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Yale returns Machu Pichu relics excavated in 1911 back to Perú

­by the El Reportero’s news services

Machu PichuMachu Pichu

One hundred seventy seven skeletons will arrive to a Machu Picchu Museum later on today, as part of the second shipment of relics that Yale University is returning to Perú.

A shipment of 26 boxes of Incan relics was flown from New York to Cuzco earlier this week and will complete its journey today upon arrival to the Casa Concha Museum in Machu Picchu.

This shipment is the second out of the three scheduled deliveries containing some 40,000 objects that explorer Hiram Bingham dug up in the Peruvian site back in 1911, and eventually donated to Yale University.

A third delivery containing pottery and stone-ware findings is scheduled for December of next year.

Cayo García Miranda, a member of the International Centre for the Study of Machu Picchu and Inca Culture said the remains are important to archaeological research and to the understanding of Peru’s history.

“It is essential to have these objects, which show much of our history.

Also, DNA testing can show the genetic, pathological and anatomical characteristics of ancient Peruvians,” he said.

­Uruguay investing in power milk business to the tune of $65 million

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), approved a loan of up to $65 million for Estancias del Lago SA, a Uruguayan privately-held agri-business company, to develop a fully-integrated and highly efficient dairy operation to export powered milk.

The loan will help finance the implementation of a highly-efficient freestall dairy facility and a dry lot facility for 8,800 and 2,000 milking cows, respectively, as well as a powdered milk plant with an annual output capacity of 16,500 metric tons, which will represent about 12 percent of the country’s current powdered milk exports.

Located in the Department of Durazno, the project is expected to create as many as 400 jobs during its construction phase and another 314 once fully operational.

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Ron Paul and the Iowa conspiracy

por Jack Blood
Deadlinelive.info

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone following the GOP Presidential Nomination process, that the establishment wants a

Romney 2011vs Obamney ticket for the general selection in 2012.

We believe that this is a thinly veiled plan to get Obama 4 more years as POTUS. But, How far would the Powers than be (no one ever really names or faces the dreaded “eSTABlishment” … Suffice to say its David Rockefeller – Wall St. and the Fed, from both the left and the right… ) I digress…How far would they go to get that “dream” ticket of Bilderberg vs Bilderberg, Tweed vs tweedy, elite vs elitist…?

Its fleshing out right now in Iowa.

It seems the plan might be familiar. Just as the mass media and her “pundits” have written off any Straw Poll victories captured by the Ron Paul Campaign (Paul Just won a few more of those in Florida over the last 24 hrs! You would hear that on the news though…) , so will they minimize a Paul victory in the Iowa Caucus this January 3rd. This is a certainty. If Paul wins, Romney is safe, and Newt is damaged goods.

With a near guarantee of M-Rom winning New Hampshire (not so fast) Live Free or Die… Romney’s “Home” State is NH because he has a beach house there… M-Rom would allegedly have a clear path to Florida. (SC going to anyone BUT Romney)

Maybe NH has other ideas: So to guide this in, even to help Ron Paul in Iowa will definitely serve the Romney campaign. Which is the goal. The MSM will do whatever they have to to arrange this.

Of course Newt will “protest” but being the good and fat Ol’ stalking horse he is, will eventually take his place back on the lecture circuit with a huge bonus for his trouble, saving him from what might have been bankruptcy, and scandal.

And just HOW can they make Iowa insignificant? Because if Ron Paul can win there, as the Huckster did in 08… it just cant be that important. Hear that Iowa?

The Establishment media is calling you dumb and insignificant – that is unless you do what your told, as you faithfully did in 2000 for George Jr. – The PTB didn’t get where they are by taking chances on the race. They FIX the race.

Here is just one of many examples of the media pouring it on Ron: Chris Wallace: A Ron Paul win in Iowa would ‘discredit’ state’s caucusesIts kind of a no lose plan if you are the elite. Hell, they gotta do something to stop the REAL protest against tyranny, which for many of us IS the Ron Paul Campaign! – So maybe they can stop Paul by working 24/7 to CON Iowans into thinking that a vote for Ron Paul is a wasted vote…. This has been tried successfully in the `past.

