Britain

Fri

Mar

2015

Nottingham city centre hosts a showcase of Army life

New translation available

Submitted by antimili-youth

By Tracy Walker, Nottingham Post

Nottingham city centre stood to attention when shoppers were given an insight into life in the Armed forces.

Regular Army and Army reserve units from across the Midlands hosted a recruitment...

Thu

Jan

Over The Top: A dramatic response to militarisation in education

This touring show was commissioned by Central England Quakers in response to the increasing influence of military values in everyday life, especially in our schools (ex-Education Minister Michael Gove’s professed wish to see a ‘military ethos’ in all schools). As has been demonstrated recently by Gove’s successor, Nicky Morgan, this policy is still being pursued and if anything, is being ‘upped’.

Over the Top focuses on the dilemma created when two contrasting points of view over the role of the military in our schools clash and come to a head-on confrontation.

Thu

Jan

Veterans bring ‘military ethos’ to schools

Submitted by hannah on Thu, 22/01/2015 - 13:51

The pupils of year five at St Aloysius Catholic primary in Roby, Liverpool stand shoulder to shoulder, listening closely as the man in combat trousers and army boots outlines the task ahead.

Dressed in their blue PE shorts and white tops, they stand tall as the instructor speaks. First they have to imagine they are stranded in a desert and work out what they need to survive.

The geography of military recruitment

Submitted by hannah on Mon, 12/01/2015 - 12:35

Military recruitment tactics are increasingly fine-tuned to where a person lives, and how they perceive the world’s geography

‘The basic argument is that military recruitment has a geography. It happens in certain places, and maps on to broader trends in society – particularly inequality,’ says Matthew Rech, a researcher at Newcastle University who specialises in geopolitics and military recruitment.

‘There’s also an imagined geography to military recruitment. The military has to persuade people of a particular vision or version of the world, which is based on assumptions of cultural difference and otherness,’ says Rech.

Different services present the world in different ways. ‘The Royal Air Force, for instance, is distinct. It promises world travel. There’s also an idea bound up in the theatre and romance of flight. The pilot is a transcendent person,’ he says.

Tue

Jan

Children enjoy a day as Royal Marines

Submitted by hannah on Tue, 06/01/2015 - 14:59

THEIR expertise has helped protect Britain for more than 350 years.

And a taste of the survival skills needed to be a Royal Marine were passed on to children in a dressing-up game with a difference.

As part of a survival-themed year of activities, The Royal Marines Museum, in Eastney Esplanade, Portsmouth, has been giving families the chance to wear marines’ combat gear for different types of conditions.

Now we’re in the winter months, the challenge to be a part of an Arctic convoy was set this weekend, including camouflaging in pure white snow and choosing the right equipment for sub-zero temperatures.

There was a choice of gear to wear, including jackets and helmets, as well as white mesh worn for colder climates.

Fri

Dec

The UK – Recruiting An Army Of Teenagers

Submitted by hannah on Fri, 19/12/2014 - 14:50

Did you know that the UK armed forces recruit 16-year-olds? Owen Everett from ForcesWatch explores the UK military’s wide influence in the education system and the concerns that arise from this.

The UK is the only country in the European Union that recruits 16-year-olds, and the influence of the UK military within UK schools, colleges, and universities is increasing. This article focuses upon the military’s influence in secondary schools and colleges, and challenges the ethics of the UK’s military recruitment.

Tue

Dec

Peace Education Network

The Peace Education Network is a national UK network that brings together people and organisations committed to education for peace.

Tue

Dec

Woodcraft Folk

The Woodcraft Folk is a movement for young people which campaigns to challenge military activities in schools.

Tue

Dec

Military activities in UK schools & colleges: what are the issues and what you can do

Submitted by hannah on Tue, 16/12/2014 - 13:57

Military activities in UK schools & colleges: what are the issues and what you can do

This 2-sided ForcesWatch briefing (2014):

outlines the extent and nature of armed forces visits to schools
details the Department for Education's 'Military ethos in schools' policy.
outlines the concerns about these activities
suggests what students, parents and others can do to challenge them.

Download here.

Thu

Dec

Disaster militarism

Submitted by hannah on Thu, 11/12/2014 - 16:52

The country’s military institutions must not be seen as deserving of special consideration. Once the ethos of public service has been smashed and discredited by neoliberal restructuring, the danger is that it will take more than an army to bring it back.

Wed

Nov

A Pacifist in the Cadets

Submitted by hannah on Wed, 19/11/2014 - 11:21

The author of this article wishes to remain anonymous, so she is known as 'E'.

'When E first saw pupils walking down from the school along the road carrying weapons (to the firing range, as it turned out) – she thought “SHIT! KIDS WITH GUNS – WHAT’S THAT ALL ABOUT!”

Today – it is “THE NORM” for E, she doesn’t even give it a second glance as it’s just an everyday occurrence. Now E, or as she is NOW called Sergeant H hands the guns to the kids of 13 and 14 and puts the bullets into their bullet holders – even though she says, that at the time it feels normal and ordinary – when she thinks about it, it feels wrong.

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Countering Military Recruitment

WRI's new booklet, Countering Military Recruitment: Learning the lessons of counter-recruitment campaigns internationally, is out now. The booklet includes examples of campaigning against youth militarisation across different countries with the contribution of grassroot activists.

You can order a paperback version here.