The Origin Of The Peace Symbol

In 1957 a group calling itself the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament planned a march from London to Aldermaston to protest the manufacture of nuclear weapons. The march was planned for the spring of 1958 and Aldermaston was the chosen destination because nuclear weapons were and are manufactured there.  

A Royal College of Arts graduate and graphic designer by the name of Gerald Holtom designed the symbol to be used at the march. The naval semaphore code letters N and D (nuclear disarmament) were chosen.  From this symbol a number of lollipop shaped signs were made and distributed to the marchers.  A man by the name of Eric Austin used white clay for the circle with the symbol painted in black to create pottery badges that were distributed at the event. Along with these badges the marchers were given notes to explain that in the event of a nuclear war these badges would be one of the few remaining artifacts to survive.The original sketches of these designs have been preserved and are housed at the Bradford University in the U. K.

At this link http://www.cnduk.org/INFORM~1/symbol.htm you can see a picture of one of the orginal pottery fired badges and a photo showing the lollipop style signs being carried in the march.

It is said that a civil rights activist and associate of Martin Luther King Jr. attended that first march and brought the peace symbol back to the states for use in the civil rights movement.

  In 1960 a University of Chicago student by the name of Philip Altback traveled to England and returned with the symbol which was produced in large quantities and distributed by the Student Peace Union.

  I found a photo in the public domain of a 1961 Center for Nuclear Disarmament Rally that displays the symbol.

The Center For Nuclear Disarmament is still in existence and have planned a march to Aldermaston in March of 2008

which will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the original march and unfortunately will also be in protest of the nuclear bombs that are still made there.

For me, this symbol not only expresses my prayer that nuclear weapons will never be used but also my dreams for world peace, my hope for our troops to return home soon and my wishes for all of you to have both inner and external peace in your lives.

This season whether you celebrate Christmas, Hannukah, something else or nothing at all, may peace be upon you.