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...

Fri

Mar

Quotes from WRI's Countering the Militarisation of Youth conference: Resistance

Submitted by hannah on Fri, 07/03/2014 - 14:33

I as Director of the Vocational Training Centre for former Child Soldiers implemented programmes for UNICEF including how to get children who were caught up in the war back into the mainstream of life – to get them back into school or vocational activities...Reduce or eliminate all sort of inequalities and violence will be reduced. If there is no violence, there would be no need for child soldiers... - Domino Frank Suleiman, Liberia

Fri

Mar

Quotes from WRI's Countering the Militarisation of Youth conference: Gender and sexuality

Submitted by hannah on Fri, 07/03/2014 - 14:31

The image of masculinity...the model men that go to war, that compete. - Jorge Veléz, Colombia

The Ministry of Women, for example, was created in 2006 and since then one of the main goals that the Minister for Women has proposed is to provide two million female members to the militia. She has already set in motion a first stage where she promised 150,000... - Rafael Uzcategui, Venezuela

We do also have women in the military, but comparatively the ratio is low. – Samuel Koduh, Ghana

Fri

Mar

Quotes from WRI's Countering the Militarisation of Youth conference: Recruitment, and The military in public and private space

Submitted by hannah on Fri, 07/03/2014 - 14:28

Recruitment

The way that I ended up joining the military was that when I was a senior in high school I intended to go to college but I didn't have any way to pay for it...I talked to an army recruiter [about an army scholarship] and he made it sound really good...Any time between signing the contract and going to basic training, you can change your mind and there won't be any consequences. Of course, the recruiters won't tell you that – they'll threaten legal consequences etc... - Kelly Dougherty, USA

Fri

Mar

Quotes from WRI's Countering the Militarisation of Youth conference: Public discourse and Education

Submitted by hannah on Fri, 07/03/2014 - 14:22

Public discourse

They are constantly selling the idea that Venezuela is going to be invaded by the United States and in the face of this external threat...there is a permanent feeling of being on the verge of war or armed conflict...They always say that the United State wants Venezuela’s oil, however our president Chávez negotiated with transnational energy companies for 30 to 40 years. This means that that argument is invalid... - Rafael Uzcategui, Venezuela

Fri

Feb

Call of Duty: Feeding the Venezuela Haters or Just Dumb Fun?

Submitted by Gary on Fri, 28/02/2014 - 12:33

Almagro is a red-beret wearing, Simon Bolivar-admiring and vehemently anti-US Venezuelan dictator who used petrodollars to forge a nightmare alliance of South American nations.

Ryan Mallett-Outtrim -

If ideology shapes our fantasies as Zizek suggests, then Call of Duty: Ghosts is imperialism distilled.

“How do we experience ourselves ideologically? What do we find worth fighting for? What's the meaning of our life?”

This is how Slovenian philosopher Slajoj Zizek launched a response to the question of why he finds cinema such a useful tool for analysing modern capitalist ideology during a recent interview with Vice.

Answering his own questions, he continued, “You have to look at Hollywood, where you get it [ideology] in pure, distilled form.”

The interview was about Zizek's latest film, The Pervert's Guide to Ideology. In the film, Zizek essentially argues that even in our dreams and fantasies, we cannot escape the dominant ideologies of our time.

Wed

Feb

Book Excerpt from The Green Zone: The Environmental Costs of Militarism

Submitted by Gary on Wed, 19/02/2014 - 22:59

AK Press -

Tue

Feb

Committee Opposed to Militarism and the Draft (COMD)

COMD is an anti-militarism organization that also challenges the institution of the military, its effect on society, its budget, its role abroad and at home, and the racism, sexism and homophobia that are inherent in the armed forces and Selective Service System. COMD activities include community education, direct action and youth outreach. Individuals sharing our goals are invited to become COMD activists and supporters.

Mon

Feb

On Earth Peace: Peace Curricula and Peace Retreats for Youth

Submitted by Gary on Mon, 17/02/2014 - 22:55

Peace Retreats for Youth

On Earth Peace offers overnight and weekend-long peace retreats for youth. Working with local hosts- congregations, districts, camps, organizations, Peace Retreats are tailored to each group's learning and fellowship goals. Topics can include: bullying, Christian advocacy, just peace, Brethren peacemakers, Christian nonviolence, peacemaking in everyday life, communication and listening, global justice issues, conscientious objection, understanding difference, Biblical roots of peacemaking, conflict resolution, and peacemaking and the creative arts.

In addition, On Earth Peace offers four fully designed retreats:

Mon

Feb

On Earth Peace - Church of the Brethren

We help individuals, congregations, communities, and other groups grow in peace through powerful programs of training and accompaniment. Our professional staff and network of experienced volunteers provide skills, support, and spiritual foundations for overcoming violence with the power of love. While grounded in our faith tradition, we work with all kinds of groups -- like schools, churches, community organizations, businesses, government agencies, and others.

Fri

Feb

Kevin McSorley, University of Portsmouth: Militarism and the body: video

Submitted by Gary on Fri, 14/02/2014 - 20:37

Forces Watch -

The Militarisation in Everyday Life in the UK conference was held in London in October 2013 and was organised by ForcesWatch. It brought together academics, writers, activists and campaigners who are researching, writing, campaigning on, or just concerned about the implications of the militarisation of everyday life in the UK.

Kevin McSorley, University of Portsmouth: Militarism and the body: video

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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.