Amazon.com: Green is the New Red: An Insider's Account of a Social Movement Under Siege (9780872865389): Will Potter: Books

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Book Description

Publication Date: April 12, 2011

At a time when everyone is going green, most people are unaware that the FBI is using anti-terrorism resources to target environmentalists. Here is a guided tour into an underground world of radical activism and an introduction to the shadowy figures behind the headlines. But here also is the story of how everyday people are prevented from speaking up for what they believe in. Like the Red Scare, this "Green Scare" is about fear and intimidation, and Will Potter outlines the political, legal, and public relations strategies that threaten even acts of nonviolent civil disobedience with the label of "eco-terrorism."

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A thoughtfully alarming examination of the U.S. government's post-9/11 domestic terror probes."
-- Utne Reader

"A powerful exposé of how civil liberties are being threatened, how big corporations put young activists behind bars." -- Treehugger

"A fascinating book that helps shed some light on how counter-terrorism efforts have eroded constitutional rights and continue to threaten democracy in America."
-- Bill of Rights Defense Committee

"What is so endearing about Green is the New Red is that it's written in the style of a novel, not a reference guidebook, which adds so much more to its credibility. Each chapter brings personal accounts of unfairness and malicious treatment of people who want to get involved with movements that would improve our society. Whether you believe in the methods of these activist groups or not, the facts are glaringly obvious; there is a need for a change in the definition of terrorism and treatment of activists." -- Portland Book Review

"Potter deftly weaves together the political and legislative history of the Green Scare with a personal account... The story he tells is compelling in its narration, shocking and infuriating in its revelations, and ultimately inspiring..." -- Encyclopædia Britannica

"If you’ve ever supported an animal welfare or environmental organization, you too may be a suspected terrorist: That’s the chilling take-away from Green Is the New Red, a thoughtfully alarming examination of the U.S. government’s post-9/11 domestic terror probes, which have inordinately targeted progressive-leaning activist groups. Author Will Potter, a journalist whose own low-level activism ran up against Homeland Security, delves deep into the social, political, legal—and, importantly, ethical—issues raised by this new war on 'ecoterrorism.'" —Utne Reader

"In this hard-hitting debut, journalist Potter likens the Justice Department targeting of environmentalists today to McCarthyism in the 1950s. . . A shocking exposé of judicial overreach." —Kirkus Reviews (Starred review)

"Potter (a contributor to The Next Eco-Warriors) warns that the U.S. government is using post-9/11 anti-terrorism resources to target environmentalists and animal right activists (in some cases for doing nothing but speaking up). After being threatened with a domestic terrorist label for leafleting, Potter turned to uncovering the "Green Scare" and details here the story of the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and controversial protests that resulted in severe jail sentences for participants. Tracing funds from animal-exploiting corporations to Congress and the passing of the big business-friendly Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, Potter reports on an increased usage of the terrorism enhancement in court cases. Citing Freedom of Information Act sources, he reveals that the U.S. government has constructed secret prisons, or Communication Management Units (CMUs), to house suspected terrorists in conditions even more extreme than those of Supermax facilities (which house Zacarias Moussaoui and Eric Rudolph, among others). Potter warns of the crumbling of 'the legal wall separating 'terrorist' from ‘dissident' or ‘undesirable,' and concludes his account with a call to action and a decry of the injustice that results in the 'terrorist' label being put on those who threaten American corporate interests. Alarming." —Publishers Weekly

"While the link between separating recyclables and hijacking planes is far from obvious, the labeling of 'eco-terrorism' has been applied to many aspects of this social movement. Named the 'No. 1 domestic terrorism threat' by FBI deputy assistant director John Lewis six years ago, Potter argues that the fear tactics involved in applying such an evocative term to radical activism is an attempt to intimidate that mirrors the Red Scare of the mid-20th century (which was in fact the second wave of the government's anti-Communist focus)." —Austin Examiner

From the Back Cover

"Part history, part action thriller and courtroom drama, part memoir, Green is the New Red plunges us into the wild, unruly, and entirely inspirational world of extreme environmental activism. Will Potter, participant-observer and partisan-reporter, is the perfect guide, unpacking with wit and skill the most elusive concepts--his discussion of 'terrorism' as myth and symbol is the finest I've ever read. He takes us inside the first moments of a movement in the making--idealistic, hopeful, deeply human in its aspirations and its oh-so-human failings--and he reports brilliantly on a ruling power willing to hollow out any sense of authentic democracy in its futile attempt to maintain dominance, privilege, and their arid version of reality. Green is the New Red is an indispensable book that will change the way we think about commitment, the limits of protest, and the possibility of radical change."

