Hurum, Monday 11 May: What was supposed to be a model for democratic participation and transparent planning from Forsvarsbygg and Chemring has turned out to be exactly the opposite: a well-directed sham process. The newly launched planning report and the so-called “open meeting” are nothing more than a play designed to give citizens the illusion of influence, while the decisions have already been made.
In a true democratic process, the citizen’s vote is a piece that can change the outcome. In Forsvarsbygg’s case, the citizen’s vote is only decoration. The “People’s Meetings” are held to fill a legal quota, not to hear. The report is presented as a prepackaged truth, where the discussion points are so narrowly defined that real criticism is made impossible. The process was never meant to be open to change.
Lack of transparency and predetermined outcomes
How has Forsvarsbygg reached its conclusions? Have they changed the criteria or were the criteria decided in advance? We cannot accept that Forsvarsbygg continues to use “open meetings” as an excuse for a lack of real dialogue. A planning process that is not willing to accept criticism and adjust its course is not a planning process, it is a decision-making machine. When Chemring Nobel, Asker municipality, Forsvarsbygg and the state stand together to not let the local population take part in deciding whether there will be an explosives factory in Hurum or not, the local population should take matters into their own hands.
In light of this, people from the recently occupied house in Avgrunnsdalen are invited to a film screening at Forsvarsbygg’s pop-up cinema. A ticket costs NOK 50 and includes popcorn. Tickets can be bought directly in front of the theater at Tofte secondary school. At the entrance, visitors are greeted with “Welcome to the film performance “Democracy! Brød og Sirkus!” directed by Forsvarsbygg, Chemring and Asker Municipality. All decisions have been made, come in to watch the play Democracy!”
We also invite you to our open meetings in Avgrunnsdalen. Boycott or disrupt all of the fake processes that Forsvarsbygg and Asker Municipality set up, support us in Avgrunnsdalen and help build up direct democracy and proper resistance to the war machine! For more information about the time and place of open meetings, send us an email to knuskrigmaskinen@disroot.org.
Crush the War Machine!
Stop Chemring Nobel!
Long live Hurummarka!