Last Monday, Forsvarsbygg and Norconsult sent their new “proposal” for the site plans for Chemring’s explosives factory to Naturvernforbundet (Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature). They immediately criticized these plans, as they suddenly affect a much larger area of the forest, nearby sites, streams and lakes than first suggested. In addition, certain criteria have been adjusted in such a way that Hurummarka appears to be the only possible location for this project.
Calling its plan a “proposal”, nothing essential about this factory is up for debate. A “no” to the factory is not – and has never been – a possible answer. The process itself is also set up so that any “investigation” will lead to some minor adjustments to appear as if they care about the environment and the local population.
Instead of being honest about this process, Forsvarsbygg continues the “democratic theater” by inviting citizens to “open meetings”. Later, they also plan special events for children, so that they can have their “opinion” about this explosives factory. We urge everyone to no longer accept this theater and normalize this procedure. We encourage people to boycott and protest this to show how ridiculous it is!
We appreciate Naturvernforbundet’s clearly formulated criticism, but we are not surprised at all. The past months of this pseudo-democratic process, systematically erroneous reports and secretive construction plans should have prepared us for this as the logical next step in the factory’s planning process.
During the last few weeks, there has been strong local support for Knus Krigsmaskinen’s clear anti-militaristic message and creative form of action – especially as a response to the locally strongly criticized democratic process.
This new plan makes it clear under which financial interests and time pressure this project must be pushed through.
They claim that they must produce more weapons to ensure peace. But what is their peace if it costs human life and the environment? Peace in a rich capitalist society like Norway is simply war by other means, in other countries. Security for people does not occur through governments’ war policies. It arises through self-organisation, discussion and solidarity between people. States produce wars, people defend lives.
Crush the War Machine!