1. INTRODUCTION

Volume I of this series introduced basic information on tools, what they are, how to use them, and methods to organise your work to prevent you collar being felt by the authorities. Volume I was written in simple terms to allow anyone to 'log on' to the issues involve - a similar approach has been taken with this volume, but there is one additional problem. To really understand you are going to have to get out there and do some of this work.

Let's now recap where we are in association with Volume I...

This guide is not really about 'noble' sabotage - for example people clamping themselves to diggers on road projects. It's about taking action against the everyday destruction of the environment - it's about afforestation, polluting industries, and the ceaseless growth of urban areas while inner cities are left derelict. Specifically, it's about sabotaging machinery, and getting away with it. In short - 'economic sabotage'.

One important point - whatever you do you should always ensure that you never cause harm to other people, or to the Earth that you are trying to protect. Eco-sabotage should never be conducted in a rage or anger - that way lies plain destruction and vandalism. Eco-sabotage should be planned, calmly executed, and the extent should reflect the damage that the evil-doer is inflicting on the Earth.

Terrorism is only a valid concept when it seeks to alarm or coerce the public into following someone's political viewpoint. I do not see that as an issue here since we should always strive to hit specific targets, affecting only that target and causing no 'collateral damage', and never, ever, harming human life or the environment. Unfortunately, as many people in organisations such as the Animal Liberation Front have found out, the tag of terrorist is easy abused by the authorities and the judicial system, with the consequence that offenders are given exceptionally harsh treatment.

Anyhow - back to this Volume.

In the first Volume the idea of developing toolkits was developed, and in particular the idea that the activist should set up a 'stash' of equipment so that incriminating evidence was never kept at their home or workplace. Also, the idea of what tools are, and how to use them, was introduced. Finally, there was general background on how to manage your 'hobby' in such a way as to avoid detection.

This volume now develops these themes further - primarily there is more detail on the types of equipment you may be confronted with and how to 'handle' the situation in a way which creates the highest level of economic damage. This is, of course, if that is what your tactic is. Remember from Volume I that the level of response must be proportionate to the level of 'insult'. You do not demolish someone's home for pouring oil down a drain, and conversely supergluing the locks at the offices of a multi-national company has little effect. It is really up to you set the level of response, but at the same time you must be prepared to accept the consequence of that action. Also, it is always important to run a series of hits, where there is scope for a 'repeat visit' to the site, in such a way that you can escalate the impact each time if your warnings are not taken notice of.

Finally - "Let's be careful out there". Volume I introduced fairly low-key methods of sabotage. If you start messing around with high-voltage cables, or pipelines, or just pneumatic/hydraulic pipes that are under pressure, you are going to hurt yourself if you do not take the appropriate steps to mitigate the risk. Read the health and safety sections of both Volume I and this volume - and use them. Dead eco-saboteurs do not help the cause as good as live ones.

Ozymandias

July 1996