WAR & PEACE

Ethics Online offers four films on DVD specifically designed to assist teachers in delivering dynamic lessons on the ethics of war and peace including Just war theory, Holy war and conscientious objection.

Teachers' notes, scripts & classroom activities accompany each film. view extracts

Download a recently published version of the Just War script

ORDER / BUY the films on DVD

"Films that grabbed the attention of my most laissez faire pupils."
Wayne Smith, Head of Religious Studies, Leominster

Holy War Wars fought in the name of religion have been going on for a very long time. From Old Testament injunctions to kill, through to the Crusades and 9/11, Holy War asks are there some things worth killing for - and are there some things worth dying for? (7 minutes)	"Students will learn more from these films than from any current textbooks on Practical Ethics. All schools should have a copy!" Jules Houghton-Wood, Philosophy & Ethics Teacher, Stanground College, Peterborough
Just War From Augustine and Aquinas to Afghanistan and Iraq this film covers the history and development of Just War Theory and its implications for armed conflict today (19 minutes) Just War received its UK Premiere 26 March 2011 Armistice Day - 11/11/11	"This is a great resource for teachers. I am really impressed by the quality of these films and particularly the way Just War Theory is applied to the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, an area that was previously missing from RE resources" Fran Aldcroft, Head of Religious Studies, Lancaster Girls' Grammar School "Made with much skill, this film explains clearly and succinctly the challenges faced by those who have the terrible responsibility of engaging in a war and how those who are engaged should behave. Highly recommended." General, Lord Guthrie, GCB, LVO, OBE Former Head of the British Army
The Priest Who Blessed The Bomb In 1945 a Roman Catholic priest gave the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima a Christian blessing. His personal testimony and those of survivors of the bombing graphically illustrate the ethical dilemmas of just war ethics in this haunting film. (10 minutes)	"A stimulating statement that will inspire debate" Head of Divinity, Eton College "An excellent resource for GCSE and post 16." Adam Lees, Head of RE, Henbury School, Bristol
Contempt Of Conscience Conscientious objection to war has a long tradition and at the outset of the Iraq war in 2003 three Quakers continued this tradition by refusing to pay the military portion of their taxes in a search for less destructive ways of resolving conflict. (9 minutes) Synopsis Awarded First Prize at the 2005 Strasbourg Film Festival	"Too often war is associated with deaths or statistics and pupils miss out on the more subtle and complex issues associated with it. This film opens up these issues and creates new insights!" Head of Philosophy & Ethics, Sir William Perkins School
Contempt of Conscience The Feature Version (50 minutes) At the beginning of the 20th century 80% of war casualties were combatants. At the beginning of the 21st century 80% of war casualties were civilians. Today, civilians pay for war like never before. As the global economic system plunges from crisis to crisis governments continue to spend a trillion dollars a year on the preparation or pursuance of war. At the outbreak of the Iraq war in 2003, seven British taxpayers: a Doctor, three teachers, a toymaker, a Buddhist and an accountant asked that the military portion of their taxes be spent on more constructive ways of resolving conflict. World Premiere Milan Film Festival, 2008	"Inspiring - should be shown in every school that teaches Religious Studies, Citizenship, History, Law and General Studies" Bruce Kent
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