Facing Away
“If war starts long before the firing of the first bullet, peace is set into motion long before peace accords are engineered. Peace starts at the epicentre of violence”
(Carolyn Nordstrom; Shadows of War, 2004).
If Peace starts at the epicentre of violence, then where does war begin? If war starts long before the firing of the first bullet, where does that non-action occur and how does it look at these sites?
An industry exists since long in Sweden that generates great amounts of money. At the moment the swedish arms export is the largest per capita in the world. On a local level it creates jobs, educate our young, sponsors sports clubs and it is a part of the local communities. It is a creative force.
On a different level the products that are being produced here have violence as its final purpose. In Karlskoga, Linköping, Malmö, Gamleby and at many other locations in Sweden this paradox is alive. This is where the Swedish arms are made; increasingly for international customers that puts them to use. The means of war has become a successful export. War begins here.
Linköping, Saab Aerosystems - production of fighter aircrafts.
Gamleby, Saab Barracuda - camouflage factory.
Malmö, Aimpoint - red point sights.
Eskilstuna, Saab Bofors Dynamics - Production of the Carl Gustaf rocket launcher.
Karlskoga, BAE Systems Bofors - gun factory.
Arboga, Saab - Support and services HQ.
Kilsbergen - weapons testing area.
Karlskoga, Saab Bofors Dynamics - gun factory.
Karlsborg, Nammo - ammunitions factory.
Karlskoga, Eurenco - explosives factory.
Örnsköldsvik, BAE Systems Hägglunds - combat vehicle plant.
Solna, Swe-Dish - military grade satellite communications.