BLOWBACK?

The “hitch” in this plan? What if Ron Paul does win in Iowa? Then the momentum helps him to win or get 2nd in NH… stay with me… then via the media coverage wave, during which voters will gain the same perspective we Paul supporters have had for years, that the media are dirty cheap whore liars… etc… Which turns voters against them, at which time they vote Paul in the south as a protest.

Or… Because of all the media coverage, the voters grow to know Ron Paul, and vote for him because they finally realize that he is the only honest man in the race.

Hey… it could happen. And because of the way the system works this time (up until april 1st – April Fools Day) the candidates will get points for placing and showing (not just winning) the primary states.

So realistically – Ron Paul could be a top tier candidate well into the spring. The wave of coverage would certainly turn on the Newt Rom campaign.

Not to worry though Mitt… If by some miracle Ron Paul does look like he could win the nomination, and the delegates cannot be swayed to steal it from him at the convention… they can just kill him and blame it a lone nut. (which might be Obama’s fate if he doesn’t reel this in.)

While its great to see Ron Paul doing so well, and the message of Liberty gaining traction… I am suspiciously cautious.

As always I “hope” for the best, I work to that end… but I prepare for FOUR MORE WARS and Cousin Barry O til 2016 and beyond.

­http://deadlinelive.info/2011/12/15/ron-paul-and-the-iowa-conspiracy/.

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Grammy’s to make special tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobin

by the El Reportero’s news services

Antonio Carlos JobinAntonio Carlos Jobin

Antonio Carlos Jobim, who co-wrote the famous song “Girl From Ipanema” will be awarded a posthumous Grammy for helping share Bossa Nova with the world.

The Brazilian arranger, singer and pianist/guitarist was pivotal in the creation of the Brazilian Bossa Nova as well as in exporting the sound ­to the rest of the world.

In 1995, Jobim won a posthumous Best Latin Jazz Performance Grammy for his album ‘Antonio Brasileiro’.

Along with Jobim, the late Apple CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs will be presented with a special Grammy award for creating products and technology that transformed the way we consume music, TV, movies and books. Diana Ross, whom has never won a Grammy, will be presented the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Other Lifetime Achievement recipients for the year include the Allman Brothers Band, Glen Campbell, George Jones, the Memphis Horns, and the late Gil Scott-Heron

Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi and Spanish model girlfriend have their first child

Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi and Spanish model Agueda Lopez have had their first child together, a little girl they named Mikaela.

The 33-year-old artist announced on his Web page that Mikaela was born at 1:46 p.m. Tuesday in a Miami hospital.

“Both Agueda and Mikaela are in perfect health,” said Fonsi, who added that he felt “very emotional and proud to begin this new chapter in … life as a father.”

The couple expressed their gratitude “from the bottom of our hearts (for) the lovely wishes and messages of support (we) have received,” although they also asked for “privacy to ensure that mother and daughter have a quick recovery.”

In July, the singer and the model announced that they were expecting their first child, an event that Fonsi called a “beautiful blessing” that “fills our lives with joy.”

Uruguayan hot-momma Natalia Oreiro’s naked plea to save forests

“Please Help My Unborn Child Known the Forests,” says Uruguayan singer, actress, fashion designer and activist Natalia Oreiro in this Greenpeace ad for Argentina.

Deforestation in Argentina is on the rise because of illegal logging permits and cattle expansion, even after the approval of a government forest bill “Ley de Bosques,” supported by more than 1.5 million Argentinean citizens and signed off by the Argentinean Congress in 2007 to protect native forests. Argentina and Uruguay share a border and the bio-rich Rio de La Plata region.

You can help save the foreYou can help save the forests, protect indigenous livelihoods and guarantee biodiversity for our future. for more information, visit GreenPeace.org.

