Thursday, August 14, 2008

Slavery in Europe - Conscription

"No one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour."

- Article V, Part 2, Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union


Europe has a rich history of slave labour exploitation. From the slavery in democratic Athens to today’s modern variety, Europeans have always been forced into involuntary servitude.

Below is a map of Europe. The countries in green are the ones which still facilitate compulsary military service. Many of these countries are in the European Union. If you live in these countries, Article V of the Charter of Fundamental Rights does not apply to you.



All of the above countries require the most valuable people in the labour force, young males, to serve in the military for between 6 and 12 months, with the exception of Russia and Belarus (12-18 months).


Almost all of these nations have a conscientious objection rule or a minimum health standard. If the conscript is given permission, he may choose to participate in civil service instead of the military. This is still slavery. Giving a man a choice between the army or the civil service is like giving a negro the choice between picking cotton or picking corn.

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