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Indybay Feature

Volcanology on sabotage and accuracy

by A volcano group
In Germany, there have been some attacks on infrastructure: mobility, transport and distribution logistics and communication systems. We are fans of such acts of infrastructure sabotage ourselves and we would like to open a discussion, not least because there is some critique regarding accuracy of such actions and explaining them to the public. We want to start with an example: In the summer of 2014, refugees in Berlin squatted a roof of a hotel in order to put pressure on German authorities which refused to give them a right to stay. „Autonomous groups“ attacked successfully the Berlin public transport in that area, stating their support for the refugees, see https://linksunten.indymedia.org/en/node/121525 (in english language).
The tone of this group declaration can be seen as arrogant, because all users of public transport are insulted, as if „autonomous groups“ were not part of the same neoliberal system. However, we share the anger about power hierarchies, public ignorance and the small number of people showing active solidarity. Refugees without perspectives risk their lives, go on a roof top to demonstrate their will to fight and German authorities almost let them starve there– we think in such a situation the demolition of the city as such is the right thing to do. Starting from this situation, we proposed the following: If more militant groups would have worked on the break down of city traffic, the economic damage would have been higher and Berlin as an attractive location could have been devalued. Increasing the economic damage for the city by sabotage might help to put pressure on public authorities and help to realize the refugees' call for the right to stay. Only practice can prove, if we are right. However, such practices must not be overinterpreted regarding thier aims: they won't mobilize anyone to protest against racism, against TTIP or whatever. If a militant action does not have direct success, at least political and economic damage remains as well as the message, that we are not willing to accept the deportation of refugees.
For us, sabotage of capitalist urban infrastructure – we call it “volcanology” because some groups refer to volcanoes as effective means in blocking air traffic - is just one part of a political strategy that hopes for social change by repealing system functionality. It is neither enough nor possible to “hit” the enemy accurately, when the whole system doesn't work properly. Volcanological acts of sabotage want to block societal conditions as such by repealing infrastructure of capitalistic cities while developing real social relations and structures. In capitalist metropolis exists no inside or outside, we do not stand outside and declare who is the right enemy inside. The enemy is everywhere and nowhere. Instead of searching for the headquarters, we have to start to stop playing the whole game of normality. Headquarters (NSA, military lobbyists, deportation agencies etc.) are walling themselves off from democratic or militant interventions. If we stop functioning ourselves, their power would decrease immediately.
We are happy that there have been similar actions, e.g. in Bristol, Belgium, France, and we would welcome an transnational discussion.
The global chains of production and exploitation begin and end in our capitalist cities (from design, copyrights, patents etc. to consuming, profits, managing the cash flows etc.). We can attack the infrastructure which is necessary to connect the chain links. For example, the attack of the “Magma Action Group” on the Hamburg Harbor hit the goods transport logistics. We are looking forward to continuing and expanding these actions. Broadly. On a massive scale. Uncontrolled. Well considered. Without borders. Internationalistic.

In that respect. A volcano group.

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