Earth First! is a philosophy, based in bio-centrism, and characterized by non-violent civil disobedience and direct action. It is a people's movement, for the Earth, and any group of people who get together and decide to do something about the destruction of nature, under the banner of "Earth First!", is an Earth First! group. That's all it takes, and there's no headquarters to apply to, no one to tell you how your group is going to act, or what you're going to do. Earth First! is based in autonomy and community organizing, and a willingness to possibly get arrested for your cause, which will be somewhat different in each area of the world.
People have been organizing under the banner of North Coast Earth First!, here in Humboldt County, California, in attempts to save some of the last Old Growth Redwood and Douglas Fir forests left on Earth, for over twenty years. There have been victories and failures, triumphs and tragedies, yet the people continue to work in attempts of saving more trees, and to expose the criminal activities of Maxxam Corporation/Pacific Lumber Co. and the corrupted agency officials who keep the wheels greased for them and other corporate timber bosses.
North Coast Earth First (NCEF!) has a rich history of non-violent civi disobedience and direct action, which is being carried on to this day.
NCEF! does not engage in property destruction; tree-spiking was denounced years ago, and people don't mess with the logger's machines, either. Judi Bari really helped to drive that home, emphasizing the importance of building bridges between environmentalists and workers, instead of risking physical injury and causing more anger and division. That tradition is carried on to this day, as well.
We do hold rallies, maintain tree-sits, lock ourselves to stuff and each other, block roads, make puppets, get arrested, get sued and sue back, do our own media, host action camps, do community outreach and education, and basically keep the Earth First! tradition alive.
Earth First! is an idea, based in biocentrism, putting the needs of the planet before the comforts of modern society.
There are no hierarchies in Earth First!, no bosses, no paychecks, no retirement plans, no members, no employees, etc.
What you will find in Earth First! are some of the strongest and most courageous people you'll ever meet, a spirit of resistance that never dies, movement music, new paradigms of thought and action, and an international movement to resist the corporate fascist assault on what's left of wild nature, in both the outer and inner senses.
We always need more help, so please contact us to find out how you can best help out.
No Compromise In Defense of Mother Earth! Earth First