Robin Webb: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 03:37, 9 January 2006 editSlimVirgin (talk \| contribs)172,064 edits rv read the article on the press office; you are wrong, Spiny← Previous edit		Revision as of 17:44, 9 January 2006 edit undoSpinyNorman (talk \| contribs)1,550 edits revert - THE MAN SAYS HE'S THE PRESS OFFICER. It really is that simple. (and made some other slight mods)Next edit →
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	]'s ''Dispatches'']]		]'s ''Dispatches'']]

	'''Robin Webb''' ~~runs~~ the ] in the UK. He was previously a member of the ruling council of the ] (RSPCA), and a director of ].		'''Robin Webb''' is the press officer for the ] in the UK. He was previously a member of the ruling council of the ] (RSPCA), and a director of ].

	In 1991, the ] (ALFSG), which exists to offer moral and financial support to jailed activists, stopped speaking on behalf of the ALF because of constant police attention, and a decision was made to create the role of press officer as a separate office. Webb says he was chosen for the role because he had a respectable image. He has said his policy is "never to criticize any action, whatever it may be, so long as it has been undertaken with the sincere intention of furthering ]." This has led to the criticism that Webb has appeared to condone acts of violence, despite the ALF's stated aim of engaging in only non-violent ].		In 1991, the ] (ALFSG), which exists to offer moral and financial support to jailed activists, stopped speaking on behalf of the ALF because of constant police attention, and a decision was made to create the role of press officer as a separate office. Webb says he was chosen for the role because he had a respectable image. He has said his policy is "never to criticize any action, whatever it may be, so long as it has been undertaken with the sincere intention of furthering ]." This has led to the criticism that Webb has appeared to condone acts of violence, despite the ALF's stated aim of engaging in only non-violent ].
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	Webb attracted controversy in 1998 during the 68-day ] of British ALF activist ], who stopped eating in protest at the British government's failure to hold a public inquiry into ] in the UK, something the ] had indicated it would do before coming to power in 1997.		Webb attracted controversy in 1998 during the 68-day ] of British ALF activist ], who stopped eating in protest at the British government's failure to hold a public inquiry into ] in the UK, something the ] had indicated it would do before coming to power in 1997.

	Toward the end of the hunger strike, when it appeared that Horne might die, the ] (ARM), an extremist ~~animal-rights~~ group, issued a statement through Webb, threatening to ] six unnamed and four named individuals should Horne die: ], a ~~controversial British scientist and now chief executive~~ of the ] who came to public attention in the ]s for sewing kittens' eyes shut at birth while researching ]; Clive Page of ], a professor of ] ] and now chair of the animal science group of the British Biosciences Federation; Mark Matfield of the Research Defence Society; and Christopher Brown, the owner of ] in ], who at the time was breeding ~~kittens~~ for ] purposes.		Toward the end of the hunger strike, when it appeared that Horne might die, the ] (ARM), an extremist group, issued a statement through Webb, threatening to ] six unnamed and four named individuals should Horne die: ], Chief Executive of the ]; Clive Page of ], a professor of ] ] and now chair of the animal science group of the ]; Mark Matfield of the ]; and ], the owner of ] in ], who at the time was allegedly breeding animals for ] purposes.
	As a result of the threats, ] stepped up its surveillance of activists, and in particular of Robin Webb.		As a result of the threats, ] stepped up its surveillance of activists, and in particular of Robin Webb.
	]		]
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	Shortly after this, footage shot by an independent production company was shown on the ] ''Dispatches'' program in the UK. The film makers had secretly filmed Webb holding meetings with an individual who told Webb he wanted to arrange a bombing, but who was working undercover for the production team. In the footage, Webb appeared to offer advice on how to make a ].		Shortly after this, footage shot by an independent production company was shown on the ] ''Dispatches'' program in the UK. The film makers had secretly filmed Webb holding meetings with an individual who told Webb he wanted to arrange a bombing, but who was working undercover for the production team. In the footage, Webb appeared to offer advice on how to make a ].

