User:Bridgetflynn/sandbox

The article on left wing terror seems to be a bit sparse at first glance. Surprisingly, for the sparsity there is an abundance of well cited material. Of my randomly selected citations, all were legitimate, unbiased sources, some even from government websites. I have some questions about the relevance of mentioning national/sepertatist organizations in the ideology section of the page given the brevity of it. There seems to be a slight push and pull between wanting to talk more about the organizations or communism. Another critique is of the ideology section, where it presents the viewpoints of these three authors who seem to have collaborated on the paper however they present no other viewpoints, solely focusing on these three. 

The FEMA wikipedia pages is noted to have multiple issues involving proper citations and a need to be updated. Despite this the source section of the article is quite extensive. Page structure is split into 11 sections with multiple subsections including short examples and a districting map. The criticism section of the article appears to be longer than the actual information about FEMA; this is understandable however seems lop-sided. On a positive note, the article also includes an extensive list of "also see's" which seem to all be relevant and helpful. 

Breton Liberation Front:

4/27/17:

I. Sidebar

a. Active Years (recent activity in 2014)

b. IdeologyL Breton independence from France 

c.Area of Operations: Brittany, France

d. Originated As: Gwenn ha Du

e. Followed by ( Breton Revolutionary Army [ARB])

f. Opponents - Government of France

g. Leaders (none listed - currently researching)

h. Type of Organization (Separatist) 

II. Lead Section

-Militant group founded in 1963 to promote the "liberation of Brittany from France" (citation needed). 

III.Origins of Group/Conflict

a.Up until the French revolution Brittany was able to have a semi-autonomous government, devoid of French drama. 

b. After the French Revolution the Breton parliament was dissolved and they were fully assimilated into French control, angering the Bretons for cultural, fiscal and political reasons. (http://www.bretagne.bzh/jcms/TF071112_5063/histoire) 

IV. Claimed Attacks

a.Mostly against administrative structures

b.Mainly bombings, recently the use of incendiaries have been employed (GTD) 

c.Made it very clear that they would never hurt or kill civilians

V.The  Smiling Terrorists (could go under History/origins)

a.The group was heavily supported by citizens and condemned by the government (hence...terrorism...)

b.Came from Diverse backgrounds (clergy, businessmen, housewives) 

c.Ensured everyone that no deaths or injuries would come of attacks.

d.Expressed a wish to be purely symbolic

e.Only 2 deaths from the group were from actual members, who were trying to defuse a bomb too close to civilians (needs citations)

VI.Leaders

-No leaders are currently mentioned 

-Honorable mention of Yann Goulet, who operated out of Ireland. 

-Yann Fouere 

-Yann Puillandre

-Dr. Gourves

-Father Le Breton

VII.Funding (Removed 5/3/17)

a. There is literally no information on this in the article, I am still researching this. 

VIII. BLF Today (Removed 5/3/17)

a. 2 attacks in 2014 (incendiaries) 

b. The group seems to go through periods of activity and inactivity. 

IX. Notes (Sources) 

a. Jack E. Reece, The Bretons against France: ethnic minority nationalism in twentieth- century Brittany, University of North Carolina Press, 1977, p.204.

b. Michael John Christopher O'Callaghan, Separatism in Brittany, Dyllansow Truran, 1983, p.77-83

c. GTD (Not quite sure how to cite?)

d. "La Bretagne Et Son Histoire." Région_Bretagne - La Bretagne - Histoire. Web

Yann Fouere

Yann was a prominant force in the Breton Liberation Front, so much so that he fled to Ireland 1948, seeking political asylum. He was an author, businessman and, in some ways politician. In 1999 he formed the "Party for the Organisation of Free Brittany" which he lead until 2004. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_for_the_Organization_of_a_Free_Brittany) 

Yann was involved in a "Pro-German witch Hunt" in 1944, where he was held in custody for a year. Upon escape, he was sheltered by fellow Nationalists in Wales. While hidden he was sentenced to life in prison and was forced out of Brittan and into the Republic of Ireland, where he secured citizenship. In 1955 He was given a retrial in France and came back, aquitted, to form the "Movement for the Organisation of Brittany." 

