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Members of the eco-terror movement liken their predicament to fighting in a war. They view politicians as ineffective and believe that if something is to be done, they must do it themselves. Like the members of ELF, eco-terrorists are radical environmentalists who believe traditional ways of bringing about change are not adequate. The most well-known group linked to eco-terror in the U.S., the Earth Liberation Front, or ELF, was formed when some members of the group Earth First! became frustrated with what they saw as an insufficient pace of change and began a group that would engage in more violent, direct action. What drives these extreme activists? Why not just join Greenpeace or the Sierra Club? In this article, you'll learn more about the history, philosophy and tactics of the eco-terror movement, and you'll also get an idea of how it's organized. Since these radical environmentalists oppose pretty much anything having to do with development or with the alteration of the environment, they have a lot of potential targets from which to choose. Those familiar with the movement suggest that, although groups are not in the practice of killing anyone, it is only a matter of time before they do. The increasingly violent attacks of eco-terrorists worry many people. For example, a slaughterhouse was torched in the Netherlands, farm equipment destroyed in England and a fur store vandalized in Mexico. Other countries have seen their fair share of terrorist acts as well. While they're certainly no al-Qaida, extreme activists acting on behalf of animals or the environment have committed hundreds of crimes over the past two decades and inflicted more than $100 million worth of damage in the U.S. SUVs, construction equipment and genetically engineered crops also are likely targets. The Seattle subdivision, for example, was built near a stream that supports endangered salmon, and some opponents worried the homes would pollute the creek and nearby wetlands. Suburban developments like the one in Seattle are common targets because of the land they consume and the nearby ecosystems they threaten.