Every year - on 1st December - War Resisters' International and its members mark Prisoners for Peace Day, when we publicise the names and stories of those imprisoned for actions for peace. Many are conscientious objectors, in jail for refusing to join the military. Others have taken nonviolent actions to disrupt preparation for war. Supporters send cards and letters in solidarity.

Nick Buxton

Para cualquier persona relacionada con el militarismo, las noticias de los ataques terroristas de Bruselas supusieron una sensación familiar de terror. Sufrimos al escuchar historias de más vidas inocentes perdidas, y sentimos aprensión al saber que los atentados predeciblemente alimenten nuevos ciclos de violencia y horror en comunidades seleccionadas tanto aquí como en el extranjero. Todo esto crea el mundo binario que tanto los neoconservadores como los terroristas buscan: una era de guerra permanente en la que toda nuestra atención y recursos son absorbidos y se ignoran las verdaderas crisis, las de la pobreza, desigualdad, desempleo, marginación social y crisis climática.

As the police violence in Ferguson, MO continues and there is a growing outcry over military weapons transfers from the Pentagon to police departments all over the US, a group of Bay Area organizations and War Resisters League are organizing a week of action and education against Urban Shield, a massive SWAT team training and weapons expo set to take place September 4-8 in Oakland, CA. According to an internal memo between the Alameda County Sheriff's office to the Board of Supervisors, Urban Shield 2014 will cost at least $1.7 million. National programs such as 1033 under the Department of Defense, and Urban Shield, under the Department of Homeland Security's Urban Area Security Initiative, are behind the militarization of US police forces.