Eco-Warriors: Understanding the Radical Environmental Movement, Updates Edition [Paperback]

Rik Scarce (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 2005

Eco-Warriors was the firstin-depth look at the people, actions, history and philosophies behind the "radical" environmental movement. Focusing on the work of Earth First!, the Sea Shepherds, Greenpeace, and the Animal Liberation Front, among others, Rik Scarce told exciting and sometimes frightening tales of front-line warriors defending an Earth they see as being in environmental peril. While continuing to study these movements as a Ph.D. student, Scarce was jailed for contempt of court for refusing to divulge his sources to prosecutors eager to thwart these groups’ activities. In this updated edition, Scarce brings the trajectory of this movement up to date—including material on the Earth Liberation Front—and provides current resources for all who wish to learn more about one of the most dynamic and confrontational political movements of our time. Literate, captivating, and informative, this is also an ideal volume for classes on environmentalism, social movements, or contemporary politics.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Political causes have always had radical fringe elements. It may be hard for many to understand those who are willing to risk their lives in defense of the planet, but this book is excellent in explaining who they are and what motivates them. Scarce gives the historical background of the radical environmental movement, reviews several groups with examples of their activities, and discusses the future of the movement. Although the intensity and extremist tactics of the "eco-warriors" may be off-putting, Scarce suggests that in the end we may owe thanks for our very survival to these people. A real bargain at the price, this book is a welcome addition to general and environmental collections that might also include Bill McKibben's The End of Nature ( LJ 10/1/89), a warning against the destruction of nature, and Christopher Manes's Green Rage: Radical Environmentalism and the Unmaking of Civilization ( LJ 5/1/90), a personal view of the radical movement.
- Kathleen L. Atwood, Pomfret Sch. Lib., Ct.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

Special Features: New chapter updating the radical environmental movement since 1990; updated resources for activists.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Left Coast Press; 2nd edition (December 31, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598740288
• ISBN-13: 978-1598740288
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #296,152 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great book - this man is dedicated to saving the environment, February 14, 2000

By 

Stefohnee "stef" (Redmond, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Eco Warriors: Understanding the Radical Environmental Movement (Paperback)

Eco-Warriors was written by Rik Scarce, a journalist who lives in Washington. This book attempts (and succeeds) to help readers understand why such grups as Earth First! and such "radical" environmental groups take the actions that they do. Scarce presents as much as an objective view as possible, he stresses his sympathy for the "front-line warriors" in the battle to save the earth. Well-told stories of activists doing the only effective thing to save the environment - get to the root of the problem and stop the individuals/governments/companies that are polluting the environment or needlessly killing endangered animals for profit or lack of responsibility. The people he describes are bypassing the ineffective routes of petitioning and organizing local recycling groups, and making major impacts on international policy.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Radical environmentalism, February 16, 2010

By 

César Chávez "Tax the Rich... free the poor." (Amsterdam) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eco-Warriors: Understanding the Radical Environmental Movement, Updates Edition (Paperback)

The day will come when those who sit in trees and put up blockades on logging roads in order to save 2,000 year old trees are not viewed as radicals. They in fact are heroes, not terrorists as the right wing would have you believe. This fascinating book tells the stories of those people and organizations that have worked tirelessly against those that bow down to the mighty dollar at the expense of all else.