The ELF membership is highly diverse and without any dominant ethnicity or religion, primarily because it is a global organization that is leaderless and highly decentralized by specific design to thwart law enforcement efforts.
Terrorist Activity
The ELF engages in acts of terrorism such as arson attacks against automobile manufacturers that produce SUVs, vandalism and destruction of building sites constructing laboratory facilities, and (increasingly) cyber-attacks against their IT systems perpetrated in the online medium.
Geographic Influence
The geographic influence of the ELF is global, largely because the organization actually consists of a large number of otherwise independent, autonomous, and unaffiliated groups, including solitary so-called "lone wolf" actors who share the ELF philosophy.
Code of Conduct/Behavior
The ELF code of conduct or philosophy is very similar to that of the AOG except it is directed...
Their fundamental belief is that man does not have the moral right to destroy the natural environment or its natural species and fauna (ELF, 2009).
Political Influence
The ELF does not enjoy any appreciable political influence or mainstream support at all. That is because all of its goals could be pursued through legal means (boycott, negative publicity, economic competition, etc.) but the group chooses to pursue its goals through violent means that cannot be condoned by traditional groups or elected officials (Martin, 2004).
References
Earth Liberation Front. (2009). The Evolution of ELF after "Operation Backfire."
Retrieved, July 12, 2011 from: http://earth-liberation-front.org/
Horsley, N. (2011). Understanding the Army of God., Retrieved, July 12, 2011 from:
http://www.christiangallery.com/aog.html
Martin, B. "Terrorism:
ethics, effectiveness and enemies." Social Alternatives, Vol. 23,
No. 2; (2004): 36-37.
National Abortion Federation (2010). Anti-abortion Extremists/The Army of God and Justifiable Homicide Retrieved July 12, 2011 from:
http://www.prochoice.org/about_abortion/violence/army_god.html
Schmalleger, F. (2009). Criminal Justice Today: An Introductory Text for the 21st
Century. Hoboken, NJ: Prentice Hall.
