Support the Eco-Prisoners (February 2009)

Spirit of Freedom
(February 2009)
Produced by
EARTH LIBERATION PRISONERS SUPPORT NETWORK

"The whole experience has been tough, but all the kind and strengthening
words
and wise thoughts from strangers made it much easier!"
(Former Swedish Animal Rights Prisoner)

Welcome to the February 2009 edition of Spirit of Freedom.  As we go to
press the international prisoner support movement is coming to terms with
another outrageous travesty of justice.

As a lot of ELP supporters will be aware, the American vegan eco-activist,
Marie Mason, has been sentenced to just under 22-years imprisonment having
pleaded guilty to an anti-GMO arson and admitted her involvement in a number
of other ELF actions.  Quite rightly people around the world are feeling
angry about this.  22 years for what?  Did she kill anyone?  Did she injure
anyone?  No!  She merely carried out direct action in a way she felt would
achieve results.  People may disagree with her tactics, but no one could
criticise her motives.  And yet now, a good woman has been condemned to
prison for two decades for merely trying to make the world a better place.

In Britain there have also been some political sentences recently.  Seven
British SHAC activists received sentences of between 4 and 11 years for
their campaigning against Huntingdon Life Sciences.  The seven (one of whom
has asked not to be publicly named) either pleaded to or where found guilty
of "conspiracy to blackmail".  But what does that mean?  Blackmail is when
you know something about someone and threaten to expose this information.
So in effect they were found guilty of conspiring to tell the truth about
companies linked to the vivisection industry!  Again, they received very
harsh sentences for what they actually did.

And just today ELP heard that the young Swedish vegan eco-activist, Jonatan,
has been told that the Prosecution in his case is demanding Jonatan serves a
prison sentence not because of what Jonatan did, but because there are so
few eco-activist trials in Sweden they want to make an example of him!

Around the world, good, kind, caring people are being given political
sentences, not for their crimes, but because of their ideals and their
beliefs.  All of these prisoners deserve out support and regardless of what
country they come from, regardless of what languages they speak, they all
really do appreciate your letters of support.  So please, no matter where
you are in the world, support the eco-prisoners.  And no compromise in
defence of Mother Earth.

ECO-DEFENCE PRISONERS

Tre Arrow, #70936065, FCI Herlong, Federal Correctional Institution, PO Box
800, Herlong, CA 96113, USA.  Serving 78 months for his involvement in two
ELF arsons.  1) an arson on logging trucks 2) an arson on vehicles owned by
a sand & gravel company.  (Tre is a raw energy vegan - He has asked that his
letters of support are written on scrap paper or tree-free paper).

Grant Barnes #137563, San Carlos Correctional Facility, PO Box 3, Pueblo, CO
81002, USA.  Serving 12 years for setting fire to a number of SUV vehicles.
The letters ELF were spray painted onto all of the vehicles.  (Grant is a
vegan).

Nathan Block, #36359-086, FCI Lompoc, Federal Correctional Institution, 3600
Guard Road, Lompoc, CA 93436, USA.   Serving 7 years & 8 months for an ELF
arson against a Poplar Tree Farm and an ELF arson against an SUV dealership.
Also admitted his role in an ELF/ALF conspiracy.  (Diet unknown).

Julien COUPAT, N° d'écrou 290173, 42 rue de la santé, 75014 Paris, France.
On remand accused of sabotaging railway lines to protest against the nuclear
power industry (which carries waste by railway lines) (Diet unknown).

Marco Camenisch, Postfach 3143, CH-8105 Regensdorf, Switzerland.  Serving 18
years.  1) Ten years for using explosives to destroy electricity pylons
leading from nuclear power stations.  2) Eight years for the murder of a
Swiss Boarder Guard whilst on the run.  In '02 Marco completed a 12-year
sentence in Italy for destroying electricity pylons in Italy.  (Marco is a
meat eater who encourages organic living).

Daniele Casalini, Casa Circondariale, Via Burla 59, 43100 Parma, Italy.  Il
Silvestre activist awaiting trial accused of using explosives to damage an
electricity pylon in protest at nuclear energy.  (Daniele is a vegan).

Francesco Gioia, Casa Penale, Via Lamaccio 1,  67039 Sulmona (Aq), Italy.
Il Silvestre activist awaiting trial accused of using explosives to damage
an electricity pylon in protest at nuclear energy.  (Francesco is a
vegetarian and Straight Edge).

Jonatan.  E-mail messages of support to freejonatan@yahoo.se A 20-year old
Swedish man sentenced to 15 months imprisonment after admitting damaging a
communication tower used by the Department of Defence, cutting the cables on
a crane used in creating urban sprawl, and damaging a vehicle used in the
logging industry.  Jonatan is currently on bail as he appeals his sentence
(Jonatan is a vegan).

