Britain

Fri
20
Mar
2015
New translation available
Submitted by antimili-youth

By Tracy Walker, Nottingham Post

Nottingham city centre stood to attention when shoppers were given an insight into life in the Armed forces.

Regular Army and Army reserve units from across the Midlands hosted a recruitment...

Fri
14
Nov

Why is a Christian school promoting an arms company?

The arms company BAE Systems, along with the Royal Air Force, has run a 'science roadshow' for pupils at a Christian school in central London. The school is a few minutes' walk from where I live.

The school, St Marylebone Church of England School, aims to "nurture respect for religious, moral and spiritual values" and to help pupils to "understand the interdependence of individuals, groups and nations".

BAE Systems is a multinational arms firm, selling weapons to oppressive and aggressive regimes around the globe.

Mon
10
Nov

Bloodbath at Careers fair

Shell and BAE Systems get a surprise transfusion from angry students at careers event

Did you hear about those girls who threw blood at BAE and Shell representatives in the Parkinson last week? No? Well we’ve got the video.

BAE Systems –the other recipient of an impromptu blood donation – is the world’s second-largest aerospace, defence and information security company.

Bloodbath at Careers fair
Fri
31
Oct

Women in Black vigil on youth militarisation

As part of the International Week of Action for Military-Free Education and Research, London's Women in Black group held a vigil on the theme of youth militirisation in Britain. Over 200 leaflets were handed out, with many positive responses, and a lot of people remarking that they had not known before that the British army had any presence in schools.

Download the leaflet they distributed here.

Tue
28
Oct

Bloodhound SSC: is a project inspiring students to work for the military sustainable?

This article was published as part of the International Week of Action for Military-Free Education and Research #milifreeedu

Bloodhound SSC is an engineering project that aims to break the 1000mph World Land Speed Record with a rocket-propelled car. Since starting in 2008, the project has been widely praised for its ambition and technology. However, an interview given by the project’s Senior Design Engineer  in April this year suggests that the project was only set up to address a skill shortage within the military. Besides that UWE is heavily involved to serve the military, drawing on the recently published “Arms to Renewables” report by Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), I highlight broader implications for employability and sustainability.

Wed
22
Oct

Stop recruitment of 16 year olds into the UK armed forces

We call on the UK Government to stop its policy of allowing 15 year olds to apply and 16 and 17 year olds to be recruited into the Armed Forces. The recruitment and targeting of young people and vulnerable groups has been criticised by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. 2014 is the year to end this policy.

Why is this important?

What better way to commit our country to peace during the commemoration of World War One and remember the hundreds of thousands who died from the UK alone, including boy soldiers like Rifleman V J Strudwick who was killed at 15? Why is it that in 2014 the UK is the only country in Europe - and the only country among the permanent members of the UN Security Council - to recruit 16 year olds into its armed forces?

Fri
10
Oct

Exploitation or proud tradition? Britain's child soldiers

Photo: Channel 4

Campaigners launch a new attack on the army's policy of recruiting children as young as 16. But veterans says it is a time-honoured way of offering troubled teenagers a better life. Who's right?

The campaign group Child Soldiers International has lodged a claim for judicial review into Ministry of Defence rules on young soldiers.

The group says you effectively join up for six years if you enlist before the age of 18, instead of four if you join as an adult. Its lawyers say this constitutes unlawful age discrimination and violates European law.

It is the latest in a string of attacks on way the British army treats minors in its ranks. Ultimately, Child Soldiers International and other campaigners want parliament to raise the minimum age of voluntary recruitment from 16 to 18.

Tue
30
Sep

Is there a problem with Military involvement in Education? [event in London]

From the Peace Education Network, Britain

Increased military involvement in schools is a policy championed by the current UK government. This has meant funding the development of new cadet corps, fast-track training as teachers for former soldiers, and encouraging the adoption by schools of a military ethos.

Tue
23
Sep

Militarising Communities: The Armed Forces Community Covenant

As we mark the centenary of WW1 the UK armed forces are enjoying the highest levels of public support that they have seen for decades. One result of the global 'war on terror' has been the elevation of military service, not just as an exceptional form of labour which is due particular rewards, but also as an occupation that benefits the whole society. The last few years have seen the increasing application of military values, methods and even training in civilian spheres such as education, youth work and leisure.

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