I posted a link to this related story in the In the News thread, but wanted to get some more opinions on it through an actual discussion. The basic gist is that after about two years of pipeline bombings occurring very near to my hometown, someone was arrested this morning. There have been a total of six bombings, all directed at the same gas company, of varying degrees of severity. One was as close as 100m from the nearest residence, and two caused sour gas (H2S) leaks.

Here is the link:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/01/08/bc-pipeline-bombings-arrest.html

In Canada, we have the idea that one is innocent until proven guilty. It seems very unusual and inappropriate to me that the national corporation of CBC would be pointing such a direct finger at the man named in the first two words of this article (I don't want to name him so that we don't get an influx of crazy Googlers onto our forum), without having a confirmation from the police. All that is given in the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) report is that the arrested is in his 50s or 60s and resides in the small Alberta town about 30 minutes away from where the bombings occurred.

It just seems odd to me that, even though some of the patterns certainly do lend themselves directly to this man (who has had previous run-ins with the law on various levels), people would jump to conclusions so quickly. And especially the media.

Now, I'm all for peaceful protest and environmental activism, but am vehemently against any kind of eco-terrorism. In comments to this article, there are a lot of people arguing that this cannot be called terrorism because nobody got hurt in the ordeal. But there was serious potential for people to get hurt, with the sour gas leaks especially. Even the most minuscule amounts of exposure to H2S can cause severe brain damage or death. What if someone just rushed onto the scene without wearing a mask and died on the spot? Terrorism now?

For me, a definition of terrorism is something that invokes terror or fear or unease among a people. For the past two years, people in my town and surrounding area have definitely been uneasy. FBI and extra RCMP have been all over, it's been in the news, and the gas company increased their award to $1M, one of the highest rewards that have ever been offered in Canada.

I dunno, eco-terrorism freaks me out. But people being prematurely accused and convicted also does not sit well with me. What do you guys think of the matter?

This is one of the better definitions of terrorism I've come across:

"The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons."

To me this breaks down into 3 key points:


unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence
against people or property
intention of intimidating or coercing

I'd say this instance fits the bill. Historically there have been many things that fit the definition but haven't necessarily been labeled as such. The word itself is so much more widely and commonly used now since [certain high-profile events].

The word itself is so much more widely and commonly used now since [certain high-profile events].

Haha, that reminds me exactly of one of the comments to the article that I stumbled upon. The comment said something along the lines of "So now is every person from this guy's ethnicity going to get stopped and questioned at airports and be assumed as terrorists?"

If that's the only definition of terrorism to these people, it's no doubt that they are ignorant of the fact that this is indeed terrorism.

Thanks for that definition, by the way. It sums up what I was thinking but didn't feel like looking it up myself, so I just commented on the "terror" root of it.

As well as people get hurt from these bombs, surely using the bombs themselves, contributes to environmental damage, with all the chemicals that they produce from their explosions, that probably go into the atmosphere, causing more pollution?

The irony is his way of protecting the environment probably just damages it more..

In Canada, we have the idea that one is innocent until proven guilty. It seems very unusual and inappropriate to me that the national corporation of CBC would be pointing such a direct finger at the man named in the first two words of this article (I don't want to name him so that we don't get an influx of crazy Googlers onto our forum), without having a confirmation from the police. All that is given in the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) report is that the arrested is in his 50s or 60s and resides in the small Alberta town about 30 minutes away from where the bombings occurred.

As to confirmation from the police, this article talks a little bit more about it: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/venting/Wiebo+Ludwig+arrested+farm+searched/2420797/story.html?id=2420797
in my knowledge, police usually dont talk about anything surrounding an investigation or arrest, as it will lead to a biased jury and possible mistrial. however as people we desire to know and want to hear gossip, which the news is happy to put in the details.

as for eco-terrorism, just like 830 said, bombing someone because they are hurting the environment? talk about a hypocrite.

I agree as well, although the thought has never really occurred to me before! It's true though...there's no such thing as an eco-friendly bomb...unless it's...made out of baking soda and vinegar? Hahah.

Has anyone else heard of things like this going on in their areas? Maybe not so much oilfield related, but anything where crazy activists are using violence to get their point across?