Burning Rage Of A Dying Planet

BOOK REVIEW Burning Rage of A Dying Planet By Craig Rosebraugh Published by: Lantern Books ISBN: 1-59056-064-7 www.lanternbooks.com Reviewer. Claudette Vaughan

In ‘Burning Rage of a Dying Planet' Rosebraugh reveals the extent in which right wing politicians and multinationals will go to continue making profits out of environmental destruction and human misery.

This is one man's story of his dealings with the group,  Earth Liberation Front, (ELF) as seen through the eyes of the author who took up the daunting task of being their media spokesperson since their inception in 1997 to September 2001. This is also an account of  pre-9/11 politicking and how Rosebraugh coped with the strains and stresses of it all. (see our interview with him)

As spokesperson for the Earth Liberation Front and the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), Craig Rosebraugh was never a casualty of the environmental crisis.  He knew early on that to a sizable and growing number of people the actions that drove the ELF and the ALF were an incredible source of hope and inspiration to a situation where there had previously been no hope or inspiration.  It isn't hard to gauge why he eventually became a spokesperson for these groups. Simply it involved a form of resistance in response to a lethargic, compromised and increasingly corporate environmental community.

The Earth Liberation Front's guidelines have always been clear and concise:

1. To inflict economic damage on those profiting from the destruction and exploitation of the natural environment.

2. To reveal and educate the public on atrocities committed against the earth and all species that populate it and

3. To take all necessary precautions against harming any animal, human or nonhuman.

In this modern era the ELF has inflicted nearly 100 million dollars in damages to various entities. With Craig Rosebraugh being the only visual voice in the media spotlight, his story of police harassment, direct action and the serious repercussions of being associated with the ‘Elves' makes for an engaging read.

‘Burning Rage of a Dying Planet' is a well told story of the struggle of our Age in maintaining an integrity in the face of great Establishment opposition.  The reader gets a sense of Rosebraugh's exasperation and humour at some of the FBI and Congressional Inquiries that he finds himself unwillingly attending.

Like many other activists involved in the animal rights and radical environmental movement, Craig Rosebraugh was able to step out from under a well-crafted marketing illusion that media perpetrates to inform the unsuspecting public that all is well with the world.  His stance as spokesperson confronted and challenged indifference and to this day he maintains that the ELF and the ALF have demonstrated that small clandestine, underground activities, with no hierarchical structure can produce good results – even against an increasing repressive political atmosphere.

Burning Rage of A Dying Planet: Speaking for the Earth Liberation Front is a book on a rare and important form of activism – direct action. It is a well-written and intense read because the man himself, Craig Rosebraugh, is an unrepentant animal and earth activist.

 Buy this book. It's about a man that set about to make a difference in the world. About someone who wasn't prepared to be steam-rolled into compliance or bullied about from the big end of town.  In an era of globalisation, few public or private spaces remain immune to the pressure of global capital, big real estate, and telecommunications.

Click here to read Claudette Vaughan's interview with Craig Rosebraugh