FBI does not want you to know How To Blow Up A Pipeline
According to a recent report by Rolling Stone, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is not pleased with the release of Neon's new eco-terrorism movie How To Blow Up A Pipeline.
The movie, adapted from a non-fiction book of the same title, which examines the ethics and effectiveness of sabotaging the oil industry in response to climate change, has raised concerns among as many as 23 different state and federal agencies. These agencies have sent out at least 35 missives about the movie, citing its potential to inspire people to target oil and gas infrastructure with explosives or other destructive devices.
Documents obtained by Rolling Stone reveals that the FBI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate expressed concerns about the film's ability to inspire "threat actors" to target critical infrastructure. Similarly, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) has warned that the movie may motivate attacks or disruptions on infrastructure throughout the United States. While the agencies have not identified any specific threat, the content of the film has clearly alarmed them.
The director of the movie, Daniel Goldhaber, argues that the film is a work of fiction that addresses the climate crisis by telling a story about a group of young activists who believe that destroying an oil pipeline is an act of self-defence. The film is loosely based on a book of the same name by Andreas Malm, which argues that direct sabotage of fossil fuel infrastructure is necessary because governments have failed to take sufficient action to address climate change.
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Swedish professor of human ecology and climate activist, Andreas Malm, examines the ethics and effectiveness of sabotaging the oil industry in response to climate change in his eponymous non-fiction book. Malm argues that the gravity of the climate crisis requires direct sabotage of fossil fuel infrastructure as governments have failed to heed peaceful grassroots calls for better climate action.
The book is not a literal set of instructions about attacking oil pipelines, but rather a call to action that highlights the importance of taking drastic measures to combat the looming threat of climate change. By emphasizing the need for direct action and resistance, Malm's work serves as a powerful critique of the current political and economic systems that are perpetuating the climate crisis.
How To Blow Up A Pipeline is thought-provoking and challenging, raising important questions about the relationship between climate change and political action. Through his examination of direct sabotage as a form of resistance, Malm pushes readers to consider the effectiveness and morality of different approaches to addressing the most pressing environmental issue of our time.
The book was adapted by Goldhaber, who co-wrote the screenplay with Ariela Barer and Jordan Sjol. The film premiered in the Platform Prize program at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2022. After its premiere, Neon acquired distribution rights, releasing it theatrically in the US on April 7, 2023.
Here's the trailer for the film:
The release of How To Blow Up A Pipeline comes at a time when infrastructure attacks have been on the rise, with incidents such as the vandalism of power stations in Washington state and attacks on substations in North Carolina and Oregon.