Pax Christi supports campaign to keep military out of education

Should the armed forces by given access to children within education? How can we challenge their activities in schools and colleges? How can a more balanced view of what life in the armed forces involves be given to young people?

The Government is suggesting the expansion of cadet forces within state schools to encourage the military 'spirit' and that ex-soldiers mentor youngsters in schools.

While there are claims that school involvement is not about recruiting young people, the Ministry of Defence has itself stated that visits to educational establishments are a "powerful tool for facilitating recruitment".

Pax Christi is supporting a series of meetings organised by Forces Watch to discuss this issue with US speaker, Oskar Castro, David Gee, Ben Griffin, School Students Against the War and others.

Oskar Castro is currently the Director of the US organisation, Military Families Speak Out. Previously he was the Coordinator of the American Friends Service Committee's Youth and Militarism Program, which seeks to reduce the influence of the military in schools, to provide young people with alternatives to military service and to empower them to become peacemakers within their communities.

David Gee is the author of Informed Choice: Armed forces recruitment practice in the UK. Ben Griffin, ex SAS, left the UK armed forces in 2005. He is the patron of ForcesWatch.

Keep the military out of school meetings

Saturday 9 July 2011, 7pm
London: Housmans Bookshop. 5 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DY
With Oskar Castro, Ben Griffin and others

Tuesday 12 July 2011, 7pm
Coventry: Peace House, 311 Stoney Stanton Road, CV6 5DS

Wednesday 13 July 2011, 7pm
London: Friends House, Euston Road, NW1 2BJ
A workshop for those wanting to get more involved

The event is support by: Quaker Peace and Social Witness and Pax Christi.


For more information see: www.forceswatch.net/news/events-july-2011-challenging-military-presence-schools-and-colleges

and www.paxchristi.org.uk