Buoyant blog of septuagenarian Kanadian poet and haikuist Chris Faiers/cricket. People's Poetry in the tradition of Milton Acorn, haiku/haibun, progressive politikal rants, engaged Buddhism and meditation, revitalizing of Callaghan's Rapids Conservation Area, memories of ZenRiver Gardens and annual Purdy Country LitFests (PurdyFests), events literary and politikal, and pics, amid swirling currents of earth magick and shamanism. Read in 119 countries last week - 12,597 readers Feb./25
In June 1969 I refused to obey three draft notices in one week for the Vietnam War and left the US forever. I was 20 years old. Apologies for the bad layout, but this is worth reading anyway.
The Reporter
For Conscience' Sake
June 2025
Hello! Welcome to the June Newsletter
Report from the Executive Director
In the first quarter of this year, we saw a significant jump in Conscientious Objector applications—more than we’ve seen in recent years. This momentum is a sign that more people are choosing the path of conscience and courage. In May, we partnered with Veterans for Peace and the Refuser Solidarity Network not only to honor International CO Day, but to expand education around what it means to be a CO—whether civilian or military. We also started work in Maryland to support the creation of recruiter abuse hotlines in schools and to bring this issue before the state assembly.
Across all of this work, one thing is clear: people are searching for alternatives to war—and finding them. The conversations are growing louder, and the community around COs is becoming stronger and more visible than ever
It Takes a Village: Honoring Courage on International Conscientious Objector Day
They say it takes a village to raise a child—but it also takes a village to stand beside someone choosing a path of peace in a world that often demands conformity and silence. The journey of a Conscientious Objector (CO) is one of profound moral courage, often made in isolation, with few guideposts. Yet, the strength and knowledge needed for that journey are out there—in mentors, allies, and those who have walked this path before. With the support of a compassionate village, that wisdom becomes accessible, and the burden becomes lighter.
This is the spirit of International Conscientious Objector Day, observed on May 15 each year. It is a day to reflect on the trials, sacrifices, and victories of those who have stood up—past and present—to say, “I will not go to war.” It’s a day to lift up the voices of COs and affirm the communities that have stood with them.
This year, the Center on Conscience & War, in collaboration with Veterans for Peace and the Refuser Solidarity Network—an organization that supports Israeli military refusers—hosted a powerful event that brought together three individuals who have each declared themselves Conscientious Objectors: Juan Bettancourt, Joy Meltzer, and Max Kresch.
Each of them shared deeply personal stories—how their CO journey began, the immense emotional and bureaucratic challenges they faced while seeking recognition within the military, and what it meant to finally receive discharge. These were not just stories of resistance, but of awakening. Of being the lone voice in a room full of silence. Of learning that peace is not passive—it is a stance, a commitment, and often, a fight of its own.
What united their stories, despite different backgrounds and experiences, was the village that surrounded them—the community of organizations and individuals who offered support, validation, and hope. They found not just resources and guidance, but a sense of belonging. A place to land when the ground beneath them felt unsteady.
That village didn’t just help them get through—it checked in on them, stood by them, and reminded them that they were not alone. On International CO Day, they gave back to that village by sharing their stories. In doing so, they helped light the path for others who may one day find themselves at the beginning of the same journey—unsure, afraid, and searching for someone who understands.
The village continues to grow. Across borders and belief systems, it reaches anyone who hears the call to conscience and chooses peace. The Center on Conscience & War, Refuser Solidarity Network, Veterans for Peace, and many others will be there to welcome those who join this growing community of moral courage.
To watch the full video of this year’s International CO Day event, visit CCW’s Facebook page. To support these organizations and stand with those who stand for peace, click the links below and learn how you can be part of the village.
To the left are the statistics from the first quarter of 2025. Each of these statistics is not just a number, but an individual who has the courage to take bold steps to follow their conscience. We stand with every one of these individuals and the many who struggle with conscience and war every day.
Blog Spot from our Friends
This comes from our friend Olga Karatch with the No to NATO organization:
Dear friends,
I’d like to share with you something critically important — and disturbingly underreported.
Across all media — whether Russian, Ukrainian, Lithuanian, or Western — one narrative dominates: weapons, deaths, casualties, and more weapons. What is rarely discussed is the growing number of Russian men who do not want to fight. These are people who are resisting war under extreme personal risk — risking prison, torture, or execution. Yet their voices are ignored.
Let me share the data:
According to independent Russian outlet “Important Stories”, at least 49,000 soldiers and officers have deserted the Russian army since the beginning of the war. This figure is based on two sources:
A list of soldiers who deserted or went AWOL from the Southern Military District between 2022 and 2024;
A database published by Ukraine's GUR "I Want to Live" project (March 2025), detailing criminal cases in Russia for desertion.
