Sabotage Claims in the USA
In 1990 in the US a hoax Earth First! memo calling for violence "to f**k up the mega-machine" during the Redwood Summer Campaign was distributed to the media by PR firm Hill and Knowlton for their client, Pacific Lumber. Later - as part of a lawsuit - an internal memo revealed that Pacific Lumber were probably aware that the fliers were fakes when they were distributed to the media. Their memo stated "Also enclosed is an Earth First! logo, however as Daryl's name is misspelled, we are not to (sic) sure who put it out".19
Hill and Knowlton achieved notoriety for organising the daughter of a member of the Kuwaiti royal family to make fabricated claims to a dummy US "Congressional" committee. The PR firm organised her to claim that the Iraqis had taken babies from their humidicribs in a Kuwaiti hospital and left them to die. This claim became a crucial anecdotal component used in the debate on whether to declare war or not in Congress with the vote narrowly supporting war.20 Following the war the claims were revealed as fake and Hill and Knowlton's role exposed.21
A Few Australian Examples -
Coode Island
On the 21st August 1991 there was a huge fire at Coode Island chemical storage plant in Melbourne. The site had long been controversial with a strong residents campaign against its continued operation. The fire burnt for two days, destroyed more than twenty-five storage tanks, caused more than $20 million in damage and spewed smoke across Melbourne.
Almost eight weeks later Police convened a press conference and claimed that the fires were the result of saboteurs using oxy- acetylene equipment to cut through stainless steel pipes. At the press conference a police sergeant stated that forensic tests had shown that a "deliberate act" started the fires. He said the sabotage was "considerable and quite conclusive". There was speculation "that those behind the sabotage plot may have been trying to light a small fire as a protest or to make a statement to the Government about safety concerns at Coode Island"22 but that the fire spread to a major storage tank which exploded.22
There was one technical problem with this PR scam however - oxy acetylene can not cut stainless steel pipes - mere detail that was lost in the stampede of media hysteria. The police press conference was a few days prior to the opening of the public hearings into the fires and a week before a damning Four Corners program on safety problems in the chemical industry. Eight months later the police announced that the fire was the result of an accident:
"Exhaustive forensic tests on metal pipes and other equipment seized from the site have shown that there was no criminal involvement ... Department of Labour and Industry consulted metallurgists after the fire and they expressed concern about the police view that the fire was the result of sabotage. They believed that the markings on the pipes at the centre of the blaze were more likely to have been caused by general wear and tear and the age of the pipes than foul play".23
Eco-Terrorism?
There has been a string of attacks on machinery in the forests of the South Coast of New South Wales. In March 1995, the NSW State Secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, Mr Gavin Hillier, shed light on at least some of these incidents. He told Background Briefing:
" ... we know how to sugar trucks .We had to hit them and hit them hard. And you (conservationists) probably got the blame for it too along the track. I'm telling you now that they knew who it was, we told those contractors that you behave your f**king selves or the same thing will happen".24
Was there a hysterical reaction from police or the forest industry? Faxes flying from industry to newsrooms around the country denouncing "terrorism"? No: - a deafening silence.
In the week before the 1993 Federal election things were running hot in Circular Head. There had been a public meeting of 200 people supporting the timber industry, featuring speakers such as the National Director of the Forest Protection Society, as well as conservative politicians. In a surprise move a few days later, the Liberal candidate for the seat of Denison, Mr Phil Ryan, stated his support for a World Heritage nomination for the rainforest component of the Tarkine wilderness. Circular Head timber industry employees drove to Hobart to picket his office and demand he change his position. He refused.
The next morning, a hoax "bomb", without detonators, was discovered on a railway line near the Wiltshire Junction log yard at Circular Head with a banner stating "Earth First Save the Tarkine". Gullible newspapers had a wonderful time with headlines such as "Railway bomb: Environment group linked". The Premier issued a media release stating it was the work of conservationists while the Forest Industry Association of Tasmania stated that it could well have been Earth First! The Tasmanian Greens Senate candidate missed out on a seat by 1%. Months later, long after the ballots were counted, police cleared conservationists of any involvement.