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CCSF diagnostic medical program top in the United States

­Compiled by the El Reportero’s staff

City College of San Francisco’s Diagnostic Medical Imaging Program (DMI) has received a trophy for being the Best Radiologic Training Program in the United States for 2011, according to a national peer-review panel of expert radiological professionals at AuntMinnie.com, a comprehensive internet site for radiologists and other professionals in the medical imaging industry. The staff of AuntMinnie.com includes executives, editors, and software engineers with years of experience in the radiology industry.

Upon completion of the national examination for credentialing, graduates of the CCSF DMI program work as Radiologic Technologists with an unlimited license to perform complex examinations, and a broad scope of practice. Many of the Radiology departments in medical centers within San Francisco are staffed primarily by graduates of the CCSF DMI program. Thus, chances are that any individual having a diagnostic x-ray study in San Francisco would have encountered a CCSF DMI graduate.

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Debt-free United States dollar bills were once issued under JF Kennedy

The U.S. government still has the power to issue debt-free money

by the Economic Collapse

Most Americans have no idea that the U.S. government once issued debt-free money directly into circulation. America once thrived under a debt-free monetary system, and we can do it again. The truth is that the United States is a sovereign nation and it does not need to borrow money from anyone. Back in the days of JFK, Federal Reserve Notes were not the only currency in circulation. Under JFK (at at various other times), a limited number of debt-free United States Notes were issued by the U.S. Treasury and spent by the U.S. government without any new debt being created. In fact, each bill said “United States Note” right at the top. Unfortunately, United States Notes are not being issued today. If you stop right now and pull a dollar out of your wallet, what does it say right at the top? It says “Federal Reserve Note”. Normally, the way our current system works is that whenever more Federal Reserve Notes are created more debt is also created. This debt-based monetary system is systematically destroying the wealth of this nation. But it does not have to be this way. The truth is that the U.S. government still has the power under the U.S. Constitution to issue debt-free money, and we need to educate the American people about this.

There is a red seal instead of a green seal on the front, and it says “United States Note” rather than “Federal Reserve Note”.

According to Wikipedia, United States Notes were issued directly into circulation by the U.S. Treasury and they were first used during the Civil War….

They were originally issued directly into circulation by the U.S. Treasury to pay expenses incurred by the Union during the American Civil War. Over the next century, the legislation governing these notes was modified many times and numerous versions have been issued by the Treasury.

So why are we using debt-based Federal Reserve Notes today instead of debt-free United States Notes? It seems rather stupid, doesn’t it?

Well, that is what Thomas Edison thought too.

Thomas Edison was once quoted in the New York Times as saying the following….

That is to say, under the old way any time we wish to add to the national wealth we are compelled to add to the national debt.

Now, that is what Henry Ford wants to prevent. He thinks it is stupid, and so do I, that for the loan of $30,000,000 of their own money the people of the United States should be compelled to pay $66,000,000 — that is what it amounts to, with interest. People who will not turn a shovelful of dirt nor contribute a pound of material will collect more money from the United States than will the people who supply the material and do the work. That is the terrible thing about interest. In all our great bond issues the interest is always greater than the principal. All of the great public works cost more than twice the actual cost, on that account. Under the present system of doing business we simply add 120 to 150 per cent, to the stated cost.

But here is the point: If our nation can issue a dollar bond, it can issue a dollar bill. The element that makes the bond good makes the bill good.

thin air and lending it to theOur current debt-based monetary system was devised by greedy bankers that wanted to make huge profits by ­creating money out of U.S. government at interest. Sadly, the vast majority of the American people have no idea how money is actually created in this nation.

In a previous article about money and debt, I explained how more government debt is created whenever the U.S. government puts more money into circulation….

NEXT WEEK: When government puts more it creates more government debt.

