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April 22, 2004
PRESS RELEASE: ELF LIKELY RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPMENT FIRES IN SNOHOMISH
WASHINGTON, CAUSES $1 MILLION IN DAMAGES
For Immediate Release
SNOHOMISH, WASHINGTON - Through media reports, the ELF Press Office
has been
made
aware of Earth Liberation Front actions against urban sprawl April 20th
and 21st. Although the ELF Press Office has received no communications
about these actions from the persons responsible, a note found at the
site of one of the fires was signed "ELF" and reportedly contained
statements condemning suburban developments. In the absence of other
information, this note does indicate a claim of responsibility for the
fires and fire attempts by ELF activists.
On Tuesday, April 20th, two homes were destroyed and attempts were
made
to burn two others at a housing development in the Snohomish area. Total
damages were estimated at $1 million for the two houses burned to the
ground.
As well, bottles of flammable liquid were found at two different
housing
development sites on Tuesday and Wednesday, and on at least one occasion
a letter claiming responsibility was found.
This is the third action in 2004 known to have been the work of the
Earth Liberation Front. Other occurences of ELF actions in response to
the encroachment of luxury housing on wild space since include fires in
San Diego, California (August 2003); Chico, California (June 2003);
Macomb County, Michigan (June 2003), and Superior Township, Michigan
(April 2003).
Although there has been no statement by ELF activists made public
about
the recent action in Snohomish, a communique sent after the fires in
Macomb County read in part, "For too long, we, the people... have
allowed our magnificent forests to be levelled and shipped off, our
water to be poisoned and now, greed driven developers are trying to
marginalize off the last green spaces and habitat of our unknown Edens."
It is clear from past statements and recent actions of the ELF that
urban sprawl has become a central issue in the struggle to protect the
earth.
The Earth Liberation Front is an international underground organization
that uses direct action in the form of economic sabotage to stop the
destruction of the natural environment. Since 1997, the ELF in North
America has caused over $100 million in damages to entities who profit
from the destruction of life and the planet.
Any communications received by the ELF Press Office will be forwarded
on
to interested members of the press.
The Earth Liberation Front Press Office is an autonomous entity that
serves to publicize news and actions of the ELF, as reported through
news media or by anonymous communications from the individuals involved
in activities.
-30-
North American Earth Liberation Front Press Office
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