Building solidarity for Peace: Conscience takes part in international gathering on war tax resistance

On 3rd May 2025, we took part in a powerful global conversation hosted by the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee (NWTRCC), bringing together campaigners from across the UK, US, Canada, Germany, Spain and more. The panel was a rare opportunity to reflect, share strategies, and build connections between those who believe in a simple but profound principle: we should not be compelled to fund war.

Speaking on behalf of Conscience: Taxes for Peace not War, Jonathan Maunders outlined the legal and political challenges we face in the UK, where taxes are automatically deducted through employers and the right to redirect military tax contributions to peaceful purposes is not recognised in law. Jonathan spoke openly about the difficulties of advocating for peace in a political climate where military spending is celebrated, and where dissenting voices are often dismissed.

Yet he also shared how Conscience has been adapting, with a renewed focus on public engagement, awareness-raising, and education. In a time of shrinking political space, Conscience is working to reach new audiences and invite more people into the conversation — whether through our resources, campaigns, or simply by asking fundamental questions about how our taxes are used.

Learning from others around the world

The event was rich in insight. We heard from:

• Jan from Netzwerk Friedenssteuer (Germany), who described the organisation’s proposal for a civil tax law that would allow those with a conscientious objection to redirect their taxes away from military purposes. He shared the alarming scale of Germany’s growing military budget, but also the quiet strength of the peace movement and its ability to work in unity.

• Doug from Conscience Canada, who reflected on legal strategies, educational outreach, and the enduring value of resistance rooted in ethics — even in a context where most taxes are deducted automatically. He spoke with honesty about the challenges of sustaining momentum, especially among younger generations, but also of renewed energy following global events like the war in Gaza.

• Derek from Conscience and Peace Tax International, who offered a historical and legal perspective on how the right to conscientious objection has slowly been recognised in international law — though not yet extended to taxation. His long-standing work at the United Nations has opened important conversations on peace, law, and individual conscience.

• Yolanda from Spain, who described decades of grassroots activism and nonviolent resistance, including creative redirection actions and public campaigns rooted in a feminist, anti-militarist approach. Her call for collective courage and renewed international cooperation deeply resonated with everyone present.

Why this gathering mattered

This was not just a meeting — it was a milestone. The event brought together decades of experience, tactical wisdom, and legal innovation. It made space for critical conversations — about the language we use, the risks we face, and the radical imagination needed to build a world beyond war.

For Conscience, it was a vital reminder that we are not alone — and that our work in Britain is part of a global network of peace campaigners, legal thinkers, and everyday people who believe it’s wrong to be forced to pay for violence.

In a world where military budgets continue to grow while peacebuilding remains marginal, we must continue to raise the question: What if our taxes nurtured peace, rather than prepared for war?

As one speaker said:

Just one person refusing to fund war is powerful. But when we organise, we amplify the message: not in our name, not with our money.

We are grateful to NWTRCC for hosting this conversation, and to all the organisations who shared their experience, commitment, and hope. Moments like this remind us that, although the road is long, we are walking it together — with clarity, compassion, and conviction.