All articles

Sat

Dec

2024

“You Can’t Buy Paradise with Blood”

Submitted by Gary

Tue

Apr

Military industrial complex: British Army teams up with big business to swell ranks

Submitted by antimili-youth on Tue, 05/04/2016 - 15:40

Russia Today

With recruitment in crisis, the British Army is teaming up with private firms to encourage their workers to join the Armed Forces’ “woefully undermanned” reserves.

The army now has a group of officers at its Hampshire HQ who are dedicated “accounts managers,” building relationships between business and the military, according to reports.

The initiative is led by reservist Major General John Crackett. He told the Financial Times on Tuesday his corporate background has prepared him for the role.

“I’m a businessman more than I’m an army officer,” he said, claiming he is well placed to interpret what businesses want.

He said the military must get better at marketing itself by focusing on what it could offer employers.

Sun

Apr

Military recruiting in public schools can be disruptive

Submitted by Gary on Sun, 03/04/2016 - 21:16

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 11: Members of the U.S. Navy march with the American Flag in the the nation's largest Veterans Day Parade in New York City on November 11, 2015 in New York City. Known as "America's Parade" it features over 20,000 participants, including veterans of numerous eras, military units, businesses and high school bands and civic and youth groups. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (Credit: Getty Images / Spencer Platt)

By J.B. McGeever

The local Army recruiter is at my classroom door, and I wish he’d stop doing this. He needs to speak to a student in my English class at Jamaica High School.

When I explain that there are designated areas for him to speak with potential recruits, he apologizes. In fact, his etiquette is always spit-shined and gleaming, like something he’s learned at a seminar. He shows me his visitor’s pass, smoothed against a lapel, and apologizes once more. Never again, he says. It’s just that this time it’s important. Could he please have a word with Ernesto?

I like to believe I have the final say on these matters, but Ernesto is already out of his seat and calling the man “sir.” His slouch has been corrected and a hand keeps his jeans from dropping below the waist. They shake hands and a heartbreaking glow washes over his face. I shut the door while they confer in the hallway.

Wed

Mar

Military propaganda on children's radio

Submitted by hannah on Wed, 23/03/2016 - 17:52

Last year, British children's radio station Fun Kids Radio broadcast a series called 'Life in the Armed Forces', which is little more than military propaganda. This is the first video in the series. They have 350,000 listeners in the UK.

Military propaganda on children's radio

Mon

Mar

Liverpool students take on arms companies

Submitted by hannah on Mon, 21/03/2016 - 14:22

by Rachel Melly

Last week two of the world’s largest arms companies gave a talk at the University of Liverpool.

About 50% of Thales’s business is in arms, including mortar systems, rocket systems for helicopters, precision-guided munitions, military vehicles, missiles, and small arms and ammunition. They sells arms to many oppressive regimes, including Bahrain, China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and UAE, and collaborate with Israeli arms company Elbit to develop drones.

Rolls-Royce manufacture 25% of all military jet engines globally, that are used by 160 different armed forces, in 103 different countries. They also manufacture nuclear reactors for Trident submarines. Their arms customers include Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey

Fri

Mar

Scottish Parliament petition: More scrutiny, guidance & consultation on armed forces visits to Scottish schools

Submitted by hannah on Fri, 18/03/2016 - 10:37

27/01/2016

ForcesWatch and Quakers in Scotland have submitted a petition to the Scottish Parliament that calls on the Scottish Government to ensure greater scrutiny, guidance, and consultation with parents/guardians on armed forces visits to schools in Scotland, in order to provide transparency and balance, and in recognition of the unique nature of armed forces careers.

If you get an error message when signing the petition, please email petitions@scottish.parliament.uk with your name and you will be added in.

English translation unavailable for .

Tue

Mar

Campaign launched to reform “disproportionate” military visits to Scottish schools

Submitted by antimili-youth on Tue, 08/03/2016 - 15:13

By Michael Gray, CommonSpace

Forces Watch, a military reform group, and the Quakers faith group have launched a petition to the Scottish Parliament in favour of increased transparency and scrutiny of armed forces visits to schools.

Previous military data revealed a “disproportionate” 1783 visits to 377 Scottish education institutions across a two year period, with at least a third of visits concerning careers advice.

Mon

Mar

Chicago Veterans Launch 'Education Not Militarization' Campaign

Submitted by hannah on Mon, 07/03/2016 - 16:25

The Chicago chapter of Veterans for Peace is rolling out a billboard campaign Monday aimed at sparking a conversation about "the epidemic of militarization" in the city's schools..

The billboard campaign is also meant to "dispel the myth that militarization is about 'leadership' and 'patriotism,'" the group said in a statement.

Messages such as "Veterans Say - Military Out of CPS" and "Veterans Say - Education Not Militarization" will appear in rotating advertising displays of 38 digital billboards across Chicago neighborhoods through May, according to the Chicago VFP. The billboard messages will include the web address NoMilitary.org, which includes more information on the group's "Education Not Militarization" initiative.

According to the group, some 10,000 CPS students receive military training.

Thu

Mar

The All-seeing Eye: The Police Teaching in Schools

Submitted by hannah on Thu, 03/03/2016 - 11:26

By Burgos Online

The article, “El ojo que todo lo ve” or “The All-seeing Eye” by Burgos Online paints a picture, but not for the purpose of artistic beauty, but rather to allow everyone to personally reflect on the times we are living in. The police are educating children, but they are not exactly teaching them about civil and peaceful coexistence based on dialogue and respect.

So what are the police doing in schools with weapons? Is it some sort of LOMCE (Organic Law on the Improvement of the Quality of Education) extracurricular activity?

It must be recognised that the police have run some good school campaigns, particularly those addressing crime prevention (although it is clear that members of the Tortuga Anti-Military Group do not share this opinion). Yet, this picture is disturbing.

Thu

Mar

Young and Desperate? I want you to fight my wars!

Submitted by hannah on Thu, 03/03/2016 - 10:13

“Don’t join the Army.”

“Don’t do what? Don’t leave here? Don’t learn new skills?”

These are the words from the new recruitment advert from the British Army to recruit new members to its ranks. It depicts a conversation between two young people as they discuss their future prospects.

These conversations are not fictional or uncommon in Cameron’s Britain. I myself have talked friends out of joining the armed forces. With unemployment rife despite some improvements, many young people, especially those in working class communities like mine, have an uncertain future.

And with an uncertain future and minimal opportunities for young people comes poverty and desperation. Any prospect of leaving ‘here’ can seem appealing. It is these feelings that the MOD has often preyed on and sought to exploit.

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.