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ON CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION
A contest open to all high school students grades 9-12!
A contest open to all high school students grades 9-12!Submit your short video telling the world why you oppose the draft and Selective Service registration!
Deadline 6/30/2023
Top entries win cash prizes, up to $1,000!
Every entry can help raise awareness of the injustice of drafting young people to fight and kill in war!
The Center on Conscience & War is hosting a video essay contest for teens! Help us spark a real conversation and inspire a movement to end Selective Service and the draft once and for all!
Recent efforts in Congress to expand the draft to women have failed. Let’s spread the word that decades of requiring young men to register with Selective Service has also been a failure and must end!
To enter, submit your short video and brief essay telling the world why you oppose the draft and why you think the US should repeal Selective Service, ending decades of draft registration and overturning damaging penalties against those who do not register.
We hope this contest inspires you to research the Selective Service and the draft, how it impacts your beliefs and your life or the lives of your loved ones and friends, and what you think can be done about it. (Check out some resources here, here, and here.) The original media you create will help educate and motivate other teens to take action to end the draft once and for all.
Full details and contest rules below.
CCW will award cash prizes to the best entries, while we take this opportunity to amplify the voices of the next generation of leaders and peacemakers!
A panel of judges will evaluate the submissions and select 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize-winners. Special awards will also be given for the best use of visual effects, best use of audio or music, and best use of historical footage.
First place receives $1000! Second place, $500, and third $250. Special category awards are worth $100 each. A selection of the most compelling submissions will be featured on the CCW website and our social media. We encourage contestants to also share their submissions on their own social media accounts and tag us – @centeronconscience.
Deadline to enter is June 30, 2023 – the 50th anniversary since the last person drafted to fight in the US war in Vietnam, 11:59pm Pacific Time. Winners will be announced on Saturday, September 16, during a special online presentation on the anniversary of the Selective Service act becoming law.
Eligibility:
Contest is open to teens in grades 9-12, or the equivalent, who live in the United States and its territories.
Rules for entry:
- An original video essay at least one minute, but no longer than three minutes.
- An accompanying transcript and written essay, including citations. The written essay should be at least 500 words.
- Entries must be submitted here.
- Questions can be directed to video@centeronconscience.org.
- Entries are due June 30, 2023, 11:59pm Pacific Time.
Notes:
- All of the materials submitted, such as video essay, transcript, written essay and citations will be considered as one combined entry, regardless of how many people took part in its creation.
- Prizes will be awarded one per submission.
- Submissions should only be submitted once, unless a confirmation email has not been received within 48 hours of the submission.
- All entries must be original work products. While footage, quotes, images, etc, may be incorporated into the work, plagiarism will result in disqualification. All entries are expected to comply with fair use and copyright laws in the United States.
- This contest focuses on initiating a conversation in support of repealing Selective Service and abolishing the draft in the United States. Submissions that are irrelevant to this purpose are not eligible for prizes, posting or other recognition by CCW.
- Full terms and conditions here.