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Bilderberg 2011 The Rockefeller World Order and the High Priests of Globalization

FROM THE EDITOR: In continuing with our research and coverage of significant issues that have and are currently affecting our way of life, the following article, written by Andrew Gavin Marshall brings us into a long journey of historical passages about the Bilderberg group, a little known organization that has much to do with the policies that decide world events, such as future wars, countries invasions, mass destructions in other countries, or formation of new ‘free’ trade agreements for the benefit of the world ruling elite and the consolidation of a New World Order, and leading to the culmination of a New World Government to enslave humanity.

Due to its length, it will be divided into many parts. So please sit tight on your seat for a long ride, and hope that at the end, you’d have learned a big chunk of history.

by Andrew Gavin Marshall

Global Research

Seventh part

Recently by Andrew Gavin Marshall: The Logic of Imperial Insanity and the Road to World War III

To say we were striving for a one-world government is exaggerated, but not wholly unfair. Those of us in Bilderberg felt we couldn’t go on forever fighting one another for nothing and killing people and rendering millions homeless. So we felt that a single community throughout the world would be a good thing.

~ Denis Healey, 30-year member of the Steering Committee of the Bilderberg Group

Last year, Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme endorsed such an idea of a ‘European Economic Government’ when he stated:

The idea of strengthened economic government has been put on the table and will make progress. In the end, the European Debt Agency or something like it will become a reality. I’m convinced of this. It’s about Europe’s financial stability and it’s not an ideological debate about federalism. I myself am a federalist. But more integration and ­deeper integration are simply logical consequences of having a single currency.

This is of course, not surprising, considering that Leterme’s predecessor is Herman van Rompuy, the current Bilderberg participant and EU President, a strong-headed advocate of an ‘economic government’ and ‘global governance.’ The plans for an ‘economic government’ require the strong commitment of both France and Germany, which may explain Merkel’s reported appearance at Bilderberg. In March of 2010, the German and French governments released a draft outline that would “strengthen financial policy coordination in the EU.” The plan, seen by German publication Der Spiegel, “calls for increased monitoring of individual member states’ competitiveness so that action can be taken early on should problems emerge.” Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker stated in response to the plan, “We need a European economic government in the sense of strengthened coordination of economic policy within the euro zone.” In December of 2010, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble stated that, “In 10 2years we will have a structure that corresponds much stronger to what one describes as political union.”

As reported by the German press in early 2011, Germany and France were split on several aspects of such an ‘economic government.’

However, as Merkel stated, “We have obviously been discussing the issue of an economic government for a long time,” and that, “What we are currently envisioning goes yet another step in this direction.” Yet, the differences between the two approaches are mainly as follows: France would prefer to see the European Council, which comprises the heads of state and government of the EU’s member states, turned into a kind of economic government. Since only euro-zone member countries would be involved initially, French Finance Minister [and past Bilderberg participant] Christine Lagarde has dubbed the project “16 plus.”

The Germans are focused on completely different things. Their preference would be to see the current rescue fund replaced by the so-called European Stability Mechanism in 2013. According to this arrangement, in return for any help, cash-strapped countries would have to subject themselves to a strict cost-cutting regimen.

Mario Draghi is the current President of the Bank of Italy, as well as a board member of the Bank for International Settlements – the BIS (the central bank to the world’s central banks). In an interview posted on the website of the BIS in March of 2010, Mario Draghi stated that in response to the Greek crisis, “In the euro area we need a stronger economic governance providing for more coordinated structural reforms and more discipline.” Mario Draghi also attended the 2009 conference of the Bilderberg Group. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Mario Draghi has been backed by the euro-area finance ministers to be the successor to Jean-Claude Trichet at the European Central Bank, who is due to step down in October of 2011.

Certainly, the objective of a ‘European economic government’ will continue throughout the coming years, especially as the economic crisis continues. As Dominique Strauss-Kahn, outgoing Managing Director of the IMF and long-time Bilderberg participant stated, “crisis is an opportunity.” Bilderberg, while not omnipotent by any means, will do all in its ability to prevent the collapse of the euro or the ending of the European Union. Bilderberg has, after all, from its very beginning, made ‘European integration’ one of its central objectives. In an official biography of Bilderberg-founder and long-time Chairman Prince Bernhard, the Bilderberg Group was credited as “the birthplace of the European Community.”