When combined, these two databases name 49,001 individuals — almost exactly matching the estimate of the Ukrainian OSINT group Frontelligence Insight, which counted 50,554 deserters as of December 2024.
And experts believe this is just the tip of the iceberg. Analyst Alexey Alshansky from the “Farewell to Arms” project states clearly: the real number of Russian deserters is much higher — these are only the ones we know by name.
Why does this matter?
Because these men represent a powerful, invisible, and peace-oriented force that has said no to war — despite brutal consequences.
Yet no state, no institution, and no European government has stepped up to help them.
At the same time, our small and underfunded network — which already works with Belarusian, Ukrainian, and Russian conscientious objectors and deserters — is overwhelmed. The real number of men refusing to take up arms is ten times higher than what appears in public databases.
And they are left in limbo — undocumented, unprotected, and unseen. They are not "visible victims" for the EU. But they are real — and the silence around them is deafening.
We need to recognize:
That resisting war is courage, not a crime.
That these men — and the women who support them — must be part of any serious peace movement.
That without building systems of solidarity and protection, their message will be drowned out by guns and propaganda.
Where is the support for those who say no to war? Yes, I know — that’s a rhetorical question, full of sarcasm. But it is also an appeal.
If we truly want peace, we must start by seeing and supporting those who choose it, even when it costs them everything.
With deep conviction and solidarity, Olga
Want to Help Someone Find the Courage to Say No to War? If you, your organization, your congregation, or your community group wants to learn how to support Conscientious Objector civilians preparing for a possible draft or understanding the current selective service laws we are here to help.
The Center on Conscience & War offers workshops and trainings that empower communities to understand and support the CO process. We can present in person or via Zoom, wherever you are.
Drafted Conscientious Objectors served their country with compassion and conviction—often in hospitals, public health, and humanitarian roles—yet their contributions remain largely unrecognized. Through the “Living Peace in a Time of War” initiative, you can help change that by placing a commemorative marker in honor of a CO in your life. These markers offer a powerful, visible tribute to those who chose peace over war, reminding us that service comes in many forms. Join us in lifting up their legacy and ensuring their courage is never forgotten.
We invite you to help us meet our mission! Here are a few ways you can help:
1: Donate! Sign up to be a recurring donor or make a one-time donation
2: Check out our website or visit us on our Facebook Page
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Today, I’d like to salute all the great dads at the helm of the G7 arriving in Kananaskis, Alberta in the next hours. I’d like to say how proud I am of the world leaders of the richest and most powerful countries – the US, Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Japan and Canada—that they continue to do whatever it takes to swerve, duck and bob around, even discussing –let alone stopping– the genocide in Gaza.
The six men and one woman leaders of the G7 remain obstinately loyal to Israel – so loyal that most have passed laws and placed restrictions on those who protest Israel’s crimes. The majority of the heads of the G7 look the other way when their own nation’s academics, lawyers and doctors are fired or arrested for daring to speak or organize demonstrations against the genocide. All members of the G7 have sent arms, weapons, ammunition, tanks, armed drones and more to Israel – despite serious objections of their citizens and human rights groups. However, at least a year ago, Canada and Japan announced they would stop shipping weapons to Israel. Indeed in Sept. 2024, Canada’s then-minister of foreign affairs, Melanie Joly, releasedan explicit promise to halt all weapons and components from being “sent to Gaza,” including those sent via the United States.
However, in late March 2025, Project Ploughshares released a report that showed at least one US firm, the General Dynamics’ plant in Quebec, had a contract to supply $78.8 million of artillery propellants to Israel, via the US. Indeed Canada’s watchdog and crown corporation, the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC), had brokered the sale.
Alert Gaza, cartoon by Safaa Odah
If any of the G7 leaders have trouble staying awake through their meetings, I’d recommend they watch the 21 minute video, The Shocking Truth about How 155 mm Artillery Shells are Made. You can see how the deadly propellants added to the shells ensure maximum destruction and death.
But gentlemen (and Ms Meloni) of the G7– and those brave souls in the Canadian media who “follow” them– how wonderful it must be to never have to worry about armed drones dropping missiles on your house, or a 2,000-pound bomb cratering your entire city block, or snipers firing at your spouse, your kids, or your parents whether at home or out shopping.
Of course Gazans have no supermarkets, no clean water and no food. The Palestinian Bureau of Statistics, as of early April 2025 reported 17,954 children had already been killed by Israel attacks in Gaza including 276 newborns and 876 infants under age one year. 60,000 children are now at “high risk of death due to severe levels of malnutrition and looming famine.”
Let’s put all that aside: I’m sure all of you are great fathers or stepfathers even. Among you seven, you are proud parents to 18 kids!
Did any of them send you a jokey email today? Or buy you a Timmie’s coffee at the Calgary airport? Or invite you to a BBQ or give you a power tool? That’s what Father’s Day is all about – and let’s not forget it.
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