In 1973 Yann ran for political office, lost, then was arrested two years later for involvment with the Breton Liberation Front's bombings. He was released conditionally until 1979 when he and 22 others were charged with security-related offences . 

He died in Ireland at  101 years old in 2011, where he spent his last days advocating for Breton Nationalism and avoiding being tried as a "wartime collaborator." 

New Sources for 4/27/17

The GTD - (Have to look up how to cite) (https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/search/Results.aspx?search=breton+liberation+front&sa.x=50&sa.y=22&sa=Search)

Murphy, A. (1991). Geographical Review, 81(4), 494-496. doi:10.2307/215625

"Guerrilla and Terrorist Organisations : A World Directory and Bibliography."

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/prominent-breton-nationalist-who-found-refuge-here-1.634829

Party for the Organization of a Free Brittany

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272685210_The_historiography_of_an_invisible_nation_Debating_Brittany

5/3/17

Activity - 172 Words

The first known FLB attack occurred in June 1966 when a municipal tax office in Saint-Brieuc was bombed, and a note signed by the FLB claimed that they would continue to carry out a campaign of violence against these "occupying symbols of Brittany."(need source) In the following years, the FLB carried out attacks against administrative structures, such as electrical installations, police barracks and statues—mainly by bombing them. Though the group peaked in 1968 there have been attacks reported as recently as 2014 using incineration tactics. . 

The FLB ensured that no physical injuries or deaths would result from their attacks, which they wished to remain purely symbolic; in this they followed the model of the earlier group Gwenn ha du, founded 1930 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwenn_ha_du_(Breton_paramilitary_group). There are reports that the only two known FLB victims during this period were two FLB members themselves, who were killed while trying to defuse a bomb they were afraid may hurt civilians. They thus gained a reputation in the international community as the "smiling terrorists."

Trials and Police intervention - 137 words

It was in 1969 that the police interviened, confiscating propaganda and weaponry. More than 60 people were arrested, those directly involved in previous attacks were given brief sentences, however within a few months many had been granted amnesty, or pardons, and released. Although created by young Bretons in the early 1960s, the FLB enjoyed popular support, evident during these arrests which revealed that members came from very diverse backgrounds: businessmen, housewives, students, farmers, and even clergy. 

Though most had favorable outcomes for the organization, trials bolstered the Breton "liberation" movement as the trials were perceived to be further suppressive action by the government. This period was also marked with a rise in the number of students enrolling in Breton language courses, as being able to speak Breton was seen as legitimizing one's position as a Breton militant.

Intro area - 172 Words 

The Breton Liberation Front (Breton: Talbenn Dieubiñ Breizh, French: Front de Libération de la Bretagne or FLB) is a militant group founded in 1963 to promote the "liberation of Brittany from France". Brittany, a province in Northwest France, joined France in 1532 during the treaty of union in 1532. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_of_Brittany_and_France). 

Citizens of Brittany, or, Bretons, retain their own national identity including an independent language from that of France, music and other cultural details. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bretons). Bretons are considered an ethnic Celtic group that is comprised of English, German and French roots. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_nations). 

The FLB stemmed from a group known as Gwenn ha du. They focused mainly on attacks that would send symbolic messages, rather than mass-casualty events, attacking only government buildings, or as was commonly called "symbols of French oppression." The first known FLB attack occurred in June 1966 when a municipal tax office in Saint-Brieuc was bombed, and a note signed by the FLB claimed that they would continue to carry out a campaign of violence against these "occupying symbols of Brittany."

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwenn_ha_du_(Breton_paramilitary_group

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_of_Brittany_and_France

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_nations

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bretons

Breton Liberation Front

The Breton Liberation Front (Breton: Talbenn Dieubiñ Breizh, French: Front de Libération de la Bretagne or FLB) is a militant group founded in 1963 to promote the "liberation of Brittany from France". Brittany, a province in Northwest France, joined France in 1532 during the treaty of union in 1532. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_of_Brittany_and_France). 

Citizens of Brittany, or, Bretons, retain their own national identity including an independent language from that of France, music and other cultural details. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bretons). Bretons are considered an ethnic Celtic group that is comprised of English, German and French roots. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_nations). 