Regime Change

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Demonstration to protect a sacret Indian place

­por la Tribu Elem Pomo

Miembros de la Tribu Elem protestan violación de lugar sagradoMembers of Elem Tribe protest violation of sacred place

East Bay Millionaire John Nady has begun building his vacation home on Rattlesnake Island, the ancient political and religious center of the Elem Tribe, in Lake County. Nady bought the island 8 years ago, reportedly for $2.5 million. Using his wealth and influence, he has already strong-armed his way through the planning regulations. He began laying foundations for his vacation home at the end of November. John Nady is part of the 1%.

Nady is one of the wealthiest people in the East Bay, amongst his houses, is the vast Sweetland Mansion in the exclusive neighborhood of Piedmont. On Saturday December 17th, Elem Tribal members and their supporters will participate in a spiritual walk from the Grand Lake Theater, Lakepark & Grand Ave, into Piedmont. They hope to show Nady that from Lake County to the Bay Area people will oppose this desecration.

Businessmen from San Francisco stole the island in the 19th Century.

They used their money and connections to fraudulently claim the island under the Homestead Act. Since then the island has changed hands several times, as one wealthy elite after another bought it. Despite not having legal ownership of it, the Elem have continued to use the island in many of their traditional ways. No non-native person has ever lived on the island or built on it until now. Nady is building a vacation home on top of a site where people have prayed for at least the last 6,000 years.

Now the Elem Tribe calls on the people of Oakland to support them to stop the desecration. Whether it’s for gold, silver, coal, uranium or leisure, John Nady is part of a long history of the 1% who have exploited Indigenous lands.

Much of the Elem’s traditional land was promised to them under a treaty signed by the American government in 1851. But Congress refused to ratify the treaties, a decision Tribes in Lake County, didn’t hear about until more than 50 years later. Meanwhile, tribal land, ­including Rattlesnake Island, was claimed by settlers. In the end, it was the US Government which enabled the 1% to steal their land.

Jim Brown, a traditional cultural leader of the Elem Tribe, says: ‘We, the 99% are tired of the 1% controlling everything with their wealth, with their greed, and with the hypocrisy they brought to the United States. We need to chase these foreign governments out of our land and turn it back 4over to the people. We need everyone to support our aboriginal rights”.

On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Oct. 10, more than 100 people marched with Elem Tribal members to Nady’s offices in Emeryville to deliver a letter asking him not to build on their most sacred site. Now that he has begun construction work on the island, they will take to the streets again to demand he stop, this time closer to home.

A march was held on Dec. 17 and then met on the grass outside the Lakeview Branch of Oakland Public Library.

Elem Pomo assert aboriginal title to Rattlesnake Island http://www.elemmodun.org/2011/nady-systems-closes/.

 

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A better 2012 in prospect for Latin America

Dilma RousseffDilma Rousseff

As we argue inside, 2012 should be better for Latin America than 2011, if only because the region’s two biggest economies, Brazil and Mexico, will probably grow a bit faster than they did in 2011. Brazil will do better because its policymakers organized a gentle slowdown in the second half of 2011 to avoid upsets later on in President Dilma Rousseff’s four-year term. In Mexico, the stronger economic tone of the U.S. economy is already beginning to act as a locomotive.

CELAC: New Community of 33 Latin American and Caribbean Nations

­by Alfredo G. Pierrot
(Taken from The Havana Reporter)

CARACAS – The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) was officially founded in an early December summit attended by the leaders of the region´s 33 nations.

The new pro-integration bloc, heir to the Latin American and Caribbean Summit (CALT) and the Rio Group, will be led by a troika of countries, with Venezuela as the outgoing president pro tem (summit host), Chile as the current president (to host the 2012 summit) and Cuba as the future president (the 2013 summit host).

