resistance

Thu

Sep

2014

Pot-banging protests set the background music to a military parade

New translation available

Submitted by Gary

El Ciudadano

Despite the widespread police forces deployed during the military parade in the Parque O’Higgins, hundreds of people protested by banging pots near...

Tue

Jan

Asian Youth Consider Political Career Despite Barriers

Submitted by antimili-youth on Tue, 24/01/2017 - 12:28

By Peera Songkunnatham

“I have to become a politician,” said Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal, a university student well-known in Thailand for his outspoken criticism of Thai schooling. “Even though I’ve given multiple interviews saying that I didn’t want to become a politician at all; I actually hated politicians. But I’ve changed my mind.”

Running against the current of political apathy and disillusionment among youth, Chotiphatphaisal is part of a new wave of youth in Asia considering running for public office to effect change. These young people articulate a willingness to engage in formal politics, but also a need to reform the political system from within.

But first they must overcome the many social and legal barriers in their countries, restrictions on participation that are often rooted in age, gender, and ethnic discrimination.

Mon

Dec

Thailand: Interview with the conscientious objector Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal

Submitted by antimili-youth on Mon, 19/12/2016 - 14:22

During a War Resisters' International trip to Thailand last month we met Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal, a conscientious objector. Here's a short interview by WRI staff member Hannah Brock, talking with Netiwit about conscription and the role of the army in Thailand.

Make sure 'CC' is on if you want subtitles (in English).

Thailand: Interview with the conscientious objector Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal

Mon

Nov

This week is the International Week of Action Against the Militarisation of Youth

Submitted by antimili-youth on Mon, 14/11/2016 - 10:02

This week is the International Week of Action Against the Militarisation of Youth (14-20 November). There are many actions and events, organised by groups from different countries, happening this week. Please see the list below.

The week is a concerted effort of antimilitarist actions across the world to raise awareness of, and challenge, the ways young people are militarised, and to give voice to alternatives.

If you cannot attend any of these events, join us this week via posting from your country on social media using the hashtag #YouthAgainstWar and/or #everydaymilitarism.

Mon

Oct

Canada: Child soldier survivor creates foundation for change in Sierra Leone

Submitted by antimili-youth on Mon, 24/10/2016 - 16:56

CBC News

Fazineh Keita trying to build a community centre to help prevent kids from facing the same reality he did.

At eight years old, kids are usually thinking about what mom is making for dinner and how long they can get away with playing video games.

Fazineh Keita's reality was much different growing up during the civil war in Sierra Leone.

Now living in Vancouver, Keita is reflecting on his past while trying to change the future for children in his native land.

His charity, Innocence Lost Foundation, aims to help provide resources and rehabilitation services to former child soldiers and give kids a chance to be kids.

Webinar: Countering the militarisation of youth: examples of resistance

Sat

Oct

Video: 'How Can you Tell If You're Becoming Militarized? Doing a Feminist Audit' By Professor Cynthia Enloe

Submitted by antimili-youth on Sat, 08/10/2016 - 09:59

In this public lecture at the University of Westminster (London), world renowned feminist scholar Professor Cynthia Enloe explores the militarisation of our everyday lives and how this socio-political process is gendered.

Cynthia Enloe is Research Professor in the Department of International Development, Community, and Environment at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Video: 'How Can you Tell If You're Becoming Militarized? Doing a Feminist Audit' By Professor Cynthia Enloe

Sat

Aug

Call for Articles: Examples of Youth Militarisation in Different Countries/Regions

Submitted by antimili-youth on Sat, 27/08/2016 - 12:22

War Resisters' International is organising the third International Week of Action Against the Militarisation of Youth this year. The week is going to take place between November 14-20 with the participation of groups and individuals from different countries. See our call out here.

Alongside events and actions, this year we are also planning to share examples of youth militarisation, and resistance to it, from different countries via a series of articles. The articles will be published on our website www.antimili-youth.net. If you'd like to write to us about your country and/or community please contact us via cmoy@wri-irg.org.

Mon

Aug

Don't Join the Army

‘Don’t Join the Army’ is a project of Veterans For Peace UK. It is a response to the Army’s consistently misleading and exploitative recruitment campaigns aimed at young people.

Thu

Jul

Rejecting Militarization

Submitted by hannah on Thu, 28/07/2016 - 09:49

Colombia is the only South American nation with an ongoing internal armed conflict where military service is obligatory, requiring all 18-year-old young men to serve for 1 to 2 years - with no option of an alternative civil service. The Collective Action of Conscientious Objectors (ACOOC) is committed to nonviolence and they educate and defend the rights of youth who object to serving in the military. ACOOC works towards demilitarization of society by using creative means such as films and street theatre to highlight the degree of militarization in Colombian society.

Rejecting Militarization

Fri

Jul

Conscientious objection declaration: Thailand's first CO

Submitted by hannah on Fri, 08/07/2016 - 12:10

We're supporting Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal, ‪‎Thailand‬'s first conscientious objector. He'll be appearing in the next edition of The Broken Rifle [subscribe here: http://lists.wri-irg.org/sympa/subscribe/wri-info]

Watch Netiwit's declaration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuPOtZGkyTw

Conscientious objection declaration: Thailand's first CO

Pages

Languages

Countering Military Recruitment

WRI's new booklet, Countering Military Recruitment: Learning the lessons of counter-recruitment campaigns internationally, is out now. The booklet includes examples of campaigning against youth militarisation across different countries with the contribution of grassroot activists.

You can order a paperback version here.