“In the early hours of this morning, April 26th, we carried out a propaganda action in support of our comrades kidnapped in the jails of the Chilean state. We vindicate each one of their struggles against this system of death that only seeks exploitation in pursuit of its economic interests, destroyers of land and life.
We call for solidarity and action in the face of this punitivist scenario that imprisons those who struggle. In addition to the above, we call to be present in a concrete way with the families in struggle in the different land seizures of the Chilean territory.
Opening the tensions of dialogue, we present the following section of interviews with individuals, collectivities and related spaces that make up the anarchic body in different parts of the world.
The interviews are a valuable contribution to the observation in detail and depth; they come, in a certain way, to broaden the view to give us feedback among comrades and to debate with perspectives and projections, that although they may be different, they converge in the ideas and practices of freedom against all authority.
Without further ado, we have in this first venture of dialogues the comrades of Espacio Fénix.
1-How and when did Espacio Fénix arise, and what projects converge in the space?
Espacio Fénix was born in the middle of the pandemic, at the beginning of 2021, in the midst of a series of ridiculous mobility restrictions and increased police intervention under the excuse of controlling and preventing the spread of covid-19.
Thus, a group of compañerxs got together, seeking to open a crack, a fissure within the asphyxiating panorama that was regulating everything, imposing the rhythm of power and where many seemed to be accommodating or waiting for the authority to give us “permission” to resume our lives.
We embarked on the idea of opening a physical space where comrades could converge, where anarchic material could circulate and where new comradeships could be woven and articulated. Thus in May 2021 we opened the doors of the space, we began to set up its infrastructure and in July we held our first activity in memory of compañero Santiago Maldonado.
Claustrofobia Ediciones, the Biblioteca Antiautoritaria Sacco y Vanzetti and various anarchic individualities converge in the space.
2-The “Ciclos de Cine” (Film Cycles) is the tool you have used the most to carry out activities. What is the significance for you of the screening of films, documentaries, etc.?
We started with the film cycles in October 2021 and we have not stopped every Tuesday, month after month, grouping the films by specific themes, seeking to stress our ideas and nourish our arguments with content, it is the beauty of the feedback between colleagues with diverse experiences and views.
From the very beginning, we proposed the screening of films as an excuse to sit down and converse, because after each screening, the central part of the activity comes to life, which is the discussion about what has been screened. There the words run, without leaders, where everyone can expose their dislikes, their liking or the results and analysis that is made of what we have seen. With this gesture we also seek to break the logic of passive spectators, of consumers, very typical of socially imposed roles.
In this sense, we have screened diverse audiovisual material, industry films, documentaries made by compañerxs, films that we like or dislike, always aiming at the discussion and tension between compas.
We do not seek to fill the cultural gaps of authority, nor to be the free panorama for those who lack resources; we seek, by different means and tools to spread our anarchic and anti-authoritarian ideas/actions, therefore the film cycles are just one more tool we choose.
Ciclo de Cine March 2024Ciclo de Cine November 2021
3-Regarding the written material, what is the importance and power that you perceive in it?
The written material certainly has another power, another depth and transcendence, of course the spoken thought is important, but writing allows the ordering of ideas, so as to be able to reflect more carefully on what is going to be exposed and to assimilate/discuss more deeply on what is read.
In a present where immediacy, image culture, the digestible and pyrotechnical, where almost the medium is the message, emptying of content many of our tools, writing/reading is a weapon, which can also serve as a refuge, where to continue polishing and sharpening our ideas.
The written material is an instrument that impels us to grow, to argue and continually revise our positions, widening our views, shining light where there was darkness.
On the other hand, it is necessary to say that written material has always accompanied anarchists, as propaganda for the dissemination of ideas, it is an effective tool to enter into dialogue with more comrades wherever they are: in the street, in prison, or other territories. It is important because it nurtures individual thinking, as well as possible collective discussions.
