On October 10-12, a European mass action will target the heart of the imperialist and colonial system that rains bombs on Gaza, enables colonial exploitation, and pollutes the planet.
Every bomb dropped on Gaza, every bullet fired at Palestinians, every building destroyed in the West Bank, is made possible by a global logistical network that provides the Israeli war machine with weapons, materials, and resources.
Forced by popular mobilizations for Palestine, Belgium’s right wing government declared an arms embargo on Israel. There is no guarantee that this embargo will be applied. Even if it is – Belgium’s complicity runs much deeper as the country seeks to position itself as a key logistical hub in Northern Europe.
The expansion of airport Liège-Bierset enables the transit of weapons and strategic cargo to Israel. The port of Antwerp facilitates weapons, fuel and materials flows to Israel. Belgium processes raw materials, produces components and assembles products used in the genocide and colonization of Palestine.
The logistical empire enables colonial expansion, genocidal violence, and mass pollution.
Without a complete economic embargo on Israel, Belgium continues to be complicit in the genocide in Gaza.
Call your friends: join the mass action oct 10-12.
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European direct action groups join hands against logistics on October 10-12
It's time to bring this world-destroying system down.
Today, Soulèvements de la Terre (France), Code Rouge (Belgium), Stop Arming Israel (Belgium), Soulèvements de la Terre Bruxelles (Belgium), Disrupt Germany (Germany) and Geef Tegengas (Netherlands) announce they will join hands in their struggle against 'the Logistics Empire'. Alongside, they have published a manifesto. The organizations are fighting back against the global, capitalist system that is raining down bombs, pumping out pollutants, creating inequality, colonizing lands, fracturing communities and destroying ecosystems. Movements so far have failed to stop this, whilst time to stop planetary destruction is running out. Therefore, they form a new front against the arteries of globalized capitalism: logistics. They will launch their joint struggle with the International Days of Action Against Bombs, Barrels and Bullshit on the 10th, 11th and 12th of October.
The groups will use direct action to hurt globalized trade by directly disrupting critical infrastructure in western Europe for extended periods of time and at multiple points along supply chains. Soulèvements de la Terre will block the construction of the mega Canal Seine-Nord Europe from October 10 to 12. On October 11, Geef Tegengas will shut down the Port of Rotterdam. A coalition made up of Code Rouge, Stop Arming Israel Belgium and Soulèvements de la Terre Bruxelles will target the logistical flows between Europe and Israel that enable the genocide in Palestine. Disrupt Germany will focus on the food system in the north of Germany by interrupting destructive infrastructure and building alternatives in and around Bremen.
Sacha of the Belgian coalition (Code Rouge, Stop Arming Israel, SdlT Bruxelles, Against the flow): "By maintaining its trade relations, transit infrastructure, and the production and sale of components and raw materials, Belgium actively participates in the genocide occurring in Palestine. Every container shipped to Israel, every plane that takes off from its airports with strategic cargo, and every industrial product that feeds this system directly fuels the cycle of genocide and occupation. Although the Belgian government has announced a ban on arms sales to Israel, it remains deeply complicit in this deadly supply chain. We demand a complete boycott of trade with Israel."
Nora Kilembe of Geef Tegengas: "The Logistics Empire, Port of Rotterdam up front, is destroying our planet. Indigenous peoples are robbed of their self-determination whilst Israel is committing a genocide against Palestinians. In the West, we are being brainwashed to keep on buying to fill our empty lives, leading to mass depression and alienation. All so the ultra-rich can further enrich themselves. This system of death can only be brought down if we fight back together."
Alexis of Soulèvements de la Terre: "While the French government publicly announces that the country is bankrupt and that financial cuts are necessary, a mega-project worth €10 billion, financed by public money, is taking shape between the Paris Basin and the north of France. The purpose is to connect Paris with major European ports, directly increasing the export of cereals and strengthening the monopoly of large construction companies as well as transforming northern France into a giant logistics hub. The mega-Canal Seine-Nord Europe will serve as the missing link between Antwerp, Rotterdam and Paris. It is thus crucial to organize internationally to stop the expansion and relentless growth of the Logistics Empire."
Kim of Disrupt Germany: "Built on the capitalistic logistics empire, agribusiness dominates our food production. Animal feed is grown in South and Middle America, people are driven away or exploited. Animals are held in masses. In the north of Germany the river Weser is destroyed to make space for ships carrying that feed. Farmers are under big pressure. Water is becoming a rare commodity and land is being privatized. Climate-damaging emissions are driven to an extreme." Kim continues: " A vast system of supply chains, dependencies, and concentration of power has emerged, in which a few become richer and many suffer. However, we know that it doesn't have to be this way. We will disrupt our food system and build alternatives!"
Manifesto 'Together Against the Logistics Empire'
Alongside the announcement, the groups published a joint manifesto: Together Against the Logistics Empire. In it, they define their struggle to be against 'the huge network of transportation giants, highways, port authorities, warehouse managers, digital shopping platforms, and shipping terminals all over the world,' or Logistics Empire for short. They explain the need to target these together across movements. In doing so, they aim to clog the system and hinder its destructive and extractive ways.
Press contacts: againsttheflow@autistici.org, stoplogisticcomplicity@proton.me