conscience: taxes for peace not war

the statement from

conscience: taxes for peace not war works for a world where taxes are used to nurture peace, not pay for war.

We campaign for a progressive increase in the amount of UK tax spent on peacebuilding, and a corresponding decrease in the amount spent on war and preparation for war. We also campaign for the legal right of those with a conscientious objection to war to have the entire military part of their taxes spent on peacebuilding.

 

A link to their webpage

 

A link to the page where you can apply for a form for registering as a CO with regards to your taxes

 

A link to the latest news

 

41 members of staff from BYM representing their personal concerns and not that of Quakers in Britain as a whole, signed the letter which requested, ‘…that the part of our taxes that is currently used for military purposes be diverted to a special fund which is used only for non-military forms of security.’

In response to their letter the staff were told, ‘… as the law stands there are no provisions for taxpayers to withhold tax on grounds of conscience, or to decide which part of Government expenditure they would like their payments to be allocated to.’

 

to read the rest follow the link above...

 

 

 

Voices of Conscience short films and discussion in Aberteifi/Cardigan

On Wednesday 26th November Cardigan Quaker meeting will be showing the films from the Voices of Conscience series followed by time to discuss the issues raised.
A warm welcome to all at Canolfan Byd Bychan/Small World Theatre, Aberteifi/Cardigan 7.30pm - there will be tea and coffee served! 
The project was initiated by South Wales [Quaker] Area Meeting - the DVDs have teachers notes and have been sent out to all schools and FE colleges in the South Wales area. teachers would be most welcome to this event to explore the ideas.

A link to Small World's information page for address and parking information

you can see the short films here in Cymraeg or English

"This new resource aims to explore a lesser-known aspect of World War I through the true stories of people who made a personal stand against war on grounds of conscience, and who looked for another way. The stories shed light on the World War I period, but are also relevant to contemporary society. They are particularly powerful because they allow ordinary people to tell their own stories, accompanied by photographs and illustrations.

This is a South Wales Area Meeting project of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). It is generously funded by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, with contributions from South Wales Area Meeting, North Wales Area Meeting, Mid Wales Area Meeting, Southern Marches Area Meeting, Meeting of Friends in Wales, The Spirit of Sulien Trust, Cynefin y Werin and many local Quaker Meetings and Quaker individuals from across Wales and beyond."


A link to UK Quakers projects looking at WWI, of particular note are The White Feather Diaries the first instalments have been posted there will be more next year

Forces Watch at Area meeting

South Wales [Quakers] Area Meeting had a bilingual afternoon workshop given by Forces Watch
There is a lot to read but well worth it is you are interested in
a. the age of recruitment to the armed forces in the UK - with parental consent you can sign up from the age of 16 - the UK is the only European that allows sign up before the age of 18
b. and/or the recruitment that goes on in schools
c. and/or "The new tide of militarisation" [this links to a Quaker publication - England & Wales do have different education policies]] in the UK - in schools and general life.


The information from Forces Watch 4 links to pdf documents:
Link to briefing overview that they gave up
Link to Military activities in UK Schools & Colleges: what are the issues & what can you do
And an overview  of conscientious objection in the UK armed forces today


Those people who signed up at 16 were more likely to die on active service in Afghanistan than those who sign up later [is this because of their youth or the actual job they end up doing in the armed forces]. Although armed service personnel are not put on the front line until they are 18 there were some notable mistakes with regard to Afghanistan.


There are several issues to think about here and you might not be in agreement with all and some may feel they wish to see the total abolition of the armed forces.


Forces Watch website
Forces Watch on Twitter
Forces Watch on Facebook

Voices of Conscience

Conscientious Objectors in WW1: South Wales [Quaker] Area Meeting have made a DVD of short films - and teachers notes that has been sent out to all schools and FE colleges in the South Wales area.

you can see the short pieces here in Cymraeg or English

"This new resource aims to explore a lesser-known aspect of World War I through the true stories of people who made a personal stand against war on grounds of conscience, and who looked for another way. The stories shed light on the World War I period, but are also relevant to contemporary society. They are particularly powerful because they allow ordinary people to tell their own stories, accompanied by photographs and illustrations.

This is a South Wales Area Meeting project of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). It is generously funded by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, with contributions from South Wales Area Meeting, North Wales Area Meeting, Mid Wales Area Meeting, Southern Marches Area Meeting, Meeting of Friends in Wales, The Spirit of Sulien Trust, Cynefin y Werin and many local Quaker Meetings and Quaker individuals from across Wales and beyond."

link to QUAKERS UK and WW1