ForcesWatch’s last newsletter of the year is out!🎉 Featuring our new video on the BAE Systems Education Roadshow, updates on the Filton 24, stories of conscientious objectors, book recs & Housmans Peace Diary offers. 📰Read it here: https://tinyurl.com/bdemzuzv Wishing you a peaceful holiday!

While six Palestine Action members hunger strike, six Filton 24 defendants face harsh trial conditions after five weeks—long travel, little food, worsening health. @amnestyuk.bsky.social condemns a “cruel misuse of terrorism laws,” with up to 18+ months’ pre-trial detention.

Six activists on hunger strike are not receiving adequate healthcare and face an immediate risk of death. Qesser Zuhrah, who is on day 48 of her hunger strike, is in a critical condition. Contact your MP: palestinecampaign.eaction.org.uk/hungerstrike... More info at prisonersforpalestine.org

🚨 NEW ISSUE! 🚨 This Big Story explores what we can do to push for disarmament with reports from the world’s nuclear frontlines and how we can still abolish nuclear weapons in today’s insecure world. Subscribe to access the full issue 👉 newint.org/issues/2025/...

🔍 Why is a robot dog touring UK schools? Our new STEM Detective video investigates the BAE Systems STEM Roadshow and its robot dog, Lexi — and how similar tech is being used in real military settings. 🎥Watch the full video: forceswatch.net/resources/robot-dogs-good-dog-or-bad-dog/ #STEM4Peace

Whistleblowers tell of UK special forces chiefs suppressing reports of unlawful killings in Afghanistan, potentially allowing war crimes to continue for years. Around 80 Afghan civilians may have been killed between 2010–2013.

“Colour your own F-35” worksheets and missile simulators in classrooms? @thebristolcable.bsky.social's Michal Grant digs into how deeply the arms industry has pushed into Bristol’s secondary schools and how educators and community groups are now pushing back. https://tinyurl.com/39txpvbz

🕊️Conscientious objection is not just found in history books Peace Pledge Union is holding a meeting to hear directly from Russian & Ukrainian conscientious objectors, alongside campaigners defending the right to refuse to kill. 9th Dec, 6pm. Online/PPU office, London tinyurl.com/v7xucvba

🕊️ Heading into a new year — time for a new diary! @housmansbookshop.bsky.social Peace Diary opens with an article by ForcesWatch’s very own Emma Sangster, offering insight into militarism & resistance. Become a ForcesWatch supporter & we'll send you a copy 👉 www.forceswatch.net/support-our-...

Armed forces personnel have ‘studied on educational staff courses’ since October 2023, Ministry of Defence discloses. This underscores how deeply intertwined UK–Israel military ties have remained, despite the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Read more from John McEvoy for @declassifieduk.org

Richard Dannatt (former head of the British Army) & David Evans, Lord Evans of Watford — suspended from the House of Lords after being found to have breached lobbying rules. The case adds urgency to calls for reform of the House of Lords, including stricter regulation of external interests.

‘The Army Foundation College is the most dangerous “school” in the country." Jim Wyke from CRIN explains why the only way to stop the abuse of children in the army is to raise the age of recruitment to 18.

ForcesWatch support Demilitarise Education's open letter, calling on UK Unis to end war complicity & to cut ties with the arms industry. Universities should be spaces for research, education, & the public good, not complicit in the destruction of war. 🔗https://ded1.co/how-we-do-it/open-letter-2025

At this week’s Long War conference, the government minister spoke of winning a long war with Russia. Do they ever consider what that would look like in reality? 

The UK’s Defence Committee report — “The UK contribution to European Security” urges further militarisation of the UK. @joejglenton.bsky.social warns these ideas rely on overhyped threat narratives, amplified by mainstream media. @thecanaryuk.bsky.social 

As Europe ramps up defence spending, we’re seeing a push towards conscription. France’s chief of staff of the armed forces said that the country must be prepared “to lose its children”!!

Investigation by @opendemocracy.net and CRIN reveals the scale of bullying, harassment, sexual offences, self-harm and safeguarding failures experienced by teenagers in the British Army — particularly at the Army Foundation College Harrogate. Read more from Sian Norris ⬇️

.@declassifieduk.org have revealed a serious conflict: the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Defence Technology accepted funding from RUK Advanced Systems, a UK arm of Israeli state-owned arms company, Rafael. Therefore breaching parliamentary rules.

We loved this thoughtful speech from actor & peace advocate Sir Mark Rylance at the alternative Remembrance ceremony. “It feels more necessary than any year before just to see people who agree that war isn’t the way to solve our problems.” @stwc.bsky.social

The British Army is still recruiting 16- and 17-year-olds, exposing them to abuse, harassment, and self-harm. Today on World Children’s Day, we need to commit to protecting children, not militarising them.

ONE WEEK LEFT TO APPLY! ForcesWatch is seeking a researcher to join our small, dedicated team campaigning for peace, human rights and challenging militarism. Apply before 27 Nov! Full details and how to apply: www.forceswatch.net/vacancy-rese... #Hiring #JobOpening

Great to see the @bigissue.com publish this insightful article on who carries the physical and mental risks - and moral burden - of serving in the military.

Join us for our first ever Declassified UK summit! This special event will bring together journalists, campaigners & supporters to examine the system that drives Britain's war machine. Date: Saturday, 31 January 2026 Venue: EartH, 11-17 Stoke Newington Rd, London N16 8BH Tickets in link below.

COP30 is taking place against a backdrop of armed conflicts & rising military spending. With wars affecting every corner of the globe and spending at a record high of $2.7 trillion, 2024 also saw humanity breach the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target. 

