John Hanna (activist)

John Hanna was the only person arrested and charged for being a member of the original ELF (Environmental Life Force), the radical environmental group which was active in the 1970's. He was convicted in a federal court for the manufacture and detonation of home-made napalm bombs placed on seven crop-duster aircraft at the Salinas, CA airport on May 1 1977. He claimed to have acted in self-defense against toxic pesticides. He was sentenced to five years in prison. After serving his time, Hanna created a not-for-profit research foundation which employed University of California graduate students to develop non-chemical pest control strategies. He no longer advocates the use of tactics like arson and vandalism because they "don't bring about meaningful changes." He points to his successes working within the "system". "I accomplished more for the environmental cause through my research organization and its spin-offs than I ever did as an eco-guerilla." John Hanna is now retired. He creates bamboo flutes and stringed instruments and resides in Alaska.

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