Happy International Conscientious Objector Day!
According to an e-mail I received from www.democracyinaction.org, today, Sunday, May 15, 2005, is International Conscientious Objector Day. The e-mail explains that, "Since 1985, people around the world have used this day to draw attention to the hardships faced by COs and to call for recognition of their right to freedom of conscience."
Activities in honor of the day have been shifted to Monday, May 16, so they can take place during a normal business day in Washington, DC. The National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund will join with several other organizations to launch an "I Will Not Kill" campaign. The purpose of the campaign is to "promote the right of conscientious objection, oppose any future draft, and educate youth about these issues. We seek to ensure that everyone has the right not to participate in war, whether physically or financially."
The people involved in these activities feel that they are contributing to war and killing just by paying their taxes. They allege that 42 cents out of every tax dollar they pay goes to the military. They feel this is wrong, that they are doing something unconscionable just by paying their taxes. Some of them refuse to pay taxes and suffer serious consequences, having their belongings confiscated and wages garnished.
The short-term solution is to create a special fund into which conscientious objectors can pay their taxes. None of these taxes would go to the military. The bill they will lobby for in Washington on May 16 is called The Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Bill. The website www.peacetaxfund.org states that in the 108th Congress, 44 representatives cosponsored the legislation. The coalition supporting the bill will hold a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on Monday. Rep. John Lewis, the lead sponsor of the bill, as well as Reps. Cynthia McKinney and James Oberstar are scheduled to speak at the rally.
Activities in honor of the day have been shifted to Monday, May 16, so they can take place during a normal business day in Washington, DC. The National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund will join with several other organizations to launch an "I Will Not Kill" campaign. The purpose of the campaign is to "promote the right of conscientious objection, oppose any future draft, and educate youth about these issues. We seek to ensure that everyone has the right not to participate in war, whether physically or financially."
The people involved in these activities feel that they are contributing to war and killing just by paying their taxes. They allege that 42 cents out of every tax dollar they pay goes to the military. They feel this is wrong, that they are doing something unconscionable just by paying their taxes. Some of them refuse to pay taxes and suffer serious consequences, having their belongings confiscated and wages garnished.
The short-term solution is to create a special fund into which conscientious objectors can pay their taxes. None of these taxes would go to the military. The bill they will lobby for in Washington on May 16 is called The Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Bill. The website www.peacetaxfund.org states that in the 108th Congress, 44 representatives cosponsored the legislation. The coalition supporting the bill will hold a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on Monday. Rep. John Lewis, the lead sponsor of the bill, as well as Reps. Cynthia McKinney and James Oberstar are scheduled to speak at the rally.
posted by Theodosia @ 1:59 PM
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