While there is no consensus on the exact definition of "terrorism", the word is typically used to describe ideologically motivated acts of violence with the intention to intimidate governments or civilians. Acts supposedly meeting these criteria and committed in the name of environmental causes are described as "eco-terrorism" by law enforcement agencies such as the FBI. Another term that is sometimes used is "eco-sabotage" (also "ecotage" and "monkeywrenching"), because it involves disruption of a business or governmental operation, but is directed against things, property or machines. Eco-terrorism is distinct from "environmental terrorism", which conducted for the sake of ecological, environmental, or animal rights causes for political or military objectives. Chalecki distinguishes between environmental terrorism and eco-terrorism. She notes that environmental terrorism can be defined "as the unlawful use of force against in situ environmental resources so as to deprive populations of their benefit(s) and/or destroy other property". In contrast, eco-terrorism is the violent destruction of property in the interest of saving the environment from human encroachment and destruction (San Francisco Chronicle, July, 2001). More concisely, environmental terrorism involves targeting natural resources. Eco-terrorism involves targeting the built environment such as roads, buildings and trucks, ostensibly in defense of natural resources. The word is a neologism and its applicability is contested. The term is controversial among environmentalists, animal-rights activists and others, who see it as a propaganda term devised by law-enforcement to criminalise or marginalise their protests. Paul Watson, the founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, has presented his own definition of the word in a commentary criticising Japanese whalers: "an act that terrorizes other species and threatens the ecological systems of the planet". Eco-terrorism is defined by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation's Domestic Terrorism Section as "the use or threatened use of violence of a criminal nature against innocent victims or property by an environmentally-oriented, sub national group for environmental-political reasons, or aimed at an audience beyond the target, often of a symbolic nature." In USA, Damage caused by environmentalist sabotage from 1980 to 1999 is estimated to have amounted to $42.8 million. Since 2003 the FBI has attributed "eco-terrorists" with 200 million dollars in property damage. Environmentalists have argued that "eco-terrorism" should mean the opposite of its current accepted meaning. They say that persons, companies and governments engaging in ecologically irresponsible activities such as clearcutting of forests are committing "terrorism" against the environment. This counter-definition is also sometimes used rhetorically to express the environmentalist point of view, or to justify their actions. Canadian environmentalist David Suzuki, for instance, has described the former Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, as an "eco-terrorist" for failing to abide by the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. In the world, eco-terrorists have already committed many incidents/acts of violence. For example, In February, 2001, SHAC activist David Blenkinsop and two other masked assailants severely beat HLS's managing director Brian Cass with bats in England; a passer-by who interceded was sprayed in the face with tear gas. Kevin Kjonaas responded to the incident by saying, "I don't shed any tears for Brian Cass. He is responsible for 500 animals agonising and dying every day at Huntingdon." March 2005: Peter Daniel Young, an animal rights activist wanted for allegedly releasing thousand of animals from Wisconsin fur farms in 1997, was arrested in California. Young, 27, had been a fugitive for over seven years when he was arrested in San Jose for shoplifting at a Starbucks. Authorities say Young broke into three Wisconsin fur farms, releasing thousands of animals and causing more than $200,000 in damages. The Animal Liberation Front claimed responsibility for the releases. March 2005: Justus A. Ireland was sentenced to seven years in federal prison. He earlier pleaded guilty to starting a fire at a lumberyard in West Jordan, Utah, in June 2004. The arson caused $1.5 million in damage, destroying a building and some forklifts. Ireland sent a fax to news media claiming responsibility on behalf of the Earth Liberation Front. Terrorism in the name of animal and environmental protection has steadily increased during the past decade in the many develop countries. Automobile dealerships, forestry companies, corporate and university-based medical research laboratories, restaurants, medical-supply firms, fur farms and other industries continue to be targeted. Although no one has yet been injured in a domestic eco-terror attack, the increasingly violent nature of attacks suggest that someone will be hurt before long. Despite a few successes by law enforcement in capturing those responsible for eco-terror-related crimes, most acts remain unsolved. Eco-terror cells remain extremely difficult to identify and infiltrate. Eco-terrorists have been difficult to apprehend, because they often operate anonymously in small cells. However, during the past few years law enforcement authorities have made a number of significant arrests and several eco-terrorists have been charged for their criminal activity and sentenced to prison terms. So, National and International cooperation in the investigation of eco-terrorism and consistent enforcement policies in all countries are necessary to combat eco-terrorist activities effectively. (Md. Kamruzzaman Ferose is a final year student Department of Criminology and Police Science, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Santosh, Tangail-1902, E-mail: ferose_cps@yahoo.com)