-- Bill Ayers

"Will Potter unveils this complex movement with its virtues and its flaws, the courage of a few and the false bravado of others. I see this book as the definitive overview of the genesis of what is emerging as the most important social movement in human history--the war to save ourselves from ourselves."

-- Captain Paul Watson, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

"If we are to survive capitalism's death grip on our discourse and on our lives, it will be in great measure due to the work of people like Will Potter. His courage and integrity, which set him apart from most journalists, are evident throughout this important book, and throughout all of his other crucial work. Thank you, Will Potter."

-- Derrick Jensen, author of Endgame and many other books

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Product Details

More About the Author

Will Potter is an award-winning independent journalist based in Washington, D.C. His reporting and commentary have appeared in the Washington Post, Mother Jones, Rolling Stone, the Chicago Tribune, and Democracy Now, and he has testified before the U.S. Congress about his reporting. He has lectured at more than 100 universities and public forums internationally about his work, including Georgetown University, the New York City Bar Association, and the House of Democracy and Human Rights in Berlin. Will is also an advisory board member of the Rosenberg Fund for Children. Green Is The New Red was awarded a Kirkus Star for "remarkable merit" and named one of the best books of 2011.

Customer Reviews

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4.7 out of 5 stars

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“ This book should be required reading for those who are activists. ” Rhea Parsons | 18 reviewers made a similar statement

“ Both books are written in a clear and straightforward writing style. ” Mark F. Hand | 11 reviewers made a similar statement

“ He is one of the few authors who can make you want to stop reading the book, get up, and do something. ” Casey | 9 reviewers made a similar statement

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Rich and Compelling - An Important Read June 7, 2011

By modestjake

Format:Paperback

I started reading the book thinking it would be a quick, interesting read into the animal and earth liberation movements and the prosecution of those involved. But what I got was a serious, in depth analysis of how the government and corporations are in bed with another to prosecute above ground activists as terrorists and punish underground activists engaging in non-violent actions more severely than those committing murder.

It was a compelling read full of smart dissections of the political process and Mr. Potter's own role in it, as well as a rare glimpse into the personal lives of those the US government has deemed domestic terrorists due to their political beliefs. Mr. Potter has a rare knack of telling a rich story of personal drama, conviction and heartbreak while educating the reader about issues that the powers-that-be would prefer to keep behind closed doors.

Green is the New Red is one of the most important books I've read in quite some time.

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22 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars required reading May 13, 2011

By E. MICHAUD

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you have any interest at all in the environment, animal rights, activism in general, current events, or the government then you really must read "Green is the New Red." Will Potter chronicles, in a way that manages to be both personal and sweeping, the history of radical activism within the environmental and animal rights movements. By reading this book you will learn exactly how and why the meme of "eco-terrorism" was schemed up and sold to the public by the government even though it twists the customary definition of terrorism well beyond reason. If the book doesn't open your eyes, frighten you, fascinate you, and piss you off all at the same time then, well, I'm afraid you're probably not that much fun at cocktail parties or anarchist potlucks. I couldn't put it down. And I'm not big into rereading books but I'll hit this again for sure.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Important May 14, 2011

By Sandra L. Beardsley

This book is important, green is the new red tells the story of how government attempts to shut down an effective voice for the voiceless. It shows how real terrorism, killing people, has been conflated with property damage or even with political speech. Scary but necessary reading. I'd also suggest Muzzling a Movement if you are interested in the subject. And I think we all should be, the terrorism stick can be used to bash anyone the powers that be disagree with.