An estimated 300,000 child soldiers have been involved in conflict in over 30 countries worldwide within the last decade. There is an appalling record in Northern Uganda where a boy of eleven reported on Joseph Kony's "Lord's Resistance Army". There is nothing really new in the young boy's chilling words but they describe the typical conduct of programmed brigands and killers. One victim said: "The soldiers took me from school. They had guns and the teachers couldn't stop them. They took me to the bush and made me carry rifles and other things - really heavy loads. Many boys died of hunger and thirst. Then they taught me how to shoot. One day, a boy tried to escape but they caught him. They ordered us to stand around him in a circle and beat him. If we did not beat him, they would beat us. They would kill us. So we beat him...again and again until he died. The next time a boy escaped; each of us had to run him through with a bayonet. I still see his face. Then they made us fight in battles - to shoot guns at soldiers. Life was hard and many children died." In Uganda and neighbouring Darfur there is no end of conflict in sight. Every night, hospitals and school halls are crowded by the many thousands of children who commute by night to relative safety from capture by Kony and his retaliation by torture and death. During 20 years of war in Uganda more than 45,000 children were taken from their homes, schools and villages to rebel hideouts where they were initiated into an army culture. They were taught to kill non-compliant, abducted children, burn and loot villages and maim civilians - even their own families. Their dependency on their captors induced most children to cooperate, at least to begin. Many girls were taken as wives and bore children to Kony's brutal, irresponsible commanders. "If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children. (Mahatma Gandhi)