15th International Conference on War Tax Resistance and Peace Tax Campaigns
It had been 6 years since there has been a full and open International Conference on War Tax Resistance and Peace Tax Campaigns. Conscience and Peace Tax International (CPTI) had held two General Assemblies in London in the interim but in 2019 Conscience hosted the 15th International Conference:
15th International Conference on War Tax Resistance and Peace Tax Campaigns
Quaker Meeting House, Edinburgh
Thursday 28th November – Sunday 1st December 2019
Theme: “Paying for Peace not Paying for War”
Article about the Conference
Monica Frisch, Treasurer of Conscience, wrote a lively and informative article about the conference:
Article on International Conference 2019
Video Diary of the Conference
Highlights from the conference can be found on our Facebook Page: https://m.facebook.com/taxesforpeacenotwar
Full Report of the Conference
Robin Brookes kindly produced a report of the 15th International Conference on War Tax Resistance and Peace Tax Campaigns we hosted in Edinburgh. Below are two versions of the report; the first is a large, printable file and the second is a lighter file for digital use.
Edinburgh International Conference Report (Printable): https://conscienceonline.org.uk/edinburgh-international-conference-report-2/
International Conference Report (Light): https://conscienceonline.org.uk/international-conferencereport-light-2/
Report on the conference by representative from the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee in the USA
Erica Leigh attended the conference as a representative from the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee (NWTRCC) in the USA. Erica wrote this report on her return: Report by Erica Leigh
In this short video Erica describes why she wanted to attend the conference: Erica at the conference
Blog about visit to Faslane nuclear weapons base
Karen Robinson, Conscience Campaign Worker wrote a blog on how the visit affected her:
Part of me still frightened and frozen inside – after standing outside Faslane nuclear weapons base
Programme
The programme included a number of notable and interesting speakers, workshops and discussions:
Thursday 28th November
16.00 We arrive and register
18.00 Supper
Welcome, housekeeping
18.45 Welcoming speech
19.30 Vijay Metha speaking on the subject: How not to go to War – Creating Ministries / Departments for Peace around the World.
21.00 Depart Edinburgh QMH
Friday 29th November
09.30 Peter Van den Dungen– Paying for Peace, peace philanthropy through history
10.30 Coffee
11.00 Country reports: UK, Germany, USA, Switzerland
12.30 UN work report by Christophe Barbey
13.00 Lunch
14.00 Workshop: Vijay Metha: Campaigns / Activism for Peace – What is my role?
15.15 Tea
15.45 Interactive Introduction to Edinburgh Peace & Justice Centre’s PeaceBuilders in Primary Schools programme
16.45 Notices
17.00 Depart Edinburgh QMH
19.00 Supper at St Columba’s Hall. Ceilidh and time to relax
Ceilidh band booked & music/performances
22.00 Depart St Columba’s Hall
Saturday 30th November
09.00 Conscience and Peace Tax International (CPTI) General Assembly
11.00 Coffee
11.30 Plenary session:
- Keeping our campaigns together in the face of Brexit, plastic pollution and Extinction Rebellion taking the media limelight
- Prospects at the UN – forming a plan to promote COMT
- CPTI – keeping the organisation and consequently our work at the UN going
13.30 Lunch
14.30 Derek Brett to speak – Conscientious Objection across the world and the World Council of Churches
15.30 Showing the film “War School” and discussion
OR Churches action in Germany
16.30 Tea
17.00 Closing remarks
17.30 Depart Edinburgh QMH
18.00 Free discussion and meals out
Sunday 1st December
09.00 Visit to the Trident submarine base at Faslane to bring solidarity to the peace camp there.
Page updated 12/07/2019