What made the "bomb" plausible in the eyes of journalists and the public was the visit to Tasmania three months prior of an activist from Earth First! in the US ,and a protest the year before involving the blocking of a log train with the spokesperson making media comment in the name of Earth First!. While there is a great deal that can be said about the Black River incident, one odd event is that one of the anonymous tip-offs of the bomb was made to the media on the silent phone number of a reporter dealing with police issues. Also of interest was that the slogan "Earth First" on the banner was written omitting the signature exclamation mark; a mistake unlikely to be made by anybody remotely aware of Earth First!
The hysteria created around hoax eco terrorist incidents is often used to justify anti-environmental legislation. In Tasmania for example, trespass provisions were strengthened in 1993 after the Black River bomb. Following the "tree spiking" saga in the run up to national counter terrorism training week there was pressure for new "anti-sabotage" restrictions; and following the most recent "sabotage" claims by a Tasmanian police officer there were claims that conservationists should be liable for damages caused by delays in projects. There is no evidence to associate conservationists with tree spikes discovered in sawmill timber; indeed, there has been considerable reluctance on the part of the industry to allow closer scrutiny of such events.
All these measures are aimed to counter the political impact of non-violent direct action protests that confront industries and put images of a threatened environment into the living rooms of Australians.
Violent Harassment
In the US harassment of activists has followed the path of the anti-environmental movement.
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission Inquiry into Racist Violence in Australia commented that racist violence was largely based on stereotypes, inevitably negative; an identification of such people as having a negative impact on the Australian community; media coverage re- inforcing these perceptions; and a general social, political and economic environment in which the identification of scapegoats is attractive.25
Hoax "eco-terrorist" stunts and finger pointing at conservationists set up the dynamic that legitimises the violent harassment of environmentalists. The Executive Director of the NSW Forest Products Association, Mr Col Dorber, stated on ABC TV:
"If we have to have a fight, if we have to physically confront those people who have opposed us for so long, then so be it ... I also say to people in the industry, if you are going to do that, use your commonsense and make sure it's not being filmed when you do it".26
Following Col Dorbers' embarrassment Miranda Devine of the Telegraph Mirror cited the instances of tree spiking in Tasmania as justification of violence against environmentalists.
"It may not be palatable to say so publicly but violence can sometimes be good ... it's a pity that Dorber felt he had to apologise and even more that Boral Timber deserted his cause ... there comes a point in any disagreement when diplomacy ceases to be of any use. That is when violence has its place."29
What You Can Do
In planning campaigns it would be wise to learn from what is a reasonably predictable pattern of corporate campaigns. Campaign strategies of the 1980's are far less likely to work in the 1990's. Anticipation, innovation and grass roots mobilisation will be the hallmarks of the successful campaigns of the 1990's.
An increasing level of information sharing between groups, both within Australia and overseas, will be important to alert others within the movement as to what is going on.
Campaign planning:
- Your credibility is the most important asset that you have. This is heavily dependent on your image (in the eyes of the public, media, police) and accuracy with information. Treasure it.
- Ensure that all individuals are trained and strongly support strict non-violence towards people and property; training in the dynamics of peaceful social change is the best single measure you can take to increase the chances of running a winning campaign and prevent harassment and dirty tricks;
- Evaluate what you have done in your past campaigning - what was effective and why? How did industry try to counter your campaign? Develop a campaign plan that involves having someone play the role of what industry would do to counter you. Get a step ahead of them.
Front groups:
- Examine newspaper clippings to research their policies, tactics, strategies.
- Think of what they are likely to do to counter your campaign. Plan ahead rather than react.
