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...

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

Tue

Feb

Local-born doctor: Military structures young lives

Submitted by Gary on Tue, 24/02/2015 - 16:38

Asia Burns, left, and Arlonzo Chism stand in formation during ROTC at Woodlawn High School. (Photo: Henrietta Wildsmith/The Times)

A former Shreveporter who left a troubled family here to serve as a combat medic in Iraq, and who later served as a new doctor combating Ebola in west Africa, will speak in his home town later this week and sign copies of his new book.

"My mom was in prison most of my life, and my sister did time," says Antonio Webb, 32, who now is in his residency as an orthopedic surgeon in San Antonio, Texas. He grew up in the Allendale, Queensborough and Meadows neighborhood off Jewella Avenue.

"My dad did the best he could as a single parent to keep us isolated from what was going on. I was lucky in that I left Shreveport at an early age, 17, after I graduated from high school. If I'd have stayed in Shreveport there would have been a different outcome."

Mon

Feb

Youth and Militarism Conference: Canada

Youth in Canada - particularly young people of faith - are increasingly concerned about militarism in our society; and how this affects them.

These concerns include (but are not limited to)
• the causes of war (including inequality),
• the militarization of entertainment,
• the intersection with gender,
• national identity,
• technological influence,
• infiltration into our educational institutions, and
• a lack of effective empowerment for youth who are
called to be peacemakers.

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.