ALF

I like the economic damage part. But steal a few rabbits or piglets and they are only going to buy more the next day. I suppose they get a better life but doesn't it also increase demand for test subjects because the owner buys more? I don't know..

save an animal ur a hero!! masked or un masked.. maybe the mask is a secret fantisy haha..

I think they're both completely different, therefore requiring different tactics.

I imagine, if caught doing an openrescue, you would be up for charges such as theft, break and enter etc. Fairly minor charges - probably looking at a maximum of a few days to months in jail.

But, if you caused serious economic damage, you would be looking at years to decades in prison.

So, if you're going to use your body as a tool for the liberation of animals, wearing no mask for openrescues is great as you retain your credibility, but if you decide to inflict economic damage, a mask is arguably warranted as it leaves you able to complete more 'missions' for the animals - instead of being locked in a cage for years, unable to complete things the animals require for their liberation to take place.

thats true. the animal rights movement doesnt neccassarily need a face either.

yep. thats 100% true.. who cares about repuation on dignity its about saving lives.. i personaly wud be privilaged to be involved in such activity, because it has got to the stage where we need to take more action

From a purely theoretical perspecitve ....Hell yes! Definitely. Every life is important, and if things are moving slow in terms of abolition then I see direct action as essential way to save lives. I always go by Einstein’s saying that the only way for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing...
ALF is often referred to as a terrorist organisation but what kind of terrorist organisation forbids violence, refuses to harm any living thing and has never killed anyone in its entire history?
The real terrorists work in labs and slaughterhouses. In years to come i think  people who rescue animals from dubious companies will be seen by all as the sane ones, it just wont be seen as extreme. Those who didn’t do anything will be seen as extreme with their complacency, opposition, or indifference to it.
Direct action, whether discreet or open rescue, is so effective. There have been so many successes. It really works. In the Uk some good examples are the campaigns against fur farming and Hillgrove cats (breeders for vivisection).
A really good book on the subject is Terrorists or Freedom fighters by Steven Best.

Uh cool. I was trying to find a book that looked exclusively at the ALF / direct ation.

I totally agree - as I said, just stirring the pot a bit.

Although, I'm not sure I would personally consider either as heroic.

It takes a certain type of person to dedicate their entire lives to Animal Rights activism, but I don't think that means that they are necessarily better or worse than veg*s and "animal lovers" who don't.  Not all veg*s want to become activists - I certainly don't, and participation in either a rescue operation - either masked or unmasked - would have the potential to ruin my career.  I feel I better serve by being (hopefully) a good example of a vegan woman (and a bit down the track, hopefully a vegan mother) who incorporates non-violence into every aspect of their life.  I don't think that makes me any less 'for the animals' than someone who breaks into factories and inflicts damage.

The more I think about it, the less I agree with the practicalities of the ALF.  Obviously, someone needs to stand up and make the 'big impact' but does it do more harm than good to the overall image of veganism?!?

I'm not sure. I certainly hope not. I would hate to think people would be ignorant enough to assume that all vegans are alike.

Some people put 'economic destruction' in the basket of violence, and favour a non-violent approach and may see the animal rights movement taking a route similar to that of Gandhi's.

Others however, don't put economic destruction in the basket as violence. These people may see the animal rights taking route similar to that of Nelson Mandela's.

Both certainly have their positives and negatives. I think it’s very hard for people seeing absolute destruction of life, and not taking action into their own hands; 'fast-forwarding' the movement in many ways. I, for one, am not sure the animal rights movement would be where it is today without direct action and the information collected through the action. I also think that if you have the means to take action which will save thousands of lives, it is action which must be taken. The question is does forms of direct action, such as open rescues and the damage of property indeed save thousands of lives?

Regardless of the answer, I think anyone putting their freedom on the line for not the guarantee, but rather the potential of saving lives is indeed a hero. It’s for this reason that I support the action of the ALF.