We will not raise our children to kill another mother's child

" We the women of one country, will be too tender of those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs. From the bosom of a devastated earth, a voice goes up with our own. It says, Disarm" Disarm!"

Julia Ward Howe, declaration of Mothers' Day, 1870


On the 10th May, 2009, Mothers' day, the US women's peace group Code Pink organised a 24 hour vigil outside the White House to celebrate mothers, but also to remember mothers in conflict zones who pay the price of war with their bodies, their loved ones, their homes, and their future.

They also invited women from around the world to take part, making the pledge: "I will not raise my children to kill another mother's child". Many women, among them Women in Black from Italy took up the invitation and sent photos to bear witness to their refusal of the logic of war.

In theory, the promise should be easy to keep - according to the Italian constitution, Italia repudiates war. But despite the constitution, our country is involved - directly and indirectly in the majority of armed conflicts. Italian territory is used to launch attacks. In our research institutes, there is collaborative work with Israel - a country which is credibly accused of war crimes - to develop new military technologies.

Arms - Italy sells to everyone, including countries that are at war - Turkey, India, Pakistan, Georgia, Israel, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Congo are all clients.

In 2008 the turn over in the arms industry grew by 222% compared to the preceding year. According to the office of the Prime Minister in its last report on export, import, and transit of arms: "This represents an important technological, employment, and productive capital for our country. ."

We demand the liberation of our country from bases of war, the liberation of our universities from military research.

We demand an economy that promotes life, health, joy, home, instead of desperation, destruction and death.