militainment

Wed

Apr

2015

Kindergarten kids holding 'AK-47s' during 'patriotic class' cause outrage in Russia

New translation available

Submitted by antimili-youth

Moscow: Pictures of young Russian children posing with mock AK-47 rifles and other weapons at a kindergarten have provoked a storm of controversy, but some defended them as patriotic education.

Pictures making the rounds online show boys...

Fri

Oct

Military Classrooms? Strategy wargames played out in German schools

Submitted by antimili-youth on Fri, 30/10/2015 - 07:08

Here is a short report by Peter Oliver from RT News about the recruitment operations of the German Armed Forces, Bundeswehr, and activists resisting against this increasing flow of war propaganda in Germany.

Military Classrooms? Strategy wargames played out in German schools

Tue

Sep

International Week of Action Against the Militarisation of Youth

Would you like to take action against the militarisation of youth? You can join War Resisters' International's week of action from 14-20 November (as an individual or as a group).

Thu

Sep

International Week of Action Against the Militarisation of Youth

Submitted by antimili-youth on Thu, 17/09/2015 - 17:21

Would you like to take action against the militarisation of youth? You can join War Resisters' International's week of action from 14 to 20 November (as an individual or as a group).

War Resisters' International is organising the 2nd International Week of Action Against the Militarisation of Youth this year from 14 to 20 November. The week is a concerted effort of antimilitarist action across the world to raise awareness of, and challenge, the ways young people are militarised, and to give voice to alternatives.

Mon

Sep

America’s Tween Soldiers

Submitted by Gary on Mon, 14/09/2015 - 21:31

August Say, 12, holds out his arm to determine where he should stand in class in the new Dragon Leadership Corps at his middle school in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Seth Kershner, In These Times

Last year, Henry F. Moss Middle School in Bowling Green, Ohio, offered students a brand new course. And, as a headline in the local newspaper proclaimed, this was “not your traditional class.” For starters, the teacher—an army sergeant—had told the Bowling Green Daily News that one of his goals was to expose these seventh- and eighth-graders to “military values” that they could use as “building blocks” in life. To that end, students in the class earn military style ranks, engage in army-style “PT” (physical training) and each Wednesday, wear camouflage pants and boots.

This is the Moss Middle School Leadership Corps, part of the growing trend of military-style education for pre-adolescents.

Sat

Sep

Militarism Run Amok: Russians and Americans Get Their Kids Ready for War

Submitted by Gary on Sat, 12/09/2015 - 20:05

Lawrence Wittner - In 1915, a mother's protest against funneling children into war provided the theme of a new American song, "I Didn't Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier." Although the ballad attained great popularity, not everyone liked it. Theodore Roosevelt, a leading militarist of the era, retorted that the proper place for such women was "in a harem―and not in the United States."

If Roosevelt were still around today, a century later, he would be happy to learn that preparing children for war continues unabated.

Wed

Jul

German army targets youth with war propaganda

Submitted by antimili-youth on Wed, 01/07/2015 - 16:12

By Franzi Vier

When were these images last seen in Germany? Children clamber on tanks, sit in military helicopters, hold anti-tank weapons in their hand and receive orders from soldiers in uniform about their functions. The army and military equipment are shown as a seemingly acceptable part of free time and family excursions.

These images come from Germany’s armed forces day, the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of the Bundeswehr on June 13. “Believe it or not, it was 60 years waiting for this day,” states the Bundeswehr’s official homepage. But now it was finally here: “German armed forces day is being celebrated for the first time at 15 locations nationwide.”

Mon

Jun

"War Is Not Family Entertainment"

Submitted by antimili-youth on Mon, 22/06/2015 - 18:23

"The Armed Forces Day 'family fun' extravaganza in Colwyn Bay's Parc Eirias went ahead on Saturday in intermittent drizzle and behind a prominent banner near the main gate stating what you'd have thought would be bleedin' obvious, but apparently to many punters wasn't: 'WAR IS NOT FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT'. "

It was Armed Forces Day in Wales last Saturday and a group of peace activists had some brilliant ideas to turn it into a day of peace and resistance! Here is their report from their direct action last weekend, which also includes their call out for actions as such in other cities of the UK on the official Armed Forces Day this Saturday:

Background

Thu

Jun

Russia unveils new military park for children

Submitted by antimili-youth on Thu, 18/06/2015 - 15:20

By Rory Challands, Al Jazeera

Kids can learn to shoot, climb on tanks and learn of past military glories in the Park Patriot.

When the doors of Park Patriot open to the public next year, the families who flock here will be treated to an exciting array of activities. The youngsters will be able to fire weapons, clamber on battle tanks, and drive military equipment. Then, once they're suitably tired out, everyone can settle down to watch a reenactment of a famous Soviet battlefield victory. And of course there'll be a recruitment centre for military age boys and girls to join the armed forces.

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.

Wed

Dec

Hollywood’s role in recruiting for US military

Submitted by hannah on Wed, 17/12/2014 - 12:34

WATCH THE VIDEO

American teenage children are being tracked, targeted, and sometimes captured by a global military industrial media complex.

Parents of teens are seldom aware of how their children are at the rising risk of being systematically targeted, manipulated and psychologically remodeled for use within the war-machine.

Across the military, there is a wide-speared belief that positive media images correlate with higher recruitment and retention rates.

In this edition of the Hollywood Cut, we will examine the role of Hollywood in recruiting for the US military.

AY/MHB

Source: PressTV

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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.