	The footage had been shot before the Animal Rights Militia had issued its threat against the scientists, and there was no suggestion that Webb was himself engaged in violent action~~, but when Channel 4 aired the documentary, his apparent willingness to discuss a bombing caused the Animal Liberation Front to be firmly linked in the public mind with the Animal Rights Militia~~.		The footage had been shot before the Animal Rights Militia had issued its threat against the scientists, and there was no suggestion that Webb was himself engaged in violent action.

	Webb himself appeared to link the ~~two~~, together with a third animal-rights group known for violence, the ], when in an interview with ''No Compromise'', the animal-liberation magazine, he said that any ] or ] who carries out an action that falls within the ALF's three stated aims may claim that action on behalf of the ALF.		Webb himself appeared to link the ALF and ARM, together with a third animal-rights group known for violence, the ], when in an interview with ''No Compromise'', the animal-liberation magazine, he said that any ] or ] who carries out an action that falls within the ALF's three stated aims may claim that action on behalf of the ALF.

	He then added: "And if someone wishes to act as the Animal Rights Militia or the Justice Department? Simply put, the third policy of the ALF no longer applies."		He then added: "And if someone wishes to act as the Animal Rights Militia or the Justice Department? Simply put, the third policy of the ALF no longer applies."

Revision as of 17:44, 9 January 2006

File:RobinWebb3.jpg

Robin Webb appearing on Channel 4's Dispatches

Robin Webb is the press officer for the Animal Liberation Front in the UK. He was previously a member of the ruling council of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), and a director of Animal Aid.

In 1991, the Animal Liberation Front Supporters Group (ALFSG), which exists to offer moral and financial support to jailed activists, stopped speaking on behalf of the ALF because of constant police attention, and a decision was made to create the role of press officer as a separate office. Webb says he was chosen for the role because he had a respectable image. He has said his policy is "never to criticize any action, whatever it may be, so long as it has been undertaken with the sincere intention of furthering animal liberation." This has led to the criticism that Webb has appeared to condone acts of violence, despite the ALF's stated aim of engaging in only non-violent direct action.

Controversy

Template:Animal liberation movement Webb attracted controversy in 1998 during the 68-day hunger strike of British ALF activist Barry Horne, who stopped eating in protest at the British government's failure to hold a public inquiry into animal testing in the UK, something the Labour Party had indicated it would do before coming to power in 1997.

Toward the end of the hunger strike, when it appeared that Horne might die, the Animal Rights Militia (ARM), an extremist group, issued a statement through Webb, threatening to assassinate six unnamed and four named individuals should Horne die: Sir Colin Blakemore, Chief Executive of the British Medical Research Council; Clive Page of King's College London, a professor of pulmonary pharmacology and now chair of the animal science group of the British Biosciences Federation; Mark Matfield of the Research Defence Society; and Christopher Brown, the owner of Hillgrove Farm in Oxfordshire, who at the time was allegedly breeding animals for animal-testing purposes. As a result of the threats, Special Branch stepped up its surveillance of activists, and in particular of Robin Webb.

File:BarryHorneRobinWebbDispatches.jpg

Webb is caught by Dispatches on a hidden camera apparently discussing how to make a bomb

Shortly after this, footage shot by an independent production company was shown on the Channel 4 Dispatches program in the UK. The film makers had secretly filmed Webb holding meetings with an individual who told Webb he wanted to arrange a bombing, but who was working undercover for the production team. In the footage, Webb appeared to offer advice on how to make a bomb.

The footage had been shot before the Animal Rights Militia had issued its threat against the scientists, and there was no suggestion that Webb was himself engaged in violent action.

Webb himself appeared to link the ALF and ARM, together with a third animal-rights group known for violence, the Justice Department, when in an interview with No Compromise, the animal-liberation magazine, he said that any vegetarian or vegan who carries out an action that falls within the ALF's three stated aims may claim that action on behalf of the ALF.

He then added: "And if someone wishes to act as the Animal Rights Militia or the Justice Department? Simply put, the third policy of the ALF no longer applies."

References

"Staying on Target and Going the Distance: An Interview with U.K. A.L.F. Press Officer Robin Webb", No Compromise, Issue 22, undated

Category:

Animal liberation movement

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