A group action $\Gamma$ on $X$ is called "telescopic" if for any finitely
presented group $G$, there exists a subgroup $\Gamma'$ in $\Gamma$ such that
$G$ is isomorphic to the fundamental group of $X/\Gamma'$.

We construct some examples of telescopic actions. As an application we give
an alternative proof of Taubes' theorem: "For every finitely presented group
$G$ there exists a smooth compact complex 3-manifold with fundamental group
isomorphic to $G$."