Climate activists are well-known for their attention-grabbing activities, ranging from blocking traffic on major roadways to throwing paint at famous works of art. While these protests may disrupt daily life and shock the public, they have largely been peaceful since the turn of the 21st century. Recently, however, authorities across Europe have begun to crack down on what they see as increasing trends toward violence. Among other moves, France issued a decree on June 21 banning Les Soulevements de la Terre (Uprisings of the Earth), a group whose acts of civil disobedience have regularly left scores of participants (and police officers) injured. Additionally, Germany's security services recently warned that extremists are infiltrating the mainstream climate activist movement. While these developments do not mean that a wave of environmental extremist attacks is imminent, they do suggest the emerging contours of a new eco-terrorist threat....
