War Resisters' Stories

A new book from WRI has been published this week. Written by and for activists all over the world who are campaigning against war, militarism, and all kinds of injustice. Conscientious Objection: A Practical Companion for Movements is full of ideas to help groups work together, deal with power dynamics, surmount the external challenges they face, and enhance the concept of conscientious objection. Thank you to the many people who contributed to our crowdfunder, which made this book possible. Translations into Thai and Spanish are already planned. If you would like to translate the book into your own language, please write to hannah@wri-irg.org

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An international Week of Action Against the Militarisation of Youth will be held for the second time between 14-20 November this year. Many activists from all around the world will take part in the week through their own autonomous actions and events from their own countries and cities. Examples include activists protesting against army recruitment at a job fair in Frankfurt and rallying against military campaigning for the young in Mainz (Germany); online campaigns in Finland and Catalonia; anti-recruitment workshops and performances in the USA; as well as a radio show dedicated to youth demilitarisation in Guam. There's still time to plan your own actions! Join us this November and stand against the militarisation of youth with many others all around the world. Your voice, your nonviolent actions and events will contribute to our growing international movement! Contact us via cmoy@wri-irg.org or www.facebook.com/antimiliyouth for further information.

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On Friday 16th October, a group of Antimilitaristes-moc activists blockaded tanks destined for usage in the Trident Juncture military exercises (war games). Two activists unveiled banners with the words “War Stops Here” and “Sorry for the inconvenience: obstructing war preparations”, four more activists rapidly chained themselves with lock-on tubes to the tracks of two Danish Leopard tanks parked due to be transported to the main manoeuvre site of San Gregorio (Zaragoza). Six people were arrested and released later with charges.

This weekend activists from across Europe will be protesting the Trident Juncture NATO exercises. Follow #WarStartshere #OTAN #TJ15 on social media for news.

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In 2012, 7 activists entered the SHAPE military base where NATO makes strategic nuclear weapon decisions. The group called themselves 'the bombspotters', and they took their act of civil disobedience to denounce the presence of nuclear weapons on Belgian soil as part of the NATO Game Over/Bombspotting campaign. They were arrested, and three and a half years later have been put on trial. The seven appeared in court on October 26thand are now awaiting the verdict of their trial. It is possible to send an email in support from this website: https://bomspotters.wordpress.com/nous-soutenir/

Hosted by our Korean affiliate World Without War, this month in Seoul WRI held our Council meeting and co-hosted an international seminar 'Stopping the War Business'. Presentations from the seminar will be posted online (watch the first - Andrew Feinstein giving and introduction to the arms trade - here), and a special edition of War Profiteers News will follow. After the seminar, we took action against the ADEX arms fair, disrupting the arms dealers' welcome dinner. At the Council meeting, four new organisations were accepted into membership of WRI as associates. See photos here.

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