Squatted house in Avgrunnsdalen, Hurummarka, where a planned explosives factory is supposed to be built.
Today we established an Actively Defended Zone (Aktivt Forsvart Sone – AFS) in the abandoned military barrack in Avgrunnsdalen, Hurummarka.
We support the local community in defending Hurummarka against the Ministry of Defence and Chemring Nobel’s plans for Europe’s biggest explosives factory. If built, this factory would become an essential part of the profit oriented military industrial complex.
While Chemring Nobel gets permission to increase their pollution of the Oslo Fjord, people who have fished and nourished themselves from the Fjord their entire lives will be criminalized if they continue to do so. The Norwegian State is running a sham democratic process and supports Chemring Nobel with hundred of millions (NOK) meanwhile the local municipalities have to pay for the restoration of the Fjord themselves.
The woods will be destroyed, despite the 53 red listed species registered in the construction area. All of these species are fundamental for the ecosystem in the area.
The factory will further enrich shareholders and owners and is not being built for self defense despite their claims. In turn, they keep expanding the war machine and the US Empire. Chemring Nobel is 100% owned by British Chemring Group PLC, where american BlackRock is the biggest shareholder. BlackRock is accused of serious human rights violations while also destroying ecosystems globally. 90% of Chemring Nobel’s production is exported to other countries, most of it going to the US weapons industry like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and SpaceX, and is therefore directly linked to the genocidal regime called israel.
We know that the explosives produced by Chemring Nobel are used in the american produced Hellfire-missile. These are widely used in israel’s genocide on Palestinians. Chemring Nobel and Nammo secured themselves a twelve year agreement with german Diehl Defense last year, which entails exporting ammunition to the German military. Diehl Defence itself is in close cooperation with the israeli weapons industry.
Militarization also amplifies Norway’s internal colonialism of Sápmi. Multiple mines, highways, power development and military bases (the US has access to 15 military bases in Sápmi) have been built on traditional grazing areas; all this to cover Norway’s and the war machine’s materialistic needs. Norway and the war machine will profit off of genocide and colonialism right here at Hurumlandet, and this needs to be stopped immediately.
The US and NATO are already the biggest military empire the world has ever seen. The narrative of self defense is a distraction from NATO’s and Norway’s ongoing imperialistic and bloody war over land and resources. We need to realize that capitalism and the power hungry elite will never share the peoples’ interests. History has thought us that to follow the state’s rules for protesting will never tear down the structures that dominate, exploit and oppress.
While Trump, Musk, the NATO, EU and the rest of the western power elites talks in the same tone as Goebbels. Their vision is to defend western “civilization” and create jobs in the war industry – WE have visions of a more beautiful world in harmony with the beings around us. One where we can walk through lush forests, listen to birds singing and live alongside the trees, the flowers and all who live around us. One where rivers run free from lead and nitrogen, where kids can swim and play in the fjord, where the people can share nature’s gift fairly amongst each other and with nature itself. This does not only feel like a vision for us, it feels more like a whispering drop of the future.
Rather than becoming a factory of war, our new occupied house in Avgrunnsdalen will become a self-driven social center for a more solidary world, a good neighbor for Rødbysetra Activity center. Armarment and fear mongering does not create safety for humans, animals and the environment, rather it increases the risks for war. Chemring Nobels factory will be a clear target in a potential war~~.~~
Rather than going down in a spiral of apathy and hopelessness we find deep meaning in a loving community that fights for the beautiful world we know is possible. And we need you! Let’s stand side by side in this fight.
Down with all states and their bloody wars!
No peace price to Chemring Nobel!