's bulldozers and chainsaws from finally moving in. The stage is set, then, for "last ditch" monkeywrenching that may revive the issue. Monkeywrenching early in an environmental campaign may unnecessarily alienate the public, and what the public thinks does matter; in fact, if you want to actually save the Earth and not simply pose as a "radical", it is vital to gain as much public support as possible. This is how policies, legislation, and society is changed. Earth First! and strategy This brings us to the point of tactics and strategy. Tactics are the specific types of actions used to achieve a goal, whereas strategy is when, where, and how you apply those tactics to best achieve victory. The tactic of hitting a mugger in two different places may be the same; but the strategies of hitting him in the chest or hitting him in the throat are not equally effective. This is especially important to understand for many Earth First!ers who believe that only "radical" or illegal activities are effective. Tactics must be viewed from within the overall framework of the most effective strategy to actually achieve one's goals. We must not let our green rage become blind rage; focus your anger where it will best aid in achieving concrete results. Earth First! is strategically most effective in 3 main situations: 1. When an issue is largely unknown, whether the rest of the environmental movement has yet to focus on it or simply cannot get it into the media spotlight. By engaging in dramatic actions, Earth First! can draw public attention to an issue, from which point more powerful mainstream groups can mobilize a now-aware public to actually save it. Earth First! first raised public awareness about the now mainstream concerns over temperate rain forests, public lands cattle grazing, and the destruction of tropical rainforests through the purchase of fast food beef. If
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