Education for Peace
Below, you'll find a list of completed factsheets, each accompanied by a link to the relevant infographic. These resources are designed to provide in-depth insights into conscientious objection to military service, conscientious objection to military taxation, and non-military security. Dive into the knowledge and empower yourself with information that makes a difference.
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/What's the Education for Peace programme?
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We have developed the Education For Peace programme, to complement and inform our campaigning work.
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This programme is aimed at adults, members of the public and potential supporters. It presents basic information around conscientious objection to military taxation, and related issues, in a clear, simple way.​
​​We are producing a series of factsheets, with topics including different aspects of conscientious objection to military service, conscientious objection to military taxation, and non-military security.​
1a. An introduction to conscientious objection
This factsheet explores the history and ongoing relevance of conscientious objection to military service and taxation, highlighting key examples from World War I to present-day conflicts.
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There are two videos introducing the topic of conscientious objection. Symon Hill from the Peace Pledge Union gave an insightful talk about conscientious objection. Watch the videos below:​
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Related resources
1b. An introduction to COMT
This factsheet explains the moral and ethical grounds for objecting to military taxation, highlighting the efforts of Peace Tax campaigners and the history of war tax resistance.
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2. Conscientious Objection during the WW1
This factsheet details the emergence of conscientious objection in the UK during World War I, exploring the legal challenges, personal stories, and societal hostility faced by those who refused military service on moral and ethical grounds.
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Below, there are four videos covering different aspects of Conscientious Objection during the First World War:​
3. Conscientious Objection during WW11
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This factsheet examines the experiences of conscientious objectors during World War II, detailing the conscription laws, tribunal processes, and the challenges faced by those who resisted military service on moral or ethical grounds.
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There are videos of 2 speakers below, covering different aspects of Conscientious Objection during the Second World War.​
Conscientious Objection during the Second World War by Ann Kramer, Historian and Writer
My experiences as a Conscientious Objector during the Second World War by Donald Saunders, CO
4. Conscientious Objection today
This factsheet reviews global conscription practices and highlights the varying recognition and experiences of conscientious objection across different countries.
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Videos:
We produced three videos on present-day conscientious objection to conscription in different countries. See below:
War Resisters’ International: An overview of its work on conscientious objection and supporting conscientious objectors by Natalia García Cortés
Conscription and Conscientious Objection in Cyprus by Gina Chappa
Conscientious Objection in the northern part of Cyprus by Murat Kanatli
We conducted research on the situation facing present-day conscientious objectors to conscription in different parts of the world and has compiled the following detailed information tables.
For each country in each continent the information tables indicate whether it has compulsory military service, whether conscientious objection is recognised, the challenges facing conscientious objectors in that country, and links to information sources.
5. Military Spending in the UK
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​This factsheet examines the complexity of UK military spending, comparing it with other areas of national expenditure and with military budgets of other countries.
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Conscience is one of the supporting organisations of the Global Campaign On Military Spending-UK (GCOMS-UK).
Below, you can find a link of a webinar that was arranged by the UK Steering Group for the Global Campaign on Military Spending.
6. Why do people become COs?
This factsheet explores the various moral, ethical, religious, and political reasons why individuals refuse to pay taxes that fund military activities, advocating instead for nonviolent conflict resolution.
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Here, you can watch the video "My father’s experiences as a conscientious objector during the First World War" by Donald Saunders, CO
7. How do people resist paying for war?
​This factsheet explores the various methods people use to resist paying taxes that fund military activities, including withholding taxes, redirecting funds, noncooperation, and adopting simple living.
8. History of COMT in the UK?
​This factsheet outlines the historical and ongoing efforts in the UK to secure the right to conscientiously object to military taxation, from medieval times to modern-day legal and parliamentary campaigns.
9. History of COMT outside the UK?
​This factsheet explores the global history of conscientious objection to military taxation, highlighting key examples of resistance from the 16th century to the present.