CO-Update

Dear readers of CO-Update.

With this CO-Update, only two weeks after the last issue, we attempt to get back to our normal schedule. Although, as can be expect after only two weeks, this is a slightly shorter CO-Update.
Our main story in Switzerland highlights a worrying mindset: if people actually make use of their right to conscientious objection in higher numbers, it needs to be restricted! A right is a right, no matter how many make use of it - be it 0.1 or 100%!

New regulations make conscientious objection more difficult and less attractive

It seems almost an annual news item. In October 2009 (see CO-Update No 51) and in February 2010 (see CO-Update No 54) we reported about discussions in the Afghan and US administrations about the introduction of conscription in Afghanistan. Now the Washington Post reported on 28 April that "Karzai considers military draft in Afghanistan instead of all-volunteer army" - so the headline of the article. According to the Washington Post:

WRI's British section, the Peace Pledge Union, reported in the latest issue of its magazine Peace Matters on the case of an unemployed who was forced by the Job Centre to take a job at the Military Preparation College in Bangor outside of which he organised a (unconnected) protest a few weeks before. The job is to get young people of 14-19 to join the military.

WRI/ofog Seminar and WRI Council meeting in Luleå, Sweden

This year's WRI Council meeting will take place from 19-21 July 2011 in Luleå, in the very north of Sweden. The Council meeting itself is part of a seminar and action camp under the title "War Starts Here", organised by WRI's new Swedish affiliate ofog. The camp and seminar will begin on 22 July, and last until 29 July.