Upcoming events

Countering the Militarisation of Youth

International Study Conference, Darmstadt, Germany 8-10 June, 2012

War Resisters' International is organising an international study conference on countering the militarisation of youth, in cooperation with German partner organisations and supported by the German teachers union (GEW). The conference will not just look at military recruitment and counter-recruitment actions, but will take a much broader view on the militarisation of youth, the creation of a culture and value system favourable to recruitment.

In preparation for the conference, WRI is conducting a survey on the militarisation of youth. The survey is not a test, and we are not looking necessarily for statistical evidence or facts based answers. What we would like to gather with the survey are impressions, anecdotes and experiences of these topics. Please participate in the survey at http://wri-irg.org/programmes/militarisationofyouth/survey.

The programme of the conference will begin with a focus on analysing the different ways youth are militarised, looking at issues such as military and public spaces, Militainment, military and education, Queer/gender and militarism, and the recruitment of immigrants and low income youth. The second part of the conference will focus on the exchange of experiences of resistance, including, but not limited to Queer resistance, resistance in educational settings, the role of veterans, direct action against the militarisation of youth, and children's rights. A draft programme is available at http://wri-irg.org/programmes/militarisationofyouth/conference-programme.

The aim of the study conference is to foster an on going regional and multi-regional network of cooperating anti-militarist organisations. The overarching objective is strengthening the work against the militarisation of youth in Europe (and beyond) by providing opportunities for people to exchange skills and experience of working in this field and to create/strengthen networks and relationships across the region.

More information at: http://wri-irg.org/militarisationofyouth
You can register for the conference online at http://wri-irg.org/shop/militarisationofyouth

European Network Against Arms Trade Annual Meeting

14 - 17 June, Berlin, Germany

Consequences of EU legislation on arms trade for national/international campaigns against arms trade?

Programme

Thursday, 14 June:

• Parliamentarian evening hosted by the campaign "Aktion Aufschrei“
• Prälat Karl Jüsten: The European challenge to stop arms trade from the point of view of the GKKE.
• Jürgen Grässlin: Preview of the book "Schwarzbuch Waffenhandel“: to be published in September 2012.
Friday, 15 June:
• Presentation by Sara de Pauw of the Flemish Peace Institute about consequences for the EU of the EU intra community transfer directive on arms.

Saturday, 16 June:

• Country Reports and discussion about each country – Arms exports and main focus of each campaign.
• Presentation of German groups, talking about current priorities and the scandalous export ambition of the current German Government - for example 200 Leopard-tanks to Saudi-Arabia.
• Otfried Nassauer: Director of Berlin Information- centre for Transatlantic Security (BITS): the current UVA technology and the expected export ambitions of manufactures. A future campaign topic?
• Lucas Wirl, Manager of NatWiss, Program Director of the International Network of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility (INES) and forms part of the University network for Peace: elaborates on the commitment to the Civil clause (Zivilklausel)- current situation and background of German Universities
• Girogio Beretta talks about the “Thirteenth Annual Report on Exports Control of Military Technology and Equipment”, (covering 2010).

For more information and the detailed program contact: andreamkolling@web.de