Conscientious Objectors/ Gwrthwynebwyr Cydwybodol
Posted on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 12:07pm
3 responses
AN EVENT TO MARK INTERNATIONAL CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS’ DAY AND THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO KILL
12 noon to 2.00 p.m., Friday 15 May 2009
Welsh Centre for International Affairs
Temple of Peace, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3AP
Speakers:
Bruce Kent, Movement for the Abolition of War
Robin Brookes, Peace Tax Seven
Frankie Armstrong, singer
George Crabb, CND Cymru (reading declarations by Israeli ‘Refuseniks’)
Chaired by:
Bethan Jenkins AM, National Assembly for Wales
There will also be the laying of a wreath at the Conscientious Objectors’ stone in the National Garden of Peace, beside the Temple.
Organised by Cynefin y Werin, the All Wales network promoting international peace, social justice, human rights and equality.
The event will mark in Wales the world-wide commemoration of International Conscientious Objectors’ Day and those who have and continue to strive for the right not to kill, or pay for the killing of others. Attendance is open to everyone and is free of charge.
A Statement of Opinion on recognition of International Conscientious Objectors’ Day has been put before the National Assembly for Wales. An e-petition on the same issue will be opened for signing by the public on the National Assembly’s web-site in the near future.
For further information, contact:
Jill Gough on Heddwch@cndcymru.org or George Crabb on georgecrabb@ybontfaen.freeserve.co.uk or Stephen Thomas on stephenthomas@wcia.org.uk
If you intend to attend the event, RSVP to Sue Coles at the Welsh Centre for International Affairs on 029 2022 8549 or suecoles@wcia.org.uk.
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DIGWYDDIAD I NODI DIWRNOD RHYNGWLADOL GWRTHWYNEBWYR CYDWYBODOL A’R HAWL I WRTHOD LLADD
Canol Dydd i 2.00 y.p., Dydd Gwener 15 Mai 2009
Canolfan Materion Rhyngwladol Cymru
Y Deml Heddwch, Parc Cathays, Caerdydd CF10 3AP
Siaradwyr:
Bruce Kent, Mudiad i Wahardd Rhyfel
Robin Brookes, Ymgyrch y 7 Heddychwr Treth
Frankie Armstrong, canwraig
George Crabb, CND Cymru (yn darllen datganiadau gan ‘Refuseniks’ o Israel)
I’w gadeirio gan:
Bethan Jenkins AC, Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru
Bydd yna hefyd gosod torch wrth y gofeb i Wrthwynebwyr Cydwybodol yn yr Ardd Heddwch Cenedlaethol, ger y Deml.
Trefnir gan Gynefin y Werin, y rhwydwaith Cymreig sy’n hyrwyddo heddwch rhyngwladol, cyfiawnder cymdeithasol, hawliau dynol a chydraddoldeb.
Bydd y digwyddiad yn nodi yng Nghymru y dathliad byd-eang o Ddiwrnod Rhyngwladol Gwrthwynebwyr Cydwybodol a’r sawl sydd wedi ac yn dal i ymdrechu dros yr hawl i wrthod lladd, ac i beidio talu am ladd eraill. Mae mynediad am ddim ac y mae croeso i bawb.
Mae Datganiad o Farn am nodi Diwrnod Rhyngwladol Gwrthwynebwyr Cydwybodol wedi ei gosod ger bron Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru. Bydd e-ddeiseb ar yr un pwnc yn cael ei agor ar gyfer ei lofnodi gan y cyhoedd ar wefan y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol yn y dyfodol agos.
Am fwy o wybodaeth cysylltwch â:
Jill Gough ar Heddwch@cndcymru.org neu George Crabb ar georgecrabb@ybontfaen.freeserve.co.uk neu Stephen Thomas ar stephenthomas@wcia.org.uk
I gadarnhau y byddwch yn mynychu’r digwyddiad, a wnewch chi roi gwybod i Sue Coles yn Ganolfan Materion Rhyngwladol Cymru ar 029 2022 8549 neu suecoles@wcia.org.uk.
I notice that you hate racism, wouldn’t you classify WWII as a just war, with the defeat of fascism and racism? If we had all been conscientious objectors then fascism would not have been defeated, with genocide taking place all over the world.
You are right – facism and any racism must be prevented.
Had we all been conscientious objectors we might have paid more heed to human rights and justice between the 1st and 2nd World Wars. Our politicians in the 30s were more concerned with providing a buffer against soviet communism than fighting facism in mainland Europe.
It also pays to remember that the banks and arms companies were keen to see WWI prolonged because they were making such good profits.
We have to consider how much we would send our children and grandchildren happily to war at the say so of our elected representatives – buoyed up by multinational arms companies and the greedy. How much do we trust our politicians and their friends?
Besides that – war today is an environmental disaster – we must promote alternatives to violence at every turn – there’s no choice, patriots or not.
One other thing – CO Day is to remember all COs everywhere – many – as in Israel are conscripts.
In a perfect world there would be no need for wars. Unfortunately, the world and human nature are not perfect, so defence forces are necessary.
If we had not fought WW2, or capitulated in 1940 as many politicians wanted to,then even greater mass genocide than what occurred would have resulted.No sane person likes war,but there is sometimes a just war.If there had been no WW2 would there be any of the so called untermensch alive today-perhaps even the Celts?