The written material as propaganda can bring together comrades and depending on the objectives and projections that we have, we can realize initiatives of various kinds. In the same way that we can find ourselves on the path of anarchic struggle, we can also distance ourselves from people who spread anarchist propaganda of other tendencies, for us those who are called to participate in the electoral circus, appeal to platform organization, dream of unity and large federations and those who reject legitimate political insurrectional violence – to give just a few examples – puts us in another place on the sidewalk and in several cases as enemies.
4-There are political-cultural spaces that coexist peacefully with power, while others attract police attention. Why do you think this happens? Are there more dangerous ideas-practices? If so, what would these be?
We don’t think this was the intention of the question, but it is worth clarifying to avoid pejorative atmospheres. For us, anti-power spaces/ideas/practices (truly anti-authoritarian and anarchic, leaving out and fighting the bullshit of “popular power”) by definition do not coexist peacefully neither with power, nor with authority, nor with the police and their investigators of all kinds.
Police eyes and ears are always there, to believe otherwise is naive and dangerous. They let themselves be seen or directly attack depending on conjunctures or panoramas that mark a change of rhythm.
In this sense, it is not the police harassment that defines our comrades’ ties -it is defined by our ideas, values and projections- because valuable initiatives that are undoubtedly a contribution to the anarchic tide, may not receive the police onslaught in an evident and grotesque way and not for that reason be considered “legal”, “innocent” or in any way aspire to coexist peacefully with the power. For example, at present there are activities that do not receive police interference, but that 3 or 4 years ago were seen as a danger and received harassment; we are talking about common pots or self-defense activities. It does not change the activity or the background, but it changes the perception of power or the effect it seeks to achieve as a chain reaction (fear, disarticulation, etc.).
Now, it is important to emphasize that these types of practices carried out by those in power are part of their work, and must be understood as such. They have always existed and will continue to exist, we do not say this in an alarmist way, much less to call for immobility or to “disappear” from certain spaces. Simply because it must be clear, those who consciously decide to undertake a confrontational path to power and propagate it in multiple ways, may encounter those enemy dynamics, therefore, the consequences must be assumed. Continue reading “Chile: Interview with Espacio Fénix EN/ES”→
After more than a decade, the publication Refractario comes to an end, and with it we close the door to this project.
We have delayed these final words and the necessary closure of this project, thinking about resuming it or giving it new formats, but it is imperative to leave some words next to the door before closing. A project built with so much effort and affection deserves a decent closure.
In July 2012 we started this counter-informative project. We generated a materiality in paper that lasted eight issues (from 2012 to 2014), and we also published 5 special issues. Undoubtedly, the heart of our project was the website. In it converged various dimensions of the anti-prison field: news, contingencies, calls, propaganda, reflections, material of interest, memory and practical information.
Throughout 11 years, the project operated, far exceeding the initial objectives. We maintained the rhythm of publication, the space for reflection and positioning at different junctures, while on the other hand the feedback from comrades who translated texts, sent communiqués and fed informal discussions within the anarchist movement made Refractario a useful, current and active tool.
Throughout this period we rejoiced with the release of several comrades from prison, accompanied the trial of many and maintained strong solidarity agitation with several who are still behind bars. Several campaigns managed to internationalize thanks to projects like this one, which allowed us to inform, disseminate and position the urgency in other latitudes. The intention was always to become a space to find accurate information, as well as to open the discussion on so many issues that in these years have strained the anti-authoritarian environments linked to prison, trials and repression.
At the end of January 2006, the counter-information web page “Palabras de Guerra” (Words of War) said goodbye to the virtual world at that time. We highlight some of the reasons that led to its closure, as expressed in its farewell communiqué:
– Excessive volume of information, in most cases superfluous, a reflection of the Western society of excess.
– Accelerated publication rhythms, confronted with natural rhythms.
– An immediatism that generates the need to be constantly informed.
– The emergence of a revolutionary subject whose militancy is based primarily on the Internet.
