The Broken Rifle

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</WAR> on a red background
Issue number
109
March 2018
Militarism: what is it good for?

This edition of The Broken Rifle goes back to the basics of what has driven many of us to become pacifists, exploring some of the impacts of militarism around the world today.

We have examples of current armed conflicts: in Syria, where we share the statement of the Human Rights Association and Human Rights Foundation of Turkey following the Turkish military's ''Olive Branch'' operation in Afrin; from Yemen we have a blog post describing what it's like to live in a war zone on a "normal" day, and another looking back at the history and forward to the future of this three year war. We have examples of political repression enforced with weapons in Catalonia and Eritrea, and updates on countries long-impacted by division held in place by armed borders: South Korea and Cyprus. Finally, conscription has been introduced and reintroduced in a number of countries around the world. For many years it looked like this particular form of militarisation was on the way out, but now it seems that trend is reversing. We include an article on the topic first seen in our CO-Update!

The impacts of militarism and war take many different forms. But we know that militarism is being challenged in many ways, too. Have a look at our list of affiliates here to find out what the WRI network is doing to challenge militarism around the world.

Young people are reviving the spirit of resistance in Eritrea

People sitting waiting at a bus stop

Overnight Eritreans begun repeating one name: Haj Musa Mohamed Nur, whether in support or opposition of him. He became a household name both at home and abroad after the Diaa Al Islam School uprising on the 31st October 2017.

Alternative education to tackle militarism in South Korea

PeaceMOMO, Peace education programme photo

Seventy years after the partition of Korea, the southern part of the peninsula experiences ever-increasing military expenditure, drawing millions of Koreans into a compulsory 21-month long military service. Despite this, the general public tends to neglect how civil society in a post-Korean War (1950-53) context has been militarised.

Dreaming for peace in Yemen

Abdulhakim Al-Ansi: Communications Assistant (Sana’a), CARE Yemen

A day in the life of Hakim Najm in Yemen. His blog sheds light on what it's like to live with the regular threat of air strikes and in a city blockaded from the outside world, experiencing shortages of fuel, food and medical supplies, and all the time trying to tell the outside world of the situation. Stronger international solidarity is needed for this country that has now experienced 1000 days of war.

The return of conscription?

People dressed as clowns stand outside a recruitment centre in Helsinki

For many years, it looked like obligatory military service was on the way out. But in the last five years, the picture has changed: Norway has extended conscription for women; Sweden has reintroduced conscription for all; Ukraine, Georgia, Lithuania and Kuwait have reintroduced conscription for men after short hiatuses; Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have introduced conscription for the first time. We look at why governments are turning to compulsion in filling their armies, and what this means for pacifist movements.

Statement on Turkey's military intervention in Northern Syria

Human Rights Foundation of Turkey

The Turkish military has been running an operation called 'Olive Branch' in Syria since 20th January 2018. Reports from the region show the human cost of the ongoing operation, including hundreds of dead as well as injured; and show how it has fuelled conflict in the region. War Resisters' International stands in solidarity with activists in Turkey supporting peace and opposing war in Syria, Turkey and elsewhere. Here we share a statement from the Human Rights Association and Human Rights Foundation of Turkey, which WRI's Turkey Working Group endorses, on the ongoing military operation in Northern Syria.

Cyprus, the island of beauty that turned into dust

Demilitarised Nicosia banner

My name is Erman and I was born on one side of this divided Cyprus in 1990. The division of the island started a long time before I was born, in 1974, but the roots of the division started even earlier. When we say 'division', it could refer to one of two things: the division in our mind, or the wall that separates this whole island into two.

Another year of fear, and a mysterious future in Yemen

Children in Yemen standing outside the house

In the month of January, people around the world celebrate the beginning of a new year, a new chapter in their lives. They are thinking of what they are going to achieve and accomplish and how they are going to spend their year. On the other side of the world—being completely forgotten—are the people of Yemen. It’s a new year they want to be optimistic but can’t help feeling worried. For them it is another year of living in fear, hunger and a dark unknown future.

1st October: A day for resistance

Two people walking along the street with a banner

It seems that few could imagine that the problems made by the Spanish state for the Catalan referendum on 1st October would lead to exactly that which reinforces the legitimacy of the fight of many social claims: peaceful popular resistance.