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Sun
16
Apr

Veterans Push Back Against Military Recruitment in Schools

Image: US Department of Defense

The branches of the U.S. military have long seen high schools as optimal recruiting grounds. Some veterans are beginning to fight the propaganda and tell students the truth about military service.

Fri
09
Nov

China is recruiting its brightest high schoolers to build AI bots for the military

A group of some of China's smartest students have been recruited straight from high school to begin training as the world's youngest AI weapons scientists.

The 27 boys and four girls, all aged 18 and under, were selected for the four-year "experimental programme for intelligent weapons systems" at the Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT) from more than 5,000 candidates, the school said on its website.

The BIT is one of the country's top weapons research institutes, and the launch of the new programme is evidence of the weight it places on the development of AI technology for military use.

China is in competition with the United States and other nations in the race to develop deadly AI applications - from nuclear submarines with self-learning chips to microscopic robots that can crawl into human blood vessels.

Tue
24
Jan

Asian Youth Consider Political Career Despite Barriers

By Peera Songkunnatham

“I have to become a politician,” said Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal, a university student well-known in Thailand for his outspoken criticism of Thai schooling. “Even though I’ve given multiple interviews saying that I didn’t want to become a politician at all; I actually hated politicians. But I’ve changed my mind.”

Running against the current of political apathy and disillusionment among youth, Chotiphatphaisal is part of a new wave of youth in Asia considering running for public office to effect change. These young people articulate a willingness to engage in formal politics, but also a need to reform the political system from within.

But first they must overcome the many social and legal barriers in their countries, restrictions on participation that are often rooted in age, gender, and ethnic discrimination.

Mon
19
Dec

Thailand: Interview with the conscientious objector Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal

During a War Resisters' International trip to Thailand last month we met Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal, a conscientious objector. Here's a short interview by WRI staff member Hannah Brock, talking with Netiwit about conscription and the role of the army in Thailand.

Make sure 'CC' is on if you want subtitles (in English).

Thailand: Interview with the conscientious objector Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal
Tue
01
Nov

South Korea: Activists Protesting Against Arms Expo

Activists in South Korea organised a direct action against the arms expo "DX Korea" sponsored by the Republic of Korea Army(ROKA).

DX Korea, organised for the second time this year, is similar to "Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (Seoul ADEX)" but smaller in size. The Expo included an academic seminar as well as demonstration of actual military equipment that ROKA mainly used. 

 

South Korea: Activists Protesting Against Arms Expo
Fri
08
Jul

Conscientious objection declaration: Thailand's first CO

We're supporting Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal, ‪‎Thailand‬'s first conscientious objector. He'll be appearing in the next edition of The Broken Rifle [subscribe here: http://lists.wri-irg.org/sympa/subscribe/wri-info]

Watch Netiwit's declaration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuPOtZGkyTw

Conscientious objection declaration: Thailand's first CO
Tue
03
May

China’s military has released a rap video in order to lure more recruits

The song’s chorus goes:

Even if a bullet passes through my chest
My mission remains carved in my heart
Brothers, let’s follow this path
[Roar! Roar! Roar! Roar!]
Roar with animal spirit
Look to the bravest general of them all
Walk from here toward the site of combat

China’s military has released a rap video in order to lure more recruits
Wed
20
Jan

Thailand: Kids play with army weaponry on Children's Day

January 9 is celebrated as Children's Day in Thailand. Here is a video showing Thai Army's agenda for the day: Children playing with machine guns and other weaponry belonging to the military. According to Ruptly TV the event was held to mark Children's Day at an army base in Sanam Pao, Bangkok.  

Thailand has been governed by a military junta since the coup d'état in May 2014.

Source: RT Ruptly TV

Thailand: Kids play with army weaponry on Children's Day
Thu
04
Dec

Not Even Tajikistan's All-Powerful President Can Stop Forced Military Recruitment

 

The traditional season of forced recruitment into Tajikistan's military is well underway, despite President Emomali Rahmon ordering a stop to the practice earlier in the year. As draftees try to avoid two years in the country's underfunded, under-heated barracks, stories of violent kidnappings are just as common as they were last year

Not Even Tajikistan's All-Powerful President Can Stop Forced Military Recruitment

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