On Sunday, January 28, 2024, a commemoration was held for Jorge Mora, better known as “Neco”, who, on the same date but in 2020, was run over and killed by a Carabineros car in the context of a riot outside the Monumental Stadium.
On this occasion -similar to previous commemorations- there were confrontations with Molotov cocktails and barricades around the 55th Police Station, ending with four people arrested; this situation was preceded by police controls and harassment by civilians in the sector of Pudahuel Sur during the whole afternoon, sector where Neco lived.
Banners and murals read: “If I die for something I want to die defending our cause”, “Neco in memory until victory” and “We go forward with the people, with the people. Neco Immortal”.
Two Teslas were set on fire in Rummelsburg on February 7 and two Tesla charging stations on Vulkanstraße on February 8.
We think that Tesla is an ideal target for our attacks.
Because:
> Several armies use Tesla’s Starlink satellite system in their wars. Including Israel in Gaza. Also Ukraine. Tesla’s Starlink infrastructure is an important military player and attacks on Tesla can be a sign everywhere: against every war!
> Tesla is a symbol of “green capitalism”. But it is anything but green: the lithium batteries come from toxic mines in Chile and devour other rare metals, which means misery and destruction for the mining areas. “Green capitalism” stands for colonialism and land theft!
> Tesla wants to further expand its Gigafactory in Grünheide near Berlin. We want to defend ourselves against this! We don’t want any more Teslas on the roads! The Gigafactory became known for its extreme exploitation conditions. In addition, the factory contaminates the groundwater and consumes huge amounts of this already scarce resource for its products.
> Tesla is militarizing our roads. Their cars are equipped with high-resolution cameras. In “guard mode”, they film everything and everyone. Make sure to make yourself unrecognizable during actions.
> Elon Musk is an arsehole!
Therefore:
Let the air out of the tyres of expensive cars? great.
Even better: let Teslas burst into flames everywhere!
Words more than 2 years after the attack against the National Directorate of Gendarmeria of $hile and 13 months of imprisonment of the anarchist comrades Aldo and Lucas Hernandez.
During these days the nostalgia assaults, missing that air of the street envelops when waking up in these cells. It has been 12 months since the GOPE arrived bursting different doors of different spaces in which we transited or stepped on at some time.
We regret in the depths of our hearts that the bastard police exposed these beautiful little beings to so much violence, and that their eyes saw their despicable uniforms and weapons that were ready to meet and capture Aldo, so far the only one charged for the explosive attack against the National Directorate of Gendarmeria of Chile, and Lucas, charged for possession of various weapons and explosives.
The police did not care in the least about violating the basic rights of the children present in the different spaces raided.
We have lived the consequences and ups and downs of the prison world, where our convictions remain unyielding and more eager than yesterday to see this society collapse after an accurate blow to the heart of the repugnant social peace. During this year we have been separated as brothers and we have lived different prison processes. Aldo is in a highly dangerous module in the La Gonzalina Prison-Extermination Center, where he is the only political prisoner in the module. Lucas has been in different modules of the Santiago One Prison-Company. Being linked to the street, to the illegality and the cause that besieges us at present has influenced how we develop and position ourselves in our journey as prisoners, where he has had to face different prison situations.
We consider that in these situations it is extremely important to defend our position against society and prison, against prison and society: against prison society.
In spite of everything, we have learned to be attentive to different codes and frequencies, here, where blades and spears speak for themselves. Always with the intention that the metals are aimed at the jailers and not between prisoners.
We continue with our integrity intact, our illegal steps stepped hard on the streets, always intending more, never staying in the lesser evil or in the brute comfort, we broke with it and that is how we ventured into the boldness of the facts.
At present they are still investigating us, trying to find more and more, they will try to condemn us with the highest sentences they can, according to our different crimes, exemplary sentences as happened recently with our compañero Francisco Solar.
For us the only example is the coherence of continuing to take a stand against domination from the very house of the jailers.