Public Relations Firms
- Read all you can about their strategies and tactics. They will be coming your way so forewarned is forearmed. The best materials are set out in the reading list below
- Copy and distribute to others any material that you come across, especially primary documents, on PR firms' activities .
Harassment:
- Reject the victim mentality. Harassment is not simply something that you have to put up with - it is a violation of civil and political rights and can be prevented. Refusing to be a victim is the single most important step towards preventing and mitigating the effects of harassment.
Prevention:
- Document past incidents of harassment involving people from your group and identify the patterns; most are likely to have occurred around direct action protests, following industry rallies/public meetings; examine the actions of activists, the police, media, industry.
- Liaise on an ongoing basis with local police, informing them about specific incidents of harassment and the broader patterns and how they can be prevented. Never meet with police by yourself - always have a witness.
- Ensure that your organisation has ready access to good legal advice. Ensure that people are trained in their legal rights.
- Video cameras, cameras and tape recorders are the best preventers of harassment. Anything that can capture evidence and establish the credibility of your claims also acts as a significant deterrent. They are essential at direct actions and as far as possible core activists should always carry them - especially in rural areas.
Mitigation:
If harassment occurs there are simple steps that can be taken that will reduce the trauma associated with it:
- Immediately document exactly what happened. Write it all down in a statement and get statements from witnesses.
- Make a statement to police. If they are reluctant to take a statement, insist. Record the time and details of the officers you dealt with should you need to follow up later.
- Ensure victims of harassment get personal support immediately after the incident. Do not leave people isolated to sort it out by themselves. Follow up with legal advice.
- Police, media and industry will often seek to blame the victim. Be prepared for and challenge this head on. The better the evidence that you have the better off you will be.
- Decide whether you wish to go public. Often publicity is an effective deterrent. Media coverage will largely depend on what verifiable evidence you have - photos, tapes, video, independent witnesses etc.
Dirty tricks - Prevention:
Read as much as you can about PR dirty tricks, especially Australian examples. The better informed you are the better placed you will be to prevent them or respond appropriately. Make sure that local media and police are aware of other examples of dirty tricks.
Anticipate how and when such incidents might occur - they typically occur to pre-empt activists' direct action, to legitimise a legal crackdown or divert attention from impending bad publicity;
Recognise that most dirty tricks are designed to be plausible in the eyes of police and media and difficult to rebut by media deadlines. Dirty tricks are all about marginalising activists from broader support in the community. Be aware that your image, policies and tactics will determine the ability of dirty tricks to be employed.
Mitigation:
If an incident occurs where your group is being accused of "sabotage" or "vandalism" drop everything else and make it your number one priority for a couple of days;
If you are uncertain what to do seek advice on how to respond;
Do not be shy. Dirty tricks rely on generating adverse media publicity. Go on the attack rather then hope it will go away. The best way to prevent repeat dirty tricks is to point out where past dirty tricks have been exposed as frauds;
Monitor the media. Talk to all journalists at each media outlet about the incident and other dirty tricks. Have someone video all TV news on the incident, tape radio news and talkback and clip the papers. Keep it all together;
Keep a diary of all events relating to the incident. What happened, when, what you did, what other players did. How it all unfolded. Your impressions;
Harassment often follows dirty tricks. Warn core local activists to take care for the following week;
If police resort to public accusations without pressing charges, get all the details and complain;
Once things calm down take the time to evaluate exactly what happened. Write it down.
Recommended Reading
USA:
David Helvarg, The War Against the Greens, Sierra Club Books, San Francisco, 1994.($US25) (Available from Sierra Club Books, 730 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
PR Watch: Public Interest reporting on the Public Relations Industry. A subscription can be obtained from John Stauber 3318 Gregory Street, Madison, WI 53711 NGO's $US60;
John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton, Toxic Sludge is good for you: Lies, Damn Lies and the Public Relations Industry, Common Courage Press, Monroe Maine, 1995, pp 167-75.