The United States and Canada were the only countries in the Americas not invited to be part of the new bloc, which was formed after the heads of state at the summit approved the Caracas Declaration by consensus, with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez presiding. The declaration was the result of meetings held by foreign ministers and other officials in the days leading up to the summit.

The summit also approved two other founding documents by consensus, the 2012 Action Plan, and Procedures for the Organic Functioning of the CELAC.

When the procedural document was put to a vote, Chávez noted that meetings previous to the summit had not reached agreement on one of its points. The document stipulated that all CELAC decisions would be made by consensus, but Ecuador proposed that in cases where consensus was not achieved, an agreement could be reached by a qualified majority of four-fifths of the bloc´s members.

The Ecuadorian delegation argued that decisions that are important for the majority of countries should not be blocked by the disagreement of one or two countries, as sometimes happens in the UN Security Council, for example. Opinions remained divided on this issue, and it was finally agreed – by consensus – to refer the issue to the troika for further discussion and a subsequent proposal for future CELAC meetings.

Two other matters referred to the troika were a proposal made by Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli to create a general ­secretariat, offering to host its headquarters in his country, and the proposal of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago, who said the troika should include a representative of the CELAC´s 14 English and French-speaking Caribbean member countries.

Eighteen special communiqués also were approved by the meeting, addressing issues such as the Malvinas Islands, food and nutritional security, financial speculation and food prices, the human rights of immigrants, solidarity with Haiti and a security strategy for Central America. Other issues included the defense of democracy and constitutional order, the battle against drug trafficking and terrorism, and the struggle against the U.S. blockade of Cuba.

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Selection of organic and non-GMO groceries directly to consumers

by Mike Adams
NaturalNews

East Bay Millionaire John Nady has begun building his vacation home on Rattlesnake Island, the ancient political and religious center of the Elem Tribe, in Lake County. Nady bought the island 8 years ago, reportedly for $2.5 million. Using his wealth and influence, he has already strong-armed his way through the planning regulations. He began laying foundations for his vacation home at the end of November. John Nady is part of the 1%.

Nady is one of the wealthiest people in the East Bay, amongst his houses, is the vast Sweetland Mansion in the exclusive neighborhood of Piedmont. On Saturday December prom17th, Elem Tribal members and their supporters will participate in a spiritual walk from the Grand Lake Theater, Lakepark & Grand Ave, into Piedmont. They hope to show Nady that from Lake County to the Bay Area people will oppose this desecration.

Businessmen from San Francisco stole the island in the 19th Century.

­They used their money and connections to fraudulently claim the island under the Homestead Act. Since then the island has changed hands several times, as one wealthy elite after another bought it. Despite not having legal ownership of it, the Elem have continued to use the island in many of their traditional ways. No non-native person has ever lived on the island or built on it until now. Nady is building a vacation home on top of a site where people have prayed for at least the last 6,000 years.

Now the Elem Tribe calls on the people of Oakland to support them to stop the desecration. Whether it’s for gold, silver, coal, uranium or leisure, John Nady is part of a long history of the 1% who have exploited Indigenous lands.

Much of the Elem’s traditional land was promised to them under a treaty signed by the American government in 1851. But Congress refused to ratify the treaties, a decision Tribes in Lake County, didn’t hear about until more than 50 years later. Meanwhile, tribal land, including Rattlesnake Island, was claimed by settlers. In the end, it was the US Government which enabled the 1% to steal their land.

Jim Brown, a traditional cultural leader of the Elem Tribe, says: ‘We, the 99% are tired of the 1% controlling everything with their wealth, with their greed, and with the hypocrisy they brought to the United States. We need to chase these foreign governments out of our land and turn it back over to the people. We need everyone to support our aboriginal rights”.

On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Oct. 10, more than 100 people marched with Elem Tribal members to Nady’s offices in Emeryville to deliver a letter asking him not to build on their most sacred site. Now that he has begun construction work on the island, they will take to the streets again to demand he stop, this time closer to home.

