15tEvery year, 15th May marks International Conscientious Objectors day - a day to celebrate those who have and those who continue to resist war, especially by refusing to be part of military structures.

You can use the hashtag #CODay (o #díaOC en español)

Email hannah@wri-irg.org with your events and they can be added here.

Britain

Cambridge

15th May: Please join us for a Peace procession followed by readings to do with the history of Conscientious Objector Day at our stall outside Guildhalls. Assemble 1pm in front of St Mary's Church SEE MAP. Please wear white clothing if you have any for the photo opportunity. We will walk round to the front of Guildhalls where we hope to have various activities for people to join in as well as talks to learn about Conscientious Objectors Day from a world perspective.

Edinburgh

15th May: There will be a CO Day event from 4 until 5pm outside the National Gallery. Remembering Conscientious Objectors of all wars, past and present, especially those of the First World War. We will be reading the names and hear some of the stories of Conscientious objectors. The Mound, EH2 2EL.

Leeds

12th May: 1-2pm, Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery, Parkinson Court: The Experience of Resistance: Conscientious Objectors to the First World War. Book online here.

London

14th May: Meet conscientious objectors from across Europe

On Saturday 14th May, the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection are holding their annual meeting in London for the first time; join representatives of peace movements afterwards for an informal meeting at 7.30pm. It will be a chance to hear how we can support anti-conscription and conscientious objector movements today, as well as to discover how recognition of the rights of conscientious objectors in Britain in 1916 impacted campaigns in other countries.

When: Saturday 14th May, 7.30pm
Where: Friends House, London, NW1 2BJ
Free but RSVP to TimW@quaker.org.uk

15th May: Tavistock Square, London, midday. Info here.

Oxford

15th May, 12pm - 1.30pm, Commemoration event in Bonn Square. Info here.

Germany

May, 30th - June, 5th in Berlin, Rostock, Mainz, Köln. Speaking tour by Uliana Kotsaba, the wife of Ukrainian CO and prisoner Ruslan Kotsaba. Details to follow.

South Korea

14 May: bicycle parade from the  National Constitutional Court to National assembly, with the '2016 Roll the Pedal of Peace'. Organised by World Without War, Amnesty Korea, KAC (Korea Anabaptist Center, mennonite church group), and Youth Left.

More info from World Without War.

Turkey

VR-DER: 15 Mayıs’ta Amed’deyiz! – Amed’in “Garnizon Kent” Olmasına İzin Vermeyeceğiz!

Hem Amed’in demilitarizasyonuna yönelik siyasetimizi dile getirmek, hem de askıya alınan barış sürecinin önemini vurgulamak için 15 Mayıs Uluslararası Vicdani Retçiler Günü vesilesiyle yurt içinden ve yurtdışından tüm arkadaşlarımızla Amed’de buluşuyoruz.

United States of America

16th May, 11.30am: Berkeley C.O. and War Resisters’ Day

Peace Flag raising ceremony, first at Civic Center flagpole at 2180 Milvia Street, corner of Allston Way and then at the flagpole at MLK, Jr. Civic Center Park, 2151 MLK, Jr. Way (between Center Street and Allston Way, across from Old City Hall), Berkeley

Venezuela

Jueves 12 de Mayo, 9 de la mañana, Foro XX1, Centro Letonia, Caracas

Sigue #SoyCivilNoMilitar

 

 

 

 

 

Later in the month:

Britain

Huddersfield

May 22nd. 8.45am: Peace themed Meeting for Worship in the Peace Garden. Friends Meeting House.

London

May 25th, 7.30pm: COMRADES IN CONSCIENCE An evening commemorating Britain's WW1 Conscientious Objectors through drama, songs and talks. Speakers include Cyril Pearce and Lois Bibbings. Conway Hall, London, WC1R 4RL.
Tickets/info at www.conwayhall.org.uk/event/comrades-in-conscience; 0207 405 1818

Oxford

26th May, 7.30p: Panel discussion on Conscientious Objection Then & Now.  Three speakers will present the picture of conscientious objection as it was in WWI and how it is now, followed by a Q&A with the audience. New Road Baptist Church, 7:30pm. The panellists are Hannah Brock, from War Resisters International working on the “right to refuse to kill” programme; Symon Hill, a Christian pacifist campaigner and author; and Annette Bygott, local peace campaigner, painter and translator. http://www.for.org.uk/events/peacemakers16