August 18th, 19th, and 20th I had the great pleasure of getting to know the amazing Juanita Nelson through the stories of those who knew her and her partner, Wally. The gathering at Woolman Hill in Deerfield, Massachusetts organized by the Nelson Legacy Project which celebrated her 100th birthday anniversary was incredibly inspiring and eye… Continue reading
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WRL Pie Chart for World War I?
[Editor’s Note: Ed Hedemann created this post for a portion of NWTRCC’s website in 2015 that no longer exists. With it being the 100th anniversary of War Resisters League this year, it seemed appropriate to re-post it.] Had the War Resisters League been founded a few years earlier than 1923 and was producing its annual… Continue reading
Legacy of Witness: MennoCon 23
When the largest denomination of Mennonites in the U.S. met in Kansas City for MennoCon 19, H.A. Penner, along with other Mennonite war tax resisters, had put together a proposal that the Mennonite Church U.S.A. renew its Church Peace Tax Fund. The historical peace church had previously established a war tax alternative fund in the… Continue reading
Positive Responses to WTR
This string came off the war tax resistance listserve, which you can sign up for here. Ask questions, start a discussion topic, like Angie did, or ask for feedback about an issue related to war tax resistance. Angie got it started: I’m starting this thread to see if anyone has any stories they’d like to… Continue reading
Reflections on Antimilitarist Roots: War Resisters League International June 2023 Conference
After attending this year’s War Resisters’ International conference (the first since the pandemic for this international cohort of which the US’s War Resisters League is a member) I’ve been asked by friends in the peace movement “What did you learn? What were your takeaways?” And even now as I put these words down I don’t… Continue reading
Check It Out!
One of the participants at MennoCon23 (a Mennonite Conference) panel discussing war tax resistance said “Check out NWTRCC’s webpage, it is a comprehensive resource for war tax resistance.” One of the easiest ways to navigate the site is through the search bar. Many of the resources that we bring to tables like we did at… Continue reading
Fire and Ice Part I
Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice. – Robert Frost In… Continue reading
A Raffle as a way to Celebrate & Support NWTRCC!!!
Supporting war tax resistance can be fun… or at least that is the hope with NWTRCC’s 2nd Annual Raffle. Thanks to the Fundraising Committee for organizing it! I am also very thankful to all those folks in our network who donated something for the raffle. Our top prize is a 2-night stay in a cabin… Continue reading
Everyday Nonviolence
“Activating Everyday Nonviolence: Juanita Nelson’s 100th Birthday Celebration and Gathering” is coming up August 17–20 in Western Massachusetts. Although Juanita died in 2015, fellow activists and friends (many associated with Pioneer Valley War Tax Resistance) were inspired by her life’s example to offer a weekend of exploration into everyday nonviolence and the nonviolence of everything…. Continue reading
Tax Day Reports 2023
Tax Day was Tuesday April 18, 2023 and folks throughout the US gathered around this date to raise awareness that nearly half of federal income taxes are directed toward war. They also encouraged others to resist paying taxes and redirect money to community needs. You can use these links to find 2023 Tax Day Report… Continue reading
War Tax Resistance Gathering at Joyfield Farm
Gorgeous weather accompanied the first in-person NWTRCC conference in over three years (5-7 May 2023). Many of us camped on green patches of grass on Joyfield Farm, about one hour west of Fort Wayne, Indiana. In addition to a few local folks, eleven people traveled to Joyfield Farm to attend the conference. About nine people… Continue reading
The Bottom Line
Since World War II, the percentage of Federal funds from income taxes that goes to the military in the United States has varied from about 45% to 90%. While spending on the pandemic has skewed the numbers to the lower end, the average taxpayer paid around $2,200 to the military in 2022. While it is… Continue reading