International Law

Golden moments?

By Eoin

The Campaign For Nuclear Disarmament (CND) is 50 this year, and its famous symbol is 50 today (hat tip: Opinio Juris; BBC):

The images (from left to right) are the first ceramic CND badge, an early tin badge, and the current badge.

The symbol was

designed in 1958 by Gerald Holtom, a professional artist and graduate of the Royal College of Arts. He presented his early designs to the Peace News office in North London and, significantly, to the Direct Action Committee Against Nuclear War, one of the groups that helped to set up CND. The symbol was first seen in public during the 1958 Aldermaston march and from that moment onwards became identified with CND and its objective of nuclear disarmament.

Ironically the symbol itself is a mix of the military semaphore signals N - representing nuclear - and D - representing disarmament (semaphore alphabet). However, Holtom, a conscientious objector during the Second World War, subverted this use of semaphores by placing the D over the N, the ?upside down logo? signifying his anti-military principles.

This can be clearly seen in the following graphics:

The CND peace symbol will doubtless understand if I say that I am sorry that it is just as relevant today on its golden anniversary as it was in when it was first adopted in 1958!

Full post as published by Cearta on March 21, 2008 (boomark / email).