Be clear that the ideas and revolutionary action is bulletproof and shackle-proof. These are the consequences of our anarchic and free existence, we assume the costs without fear, no prosecutor or court will make us feel the despair, much less bend us. They are the ones who fear us, not us.
They are the cowards, not those of us who, determined, walk with our dead by our side and with the death that, many times, accompanies us in every illegal movement and in every action.
Hundreds of personal-political projects were put on hold, even so, from these dungeons, we remain clear and willing to continue contributing to the anarchist struggle that walks firm and determined for the destruction of power, its servants and all the existing prison society.
Life is fragile and none is the exception.
A fraternal greeting to the different comrades who worthily face their days in the different prisons of the world.
Fire to the prison and its jailers!
Death to the dominant lie!
With clear and sharper ideas nothing is over, the war continues.
Long live anarchy.
Aldo Hernández Valdés – La Gonzalina Extermination Center
Lucas Hernández Valdés – Prison-Company Santiago one.
English subtitled version of the film giving the account of the early part of the Phoenix Project, international project of sabotage and attack with over a dozen hits in a variety of different countries.
Dedicated to Alfredo Cospito and Nicola Gai, Olga Cell FAI/IRF, who took responsibility for the laming of CEO Roberto Adinolfi of Ansaldo Nucleare.
“We are here, where everything starts now.”
The Project of ‘Phoenix’ is the unfolding of a hidden map marking one of the routes to the Atlantis of practical theory. An unknown and lost continent that exists beyond the edges of the burning cities of the interzone. Created through action, dialogue and ideas and organised informally with anarchic principles of permanent autonomous attack, revolutionary solidarity and internationalism. A sequence of attacks by different radical direct action groups around the world, breaking the silence of isolation and striking back again against the prison societies of the techno-industrial system.
The Phoenix project is now renewed through the 2015 attacks in Chile, Czech Republic and Greece, with the comrades within the territory of Czech Republic initiating the campaign “Let’s destroy repression“. The story of the Phoenix continues to be written…
A year ago in Europe a campaign of attack against companies and infrastructures that feed the ecological catastrophe around the world, entitled Switch Off! was launched. Large and small actions have positioned themselves in offensive from the concern and need to confront an evident eco-systemic collapse provoked by the global capitalist machinery that destroys everything in its path.
The intention of the campaign is to “attack the system in a sustainable way”, placing direct action in a common context through anonymous communication with each other, inviting to arm themselves with their own means and go on the offensive against the productive infrastructure and with it the property, without falling into false discursive, institutional and/or technological illusions, “making it clear that there can be no green capitalist alternative, nor peace with the existing conditions”.
In a first statement of presentation we can see more precisely what is the background and objective of why to invite the use of the slogan “Switch Off!”:
Switch off – a call to revolt
(DN Note: We make our own translation into English from the original German text.)
The certainty that the current system will lead to the collapse of the massively damaged ecosystem has already moved countless people and driven them into resistance. Tens of thousands are taking to the streets against the capitalist machinery’s “business as usual”, people are resisting the destructive large-scale projects en masse, the system’s infrastructure is being blocked and courageous fighters are setting fire to the machines that are robbing them of their livelihoods.
What we need in the struggle against the destruction of nature and the resulting social misery is the common striving for the real revolutionary break and the freedom of all. For an initiative that rejects all compromises and cosmetic corrections of the state and brings about a transformation of our social relations.
Because the destruction of the planet by the neoliberal economic system is inextricably linked to patriarchal thought patterns, racism and colonialism. The initiative for this must necessarily come from below. From the struggles of the marginalized. From the struggles of those who oppose the state’s promise of salvation with a self-organized, solidary coexistence. From the struggles of those who see that there can be no compromise in the fight against the systemic destruction of the biosphere.
