International Week of Action Against the Militarisation of Youth

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Event date(s): 
14/11/2015 - 00:00 to 20/11/2015 - 23:45

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).

War Resisters' International is organising the 2nd International Week of Action Against the Militarisation of Youth this year from 14-20 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.

Last year saw the first ever international Week of Action whose main focus was education and research. Many groups in various countries including Canada, Germany, South Korea, the state of Spain, the USA, Israel and the UK took action to call for an end to the military's role in education and research. This year we are expanding our theme from education to all other public spaceswhere we see military engagement with young people.

Militaries are everywhere!

Today we see militaries everywhere from schools and Universities to job and career fairs. "Militainment" events are more common than ever in many countries where we see militaries promoting war as an "entertaining” business to children and young people. Our public spaces have long been occupied by monuments and statues glorifying wars rather than reminding the youth of the victims and devastations of war. The examples are multiple and warrant further action and exploration.

If you would like to join the activists all around the world taking action against the militarisation of youth contact us via cmoy@wri-irg.org. Please visit www.antimili-youth.net for updates and further information.

What you can do?

  • Organise your own nonviolent action as part of the week of action against the militarisation of youth! Tell us what you are planning (direct actions, public forums, talks, movie screenings, online campaigns etc.). If the action is public, we will publicise it to spread the word.

  • Not sure what to do? Get in touch and we can discuss action ideas with you, or put you in touch with others in your country who are already planning something. Also see here for the events last year.

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