Support the Eco-Prisoners (February 2011)

Spirit of Freedom
(February 2011)
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 2011 edition of Spirit of Freedom.  Last month ELP saw a
number of eco-prisoners jailed in Switzerland (Marco Camenisch, Luca Bernasconi and
Costatino Ragusa), moved from one prison to another for no apparent reason. 

Meanwhile in Russia Rinat Sultanov has been remanded for allegedly fighting with
neo-nazis. 

In Israel, Jonathan Pollak, a well known anarchist animal rights activist has been
jailed for three months for cycling to slowly during a critical mass demo against
the bombing of Gaza by the Israeli militry forces.  Apparently this was a breach of
a suspended sentence he was already serving so he was jailed.  Jonathan is listed
under “Other Political Prisoners”.

In America, at the end of January Briana Waters was re-indicted in a 9 count
indictment which also served as a superseding indictment for Joseph Dibee, Josephine
Overaker, and Justin Solondz.  Briana is accused of: conspiracy to commit offense or
defraud the US, possessing an unregistered firearm, arson of a building used in
interstate commerce or in activity affecting interstate commerce, using a
destructive device during a crime of violence, and arson of a building belonging to
an institution receiving federal financial assistance. The use of a destructive
device charge alone carries a 30 year minimum sentence.  The trial is currently set
for June 27, 2011 – although this date will almost certainly be pushed back. For
more information on Briana and how you can help, please visit:
http://supportbriana.org/

But ELP also has some good news.  American anti-nuclear activist Helen Woodson
(listed under Ploughshares prisoners) is due to be released in September 2011.  Give
or take a few days of being released between political actions, Helen has served 27
years behind bars.  Helen will be leaving prison with very little finances.
Therefore her supporters are trying to raise money to help Helen upon her release.
For information on how you can help Helen please check out
http://www.nukeresister.org/donate/

ELP is an international prisoner support network and we list prisoners from around
the world.  Likewise our supporters are based around the world.  All of the
prisoners listed in this newsletter welcome letters of support, so please, no matter
where in the world you are, no matter what languages you speak, please support the
eco-prisoners.  And remember, support the eco-prisoners and no compromise in defence
of Mother Earth!

If anyone notices any of ELP's prisoner details is out of date or we do not list a
prisoner who we should list, please let ELP know as soon as possible. ELP is run by
a small group of volunteers and although we try to ensure our lists are accurate, we
admit we do make mistakes. So help us help keep the lists accurate by letting us
know of any changes we need to make.

ECO-DEFENCE PRISONERS

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).

Luca Bernasconi, c/o Regionalgefängnis Thun, Allmendstr. 34, 3600 Thun,,
Switzerland.  On remand accused of possession of explosive materials.  Luca is Swiss
and is a known animal rights and prisoner support activist.  Although not linked to
Il Silvestre himself, other defendants in this case are linked to Il Silvestre (Luca
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).

Marco Camenisch, Justizvollzugsanstalt Lenzburg, Postfach 75, 5600 Lenzburg,
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).
Silvia Guerini, c/o Bundesanwaltochaft, Stawa Stadler, Tavbenstrasse 16, 3003 Berna
- Switzerland.  On remand accused of possession of explosive materials.  Silvia is
an Italian linked to Il Silvestre.  (Silvia is a vegan)

Leonardo Landi, Carcere San Michele, Via Casale, 50/A, 15122 San Michele (AL),
Italy. Il Silvestre activist serving six years for robbery. (Leonardo is a
vegetarian).

Marie Jeanette Mason, 04672-061, FMC Carswell, P.O. Box 27137, Fort Worth, TX 76127,
USA. Serving 21 years and 10 months for her involvement in an ELF arson against a
University Professors Office as the Professor was linked to Genetically Modified
crop testing. Marie also admitted destroying logging equipment.  She also pleaded
guilty to conspiring to carry out ELF actions and admitted involvement in 11 other
ELF actions and 1 ALF action. (Marie is a vegan).

Abraham López Martínez (Jailed in Mexico). E-mail letters of support to
cna.mex@gmail.com On remand accused of a series of ELF style activities against
various trucks and businesses. (Abraham 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).

Steve Murphy, 39013-177, FCI Beaumont Medium, Federal Correctional Institution, P.O.
Box 26040, Beaumont, TX 77720, USA. Serving 5 years for Conspiracy to Commit Arson
following an attempted arson at a town house construction site in 2006. The action
was claimed under the banner of the ELF. (Steve is a vegan).

Costatino Ragusa, c/o Regionalgefängnis Bern, Genfergasse 22, 3001 Bern,
Switzerland.  On remand accused of possession of explosive materials.  Costatino is
an Italian linked to Il Silvestre.  (Costatino is a vegan)

Justin Solondz (Jailed in China – See www.ecoprisoners.org for his address).
American Green Scare defendant accused of direct action activity in America. Serving
3 years in China for drugs related offences then due to be deported back to America.
His exact prison location is currently unknown. (Diet unknown).