The FLB stemmed from a group known as Gwenn ha du. They focused mainly on attacks that would send symbolic messages, rather than mass-casualty events, attacking only government buildings, or as was commonly called "symbols of French oppression." The first known FLB attack occurred in June 1966 when a municipal tax office in Saint-Brieuc was bombed, and a note signed by the FLB claimed that they would continue to carry out a campaign of violence against these "occupying symbols of Brittany."

Origins

(needs more info)

Activity

The first known FLB attack occurred in June 1966 when a municipal tax office in Saint-Brieuc was bombed, and a note signed by the FLB claimed that they would continue to carry out a campaign of violence against these "occupying symbols of Brittany."(need source) In the following years, the FLB carried out attacks against administrative structures, such as electrical installations, police barracks and statues—mainly by bombing them. Though the group peaked in 1968 there have been attacks reported as recently as 2014 using incineration tactics. . 

The FLB ensured that no physical injuries or deaths would result from their attacks, which they wished to remain purely symbolic; in this they followed the model of the earlier group Gwenn ha du, founded 1930 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwenn_ha_du_(Breton_paramilitary_group). There are reports that the only two known FLB victims during this period were two FLB members themselves, who were killed while trying to defuse a bomb they were afraid may hurt civilians. They thus gained a reputation in the international community as the "smiling terrorists."

It was in 1969 that the police interviened, confiscating propaganda and weaponry. More than 60 people were arrested, those directly involved in previous attacks were given brief sentences, however within a few months many had been granted amnesty, or pardons, and released. Although created by young Bretons in the early 1960s, the FLB enjoyed popular support, evident during these arrests which revealed that members came from very diverse backgrounds: businessmen, housewives, students, farmers, and even clergy. 

Though most had favorable outcomes for the organization, trials bolstered the Breton "liberation" movement as the trials were perceived to be further suppressive action by the government. This period was also marked with a rise in the number of students enrolling in Breton language courses, as being able to speak Breton was seen as legitimizing one's position as a Breton militant.

(needs more info)

Leaders

Yann Fouere

Yann was a prominant force in the Breton Liberation Front, so much so that he fled to Ireland 1948, seeking political asylum. He was an author, businessman and, in some ways politician. In 1999 he formed the "Party for the Organisation of Free Brittany" which he lead until 2004. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_for_the_Organization_of_a_Free_Brittany) 

Yann was involved in a "Pro-German witch Hunt" in 1944, where he was held in custody for a year. Upon escape, he was sheltered by fellow Nationalists in Wales. While hidden he was sentenced to life in prison and was forced out of Brittan and into the Republic of Ireland, where he secured citizenship. In 1955 He was given a retrial in France and came back, aquitted, to form the "Movement for the Organisation of Brittany." 

In 1973 Yann ran for political office, lost, then was arrested two years later for involvment with the Breton Liberation Front's bombings. He was released conditionally until 1979 when he and 22 others were charged with security-related offences . 

He died in Ireland at  101 years old in 2011, where he spent his last days advocating for Breton Nationalism and avoiding being tried as a "wartime collaborator." 

(needs more info)

References

Bridget, I really like the way your article is organized. It is easy to follow and not hard to navigate when trying to find more specific information about the group. As far as citing the GTD, “Terrorist Incidents attributed to the Breton Liberation Front in the Global Terrorism Database” should work great! Just hyperlink that sucker and you should be good to go! I also really enjoyed the information that you are wanting to add to the sidebar of this article. This is all information about the group that combines to form an important basis for anyone wanting to learn more about the Breton Liberation Front.

I do have a few questions about one part of your article that confused me. “The Smiling Terrorists” section. Where did they come from and who are they? Is this a group that would just be linked to another Wikipedia page? I would probably put them under history and origins, unless they are a very separate entity. I feel like this will only increase the level of high organization you already have going for yourself. 

Under section IV. Claimed Attacks, you mentioned that they made it clear that they would never hurt or kill civilians. Where did you get this information from? Is this a declaration made by the group in some letter or agreement that members signed? I would be interested to know. 

Under section VIII. BLF Today, if at all possible I would elaborate on the attacks themselves. Do we know who was involved or attacked? When did they occur? Are there any news articles that you could use as a source for this information? Ireland smith (talk) 05:25, 4 May 2017 (UTC)Ireland_smith