War Resisters' Stories

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Conscientious Objectors Colombia
Issue number
64
Support Colombian COs on International Conscientious Objection Day

Every year on 15th May, we celebrate International Conscientious Objection Day. On this day, we remember and celebrate conscientious objectors' resistance for peace, their refusal to bears arms and take part in war - throughout history and today. This year, we're focusing on Colombia and standing in solidarity with Colombian conscientious objectors. Read more here how you can support Colombian conscientious objectors.

Over the last few weeks and months, grassroots activism has pushed climate change into the media in the UK. This short article tries to set out how and why we need to understand militarism and climate change as two sides of the same coin - both intimately linked in the impact they have on our world, driven, supported and maintained by the same power structures.

As we celebrate our 100th anniversary, can you be part of sustaining and strengthening our work into the future, by becoming one of our regular supporters?

WRI’s programme Countering the Militarisation of Youth (CMoY) aims to spread information, inspiration and practical tips on challenging youth militarisation. One important aspect of this is countering the recruitment of young people by militaries. Today, across many countries where there is no more conscription, militaries are running more and more sophisticated strategies to reach out to young people and convince them to join their ranks. Meanwhile recruitment of young people by paramilitary and other armed groups continues to be an issue in many other contexts. In response, various grassroots groups are running campaigns to counter the recruitment efforts of militaries and armed groups. Affiliates of WRI have said it would be helpful to have more information on counter-recruitment campaigns, so we plan to make a short resource on this theme in the form of a booklet.

Centre Delas have published a new resource, illustrating the involvement of the financial industry with the arms trade. Banca Armada allows users to explore how – between 2011 and 2017 – different banks, insurance companies, asset management companies, sovereign wealth funds, and some pension funds and public institutions financed the activities of the arms industry.