Yildune LEVY N° 369 772, Maison d'arret des femmes, 6, avenue des Peupliers,
F-91700 Fleury Mérogis, France.  On remand accused of sabotaging railway
lines to protest against the nuclear power industry (which carries waste by
railway lines) (Diet unknown).

Jeffrey Luers, # 13797671, CRCI, 9111 NE Sunderland Ave, Portland, OR
97211-1708, USA.  Serving 10 years for arson on a SUV dealership & the
attempted arson of an oil truck.  The original sentence was 22 years & 8
months, but was reduced on appeal.  (Diet unknown).

Marie Jeanette Mason, Clinton County Jail, 1347 E Townsend Rd., Saint Johns,
MI 48879, USA.  Serving 21 years and 10 months for her involvement in an ELF
arson against a University building carrying out Genetically Modified crop
tests.  Marie also pleaded guilty to conspiring to carry out ELF actions and
admitted involvement in 12 other ELF actions.  (Marie is a vegan).

Eric McDavid, 16209-097, FCI Victorville, Medium II, Federal Correctional
Institution, PO Box 5300, Adelanto, CA 92301, USA.  Serving 19 years & 7
months for planning to destroy the property of the U.S. Forestry Service,
mobile phone masts and power plants.  At the point of his arrest no criminal
damage has actually occurred.  (Eric is a vegan).

Daniel McGowan, 63794-053, USP Marion, US Penitentiary, PO Box 1000, Marion,
IL 62959, USA.  Serving 7 years for an ELF arson against a Poplar Tree Farm
and an ELF arson against an old growth logging corporation.   Also admitted
his role in an ELF/ALF conspiracy.  (Daniel is a vegetarian).

Jonathan Paul - See details in Animal Liberation Prisoners List.

Michael Sykes 696693, Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility, 1728
Bluewater Highway, Ionia, MI 48846, USA.  Serving four to ten years for
anti-sprawl arsons, criminal damage to a utility pole, spray-painting
political graffiti and burning the American flag.  (Diet unknown)

Briana Waters 36432-086, FCI Danbury, Federal Correctional Institution,
Route 37, Danbury, CT 06811, USA.  Serving six years for involvement in an
ELF arson on a University.  (Diet unknown).

Joyanna Zacher, #36360-086, FCI Dublin, 5700 8th St.- Camp Parks- Unit F,
Dublin, CA 94568, USA.  Serving 7 years & 8 months for an ELF arson against
a Poplar Tree Farm and an ELF arson against an SUV dealership.  Also
admitted her role in an ELF/ALF conspiracy.  (Diet unknown).

ANIMAL LIBERATION PRISONERS
(All Animal Liberation Prisoners follow a minimum vegetarian diet and most
are vegan).

Jonny Ablewhite TB4885, HMP Ranby, Retford, Notts, DN22 8EU, England.
Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied guinea
pigs for vivisection.  (Jon is a vegan).

Dan Amos VN7818, HMP Winchester, Romsey Road, Winchester SO22 5DF, England.
Serving 4 years for conspiracy to blackmail Huntingdon Life Sciences.  (Dan
is a vegan)

Gregg Avery TA7450, HMP Coldingley, Shaftesbury Road, Bisley, Woking, Surrey
GU24 9EX, England.  Serving 9 years for conspiracy to blackmail Huntingdon
Life Sciences.  (Gregg is a vegan).

Natasha Avery NR8987, HMP Bronzefield, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, Middx. TW15
3JZ, England.  Serving 9 years for conspiracy to blackmail Huntingdon Life
Sciences.  (Nat is a vegan).

Mel Broughton TN9138, HMP Woodhill, Tattenhoe Street, Milton Keynes, Bucks
MK4 4DA, England.  On remand accused of involvement with an arson and
blackmail campaign against an Oxford University vivisection establishment.
(Mel is a vegan).

Dean Cain, WJ4309, HMP Lincoln, Greetwell Road, LN2 4BD, England.  On remand
for allegedly trespassing at a rabbit farm.  The charges include interfering
with a contractual relationship so as to harm an animal research
organisation, conspiracy to interfere with a contractual relationship so as
to harm an animal research organisation, and conspiracy to commit criminal
damage.  (Dean is a vegan).

Jacob Conroy #93501-011, FCI Terminal Island, Federal Correctional
Institution, P.O. Box 3007, San Pedro, CA 90731, USA.  Serving 48 months
imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.  (Jake is a vegan).

Donald Currie A3660AA, HMP Parkhurst, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5NX,
England.  Serving an Indeterminate Sentence, of not less than six actual
years, for carrying out arsons against targets associated the vivisection
industry including HLS.  (Don is a vegan).

Lauren Gazzola #93497-011, FCI Danbury, Federal Correctional Institution,
Route #37Danbury, CT 06811, USA. Serving 54 months imprisonment for helping
organise the SHAC-USA campaign.  (Lauren is a vegan).

