Friday 12 May 2006

The right to refuse to kill

This weekend will see a number of events marking International Conscientious Objectors Day, although the actual day is Monday 15th May. Read more about it at War Restisters International .

There's lots going on in the US over this period under the heading of "Operation Refuse War", WRI writing about their focus on... "the situation of and support to US war resisters: GIs applying for conscientious objector status, going AWOL, or finding other ways to get discharged from the military. War Resisters' International has joined with many US peace organisations to organise International Conscientious Objectors' Day in the USA - a series of international events under the title Operation Refuse War, culminating in an International Conference of Resisters to Global War in Washington DC from 13th-14th May 2006."

In the UK, I know there are ceremonies in Birmingham and Manchester - and presumably also in London's Tavistock Square, but details seem in short supply. The Manchester event is in the Peace Garden, St Peter's Square, from 1-2pm.