We should also be aware that we cannot completely prevent the gradual collapse of a massively damaged ecosystem. Not the loss of biodiversity. Not the depletion of resources. We will not be able to prevent the climate catastrophe, as we are already in the midst of it. Admitting this – without any doomsday pathos – does not paralyze us. On the contrary: it should open up the question for us and our contexts of what our lives and our revolutionary struggles could look like in the future.
We can hardly block and sabotage as radically and uncompromisingly as the climate change caused by capitalism requires. But we should not be discouraged by this. Let us question, sabotage and sustainably attack the infrastructure of capitalism in the fight against exploitation. So that another world becomes possible! Let us cooperate with each other in solidarity so that we can live a dignified life. Let us realize our ideas in the here and now and already within our struggles and actions. We will not be lulled into complacency by the attempts at appeasement by those in power.
Against their technological solutions
The solutions offered by those in power for the now noticeable effects of the ecological crisis are primarily technological. This is obviously also driven by lobbying, but above all it is a strategy to legitimize themselves. The development, control and application of the “technologies of the future”, which are supposed to make growth capitalism “sustainable”, are in the hands of the state, industry and science and are inextricably linked to them. If we are being sold the illusion that climate change can be stopped technologically, then this is based on the belief that those in power only need to take the right steps, the right measures, to save this world. For one thing, they have absolutely no interest in ending the expansionist capitalism that secures their position of power. And for another, technological reform, with the new dependencies it produces, is also doomed to failure. Examples of this could be e-mobility or technologies for the production of so-called renewable energies. The required raw materials are often procured in the course of neo-colonial environmental exploitation. The transportation of these raw materials and components is in turn highly dependent on fossil fuels. As a result, a conversion of the current industry to renewable energies before the global oil reserves dry up is unthinkable anyway.Continue reading “About the Switch Off! attack campaign”→
On January 6, in the town of Las Araucarias/Los Copihues, as Matías Catrileo propaganda group, we carried out a territorial occupation, deploying ourselves in the town that was 54 years old since its creation under the name of Toma Unidad Popular, where we handed out pamphlets, zines and information that emphasize the importance of direct action and territorial self-organization as valid and necessary means to recover our lives, as Matías taught us.
There are many examples throughout history that show us how to do, from autonomy and direct action, that generate other ways of inhabiting this world in the here and now. The land seizures are one of the most effective ways to directly solve a problem as big as access to housing, also enhancing the revolutionary struggle, generating fertile spaces for carrying out revolutionary processes.
Since colonization, the territory was divided into large estates, estates and states, where neither the poor, nor the Indian, nor the mestizo, had a part in this division, often forcing us to sell our labor force for miserable wages to these same masters who through deception and violence became owners of the land.
What the law says does not really matter, slavery was legal, the embezzlements of the police, milicos and politicians are legal and continue in complete impunity, destruction of the land is legal, the destruction of the Maipo river, the Panul forest is legal and the usurpations and appropriations of the rich are legal, demonstrating that the law is only their system of defense and robbery to maintain their interests and those of their class.
We propose self-organization as the only possible way to recover our lives, through direct action as did our grandfathers and grandmothers who knew how to raise an entire population by sheer will and mutual support, as does the puñi/lamgen in Wallmapu who have managed to push back the advance of capital on their lands, as do the peoples of the continent who resist the advance of this system of misery and death.
It is necessary to look back and reuse the tactics that in the past allowed not only to provide housing solutions, but also gave way to generate land and fertile spaces to carry out the conflict against power and carry out revolutionary processes aimed at the destruction of the state-capital.
Accomplices of the wind and living only to be free, simply free, immensely free.
The expansion of the anarchist urban guerrilla is imminent! Long live territorial recuperation! Towards territorial and autonomous organization, without leaders or parties! For the freedom of the Maipo River and the Panul forest! For the life that was stolen from us! In Wallmapu and the city war to the State and Capital!
-Grupo de propaganda Matías Catrileo [Propaganda group Matías Catrileo]