Australia:
Bob Burton, Stealth Attack: Boral Timber's undercover attack on The Wilderness Society, The Wilderness Society, February 1995;
Bob Burton, Sabotaging environmentalism with bombs, spikes and other dirty tricks, Proceedings of Environmentalism, Public Opinion and the Media Conference, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 1-2 December 1995;
Bob Burton, "Nice names pity about the policies", Chain Reaction, Number 70, pp 16-19 - January 1994
Bob Burton, "Bombs and Bloody noses: dirty tricks and harassment against environmentalists", Australian Centre for Environmental Law, Proceedings of Defending the Environment conference, May 1995
Bibliography
- Joel Bleifus, "Flack attack", Utne Reader, January/February 1994;
- Albuquerque Journal, December 11 1991;
- Brian West, "Crisis Management and the role of marketing", Lunchtime presentation to the Australian Marketing Institute, Wednesday September 13 1995;
- Jeff Zilka (Hill and Knowlton), "Strong IR programs deter suitors from making hostile bids", O'Dwyers PR Services, Volume 9, Number 7, July 1995;
- Amanda Little, "A green corporate image - more than a logo", Green Marketing Conference, Hotel Intercontinental, unpublished, 25th and 26th June 1990;
- Stewart Murrihy, "North Forest Products and the Hampshire woodchip mill - Winning case studies", workshop, Proceedings of Public Relations Industry of Australia and New Zealand Vox Pop Conference, Sydney, Friday 10th November 1995;
- Joyce Nelson, "Burson Marstellar, Pax Trilateral and the Brundtland gang vs the environment", Covert Action, Number 44 Spring 1993;
- Leaked minutes of Forest Protection Society "Strategy meeting" 19.8.88; "Leaked strategy of disruption", The Mercury, 7 February 1989; "Infiltration of greenies admitted", The Examiner, 7 February 1989.
- Bob Burton, "Dirty tricks takes to talk back radio", Greenweek, Tasmanian Greens, 6-12 June 1995;
- "Forestry Now Has One Voice", The Mercury, 16th March 1987; "Forestry Interests To Have Their Say", The Examiner, 13th March 1987.
- Barry Prismall, "Forest War Twist", The Mercury November 27 1987;
- Forest Protection Society Ltd (1992), Annual Report 1991-92, page 8;
- Forest Protection Society Ltd (1993), Annual Report 1992-93;
- Forest Protection Society News, Issue 4, Volume 7 July - August 1990;
- People for the West!, Western States Public Lands Coalition Public Lands Report, Volume 7, Number 4, April 1994, page 1; "Forest group officer for US conference", The Mercury, 26th May 1994; Barry Chipman, "The US experience: unity and purpose the keys to success", Trunklines, Forest Protection Society, September 1994,;
- "Forest Group Officer For US Conference", The Mercury, 26th May 1994.
- Forest Protection Society News, Issue 4, Volume 7, July - August 1990;
- "Stop 'immoral' Blinky Bill", Canberra Times, 24th June 1994;
- Pacific Lumber interoffice memo, April 18 1990 cited in David Helvarg, "The War Against the Greens", Sierra Club Books, San Francisco, 1994;
- For a more extensive explanation of this see John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton, "Toxic Sludge is good for you: Lies, Damn Lies and the Public Relations Industry", Common Courage Press, Monroe Maine, 1995, page 167-75;
- ABC Radio, "We don't do coups", Background Briefing, July 1992;
- Bruce Tobin, "Oxy-gear used to cut pipes: police", The Age, 18th October 1991
- Bruce Tobin, "Coode fire was an accident, police find", The Age, 11th June 1992.
- Gavin Hillier, NSW election, Background Briefing, Radio National 2RN, Sunday March 19 1995;
- These factors have been paraphrased and abbreviated from the report; Col Dorber, ABC-TV, 14th February 1995.
- Miranda Devine, Telegraph Mirror, 16th February 1995.
|