Portland Judge Orders Eco-Terrorist To Read Malcom Gladwell in Prison

Canadian arsonist told to read latest bestseller to learn about non-violent protest

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A federal judge sentenced a Canadian eco-terrorist convicted of arson to five years in prison this week. The sentence, issued in Portland, Ore. Monday by U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken, was less than the 90 months prosecutors had called for, The Canadian Press reports.

But despite a shorter sentence, Rebecca Rubin didn’t get off that easy: The judge also stipulated she read the latest book by bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell.

Aiken said Gladwell’s David and Goliath could teach the environmental radical about non-violent means of protest. Rubin will also have to pay $13 million in restitution and complete 200 hours of community service.

Rubin was involved with starting about 20 fires in the western United States from 1996 to 2001. Sites targeted by the attacks included a ski resort in Colorado and lumber mills in Oregon. No one died in the fires, though they resulted in about $40 million worth of damage.

[Canadian Press]