Michael Sykes 696693, Michigan Reformatory, 1342 West Main Street, 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)

Fermín Gómez Trejo (Jailed in Mexico). E-mail letters of support to
cna.mex@gmail.com On remand accused of a series of ELF style activities against
various trucks and businesses. (Fermin is a vegetarian)

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 A5750AH, H.M. Prison, Hewell Lane, Redditch, Worcs B97 6QS, England.
Serving 12 years for attempting to blackmail a farmer who supplied guinea pigs for
vivisection. (Jon is a vegan).

Diego Alonso (address unknown, jailed in Mexico– E-mail letters of support to
rabiayaccion@mac.hush.com) On remand accussed of targeting banks, slaughterhouses
and other institutions.  (Diego is a vegan)

Gregg Avery A4874AD, 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 A5180AD, HMP Send, Ripley Road, Woking, Surrey, GU23 7LJ, England.
Serving 9 years for conspiracy to blackmail Huntingdon Life Sciences. (Nat is a
vegan).

Walter Bond  #P01051760, PO Box 16700, Golden, CO 80402-6700, USA.  On remand
accused of a number of arsons claimed by “ALF Lone Wolf”.  The arsons include a fire
at a Sheepskin factory, a leather factory and a foie gras restaurant.  (Walter is a
vegan)

Mel Broughton, A3892AE, HMP Bullingdon, PO Box 50, Oxford, OX25 1WD, England.
Serving ten years for his active campaigning against vivisection carried out by
Oxford University.  The police set him up and accused him of plotting an arson
against the University. (Mel is a vegan).

Adrian Magdaleno Gonzales (address unkown, jailed in Mexico – E-mail letters of
support to libertadparaadrian@hushmail.me).  Serving 5 years 10 months for
detonating a gas bombs against various targets including banks and against targets
whose actions were claimed by the Frente de Liberación Animal (ALF).  (Adrian is a
vegan).

Thomas Harris A8086AX, HMP Winchester, Romsey Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO22 5DF,
England.  Serving five years for campaigning against Huntingdon Life Sciences (Tom
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).

Marie Mason - See details in Eco Defence Prisoners List.

Daniel McGowan - See details in Eco Defence Prisoners List.

Gavin Medd-Hall A3624AD, HMP Coldingley, Shaftesbury Road, Bisley, Woking, Surrey
GU24 9EX, England. Serving 8 years for conspiracy to blackmail Huntingdon Life
Sciences. (Gavin is a vegan).

Jason Mullen A8076AX, HMP Winchester, Romsey Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO22 5DF,
England.  Serving three years for campaigning against Huntingdon Life Sciences
(Jason is a vegan)
Heather Nicholson A3158AJ, HMP Foston Hall, Foston, Derby, Derbyshire, DE65 5DN,
England. Serving 11 years for conspiracy to blackmail Huntingdon Life Sciences.
(Heather is a vegan).

Gerrah Selby, A2014AD, HMP Downview, Sutton Lane, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5PD, England.
Serving 4 years for conspiracy to blackmail Huntingdon Life Sciences.  (Gerrah is a
vegan).
Nicola Tapping HK9804, HMP Bronzefield, Woodhthorpe Road, Ashford, Middx, TW15 3JZ,
England. Serving fifteen months for campaigning against Huntingdon Life Sciences.
(Nicola 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 six years campaigning against Huntingdon Life Sciences.  Was
previously sentenced to 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. (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).


ANTIFA PRISONERS

Aleksey Bychin, FBU OIK-2 IK-7 otryad No. 12, ul. Karnallitovaya d. 98, g. Solikamsk
Permskiy Kray, 618545 Russia. Serving 5 years for defending himself against
neo-nazis. (Diet unknown).

Rinat Sultanov, FBU IZ-47\4, ul. Lebedeva d. 39, 195009 Saint-Petersburg Russia.  On
remand accused of fighting with neo-nazis.  (Diet unknown).

OTHER PRISONERS

Fran Thompson, #1090915, CCC, 3151 Litton Drive, Chillicuthe, MO 64601, 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).

JONATHAN POLLAK ,HERMON PRISON NSWING,PO BOX 4011, MAGHAR 14930, ISRAEL.  Anarchist
animal rights activist jailed for three months for cycling slowly during a Critical
Mass protest against the bombing of Gaza.  (Jonathan 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) 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.

Charles Simms Africa (AM4975), SCI Retreat, 660 State Route 11, Hunlock Creek, PA
18621, 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 including
assault and murder. '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
new site coming soon

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.

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
info@ecoprisoners.org

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