Despite everything we already know about sexual harassment and abuse in the armed forces, the results of this survey are shocking. It reveals how widespread the range of verbal, non-verbal, cyber and physical behaviours are.  Read more at @reuters.com  ⬇️

🪖The government is investing an additional £70M to grow cadet forces by 30% by 2030. When military programmes target young people, we have to ask: are we supporting youth development or shaping the next generation for war? Read our full investigation: tinyurl.com/mrv2ajpf

Palestinian rights group @alhaq.bsky.social has been denied permission to appeal a UK court ruling upholding the legality of F-35 jet parts exports to Israel. "Human rights concerns are playing second fiddle to protecting lucrative arms deals.”  - Yasmine Ahmed, @hrw.org

The best statement on how the government and the Courts have failed Palestinians and the UK public in allowing the continued transfer of F-35 parts to Israel. Read more from @CAAT 👇

WE ARE HIRING! ForcesWatch is seeking a researcher to join our small, dedicated team campaigning for peace, human rights and challenging militarism. Apply before 27 Nov! Full details and how to apply: https://www.forceswatch.net/vacancy-researcher/ #Hiring #JobOpening

🕊️ The 73rd Housmans Peace Diary is here! ForcesWatch is proud to share that our own Emma Sangster has written this year’s introductory article. Start a monthly donation to ForcesWatch and receive a free copy of the diary!! 👉 www.forceswatch.net/support-our-... @housmansbookshop.bsky.social

📢 Workshop: Stopping Britain's nuclear nightmare From Faslane to Devonport, Britain's nuclear nightmare is spread across Britain. This workshop at CND's conference will hear from leading anti-nuclear activists on how we reverse the tide. Register today: cnduk.org/events/no-to...

👉NEW -- Forgotten photos expose UK army abuses in Iraq by Irfan Chowdhury Images never-before published by British media show hooded detainees in stress positions weeks before death of Baha Mousa in 2003. www.declassifieduk.org/forgotten-ph...

White poppies stand for peace, remembrance of all lives lost in war, and challenging militarism. Thanks to the Peace Pledge Union for keeping this symbol alive. Join the alternative remembrance events in London and around the UK: www.ppu.org.uk/remembrance/... #RemembranceDay

British military equipment has been found on Sudanese battlefields, used by the RSF, a paramilitary group accused of genocide.  Documents seen by the UN security council, raises questions over UK arms exports to the UAE and their potential role in arming Sudan’s RSF.

📰 Stay up to date with ForcesWatch Our newsletter provides research, commentary, and analysis on militarisation, military ethics, recruitment and the defence industry in the UK and internationally. Subscribe now 👉 www.forceswatch.net/stay-in-touch/

📢Challenging militarism in education! Another great workshop at our upcoming conference where we'll hear from some of those advocating for peace and resisting the growing influence of arms companies and militarism in our education system. Register: cnduk.org/events/no-to...

Two British prime ministers recognised Moscow’s fears over Nato expanding in eastern Europe – a major cause of the Ukraine war – files show. www.declassifieduk.org/blair-and-ma...

The Government plans to buy US F35A jets capable of carrying US B61 nuclear bombs, a major expansion of the UK’s nuclear arsenal beyond submarines. Dr Philip Webber for @responsiblesci.bsky.social, explores what this means for militarisation, democracy & global security.

The Ministry of Defence could have launched as many as 739 surveillance sorties relating to Gaza since December 2023, new research by Declassified shows. 👉Spy plane remains active in Cyprus after Gaza mission ends www.declassifieduk.org/spy-plane-re...

Do we want militarised schools?🪖 The UK government is investing £70m to expand cadet forces in schools. Government-commissioned research claims social benefits, but questions remain over the independence and methodology of these evaluations. Full investigation➡️https://tinyurl.com/2d332hy2

While the US & Europe ramp up military spending, millions live in poverty. Today, we launch Transition Security Project, investigating how militarisation makes us poorer and less safe amid climate crisis — and what genuine security could look like. 🧵 transitionsecurity.org

Two in three government department non-executive directors have corporate backgrounds, including from companies like BAE Systems, BP, Barclays and more.

British citizens serving in the IDF can now be tried for war crimes in the UK Now that the UK has recognised Palestine as a state, this opens legal routes for British members of the IDF to be charged in the UK www.thecanary.co/uk/news/2025...

🪖HAPPENING TOMORROW! Join @rethinkingsecurity.bsky.social for an online discussion exploring the UK government’s National Security Strategy (NSS) and its focus on militarisation. Tickets + More info: https://rethinkingsecurity.org.uk/home/events/

🔎 How are drones changing the way wars are fought? Chris Cole, founder of Drone Wars UK, has spent years investigating the rise of armed drones — from targeted killings to remote warfare. The Warrior Nation podcast is available on all major streaming platforms or at https://www.forceswatch.net

🚨LEGAL OPINION: UK nuke jets break international law! 🚨 A legal opinion sought by CND has found that Britain's purchase of nuclear-capable F-35A fighter jets violates its commitments under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty! Read More: cnduk.org/legal-opinio...

☢️ What happens when nuclear weapons and AI-driven autonomous systems collide? Joe Glenton speaks to Elizabeth Minor, Advisor at @article36.bsky.social, is at the forefront of international efforts to reduce harm from weapons. Available on all major streaming platforms or listen at forceswatch.net

Join @rethinkingsecurity.bsky.social for a discussion exploring the UK government’s National Security Strategy & its focus on militarisation. An opportunity to share insights, challenge dominant narratives & develop constructive responses. Tickets: https://rethinkingsecurity.org.uk/home/events/

Why was Colonel Richard Kemp, a prominent British army officer of the War on Terror era recently in Gaza doing propaganda for Israel? @declassifieduk.org and defence journalist, Joe Glenton investigate⬇️

The UK has banned Israeli students from the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS), a prestigious British defence academy, due to Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.