North America

Mon

Jan

2015

There Is No Future in War: Youth Rise Up, a Manifesto

New translation available

A peace sign printed on the American Flag is raised during a protest against the Vietnam War in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Archive / History Channel)

Submitted by Gary

Statement written by Ben Norton, Tyra Walker, Anastasia Taylor, Alli McCracken, Colleen Moore, Jes Grobman, Ashley Lopez / Codepink -

Once again, US politicians and pundits are beating the drums of...

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.

Mon

Sep

New Publication: Counter-Recruitment and the Campaign to Demilitarize Public Schools

Submitted by Gary on Mon, 14/09/2015 - 20:04

Scott Harding, Seth Kershner -

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.

Mon

Aug

Establishing Policies to Restrict Military Recruiting in K-12 Schools A live online organizing workshop in three 1-hour parts

Learn how policies have been adopted in various school districts

Restrictions have included:

Mon

Jul

Al Scorch - Povery Draft (Live @ Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion 2013)

Submitted by Gary on Mon, 27/07/2015 - 23:32

Al Scorch perform "Poverty Draft" live at the LC King factory during the 2013 Bristol Rhythm & Roots.

Al Scorch - Povery Draft (Live @ Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion 2013)

Tue

Jun

Halt the military invasion of Catholic schools

Submitted by Gary on Tue, 30/06/2015 - 02:41

By Pat Elder

Wed

Jun

Cavalry units volunteer at local schools

Submitted by Gary on Wed, 24/06/2015 - 21:24

A Soldier with the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division referees a flag football game at Shoemaker High School during an organization day for the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets at Killeen, Texas, May 29. Soldiers helped organize the events, referee games, and foster a safe environment. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Brandon Banzhaf, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division)

by Sgt. Brandon Banzhaf

Sat

Jun

U.S. Muslims Take On ISIS’ Recruiting Machine

Submitted by Gary on Sat, 13/06/2015 - 23:49

Humera Khan, the founder of Muflehun, a think tank that focuses on countering violent extremism, during a youth leadership and safety conference in Avon, Conn., in November. Credit Katherine Taylor for The New York Times

By Laurie Goodstein

STERLING, Va. — Imam Mohamed Magid tries to stay in regular contact with the teenager who came to him a few months ago, at his family’s urging, to discuss how he was being wooed by online recruiters working for the Islamic State, the extremist group in Syria and Iraq.

Tue

Apr

Veterans For Peace Chicago Billboard Campaign

Submitted by Gary on Tue, 28/04/2015 - 21:03

"Very glad to learn about this outstanding initiative, and I wish you the greatest – well-deserved – success." Noam Chomsky

"Regarding any input I have about your work to demilitarize public education in Chicago, it has my wholehearted support. We should be teaching our children how to resolve conflicts in a peaceful and constructive way." Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Gumbleton

What We Are Doing

Veterans For Peace Chicago Billboard Campaign

Mon

Mar

Henry A Giroux War on youth

Submitted by Gary on Mon, 16/03/2015 - 20:27

HISTORIES OF VIOLENCE: Henry A. Giroux provides the 2nd Histories of Violence Annual Lecture

Henry A Giroux War on youth

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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.