When the animal rights/liberation movement began, there were some brave people not content to patiently wait for society to acknowledge that animals deserve to be free from exploitation. These people saw an avenue not yet pursued by others which involved great personal sacrifice. By utilizing a combination of economic sabotage, and live liberations, the Animal Liberation Front achieved what other methods have not while adhering to nonviolence. A separate idea was established that decided animal abusers had been warned long enough. Animals had suffered long enough-the time has come for abusers to have but a taste of the fear and anguish their victims suffer on a daily basis.

The following case studies show the effectiveness of the action as well as the positive outcome. It is important to remember that this is not a comprehensive list of actions, but instead a broad range of examples with tangible results.

The Justice Department first sent devices to bloodsport supporters on Oct. 6, 1993, which was only the beginning. The Justice Department fully supports The A.L.F. in nonviolent direct action. However, they see another path open to directly change the fate of animals slated to die. That path involves removing any barriers between legal and illegal, violent and nonviolent. As convicted Justice Department activist, Gurj Aujla, explains, "I think we need to all ask ourselves what works, and then go from there, let's not start from a position that violence is wrong, or law-breaking is wrong. Let's just honestly examine what works. These examples clearly prove that the Justice Department does work...

The 'live exports' trade in England has seen active campaigning for about forty years during which things have just got worse. The Justice Department sent a total of six letter bombs in June 1994 to companies involved in live exports, including the major cross-channel ferry company that exported live animals to mainland Europe. Three weeks after this action, all major ferry companies withdrew from the live export trade.

Gurj Aujla who pleaded guilty for sending the above devices continues; "This wasn't token protest, or mindless retribution, or even economic sabotage...it was strategic action. I researched that the meat trade is massive and can't be easily beaten, but live export is one vulnerable aspect of that trade that could be defeated. Furthermore, the ferry companies are not primary animal abusers, they could exist perfectly well without live exports, so hit them and they will withdraw-and they did."

Some people might be thinking that if anyone was convicted for this action, the sentence would be astronomical. Not so, Gurj Aujla was convicted and sentenced to only six years, with three years and three months actually served. Considering some longer sentences given out for A.L.F. actions, this is a relatively short prison sentence for such a significant result.

Others might argue that these actions hurt the "image" of animal rights, and turn the public against animal rights. Once again this is not so. Supporters of bloodsports have been sent many letter bombs, even such well-known people as Prince Charles have been targeted. Public Houses used for hunts, hunt masters, and just about anyone associated with hunting has been sent a letter bomb. Yet, a bill is currently in Parliament to ban foxhunting with the majority of the public firmly behind it.

In many ways, the same rationale that makes economic sabotage so successful applies to Justice Department actions. Since money is the main motivator for abusers, it is logical to decrease profits for them. The same logic explains that inconveniencing an abuser to a certain point will force them to withdraw from that particular line of abuse.

The Justice Department in Canada, began a campaign against hunting guide outfitters across B.C. and Alberta starting January 1996. 65 envelopes with rat poison covered razor blades, taped inside the opening edge were sent to these hunting guides. The success of this campaign can be measured with the following sentence; David Fyfe, a Vancouver Island big-game guide outfitter, has stopped abusing animals after receiving the devices.

Another Canadian campaign developed when 87 envelopes containing razor blades allegedly tainted with AIDS infected blood were taped inside the opening edge, and sent to fur retailers.

The only known U.S. action occurred Nov. 17, 1997 along the east coast. This was another hoax similar to the more famous Animal Rights Militia hoaxes in which supermarket turkeys were allegedly contaminated with a substance. The turkey bodies were then supposedly placed on shelves in Acme Shoprite, Superfresh, Pathmark Food, and Stop 'N Shop.

At a time when people are progressing to successful strategies to bring about animal liberation, The Justice Department has shown that they were willing to sacrifice greatly for this goal. Felony charges, and long prison sentences do not deter them from breaking the law to free their fellow animals. Instead, they became more prepared, professional, and adept at breaking the very laws that hold animals captive.