Stop Chemring Nobel!
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 onwers 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 Defence 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 immediatly.
The US and NATO are already the biggest military empire the world has ever seen. The narrative of self defence is a distraction from NATO’s and Norway’s ongoing imperialistic and bloody war over land and resources. We need to realise that capitalism and the power hungry elite will never share the peoples’ interests. History has thaught us that to follow the state’s rules for protesting will never tear down the structures that dominate, exploit and opress.
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 “civilisation” 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 neighbour for Rødbysetra Activitycenter. 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!
Eviction from Avgrunnsdalen
The Municipality of Asker has given us a short deadline to vacate the old military barrack at Rødbyveien 43. This deadline has now expired, and we remain open to engage in a dialogue with the municipality regarding the military barrack and our presence here.
When we arrived the building was in a terrible condition and we have since cleaned and tidied it up. Us being here will help preserve a building that was already dilapidated and had not been in active use for several years.
Many local residents support our presence here, and we plan to continue giving back to the local community. We encourage everyone to stop by for a cup of coffee.
During this year’s Hurumsprinten, we will help ensure that spectators in Avgunnsdalen have a safe and enjoyable time through various fun activities. We will also be serving waffles.
In addition to supporting the Hurum Sprint, we’re hosting the Extreme Renovation event, which runs from Monday the 13th to Sunday the 19th. Here, you can join by building structures, camping, and taking part in various activities around the camp. This invitation is open to anyone who wants to show solidarity with the fight against the war machine. Bring a tent, food, and a mask if you like.
Knus Krigsmaskinen AFS
Expected for peace activists to be evicted shortly
The house in Avgrunnsdalen in Hurummarka has been occupied since April 2 in protest against the foreign-owned company Chemring Nobel’s planned construction of an explosives factory. The municipality initially engaged in dialogue with the peace activists but has now reversed its position on the matter. Now, the municipality of Asker says it wants the police to remove the peace activists, despite enormous support from the local community.
Mayor Lene Conradi says: “We don’t know what’s going on in there, and that’s concerning given the situation we’re facing in terms of security and geopolitics. We must take responsibility for what happens on our municipal property.”
The peace activists themselves say they have never made a secret of what is happening in the house. They say they are there to support the local population in the fight against the development of Hurummarka.
Instead of a war factory, we want our newly occupied house in Avgrunnsdalen to become a self-run social center for a world based on solidarity, and to be a good neighbor to the Rødbysetra Activity Center for children and youth. Arms buildup and deterrence do not create security for people and the environment; on the contrary, they increase the risk of war. Chemring’s factory would be an obvious bombing target in a war situation, say the peace activists.
Today, April 22, a police helicopter flew at low altitude over the old military barracks.
The peace activists say: “Suddenly, the fact that we’ve taken over the building became a geopolitical security issue, and it was time to send in the police. Today, anything can be turned into a security or geopolitical problem, and then all means are at their disposal. Using a police helicopter that costs around 15,000 kroner per hour, the police began circling the barracks at low altitude today. “How about spending that money on something that benefits the local community instead?”
The peace activists are prepared for another visit from the police in the near future. They remain calm and hope the municipality will choose to resume dialogue rather than bow to the state and Chemring Nobel in order to boost the war economy.
The peace activists conclude by saying that the fight over Avgrunnsdalen is far from over. New security issues arise when people are willing to protect the violent Chemring Nobel and warmongers from Blackrock and others, rather than protecting and preserving the area.