Dan McGowan

The background to Dan’s case is the ongoing devastation by logging companies of the wonderful forests and wildlife of the American North West, specifically the states of Washington and Oregon. These activities are illegal, being in contravention of state law and the most basic environmental considerations. What’s more they are being carried on with the full complicity and connivance of the state authorities.

Local people tried their utmost to protect the forests by demonstrating peacefully but were repeatedly subjected to obscene brutality by the police – some being nearly blinded by police tactics.

Left with no other recourse, having exhausted all other possibilities, a number of selfless and devoted people formed themselves into the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) to take direct action against the loggers.

The ELF and its supporters were in no sense terrorists, although that is what they were labelled.

They never harmed anyone – but they did set fire to the loggers’ local headquarters and vehicles.

The response of the authorities was cruel and vindictive in the extreme, and prominent among those singled out for particularly vindictive treatment was Dan McGowan.

He is someone who merits the utmost admiration and respect for his unselfish bravery.

He is now serving a long sentence in exceptionally harsh conditions, and I urge everyone to write to the American Embassy to get him released or at any rate treated more humanely.

Tony Kelly, Crook.