The Broken Rifle

People's Struggles, People's Alternatives is the theme of the World Social Forum in Nairobi, a theme which certainly is of relevance to antimilitarists and pacifists. And a theme, that is also very relevant in the African context, where people struggle against neo-colonial exploitation, and against war and violence.

Why an antimilitarist perspective is important for all social movements

Old Commitments, New Hopes

Collected by Matt Meyer

For advocates of revolutionary nonviolence - the interconnected commitment to radical social change and the strategies and tactics of unarmed "soul force" - the history and contemporary struggles throughout the continent of Africa provide rich example of great hope.

A tragedy forgotten by the global peace movement?

After decades of colonialism, dictatorship and wars, on 6 December 2006, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) swore in its first fairly and freely elected president since independence from Belgium in 1960, Joseph Kabila.

An oddity of legal principle in Ethiopia

Thousands of young men and women fled Eritrea and sought asylum in neighbouring countries like The Sudan, Libya, Ethiopia and other countries in Europe and the United States. This even increased after Eritrea's war with Ethiopia from 1998 to 2000 and the open repressive acts of the present government in Eritrea.

Since the founding of War Resisters' International in 1921, the right to refuse to kill - conscientious objection - has been at the core of WRI's work. Although this right to today recognised as an international standard, it is in practice often not granted, and those who claim their right are thrown into prison, or worse (see for example the article on Eritrea in this Broken Rifle).

One of the main pillars that supports war and militarism is economics. It is in war times when war related corporations make their big killings.

In Africa this becomes very clear, where governments that are "promoting peace" for the region at the same time are facilitating the trade of small arms and the exploitation of natural resources

The Broken Rifle is the newsletter of War Resisters' International, and is published in English, Spanish, French and German. This is issue 73, February 2007.

This issue of The Broken Rifle was produced by Andreas Speck and Javier Gárate. Special thanks go to Jan van Criekinge, Abraham G. Mehreteab, and Matt Meyer.

If you want extra copies of this issue of The Broken Rifle, please contact the WRI office, or download it from our website.

War Resisters' International,
5 Caledonian Road,
London N1 9DX, Britain
tel +44-20-7278 4040
fax+44-20-7278 0444
info@wri-irg.org