Notes from the WRI office

From the Office / WRI Event

16 Feb 2010
English

Internationals blockading AWE AldermastonInternationals blockading AWE AldermastonUp to eight hundred anti-nuclear campaigners from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and a number of other countries joined a blockade of the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) at Aldermaston in Berkshire from just before 7am in the morning. Every gate was closed by blockaders in the course of the morning. Twenty-six arrests were reported, on suspicion of criminal trespass (for entering the site) and highway obstruction.

15 Feb 2010
English

International Conference, Ahmedabad, India, 22 - 25 of January 2010

There is an inescapable link between the globalisation-induced displacement, dis-employment and dispossession that are results of internal wars and ravage local, traditional and indigenous natural-resource based communities everywhere. There is a linkage between these and the monstrous international wars - whether they are fought in Afghanistan, Iraq, Congo or Somalia. The biggest challenge therefore is to build alliances that are local and global at the same time, and those that not only resist injustice but also present alternatives.

Medha Patkar

08 Feb 2010
English

Campaigners plan to shut down nuclear bomb factory as they call for disarmament of Trident and abolition of nuclear weapons

The Right to Refuse to Kill

01 Mar 2010
English

Housmans Bookshop, 7pm


On 23 April, War Resisters' International will launch its new publication "Women and Conscientious Objection" at Housmans Bookshop in London. The editors and some of the contributors will be present.

01 Mar 2010
English

Refusing militarism is not possible without refusing hegemonic masculinity

  • Andreas Speck, War Resisters' International

Questioning the militarist value system and its practices which are identified with military service, one is also obliged to question the hegemonic understanding of masculinity. In Turkey, military service is a laboratory in which masculinity is reproduced. The patriarchal system is solidified through military service.

17 Feb 2010
English

The Eskişehir Military Court imposed a one-month disciplinary punishment on Turkish conscientious objector Enver Aydemir because of his refusal to wear prison clothes and disobeying of orders, Bianet reported on 11 February 2010. For one month Enver Aydemir is not allowed to see anybody else but his lawyer.

17 Feb 2010
English

Joint Public Statement by European Bureau for Conscientious Objection, War Resisters' International, Amnesty International Greek Section

10 Feb 2010
English

On Tuesday, 9 February 2010, German total objector Fabian Schulz had to face trial a third time for his refusal to do substitute service.

Nonviolence

25 Feb 2010
English

Do people have a right to voice their concerns? Can people peacefully speak out against something they consider as injustice? It would seem not if you go by the recent action of Gujarat state and Police.

That Gujarat has one of the worst Human Rights track records in the country is no secret. That it is only hell bent on worsening it, if recent developments are to be believed, is new.

23 Feb 2010
English

The surveillance camera is a tool, which has recently emerged as one of the most reliable and indispensable tools for ensuring the security of many businesses. It is in a great demand than ever. Now, every businessman relies heavily on the great job done by such security cameras. The popularity of the surveillance camera can be imagined with the fact that other than finding their place in leading business house, these cameras are now being operated in multiple residential complexes.

18 Feb 2010
English

Welcome to the first issue of 2010. Here at the WRI office we have been busy these first two months of 2010. During the last two weeks of January, WRI held its International Conference in Ahmedabad, India. In this issue we report on some of the sessions which were related to the topic of war profiteering. The conference was an important opportunity for campaigners and researchers on the issue of war profiteers to meet and make connection beyond particular regions and areas of work.

18 Feb 2010
English

According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration of South Korea[1], the total turnover of arms exports by South Korea exceeded 1 billion dollars in 2008. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration of Korea plans to raise this figure to 1.5 billion dollars by 2015, expecting to become one of the world's top ten arms exporting countries by 2012. The alleged arguement that South Korea should deter the North from provoking a war works as an excuse for spending huge amounts of money on the arms industry.

17 Feb 2010
English

The apartheid government relied heavily on conscription to perpetuate its power in the region as well as to suppress the majority of South Africans.

Conscientious objection increased in the 1980s and found popular support in the End Conscription Campaign. The ever-increasing number of young white men refusing to serve in the apartheid army or just not turning up for duty, was a contributing factor to demise of the apartheid state. In 1993, with the first democratic election in sight, the ECC disbanded.

17 Feb 2010
English

Elbit Systems is one of the world's largest defence electronics manufacturers and integrators. Established in 1967, and based in Haifa, Israel, Elbit employs 11,000 people worldwide. It supplies the military, navy and air force in the occupation of Palestine, and has profited greatly from Israel's numerous attacks and assaults on the Palestinian and Lebanese people.

05 Feb 2010
English

Andrew Rigby's 1991 book, Living the Intifada (Zed, 1991) is now online at http://civilresistance.info/rigby1991. At the time he wrote this, Andrew was convener of the WRI Middle East Working Group. This is a full-length study of the first intifada, including useful discussion on the issues of violence and nonviolence.