War Resisters' International

Mon

Jan

2016

A conscientious objector reflects on receiving cards on Prisoners for Peace day

New translation available

Submitted by hannah

International Prisoners for Peace Day has been celebrated on December 1st for years. The purpose of the day is to provoke conversation and commemorate peace prisoners with...

Wed

Oct

Stop recruitment of 16 year olds into the UK armed forces

Submitted by hannah on Wed, 22/10/2014 - 15:27

We call on the UK Government to stop its policy of allowing 15 year olds to apply and 16 and 17 year olds to be recruited into the Armed Forces. The recruitment and targeting of young people and vulnerable groups has been criticised by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. 2014 is the year to end this policy.

Why is this important?

What better way to commit our country to peace during the commemoration of World War One and remember the hundreds of thousands who died from the UK alone, including boy soldiers like Rifleman V J Strudwick who was killed at 15? Why is it that in 2014 the UK is the only country in Europe - and the only country among the permanent members of the UN Security Council - to recruit 16 year olds into its armed forces?

Tue

Sep

The battle for the home front [event in Frankfurt am Main]

German army reserve forces, civilian-military cooperation and the importance of higher education institutions

Lecture and discussion with Claudia Haydt (Information Agency on Militarisation (IMI), Tübingen)

Frankfurt am Main

Wednesday, 29 October 2014, 7.00 pm

at Café Koz, Studierendenhaus Campus Bockenheim, Mertonstrasse 26-28 (Bockenheimer Warte underground station)

Wed

Sep

Ideas for action: take part in our week of action for military-free education and research

Submitted by hannah on Wed, 17/09/2014 - 10:16

Would you like to take action for military-free education and research?

You can join War Resisters' International's week of action from 25 - 31 October (as an individual or as a group). Find out more here.

Here are some ideas for actions:

Fri

Aug

International Week of Action for Military-Free Education and Research: 25 - 31 October

Militaries across the world gain access to young people through education systems.

It gives them an extraordinary chance to shape every generation's perception of military violence and lay the groundwork for future recruitment.

25 - 31 October 2014 sees the first international week of action for military-free education and research: a concerted effort of antimilitarist action across the world to raise awareness and challenge of the role the military have in education, and to give voice to alternatives.

Fri

Aug

Day of Action images

Images from 2013's first ever International Day of Action for Military-Free Education and Research. Join us for 2014's Week of Action for Military-Free Educatiuon and Research in October!

Tue

Aug

Militarization and masculinities: Refusing militarism is not possible without refusing hegemonic masculinity

Submitted by hannah on Tue, 12/08/2014 - 10:24

It’s one thing to call a ceasefire, another to decommission militarized masculinity

Andreas Speck

“Questioning the militarist value system and its practices which are identified with military service, one is also obliged to question the hegemonic understanding of masculinity. In Turkey, military service is a laboratory in which masculinity is reproduced. The patriarchal system is solidified through military service. I objected to military service, because I am also against this laboratory manufactured masculinity. The struggle against militarism defined in heterosexist terms through sexist structures finds its fundamental expression in anti-militarism. This refers to freedom of sexual orientation, gender equality and total and unrestricted freedom”.1

Fri

Aug

WRI sign letter on British 'Armed Forces Day'

Submitted by hannah on Fri, 08/08/2014 - 15:19

Photo: ssafa

Letter to The Times (see all signatories below)

On this day 100 years ago, Archduke Ferdinand of Austria and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo in an action that led to the First World War. Unchecked militarism in Europe was also a major factor.

Today is also Armed Forces Day, one of the clearest indications of the re-militarisation of British society. Established in 2009 to increase public support for the forces, there are over 200 public events, many billed as 'family fun days'. This week also saw Uniform to Work Day promoting the reserve forces and 'Camo Day' in schools.

Mon

Jun

Webinar: Militarisation of youth and child soldiers

Submitted by hannah on Mon, 02/06/2014 - 16:06

Dereje Wordofa presents the trend of "militarisation of youth and child soldiers" in Africa, despite the international instruments for human rights.

Dereje Wordofa is Regional Director for Africa at the American Friends Service Committee. He is committed to lasting peace, sustainable development and social justice.

https://vimeo.com/96791815

Webinar: Militarisation of youth and child soldiers

Wed

Apr

New Tactics Online Conversation: Tactics for Combating Militarisation

Submitted by hannah on Wed, 09/04/2014 - 17:45

Between June 10 to 14, 2013, War Resisters International and the New Tactics community joined together to hold an online conversation on tactics for combating the militarisation of education, public spaces, vulnerable communities, entertainment and culture.

Wed

Mar

Countering the Militarisation of Youth

Submitted by hannah on Wed, 19/03/2014 - 11:03

This video was used in the crowdfunder campaign for WRI's Countering the Militarisation of Youth work.

// SCRIPT //

https://vimeo.com/88753548

Countering the Militarisation of Youth

Pages

Languages

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.