It didn't take ELF's terrorism to start and spread the discussion. The environmental impact of lifestyle choices has been discussed for a while on PB, NPR, and other national news sources.

__________________
http://wonkette.com/402523/ben-stein...ld-babysit-her

McInnis to Newkirk: Explain Your ELF Funding
The following letter was sent Mar. 4 by Rep. Scott McInnis (R-Colorado), Chairman, House Resources Committee Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health, to Ingrid Newkirk, president of PeTA.
Dear Ms. Newkirk:
When the House Resources Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held an oversight hearing probing the increasing threat of ecoterrorism on National Forest lands last month, evidence was submitted by one of the Subcommittee's witnesses showing that the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) contributed to the Earth Liberation Front, the public face of an organization described by the FBI as America's single largest domestic terrorism threat. The purpose of the contribution to ELF is listed on PETA's Form 990 tax return as to "support their program activities." Subsequent reporting in the media appears to substantiate these allegations.
As a non-profit organization with tax-exempt privileges and the incumbent public policy obligations that status entails, PETA has a responsibility to explain the full extent of its involvement with and contributions to environmental terror groups like ELF and ALF. With that in mind, I respectfully request that you respond to the following questions, the answers to which will be made part of the hearing's public record.

• <LI type=disc>Since 1993, how much and on how many occasions has PETA made financial contributions to either the Earth Liberation Front and/or its press office, the Animal Liberation Front and/or its press office, and suspected or convicted persons associated with ELF and ALF? <LI type=disc>Does PETA have any internal policies or guidelines either encouraging or discouraging financial support of unlawful groups like ELF and ALF? If so, what are they? <LI type=disc>Under what rational did PETA make a contribution(s) to ELF? <LI type=disc>What steps did PETA take to ensure that these funds would not be used for unlawful purposes? <LI type=disc>Whose signature appeared on the returned check that PETA gave ELF? <LI type=disc>Does PETA condone the violent activities of organizations like ELF? Should PETA's contribution to ELF be seen as an endorsement?
• Does PETA have any intention of contributing to ELF, ALF or other similarly motivated groups in the future?

As local, state and federal law enforcement officials grapple with this formidable threat, careful scrutiny must be applied to any and all persons or organizations that lend financial aid and comfort to this radical band of extremists. In the future, I hope that PETA will cut-off its financial ties with ELF and ALF, and join America's largest mainstream environmental groups in publicly condemning these and other eco-terrorist groups.
I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Scott McInnis
cc: Internal Revenue Service
Federal Bureau of Investigation



http://www.activistcash.com/organiza...eye.cfm/oid/21


Most ominously, PETA president Ingrid Newkirk was involved in the multi-million-dollar arson at Michigan State University that resulted in a 57-month prison term for Animal Liberation Front bomber Rodney Coronado. At Coronado’s sentencing hearing, U.S. Attorney Michael Dettmer said that PETA’s Ingrid Newkirk arranged ahead of time to have Coronado send her a pair of FedEx packages from Michigan -- one on the day before he burned the lab down, and the other shortly afterward.
The first FedEx, according to the Sentencing Memorandum, was delivered to a woman named Maria Blanton, “a longtime PETA member who had agreed to accept the first Federal Express package from Coronado after being asked to do so by Ingrid Newkirk.” The FBI intercepted the second package, which had been sent to the same address. It contained documents that Coronado stole before lighting his firebombs, as well as “a videotape of the perpetrator of the MSU crime, disguised in a ski mask.” Since Coronado was convicted of the arson, we now know that he himself was that masked man. “Significantly,” wrote U.S. Attorney Dettmer, “Newkirk had arranged to have the package[s] delivered to her days before the MSU arson occurred.” (emphasis in the original)
A search warrant executed at Blanton’s home turned up evidence that PETA’s other co-founder, Alex Pacheco, had also been planning burglaries and break-ins along with Rodney Coronado. The feds seized “surveillance logs; code names for Coronado, Pacheco, and others; burglary tools; two-way radios; night vision goggles; [and] phony identification for Coronado and Pacheco.”
Shortly after Coronado’s arrest, PETA gave $45,200 to his “support committee” and “loaned” $25,000 to his father (the loan was never repaid and PETA hasn’t complained). Now free from jail, with an expired parole, and with the benefit of an expired Statute of Limitations on his many earlier arsons (to which he readily confesses in his standard stump speech), Coronado stood before a crowd of hundreds of young people at American University in January 2003 and demonstrated how to turn a milk jug into a bomb. A few days later, ALF criminals tried to burn down a McDonald’s restaurant in Chico, California, using a firebomb that matched Coronado’s recipe. The following month, Ingrid Newkirk told ABC News that Rodney Coronado is “a fine young man.”



WHY IS SHE STILL PRESIDENT OF A TAX EXEMPT ORGANIZATION!!!!!


