Direct Action Panel

Wow...uh...this panel was a tad embarassing for me. It featured four speakers, including former ELF spokesperson Craig Rosebraugh, and it was mostly just inflamed rhetoric. Especially what came out of Craig's mouth. I'll start with him. He basically extolled the idea of a self-sacrificing militant, saying that if one has priveledge within this system, they must renounce it and take any risks necessary to make change. He attempted to reject morality by saying we shouldn't be opposed to violence in some situations, which I agree with. But he in fact didn't reject morality, he turned it around on itself and merely created an anti-morality; his argument was that we have an imperative to do what's right, and that means having no regards for self. We have a moral imperative to be self-sacrifical for the greater good, is his view. He doesn't seem to even recognize the need to transcend this gloomy view. (He also had an emotional, inflammatory style, which I will refrain from making fun of.)

The other speakers were milder, and also had some good things to say, though really basic. Elaine Close, a lady concerned with animal rights issues, talked about how reformist solutions cannot help her cause one bit, and therefore all of her group's actions need to be direct, from making their own media (on indymedia) to actually confronting and stopping animal testing. Stu Sugerman, a lawyer who defends radical activists (and is currently defending Craig Rosebraugh,) talked a little about how the law is not meant to be fair, and had some good personal anecdotes. He's a funny guy. And last, Kim Marks from Cascadia Forrest Defense gave her emotional plea to confront logging and support political prisoners. She was filled with lots of rhetoric as well, but was light-hearted and humorous, too, which made up for it. The questions during Q&A all sucked, then I left.

On the way out of the Law school I stopped at the Green Anarchy table to see if Zerzan had brought some Camatte like he said. He wasn't there, and the lady behind the table said they still didn't have anything by the guy. But she also told me that they will have some stuff by him at their table during the Anarchist Bookfair in San Fran, which I will be going to. Will the Quest For Camatte finally end? We'll see in a couple of weeks...

P.S. The GA folk I have talked to, despite popular belief, are not complete assholes. They all seemed very friendly and open to me. But, of course, I only have brief, superficial experience with them. (Just thought I'd throw that out there.)