At a time when everyone is going green, most people are unaware that the FBI is using anti-terrorism resources to target environmentalists. Here is...
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May 24, 2011
Sarahjane
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This book makes me wish I had finished my history PhD. Then at least I could make it required reading for a few college students. It should be required for them all. It gives context to our murky times, where taking moral stands is getting confused with terroristic activity, without oversimplifying what are deeply contested understandings of the path to a better tomorrow. Green is the New Red is an essential text for anyone who believes in free speech, or is interested in the future of Ameri
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Jul 20, 2011
City Lights
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"At times, the reader might mistake this work of nonfiction for a gripping crime novel, only to remember that everything in here is shockingly true. It is in this way that Potter effectively drives his points home and proves his overarching thesis, that the Justice Department’s targeting of environmentalists is near identical to 1950s McCarthyism." --Indie Street
"While the link between separating recyclables and hijacking planes is far from obvious, the labeling of 'ec More...
"While the link between separating recyclables and hijacking planes is far from obvious, the labeling of 'ec More...
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May 15, 2011
Joseph
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just about to finish reading for the second time.
this book is an excellent expose on the use of fear tactics by the federal government in the wake of 9/11. not just in the area of political dissent, but economic, as well.
moving from history to current events to psychological thriler, Will Potter weaves an engaging story of the dissolution of legitimate freedom of expression by the powers that be, all to prop up a decaying economic/political system. the lesson here is that More...
this book is an excellent expose on the use of fear tactics by the federal government in the wake of 9/11. not just in the area of political dissent, but economic, as well.
moving from history to current events to psychological thriler, Will Potter weaves an engaging story of the dissolution of legitimate freedom of expression by the powers that be, all to prop up a decaying economic/political system. the lesson here is that More...
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Feb 04, 2012
Meghan
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This is terrifying. Will Potter does an excellent job tracing historical protests, new laws, and legal precedent to explain how environmental activism has become labeled under 'terrorist' activities. Interviewing key activists who were prosecuted as 'eco-terrorists,' the story is meant to incite people into action--as it should.
I do find the description of the activities that were prosecuted a bit skewed: Potter appears to be trying to attempt an almost neutral presentation. Sometimes no More...
I do find the description of the activities that were prosecuted a bit skewed: Potter appears to be trying to attempt an almost neutral presentation. Sometimes no More...
Dec 26, 2011
pattrice
rated it:
Essential information within an always gripping, sometimes humorous, and at times heart-breaking narrative.
Will Potter begins this book by sharing his own experiences with the blood-chilling fear induced by a visit by FBI agents wielding the word "terrorist" after he had been arrested for leafleting in a wealthy neighborhood. He then recounts the investigative journey into "terrorism" that fear prompted him to undertake. Along the way we meet smug judges, altruis More...
Will Potter begins this book by sharing his own experiences with the blood-chilling fear induced by a visit by FBI agents wielding the word "terrorist" after he had been arrested for leafleting in a wealthy neighborhood. He then recounts the investigative journey into "terrorism" that fear prompted him to undertake. Along the way we meet smug judges, altruis More...
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Aug 05, 2011
Jason
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A good book. I think the value of this book was its humanization and personalization of a step-by-step account (almost like a journal) of the arrest, repression, trial, and imprisonment of some of the higher profile animal rights and environment activists in recent years in the United States. The reader will get to know the people, as people, who could not just sit and watch as enormous injustices and devastation was constantly happening by corporations and the government. They were compelled t
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Jul 03, 2011
Errica
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Will Potter has explained the attacks on animal/environmental rights activists in a thorough, thought provoking, enraging and inspiring way. His explanations and accounts of the Animal Enterprise Terrorist Act and its subsequent use in the American judicial system is amazing. To know that there is no official definition of the term "terrorism" in the government is frightening as it is now so freely applied to anyone who leaflets or joins in a protest for the rights of animals or the
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Jul 18, 2011
Millicent
rated it:
[I won a free copy of this book]
First off, hoorah for this book and Will Potter's reporting. This is a critical living history, a first attempt to pull the last decade of eco and animal rights action and repression into one cohesive analysis. Read it for the narrative. Read it for the names and the individual stories, the Green Scare and particularly the Operation Backfire and SHAC7 defendants; for the explanation of US policy and lobbying record; for the breakdown of legal jargon More...
First off, hoorah for this book and Will Potter's reporting. This is a critical living history, a first attempt to pull the last decade of eco and animal rights action and repression into one cohesive analysis. Read it for the narrative. Read it for the names and the individual stories, the Green Scare and particularly the Operation Backfire and SHAC7 defendants; for the explanation of US policy and lobbying record; for the breakdown of legal jargon More...