Joshua Harper #29429-086, FCI Sheridan Federal Correctional Institution,
P.O. Box 5000, Sheridan, OR 97378 USA.  Serving 36 months imprisonment for
helping organise the SHAC-USA campaign.  (Josh is a vegan).

Sean Kirtley WC 6977, HMP Stafford, 54 Gaol Road, Stafford, ST16 3AW,
England.  Serving four and a half years for running an anti-vivisection
campaign website.  (Sean is a vegan).

Kevin Kjonaas #93502-011, FCI Sandstone, PO Box 1000, Sandstone, MN 55072
USA.  Serving 72 months imprisonment for helping organise the SHAC-USA
campaign.  (Kevin is a vegan).

Daniel McGowan - See details in Eco Defence Prisoners List.

Gavin Medd-Hall WV9475, HMP Coldingley, Shaftesbury Road, Bisley, Woking,
Surrey GU24 9EX, England.  Serving 8 years for conspiracy to blackmail
Huntingdon Life Sciences.  (Gavin is a vegan).

Heather Nicholson VM4859, HMP Bronzefield, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, Middx.
TW15 3JZ, England.  Serving 11 years for conspiracy to blackmail Huntingdon
Life Sciences.  (Heather is a vegan).

Jonathan Paul, #07167-085, FCI Phoenix, Federal Correctional Institution,
37910 N 45th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85086, USA.  Sentenced to 51 months for an
ALF arson on a horse meat plant.  Also admitted his role in an ELF/ALF
conspiracy.  (Jonathan is a vegan).

John Smith, TB4887, HMP Lindholme, Bawtry Road, Hatfield Woodhouse,
Doncaster, DN7 6EE, England.  Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a
farmer who supplied guinea pigs for vivisection.  (John is a vegan).

Luke Steele, WJ4308, HMP Lincoln, Greetwell Road, LN2 4BD, England.  On
remand for allegedly trespassing at a rabbit farm.  The charges include
interfering with a contractual relationship so as to harm an animal research
organisation, conspiracy to interfere with a contractual relationship so as
to harm an animal research organisation, and conspiracy to commit criminal
damage.  (Luke is a vegan).

Dan Wadham, A5705AA,HMP Camp Hill, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5PB,
England.  Serving 5 years for conspiracy to blackmail Huntingdon Life
Sciences.  (Dan is a vegan).

Kerry Whitburn TB4886, HMP Lowdham Grange, Lowdham, Nottingham, NG14 7DA,
England.  Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied
guinea pigs for vivisection.  (Kerry is a vegan).

Sarah Whitehead, VM7684, HMP Bronzefield, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, Middx,
TW15 3JZ, England.  Serving two years for: 1) rescuing a puppy from horrific
conditions. 2) rescuing over 100 animals from a pet breeder who was later
prosecuted for animal abuse.  Also awaiting trial for SHAC activity.  (Sarah
is a vegan)

PLOUGHSHARES PRISONERS

Helen Woodson, 03231-045, FMC Carswell - Admin. Max. Unit, POB 27137, Ft.
Worth, TX  76127, USA.  Serving 8 years 10 months for actions that focused
on the interrelationship of war & the destruction of the natural world.  The
actions included pouring red paint over the security desk of a federal court
and making threatening communications.  Previously Helen had served 20½
years for: 1) Using a hammer to disarm a nuclear missile silo.  2) Burning
$25,000 on the floor of a bank whilst denouncing war, environmental
destruction & economic injustice.  3) Mailing warning letters with bullets
attached to Government & corporate officials. (Diet unknown).

THE LECCE DEFENDANTS
The Lecce Defendants have been charged with "subversive association" accused
of damaging Esso petrol pumps to oppose the War on Iraq; sabotaging the cash
machines of a bank which funds an immigration centre; and targeting the
multinational company Benetton in support of Mapuche land rights activists
in Chile.  All of the defendants are currently either under house arrest or
released on bail.

ANTIFA PRISONERS

Vahtang Devitlidze, ul. Libbedova 42, UO 68/2, otryad 14, brigada 142, g.
Hagyshensk, Krasnodarskiy Kray, 352680 Russia.  Serving 2½ years for
stabbing a neo-nazi in the leg whilst defending himself from attack. (Diet
unknown).

Fabio Milan, C.C. via Pianezza 300, 10151 Torino, Italy.  On remand accused
of fighting with the police after an anti-fascist protest. (Diet unknown).

Andrea Neff, Bnr: 746/07/2, Justizvollzugsanstalt fur Frauen in Berlin,
Arkonastrasse 56, 13189 Berlin, Germany.  Serving 14 months for anti-fascist
activity. (Diet unknown).

