Green Is the New Red

Will Potter has played a unique and very necessary role for animal rights and environmental activists, as an independent journalist tracking the rhetoric used by industry, politicians, and the mainstream news media to label animal rights and environmental activists as “terrorists”. This continues despite the fact that that no one has been harmed in the history of either movement, and despite that there is never an intent to harm anyone. Even those engaging in legal protests and civil disobedience are targeted. If you haven’t been reading his blog, you should start.

His book, “Green Is the New Red: an Insider’s Account of a Social Movement Under Siege“, goes further, making it personal, giving a glimpse of what started him on this path. You’ll meet several activists along the way, and they’ll be more than just names or heroes or activists. You’ll see how absurd judges can be, how far from impartial. You’ll see a federal prosecutor chummy with the animal agriculture’s industry bigwigs, and you’ll see elected representatives purposefully subverting the democratic process to further their own agenda, fueled by the industry campaign dollars.

He walks a fine line on multiple dimensions throughout the book – friend vs reporter, fear-inducing vs empowering – and presents a clear-sighted view of the big picture, of what is at stake, and of the lives that have already been touched.

The ideal of objectivity has become a trademark of modern journalism, and although I respect many colleagues who espouse it, I’ve increasingly felt that there are times when clinging to these professional conventions is a disservice to the public. Too often journalists report “both sides” as if they are equal, even when one side is riddled with lies and motivated by self-interest. Over-reliance on “official” government and corporate sources, and deference to their word, has taken precedence over critical, investigative reporting that speaks truth to power. Journalists must always strive for fairness and accuracy, and I’m not suggesting a return to yellow journalism or tabloid sensationalism, but at some point there are issues that require a firm stance. The First Amendment is one of them. Eric Newton, the director of Journalism Initiatives at the Knight Foundation, describes this well: “If we ever reach the point in this country where a journalist being in favor of the First Amendment is seen as special pleading and advocacy,” Newton says, “we’re in deep, deep trouble.” (p.133)

The First Amendment is the point in all of this, something that is increasingly important to understand. Sabotage and civil disobedience were illegal before the AEPA and AETA, but since these have become law, activists charged with breaking no laws have been sent to prison, convicted of “conspiracy to violate the Animal Enterprise Protection Act”.

Will sets out a definition of terrorism, which few others have bothered to do, pieced together from the most common elements of the many definitions in use today. He shows how closely the ties between wealthy corporations and politicians have influenced the laws that have been passed in this country. He shows that while 9-11 accelerated the change toward the government’s anti-activist stance, the framework was put in place long before.

The big picture is important to see, and Will’s experience – both as an activist targeted by the FBI and as a journalist following the Green Scare – allows him to paint a picture of both who and what is at the root. It was not a conspiracy, he tells us, and it is not just about protecting financial interests.

In the minds of the industry groups, think tanks and politicians promoting war on the animal rights and environmental movements, they are engaged in a clash of civilization. Like the Red Scare, with its hysteria against “godless communists” threatening the American capitalist way of life, this Green Scare is a culture war, a war of values. The animal rights and environmental movements are seen not as a competing civilization, but as threats to civilization itself. (p. 243)

Many will read this and be frightened. And it is frightening to realize that the American justice system is willing to send people to prison and label them terrorists even if they have not been charged with breaking a law. It begins to sound like Kafka, or like 1984, but I agree with Will’s viewpoint that the best way to fight is with knowledge.

It is clear, though, that ignoring these problems will not make them go away. The best way to cut through the fog of fear is to shine a light directly on the source. In Plato’s allegory, the first step out of the cave was to turn around and recognize the fire. When we look closely at the court cases, legislation and public relations efforts, we see these campaigns in their true form. We can begin to understand that what is unfolding before us is not truth, it is shadow. (p. 248)

I encourage everyone to read this book.

If you haven’t seen the trailer, it’s well worth the time to watch it: