O.R.C.

In these captivating videos, we are presented with Prof. James Duane’s explanation of why even the innocent should never speak to the police. Even those already versed in the matter will find this interesting and learn new things.

He was followed by Officer George Bruch who went on to explain all of the dirty tricks he uses (unapologetically) to encourage people to talk when they, by rights, need not. Although watching both of these videos will take about 45 minutes of your life, I guarantee that, as a horror film, it is well paced and engaging.

More information has emerged on the Rhinelander indictment we posted about saturday. First of all, a pdf of the indictment is available online, courtesy of the excellently acronymed EWOK! (Earth Warriors are OK!). Of particular interest is the indictment’s inability to distinguish between the ELF and Earth First!, essentially suggesting that both groups are the same. They also have apparently little regard for grammatical rigor, as they consistently leave off the exclamation mark that is in fact part of the name of Earth First!. Katherine Christianson and Aaron Ellringer, whose arrest status we cannot seem to confirm, are due to be indicted tomorrow in Madison, Wisconsin.

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• The EU has determined to ban seal products from Canada.

• A nuclear power plant was blockaded for a third time.

• A man super-glued himself to the prime minister in protest of proposed airport expansion.

From The Olympian (second article here), it looks like one Bryan Rivera has been arrested as a suspect for the July 2000 attack on genetically engineered trees (info on GE trees here and here) in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Over 500 GE trees were destroyed at the site. Read the action’s press release here, or corporate propaganda about the incident here. Another two have been indicted and will appear in court, but it’s not clear if they are currently in custody.

Confirmation of Rivera’s arrest comes from FBI Special Agent Robbie Burroughs (photo). Burroughs was in the news last year defending paranoid anti-terror tactics such as harassing arab-americans who “behaved oddly” on a washington ferry.

Finally, some local news. It sounds like the fine folk of The Pitchfork Rebellion are coming to Portland to try and draw attention to the horrendous WOPR (no, not that WOPR, but the Western Oregon Plan Revision: a complete trashing of environmental protections that apply to the BLM and their land-use which will increase logging by some many hundred percent). From forestcouncil.org:

Speakers include ecological forester Roy Keene; Tim Hermach, executive director of Native Forest Council; Bill Barton, private forestland owner; Lauren Regan, executive director of Civil Liberties Defense Center; and testimonials from forest-dwellers whose families have been poisoned by backward timber industry clearcutting and herbicide practices.

Musical performers include reggae superstars Jah Levi and Evan Belize; Freebo, former bass-player for Bonnie Raitt; political folk musician David Rovics; the Daveys and Alternative Reality; Native American and African drumming and other musical acts.

Pitchfork Rebellion will also share the findings of its report which reveals how high-level positions in State and Federal Agencies that have legal stewardship over our soil, water, air, and natural wealth are staffed by current and former employees of multinational corporations (i.e. EPA’s Elin Miller, former Dow chemical executive).

Albert “Ali” Kazemian, of NJ, is a dedicated animal rights activist who works with the group BEAR. Despite two previous convictions (for interfering with black bear hunting and interfering with black bear trapping), he poured urine on the bait of bear live-traps to prevent bears from entering them. A home-owner saw him and the police set up surveillance on the trap. When he returned, he was caught. He was sentenced to the 30 days, but fought for an appeal. Now, the sentence has been confirmed and he has begun to serve his term (see link for address). Read more

We certainly don’t want to come off as biased towards arson as a tactic, but these things are certainly some of the most news-worthy. On the night of the 4th of July, while American’s celebrated aimlessly with fireworks, the Swedish ALF (called “Djurens Befrielsefront”) lit fire to a slaughterhouse in Lövudden, Sweden. The slaughterhouse, set to open September 1st, was meant to slaughter elk, moose, and other wildlife, but the fire was not covered by the insurance and the owned has stated that it is unlikely to be rebuilt.