Christian Sümmermann, Bnr: 441/08/5, JVA Plötzensee, Lehrterstr. 61, 10557
Berlin, Germany.  Serving 40 months for breaching the peace whilst serving a
suspended sentence issued for anti-fascist activities. (Diet unknown).

Tomasz Wiloszewski, Zaklad Karny, Orzechowa 5, 98-200 Sieradz, Poland.
Serving 15 years for accidentally killing a neo-nazi whilst defending
himself. (Tomasz is a vegetarian).

Yuri Yurevich Milevskiy, SIZO #7 kamera 38, g. Brest, ul. Karla Marksa 86,
224000 Belarus.  On remand for fighting with neo-nazis.  (Diet unknown).

OTHER PRISONERS

Olga Aleksandrovna Nevskaya, UU163/5, 7 Otryad, pos. Dzerzhinskiy, Mozhaysk
140090 Moskovskaya oblast, Russia. Eco-activist serving 6 years for arson,
criminal damage and causing explosions in protest at the war in Chechnya.
Due for release in 2009. (Diet unknown).

Richard Sills (Address Unknown, USA).  Serving 15 months for bomb hoaxing a
University saying they would be targeted by the ALF if they didn't stop
their animal experiments.  (Diet unknown).

Fran Thompson, #1090915 HU 1C, WERDCC, PO Box 300, Vandalia, MO 63382, USA.
Serving Life for killing, in self-defence, a stalker who had broken into her
home. Before her imprisonment Fran was an eco, animal & anti-nuke
campaigner. (Fran is a vegan).

MOVE
MOVE is an eco-revolutionary group who carried out protests in defence of
all life. All move prisoners describe themselves as vegetarians.  There are
currently eight MOVE activists in prison each serving 100 years after been
framed for the murder of a cop in 1979.  9th defendant, Merle Africa, died
in prison in 1998.

Debbie Simms Africa  (006307), Janet Holloway Africa  (006308) and Janine
Philips Africa (006309)  all at: SCI Cambridge Springs, 451 Fullerton Ave,
Cambridge Springs, PA 16403-1238, USA.

Michael Davis Africa (AM4973) and Charles Simms Africa (AM4975) both at SCI
Graterford, PO Box 244, Graterford, PA 19426-0244, USA.

Edward Goodman Africa  (AM4974),  SCI Mahanoy, 301 Morea Rd, Frackville, PA
17932, USA.

William Philips Africa (AM4984) and Delbert Orr Africa (AM4985) both at SCI
Dallas Drawer K, Dallas, PA 18612, USA.

Mumia Abu Jamal, (AM8335), SCI Greene, 175 Progress Drive, Waynesburg PA
15370, USA.  In 1981 Mumia, former Black Panther and vocal supporter of
MOVE, was framed for the murder of a cop.  He was originally sentenced to
death but is currently awaiting re-sentencing following a court hearing in
2001.

STATEMENT ON VIOLENCE
Some people listed in this newsletter have carried out violent actions.
'Spirit of Freedom' does not condone violence.  But we are also against
censorship & believe people can decide for themselves who they wish to
support.

ABOUT E.L.P. SUPPORT NETWORK
ELP is an international eco-prisoner support network founded, in Britain, in
1993 to support jailed eco-activists.  We support the prisoners by producing
various regular prisoner lists:

Spirit of Freedom is ELP's international monthly prisoner listing which is
circulated by e-mail.

Urgent ELP! Bulletin is an e-mail service that distributes the names of any
new eco-prisoner as soon as ELP gets their details.  For more info e-mail
ELP4321@hotmail.com

On-Line Newsletters - ELP has a number of websites that provide news,
prisoner lists and additional info about ELP & the prisoners.

English language ELP Website
www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk

Greek language ELP Website
http://greekelp.blogspot.com

North American ELP Website
www.ecoprisoners.org

Turkish language ELP Website
www.geocities.com/yesilanarsi/elp.htm

ELP Extra is an e-mail group that circulates the details of political
prisoners, ELP learns about, who do not fall within the remit for support by
ELP.  To subscribe to the list e-mail ELP4321@Hotmail.com

Australian ELP.SN is our Australian contact.  For more info e-mail
elp4321@hotmail.com

Belgium ELP.SN is our Belgium contact.  For more info e-mail
elp_bel@hotmail.com

German ELP.SN is a prisoner led initiative run by eco-prisoner Marco
Camenisch.  For more info contact Marco Camenisch, Postfach 3143, CH-8105
Regensdorf, Switzerland.

Greek ELP.SN is our Greek contact.  For more info e-mail greekelp@yahoo.gr

North American ELP is our North American contact.  For more information
e-mail naelpsn@mutualaid.org

Turkey ELP.SN is our Turkish contact.  For more info e-mail
yesilanarsi@yahoo.com