Wiebo Ludwig
Wiebo Ludwig (born December 19, 1941) is the leader of a compound in Trickle Creek, just outside Hythe, Alberta, Canada, who is best known for his legal problems arising from his conflict with the oil and gas industry. Ludwig has been accused of being an eco-terrorist for sabotaging oil and gas wells. Ludwig accuses the industry of poisoning his family and farm, and being responsible for his daughter's miscarriages, through its attempts to extract toxic sour gas from the Peace River region of Alberta.
In April 2001, Ludwig was convicted on five charges related to bombings and other forms of vandalism against oil and gas installations causing millions of dollars of damage. He was sentenced to 28 months in prison, and was paroled after serving two-thirds of his sentence. The 2003 film Burn: The Robert Wraight Story is based on these events.[1]
Ludwig was also investigated, but not charged, in relation to the June 20, 1999 shooting death of a female teenager, Karman Willis[2] who had been joyriding on his property in the middle of the night.
In October 2000, Ludwig ran for the leadership of the Social Credit Party of Alberta, but was forced to withdraw from the contest when a judge refused to waive his bail conditions to allow him to travel to the leadership convention.[3] He had been restricted to his farm in northern Alberta prior to his trial.
On January 8, 2010, Ludwig was arrested as a suspect in connection to numerous bombings of sour-gas installations In the Dawson Creek area of British Columbia, beginning in October 2008.[4] After an extensive search of his farm by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, he was released without charge.[5] In September 2009 Ludwig wrote an open letter to the bomber supporting the cause but encouraging them to abandon the bombings.
Ludwig is a drywaller by trade.
He is the subject of a 2011 documentary Wiebo's War, directed by David York.[6][7][8]
Ludwig has been diagnosed with esophageal cancer but has rejected the conventional treatments advised by doctors. He is using an alternative medicine regimen that "involves injections of vitamin C and hydrogen peroxide."[9]
[edit] References
- ^ Burn: The Robert Wraight Story (2003) (TV)
- ^ "Ludwig Farm Shooting". The Canadian Encyclopedia 30 Aug 2010.<http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=tce&Params=M1ARTM0011982>.
- ^ "Wiebo Ludwig's political hopes dashed". CBC News. November 10, 2000. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/1999/10/13/Ludwig991013.html.
- ^ http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article/15094--arrest-made-in-connection-with-encana-pipeline-bombings
- ^ VanderKlippe, Nathan (2010-01-09). "Ludwig released without charge". Globe and Mail. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ludwig-released-without-charge/article1425401/. Retrieved 2010-01-09.
- ^ Volmers, Eric (22 September 2011). "Wiebo Ludwig proved wary documentary subject". Calgary Herald. http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/Wiebo+Ludwig+proved+wary+documentary+subject/5444903/story.html?cid=megadrop_story. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- ^ Blackwell, Tom (9 May 2011). "Sympathy for an eco-warrior". National Post. http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/05/09/sympathy-for-an-eco-warrior/#more-63441. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- ^ van Hoeij, Boyd (14 October 2011). "Thrills and chills in Wiebo’s War" (Review). Ottawa Citizen. Reuters. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Movie+Review+Thrills+chills+Wiebo/5546570/story.html. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
- ^ "Wiebo Ludwig picks alternative cancer treatment". CTV.ca. 22 October 2011. http://edmonton.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20111022/wiebo-ludwig-undergoes-cancer-treatment-111022/20111022/?hub=EdmontonHome. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
[edit] External links
- Saboteurs: Wiebo Ludwig's War Against Big Oil excerpt from Andrew Nikiforuk's book.
- Wiebo's War Transcript of CBC News The National's feature on Ludwig.
- The Case Against Wiebo Ludwig: Reflections on a trial within a trial article by Ian Urquhart.
- RCMP bombed oil site in 'dirty tricks' campaign.
- National Film Board of Canada webpage for Wiebo's War
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