A march was held on Dec. 17 and then met on the grass outside the Lakeview Branch of Oakland Public Library.

Elem Pomo assert aboriginal title to Rattlesnake Island http://www.elemmodun.org/2011/nady-systems-closes/.

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FBI says activistas investigate factory farms can be prosecuted as terrorists

by Will Potter

The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force has kept files on activists who expose animal welfare abuses on 2011factory farms and recommended prosecuting them as terrorists, according to a new document uncovered through the Freedom of Information Act.

This new information comes as the Center for Constitutional Rights has filed a lawsuit challenging the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) as unconstitutional because its vague wording has had a chilling effect on political activism. This document adds to the evidence demonstrating that the AETA goes far beyond property destruction, as its supporters claim.

The 2003 FBI file details the work of several animal rights activists who used undercover investigation to document repeated animal welfare violations. The FBI special agent who authored the report said they “illegally entered buildings owned by [redacted] Farm… and videotaped conditions of animals.”

The animal activists caused “economic loss” to businesses, the FBI says. And they also openly rescued several animals from the abusive conditions. This was not done covertly in the style of underground groups like the Animal Liberation Front — it was an act of non-violent civil disobedience and, as the FBI agent notes, the activists distributed press releases and conducted media interviews taking responsibility for their actions.

Based on these acts — trespassing in order to photograph and videotape abuses on factory farms — the agent concludes there “is a reasonable indication” that the activists “have violated the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, 18 USC Section 43 (a).”

The file was uncovered through a FOIA request by Ryan Shapiro, who is one of the activists mentioned. The file is available for download here. [Please note that this document has additional redactions in order to protect the identities of the other activists, at their request.] Shapiro is now a doctoral candidate at MIT.

“It is deeply sobering to see one’s name in an FBI file proposing terrorism charges,” he said in an email. “It is even more sobering to realize the supposedly terroristic activities in question are merely exposing the horrific cruelty of factory farms, educating the public about what goes on behind those closed doors, and openly rescuing a few animals from one of those farms as an act of civil disobedience.”

When I testified before Congress against the AETA in 2006, one of the primary concerns I raised is that the law could be used to wrap up a wide range of activity that threatens corporate profits.

Supporters of the AETA have repeatedly denied this, and said the law will only be used against people who do things like burn buildings. So how do we explain that such a sweeping prosecution was being considered in 2003, under the law’s somewhat-narrower precursor?

One possibility is that FBI agents lack training, education, and oversight. They are spying on political activists without understanding or respecting the law.

Another explanation is that this document is no mistake, nor is it an isolated case. It is a reflection of a coordinated campaign totarget animal rights activists who, as the FBI agent notes, cause “economic loss” to corporations. Learn the full story of how corporations are targeting activists as “terrorists.”

At the state, federal, and international levels, corporations have orchestrated an attempt to silence political activists, and a key target has been undercover investigators. For example: An “Ag Gag” bill has been introduced in Florida to criminalize investigations. Its lead sponsor calls these investigations “terrorism.” Four similar attempts failed in other states this year. These state bills are similar to model “eco-terrorism” legislation drafted by the American Legislative Exchange Council, a corporate front group.

A recent EUROPOL report on international terrorism includes a section on undercover investigations by animal rights and environmental activists. 12 Spanish activists have been charged with terrorism  for their investigations.

Two activists in Finland faced similar charges.

The FBI makes clear that the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act is not ­about protecting public safety; it is about protecting corporate profits. Corporations and the politicians who represent them have repeatedly lied to the American public about the scope of this legislation, and claimed that the law only targets underground groups like the Animal Liberation Front. The truth is that this terrorism law has been slowly, methodically expanded to include the tactics of national organizations like the Humane  Society of the United States. This document illustrates how the backlash against effective activism has progressed within the animal rights movement.

However, if this type of legislation is not overturned, it will set a precedent for corporations to use this model against Occupy Wall Street and anyone else who threaten business as usual.

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