[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 164 (Friday, November 30, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2187]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             ECO-TERRORISM

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                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 30, 2001

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to read into the Record a 
response I received yesterday to a letter my colleagues and I sent to 
national environmental groups, asking them to join us in publicly 
condemning eco-terrorism. A few days ago I read into the Record a 
letter from the Natural Resources Defense Council stating that 
``violence has no place in policy debate.''
  I would like to share with you statements from the Sierra Club. The 
following is their response:


       Dear Chairman Hansen, I am surprised you have not seen the 
     Sierra Club's denunciations of terrorist acts given our 
     frequently and clearly stated position. The Sierra Club 
     condemns all violent acts, including those in the name of the 
     environment. As the enclosure documents, even the Earth 
     Liberation Front that you mention in your letter has 
     chronicled Sierra Club denouncements of their violent acts 
     that appeared in various national and local news 
     publications.
       While nonviolent civil disobedience has a distinguished 
     place in American history, the Sierra Club uses only lawful 
     means to protect the environment. We can respect the decision 
     of those who, by undertaking acts of nonviolent civil 
     disobedience, put themselves at risk, but peaceful 
     disobedience and violence are vastly different acts. No 
     matter what the motivation, the Sierra Club does not condone 
     any acts of violence.
           Sincerely,
                                              Jennifer Ferenstein,
                                                        President.

     

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