International Conscientious Objection Day 2014
Every year, 15th May is International Consciention Objection day.
Around the world campaigners will be remembering the generations who refused to go to war, and raising awareness of the many who continue to be persecuted and imprisoned for refusing to kill and be part of military structures.
Please join an event (listed below), hold your own, and spread the word about the day!
Events are listed so far in Belgium, Britain, Cyprus, Korea, state of Spain, Turkey and the USA.
Please send us your events so we can list them here!
Belgium
Brussells, 16 May 2014
Press conference about the situation of CO in Greece, Cyprus and Turkey
More information: EBCO
Britain
Birmingham
Ceremony for Conscientious Objectors Day:
Sunday May 18th at 3pm - Bath Row, Birmingham B1 1SB
More information: West Midlands CND
Brighton
15 May: Poetry and booklet readings.
Thursday 15 May, 7.30 pm – 9.30 pm
Friends Meeting House (Lecture Room), Ship Street, Brighton
More information: Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
Edinburgh: Vigil to remember WW1 Conscientious Objectors, 15th May vigil: 4 - 6 pm
Jointly organised by Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre and Fellowship of Reconciliation Scotland.
More information: http://peaceandjustice.org.uk/
Evesham, Weekend of 17th and 18th May
Shopping centre window display on the theme of 'Courage and Conscience'
Sunday 18: 'Conscientious Objection The Local Picture.'
Event in Cowl Street Peace Garden, Evesham, 3.00pm
More information: contact anneragdoll@yahoo.co.uk
Leeds, 14 May
7pm – Headingley Library, North Lane:
A talk by Janet Douglas for International Conscientious Objectors’ Day.
More information: http://arts.leeds.ac.uk/legaciesofwar/events/headingleys-first-worl-war-conscientious-objectors/
Leicester, 15 May
6pm – 8pm: 'Everyone is invited and people are very welcome to bring family stories to share. Refreshments, seats and shelter should it rain, will all be provided.'
More information: http://memoriesinconflict.wordpress.com/2014/05/04/international-conscientious-objectors-day-event-15th-may/
Liverpool, Event in the City Centre: 12 noon
15th May, probably 12noon: 'handing out leaflets and white feathers to explain their significance and the heroism of those who were willing to take a stand against killing other human beings.
They are looking for information about COs in Merseyside. See their newsletter for information on how to send them this information.
More information: call Merseyside CND on 07501 793342 or read newsletter
London, 15 May Vigil: 12 noon
Descendants of more than thirty First World War conscientious objectors are already planning to take part in this year’s International Conscientious Objectors’ Day commemoration in Tavistock Square, London, on 15 May.
Meet at 12 noon at the commemorative stone for conscientious objectors
More info: http://objectingtowar.wordpress.com/2014/02/24/international-co-day/
At 4.30pm two books charting the history of conscientious objection will be launched in Friends House Library: Objection Overruled by David Boulton and Comrades in Conscience by Cyril Pearce.
At 7.30pm No Glory will hold an evening of music and poetry…cold stars lighting… at St Giles-in-the-Fields Church, WC2H 8LG. Readings from A L Kennedy, Blake Morrison, Michael Rosen, George Szirtes and Samuel West. Tickets from www.noglory.org
More info on both: http://www.quaker.org.uk/news/cranks-or-heroes-telling-untold-stories-wwi
Tottenham: Tottenham Quakers will be holding a Vigil on Thursday 15th May, to commemorate International Conscientious Objectors’ day. The vigil will involve silent recollection in the Quaker tradition, interspersed with readings of texts and poems. 6.30 to 7.30 pm. Location and travel: http://www.quaker.org.uk/tottenham - All are welcome irrespective of creed. Tea and light refreshments will be offered after the Vigil.
Manchester
'A Different kind of Hero: Remember Conscientious Objectors from the First World War'
Join us to celebrate their stories and their significance to our Region. Bring poems and songs. May 15 5.00 – 6.00. Fennell Street, between the Cathedral and the river – a potential site for the new Peace Gardens AND join us to prepare for the event – at Nexus Café on Dale Street, behind and underneath Methodist Central Hall - May 14th 5.15 – 6.30 pm
Craft skills and stories of COs needed. Text us to let us know if you want to be part of this activity
07796078310.
Sheffield
15 May: 6.30pm - Opposing War – Courage and Conscience
Hosted jointly with the Sheffield Quakers, the event will feature poems, songs and readings by local people about their relatives and others who have opposed war and refused to fight.
Thursday 15 May, tea/coffee from 6.30 pm, event starts 7.00 pm
Quaker Meeting House, 10 St James Street, Sheffield (next to the Cathedral)
More inforrmation: Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
Cyprus
The Initiative for Conscientious Objection in Cyprus will organize a press conferance at 10 o'clock in front of army recruitment office and some activist will declare their consciention objection
Korea
May 11
Talk-show 'The fake man 3' : This talk show was designed to reveal various forms of militarism in Korea. This years' theme is the military.Guests of the talk-show are: A veteran soldier and now a bass player at a black metal band, two conscientious objectors.
May 15
WRI Handbook for Nonviolent Campaigns Korean version launch event
May 17
Bike rally from SAMSUNG headquaters to the Ministry of Defense. More info: peace@withoutwar.org
State of Spain
15 May
Barcelona: Silence for Peace at the Plaça de Sant Jaume (St. James square) from 19:00 to 19:30.Organised by "Artesans de Pau" (Craftsmen for Peace) every Thursday, today's event will be focused on International Conscientious Objection Day.
Turkey
May 15th: Press conference in Beyoğlu/İstanbul
17th May: demonstration, Istanbul. More info coming soon.
USA
Berkley, 15 May
11.30am: Berkeley objector day peace flag raising
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Online
- If you want to tweet about International Conscientious Objector's Day, please use the hashtag #CODay (o #díaOC en español)
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We will be posting more events as we hear about them. Others are unannounced and so we will post information about them after they have happened. Tell us about things happening near you for International Conscientious Objection Day!
Email hannah@wri-irg.org
See what was happening internationally for 15 May in 2013 here: http://www.wri-irg.org/COsDay2013