War Resisters' Stories

In October 2015 War Resisters' International and our South Korean affiliate World Without War will host an international seminar against war profiteering. This seminar will provide a space for activists using a whole range of different methods to gather together, learn how a spectrum of tactics interlink and help each other to be more effective. The seminar will coincide with a WRI council meeting, and will be followed by a nonviolent direct action against the ADEX arms fair, which will take place in Seoul and is the largest arms fair in the Asia region. For more information and the registration form, visit: /stopping-the-war-business

WRI have released a statement in support of human rights defenders in Venezuela. The statement calls for human rights organisations in Venezuela, including PROVEA and Espacio Públic, two organisations who staff have recently been put at risk by government officials, and encourages those in sympathy with to use Amnesty International's Urgent Action alert to lobby government officals, which you can find here in English, here in German and here in Spanish.

Read more...

This beautiful, working watch belonged to Herbert Runham Brown (1879-1949), one of the founders of WRI. It has been kindly donated to WRI for auction by WRI member and former staff person Wolfgang Zucht, in the hope that it might again be owned by someone connected with WRI who would appreciate its history, and be able to help to continue Brown's work through WRI in the process. The current highest bid is £80. If you would like to put in an offer, please write to info@wri-irg.org with the email title 'Runham Brown's watch'! We will advertise the current highest bid on this page. The auction will close at 5.00pm (London time) on 27 July 2015.

Read more...

Through May and June, WRI affiliates across Europe have been taking action against war profiteers and the military. On 26th May, 'Switzerland Without an Army' blockaded the entrance to a military facility to obstruct a sales pitch by Drones company Elbit Systems. On the same day, Belgian affiliates Vredesactie and Agir Pour La Paix occupied the offices of four government parties in protest at the plan to purchase new F-35 fighter jets. On 8th May, ten protesters in Turkey protested against the IDEF 2015 arms fair in Istanbul, despite heavy resistance from the police (you can see a video of their statement in Turkish here). A few days later, arms dealers attending the IDET arms fair in Brno, Czech Republic, were welcomed to the fair by a host of grim reapers and a banner reading "Death stalks Brno".

WRI, Amnesty International, Connection e.V. and World Without War are petitioning the South Korean Defence Minister calling upon his government to immediately and unconditionally release all conscientious objectors; recognise conscientious objection as a human right inherent to the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; make appropriate provision for conscientious objectors to military service; and to clear the criminal records and provide compensation for conscientious objectors who have been imprisoned for refusing military service in the past. You can sign it online here and download a paper version here to print out and take along to your events by Monday 16th November 16th, in order to be submitted to the Minister of National Defence on 1 December, Prisoners for Peace day.

Read more...