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Aug 05, 2011
Potter documents how the government, prompted by corporate interests, and fear of terrorists after 9/11 have used similar tactics to what was used during the "Red Scare" to demonize environmentalism and environmentalists as terrorists. Potter acknowledges that some of the methods used by organizations like ALF (Animal Liberation Front) are misguided, though the sentencing of activists is disproportionate to the crimes, especially since passage of the Animal Enterprise Protection Act. T
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Sep 01, 2011
Travisalbert
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This book covers the increasing persecution faced by environmental activists at the hands of a government with the protection of property and profits prioritized over constitutional rights and collective well-being. Primarily the focus of the book is legal. Since 9/11, the nature of the word "terrorism" has drastically changed to incorporate crimes against property and using your 1st amendment right to vocalize support (or even to not condem in some cases) crimes against property in th
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Oct 04, 2011
Eric
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Green is the New Red is an astonishing, frightening book, but you probably knew that already. Will Potter combines his own personal experience with deep investigative journalism to reveal how the U.S. Government, acting largely at the behest of agricultural, logging, biomedical, and pharmaceutical corporations, have turned the War on Terror into a blunt instrument for leveling the heaviest allowable penalties on environmental and animal rights activists. Potter details the statutes involves, and
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Apr 21, 2011
Dylan
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I hope that this book will be very widely read. Like the revelations of the government's illegal spying, harassment, and bogus convictions that hearings on COINTELPRO brought to light (see Agents of Repression), Potter's research into efforts by industry and government to repress radical environmentalism brings together some poorly understood political issues. Most important of them all, is the fact that activists using traditionally legal tactics have now been convicted on terrorism charges.
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Apr 10, 2011
Tony
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Everyday I see a little more revelations of the monster inside our country's overall mindset and it is with an alarming scream my thoughts warn me that we are headed for disaster as a people.
So many have fought and died to put to death an ancient way of tyranny and diligently worked to make this nation exist as an escape from those forms of enslavement, and now, as I look around and watch, I see that we did not destroy those demons afterall, we merely exchanged them for a new one and nam More...
So many have fought and died to put to death an ancient way of tyranny and diligently worked to make this nation exist as an escape from those forms of enslavement, and now, as I look around and watch, I see that we did not destroy those demons afterall, we merely exchanged them for a new one and nam More...
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Jun 25, 2011
Esther
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Excellent look at the corporate interests that have conspired to define environmental and animal rights activists as terrorists.
It is sobering to realize that the FBI's focus on animal/environment activists has taken away resources from investigations of white supremacists, anti-abortionists and even the white collar fraud that caused the mortgage collapse.
The beginning of the book struggles to establish itself. However, once it finds its groove, the book flows and sucks you in. More...
It is sobering to realize that the FBI's focus on animal/environment activists has taken away resources from investigations of white supremacists, anti-abortionists and even the white collar fraud that caused the mortgage collapse.
The beginning of the book struggles to establish itself. However, once it finds its groove, the book flows and sucks you in. More...
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Jul 18, 2011
Broadsnark
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This was a really easy read, very conversational style. It gave a good overview of how environmentalist, animal rights... activists have been targeted by the government. I have some quibbles with the book, the biggest one being that I can't believe when anyone is surprised by the lengths powerful people will go to protect their position. I mean duh. Worth a read though.
Aug 12, 2011
Jonathan.hussain
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An urgent and worried warning to environmental and animal rights activists. Potter weaves together activist portraits with accounts of their exploits and a history of their persecution by law enforcement and corporate agents.
Oct 06, 2011
Well, unfortunately I had to return this to the library, so I'll file it under "currently reading" until I can get it back out and finish it. I will say it starts off with a bang. Potter attended I believe ONE animal rights nonviolent, leafletting demonstration, and then was visited by the FBI who threatened his job, his girlfriend's scholarship, and his reputation in order to get him to talk. Crazy stuff. I'm looking forward to reading more. The only downside for me is that it Potter
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Jan 19, 2012
if you would like to read about the inner workings of the people who go after environmentalists to further their own greed, this is the book. it is quite shocking at the lengths big ag, big pharma, the lumber and medical companies and others with vested interests will go in terms of trying to pass legislation and lobbying politicos in order to continue to torture helpless animals and rape and poison the landscape for their own financial gains.
this is at the heart of OWS in all it's meanings More...
this is at the heart of OWS in all it's meanings More...
May 10, 2011
Joseph
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To quote a favorite professor of mine, "How so called 'environmentalists' became a far-left leading threat to our country is beyond me." Author Will Potter asks simular questions with intresting answers.
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May 18, 2011
Jonathan
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This is an important book. Regardless of how you feel about the environmentalist and animal rights movements, the current trend of using anti-"terrorist" rhetoric and resources to target nonviolent political activists is deeply disturbing. A well written and at times thrilling read, slightly marred by more than an acceptable number of typos.
Jul 26, 2011
Meghan
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Traces the history of environmental activism and the ways in which activists have been targeted by the FBI in ways similar to COINTELPRO in the 1960s. Potter details the amount of resources devoted to fighting animal activists and the Earth Liberation Front as the number-one domestic terrorism threat - pure insanity. And don't we all love it when undercover FBI agents infiltrate vegan potlucks and try to incite some violence? This book makes me so upset.
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Nov 28, 2011
Alex
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Interesting story. Unimpressive writing. Ventures into overblown rhetoric at times.
The author needs to find a voice and stick to it. As he himself says (repeatedly), he isn't sure whether he's acting as a reporter or a participant.
The author needs to find a voice and stick to it. As he himself says (repeatedly), he isn't sure whether he's acting as a reporter or a participant.
Jul 08, 2011
Veganacious
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An excellent book about the political forces pushing for non violent activists to be labeled as terrrorists. Important reading for anyone who values free speech.
May 13, 2011
Ranko
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This is a great must read book. Will Potter shines a very bright(green)light on an issue that many powerful puppet masters want kept in the dark.
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Feb 22, 2012
Feb 22, 2012