"Perhaps Newkirk’s most telling comment, though, came in a 2002 U.S. News & World Report feature. “Our nonviolent tactics are not as effective,” she admitted. “We ask nicely for years and get nothing. Someone makes a threat, and it works.” "

No doubt there. ELF's antics just put the issue on a front burner, give it a 15-minute of fame in an election cycle otherwise dominated by media-hyped issues. How many times have you heard any of the major candidates talk about sustainability?

Of course they're hated by everyone, specially those who live by the sprawl and who like to think they can live and do whatever they feel like and nobody can tell them how to do things (nevermind the sustainability of that lone ranger attitude).

__________________
New term of the day 1/24:
Electile Dysfunction: The inability to become aroused over any of the choices for President put forth by either of only parties in the 2008 election year.
http://www.votenader.org/index.html


5/22, because i'm feeling punny:
As the great Jedi English teacher was quoted in saying, "metaphors be with you."

P.S:

Phillyaggie,

I would be happy to read whatever you have to say about the Catholic Church in Rwanda. I personally only support my local parish and my family's Northen Ireland Catholic Church with the intent that those donations are going to peacefull chairitable uses. I am sure some of this money makes it to the vatican and I would be more than willing to read any resources you can provide that may sway me to change how I earmark my money.


I promise I won't give you a Bloosum or Marianne response of "well the catholic church does so many good things that they outweigh the few bad things"

I don't have a problem with PETA's mission.Everyone is entitled to their beliefs. I have a problem that their president admitted to supporting violence and is STILL THE PRESIDENT, and the organization is STILL TAX EXEMPT.

Towelie, so you don't think PETA supporters could tend to think "well, so what if they in the past supported some violent organization...they do too many good things so that their bad their are outweighed their good actions."

Religion is very personal, and I for one hate to attack other people's beliefs unless they attack or disparage mine. And it's not like I hate the Catholic church or the fact that they get tax-exempt status. From what I've read of your posts, you're a reasonable person and so you have a set of your values that are based on reasonable thought. Lord knows we've got quite a few loonies out there! lol It's comforting to know you're not one of them.

If you're interested in reading about Rwanda and Catholic Church's issues therein, here are some example links:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=4615171

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chu...andan_Genocide


Please don't misconstrue these as personal attacks on your Catholic beliefs.

__________________
New term of the day 1/24:
Electile Dysfunction: The inability to become aroused over any of the choices for President put forth by either of only parties in the 2008 election year.
http://www.votenader.org/index.html


5/22, because i'm feeling punny:
As the great Jedi English teacher was quoted in saying, "metaphors be with you."

I don't think PETA supporters really understand PETA.

http://www.petakillsanimals.com/


I understand this is a radical site, but you can't deny where their #'s come from (PETA's own annual tax returns)


From what I see on the street, PETA is just an animal loving group that preys on the soccer mom type dog owner for donations. Ingred Newkirk has admitted that her goal is "total animal liberation" This means no pets. You think that soccer mom dropping coins into the PETA donation bucket really looks up what they are supporting? No, they see a picture of Ingred Newkirk hugging a dog, and think they are donating money to animals that have been adandoned, when all PETA is doing is Killing those dogs so they can save $ for their "whacky and zany" protests!!!!

Here is PETA's operating expenses.

http://www.peta.org/about/numbers.asp


If those #'s don't baffle you into wondering what they actually do, your nuts!!

OPERATING EXPENSES





$6,529,644



$7,448,866



$7,761,430



$1,189,282



$3,000,000



$3,703,049



$1,317,507

$30,959,406




WHy do they need 4 million for "membership development"

7.5 million for "Public outreach and Education"?

What "public Outreach and Education" All they do is dress up in costumes and hand out propogana pampthlets. Where is all this money going?

I am surprised that I don't see $1 actually going to finding these animals homes, where are their shelters? Where are their supporters like that girl from PAWS on here that is tryng to find animals homes. PAWS is a group that I see first hand trying to help animals. I don't see that out of PETA!!!!

I haven't heard that ELF has claimed responsibility for this. I wouldn't dismiss the idea that given the R.E. market falling apart that this would be a way to salvage a bad investment. Leave an ELF sign at the scene, be outta town, and collect the insurance.
It remains to be seen if they intend to rebuild or if ELF claims or denies it.
I'll wait for the FBI.

They fried a 200unit condo project in 2003. 200 units! A ski resort, car dealership etc too.

I have no doubt that they're - proactive - is that the word? -which is what would make them so useful in this case.
I remain skeptical.

you bring up a good point indeed. There have been documented instances of people burning down their own homes because they couldn't keep up with the bills and didn't want to be on the street.

__________________
New term of the day 1/24:
Electile Dysfunction: The inability to become aroused over any of the choices for President put forth by either of only parties in the 2008 election year.
http://www.votenader.org/index.html


5/22, because i'm feeling punny:
As the great Jedi English teacher was quoted in saying, "metaphors be with you."