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it's not science fiction

Claudia Bühler

2018 - Ongoing

Munich, Bavaria, Germany; Zurich, Switzerland; Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany; Bodensee, Lower Saxony, Germany; Kassel, Hesse, Germany

Since WW II there have never been as many people fleeing war and violence as today. New civil wars and old conflicts are forcing people to leave their homes. The arms industry gains more and more profit from the violence, at the same time, the weaponry they sell is fuelling the conflicts.

Under the slogan "Solutions for a changing world" the companies produce and sell deadly weapons and bombers, while their lobby is influencing politics. Hiding behind tall fences and under video surveillance the arms industry continues their business unsuspiciously.

In the work "It’s not science fiction" the agitators of the German and Swiss weapon production become visible in a topology of violence. A background research complements the artistic work and provides a rare inside view into the booming defence industry.

www.its-not-science-fiction.com

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  • Airbus Defence and Space (ehem. EADS), Willy-Messerschmitt-Strasse 1, 85521 Ottobrunn, Germany
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    (1) Economic size / largest arms exporter based in Germany (2) Sector / military aviation, military and civil space systems and sensors and communications technology for defence and security (3) Example product / SPEXER radar system (4) exported to / Saudi Arabia (part of a project ongoing since 2009) (5) Link with the conflict in Yemen / 2 billion Saudi Arabia-Yemen border guard facility

  • Luerssen/Peene-Werft GmbH, Schiffbauerdamm 1, 17438 Wolgast, Germany
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    (1) Economic size / former GDR operation, has belonged to the Luerssen Group from Bremen since 2013 (2) Sector / Shipbuilding (3) Example product / special patrol boats (4) exported to Saudi Arabia (approved 2015/2016/2017/2018) (5) Link with the conflict in Yemen / The patrol boats are partly stationed in the same ports in which Saudi Arabia also detains cargo ships carrying aid to Yemen

  • Heckler & Koch GmbH, Heckler und Koch-Strasse 1, 78727 Oberndorf am Neckar, Germany
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    (1) economic size / is one of the five largest gun and pistol manufacturers in the world (2) Sector / Small firearms and infantry weapons (3) Example product / famous for the G3/G36 (4) manufactured under licence in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (since 2008) (5) Link with the conflict in Yemen / were dropped over Yemen in the area anti-Huthi militias by plane (April 2015)

  • Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH, Henschelplatz 1, 34127 Kassel, Germany
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    (1) Economic size / Europe's tenth-largest defence company, headquarters in Düsseldorf (2) Industry / armoured tracked vehicles and turret systems (3) Example product / Marder infantry fighting vehicle and spare parts worth 12.8 million (4) exported to Jordan (approved 2016) (5) Connection with the conflict in Yemen / which are part of the Arab alliance that is fighting with militias in Yemen

  • MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH, Am Seemooser Horn 41 88048 Friedrichshafen, Germany
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    (1) Economic size / among the world's leading manufacturers of large diesel engines and complete drive systems (2) Sector / Engines for civil and military aviation (3) Example product / drive Leopard tank 2 A7+ (4) Supplier Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (5) Link with the conflict in Yemen / Engine technology is in armaments used by the Arab Alliance

  • Rheinmetall Air Defence AG, Birchstrasse 155, 8050 Zürich, Switzerland
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    (1) Economic size / formerly part of Oerlikon-Bührle Group (2) Branch / today one of the leading manufacturers of complex weapon systems for air defence (3) Example product / ammunition for anti-aircraft guns (e.g. AHEAD ammunition) (4) exported to Saudi Arabia (5) Connection with the conflict in Yemen / which is part of the Arab alliance that is fighting with militias in Yemen

  • RWM Schweiz AG, Neuland 17, 6460 Altdorf, Switzerland
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    (1) economic size / former Oerlikon Contraves Pyrotec AG (2) Industry / The product range extends from conventional full-calibre ammunition and practice ammunition to intelligent ammunition with programmable fuses.

  • Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH, Neuluesser Strasse 43, 29345 Unterluess, Germany
    -----------------------------------------
    (1) Economic size / Europe's tenth-largest defence company, headquarters in Dusseldorf (2) Branch / Centre of the company for ammunition and bomb production (3) Example product / ammunition for grenade weapons cal. 40mm (4) exported to United Arab Emirates (delivery 2014) (5) Connection with the conflict in Yemen / which is part of the Arab alliance that is fighting with militias in Yemen

  • Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems GmbH, Werftstrasse 112-114, 24143 Kiel, Germany
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    (1) Economic size / Industrial group with focus on steel processing (2) Industry / builds submarines, frigates and mine clearance ships (3) Example product / submarine with associated training simulators, depot spare parts, battery, charging and discharging station and accessories (4) exported to Egypt (approved 2016) (5) Connection with the conflict in Yemen / which is part of the Arab alliance that is fighting with militias in Yemen

it's not science fiction

Claudia Bühler

2018 - Ongoing

Munich, Bavaria, Germany; Zurich, Switzerland; Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany; Bodensee, Lower Saxony, Germany; Kassel, Hesse, Germany

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