<p>When does an environmental activist become a terrorist? That’s the burning question at the core of this riveting documentary about Daniel McGowan, an Earth Liberation Front member who is serving a seven-year federal sentence for his role in a series of arsons. Though none of the carefully plotted fires claimed lives–just lumber company buildings, SUVs, and other structures–McGowan was prosecuted under federal anti-terrorism laws. This balanced, humanizing film tracks his case and reveals him to be thoughtful and principled, regretful but not entirely repentant–especially on the subject of the T-word. “It’s property destruction,” he says. “Call it what it is.”</p>
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</a>Have something to say? <a title=”Send a letter to the editor” href=”mailto:editor@utne.com” target=”_blank”>Send a letter to editor@utne.com</a>. This article first appeared in the July-August 2011 issue of <a title=”Utne Reader” href=”https://www.utne.com/subscribe/subscribe.aspx?promocode=EUTDNAZ2″ target=”_blank”>Utne Reader</a>. </p>
