Celem artykułu jest krótka charakterystyka ekoterroryzmu, którego podstawą jest specyficzna ideologia. Niektóre treści głoszone przez jej propagatorów mogłyby zasługiwać na poparcie, gdyby nie ich zbyt odhumanizowana retoryka, a zwłaszcza praktyka nią motywowana. Zjawisko ekoterroryzmu, czyli terroryzmu ekologicznego, jest związane ze stosowaniem przemocy przez ekstremistyczne ugrupowania proekologiczne i zradykalizowane jednostki. Ekoterroryzm dzieli się na terroryzm prośrodowiskowy i prozwierzęcy, zwany również animalistycznym. Terroryzm ekologiczny można też podzielić na terroryzm obrońców środowiska naturalnego i terroryzm stosowany przez obrońców praw zwierząt. Największy rozwój ekoterroryzmu nastąpił w USA. Animal Liberation Front, ALF (Front Wyzwolenia Zwierząt) był najbardziej niebezpieczną organizacją proekologiczną, najwięcej członków liczyła natomiast była grupa Earth First!, EF! (Najpierw Ziemia!). Do przemocy ze strony ekoterrorystów dochodziło w wielu państwach naszego kontynentu, przede wszystkim w Wielkiej Brytanii. Do Polski również przeniknęła ideologia ekocentryzmu, stanowiąca na Zachodzie motywację do aktywności wielu ugrupowań, jednak w naszym kraju nie wywarła ona wielkiego wpływu na działalność zorganizowanych grup ekologów i pojedynczych osób. Notowano natomiast przypadki przemocy układające się w serię zdarzeń skierowanych przeciw określonym firmom i instytucjom zagrażającym środowisku. Z przeprowadzonych badań wynika, że powoli, ale systematycznie spada na świecie liczba zdarzeń o charakterze ekoterrorystycznym. Za wcześnie, aby prognozować jego schyłek, jednak na pewno można mówić o coraz mniejszej aktywności związanej ze stosowaniem przemocy. Na obniżanie skali agresywnych działań proekologicznych składa się kilka okoliczności. Przede wszystkim nastąpił wzrost świadomości ekologicznej społeczeństw i rządów. Duży wpływ na spadek liczby zdarzeń o charakterze ekoterrorystycznym ma też zaostrzenie przepisów prawa, a także działalność organizacji ekologicznych.

ABSTRACT

Is there a decline in ecoterrorism?

The purpose of the article is to briefly characterize ecoterrorism, which is based on a specific ideology. Some of the content proclaimed by its promoters might merit support were it not for their overly dehumanizing rhetoric, and especially the practice motivated by it. The phenomenon of ecoterrorism, or environmental terrorism, is associated with the use of violence by extremist pro-environment groups and radicalized individuals. Ecoterrorism is divided into pro-environmental terrorism and pro-animalism. Environmental terrorism can also be divided into terrorism by environmentalists and terrorism by animal rights activists. The greatest development of ecoterrorism has occurred in the United States. Animal Liberation Front, ALF was the most dangerous pro-environmental organization, while the group with the most members was Earth First, EF! Violence by eco-terrorists has occurred in many countries on our continent, most notably in the United Kingdom. The ideology of ecocentrism, which motivates the activities of many groups in the West, has penetrated Poland, but in our country it has not had much influence on the activities of organized groups of environmentalists and individuals. On the other hand, incidents of violence were recorded in a series of events directed against specific companies and institutions that threatened the environment. The research shows that there is a slow but steady decline in the number of ecoterrorism incidents worldwide. It is too early to predict its decline, but there is certainly evidence of declining violent activity. Several circumstances contribute to the downscaling of aggressive environmental activities. Above all, there has been an increase in the environmental awareness of societies and governments. A large impact on the decrease in the number of ecoterrorist events is also due to the tightening of legislation, as well as the activities of environmental organizations.

The purpose of the article is to briefly characterize ecoterrorism, which is based on a specific ideology. Some of the content proclaimed by its promoters might merit support were it not for their overly dehumanizing rhetoric, and especially the practice motivated by it. The phenomenon of ecoterrorism, or environmental terrorism, is associated with the use of violence by extremist pro-environment groups and radicalized individuals. Ecoterrorism is divided into pro-environmental terrorism and pro-animalism. Environmental terrorism can also be divided into terrorism by environmentalists and terrorism by animal rights activists. The greatest development of ecoterrorism has occurred in the United States. Animal Liberation Front, ALF was the most dangerous pro-environmental organization, while the group with the most members was Earth First, EF! Violence by eco-terrorists has occurred in many countries on our continent, most notably in the United Kingdom. The ideology of ecocentrism, which motivates the activities of many groups in the West, has penetrated Poland, but in our country it has not had much influence on the activities of organized groups of environmentalists and individuals. On the other hand, incidents of violence were recorded in a series of events directed against specific companies and institutions that threatened the environment. The research shows that there is a slow but steady decline in the number of ecoterrorism incidents worldwide. It is too early to predict its decline, but there is certainly evidence of declining violent activity. Several circumstances contribute to the downscaling of aggressive environmental activities. Above all, there has been an increase in the environmental awareness of societies and governments. A large impact on the decrease in the number of ecoterrorist events is also due to the tightening of legislation, as well as the activities of environmental organizations.