UN Peace Day in Bromley

Each year the International Day of Peace (IDP) is observed around the world on the 21st of September. The day was first established in 1981 and is devoted to strengthening the idea of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. Never has our world needed peace more.

This year, the SE London Network for Peace, Justice and Solidarity organised an event at Bromley Friends Meeting House. On the programme: music, poetry, films, speakers and stalls.

A great effort by all to create more awareness about working for peace!

London CND at the V&A archives, with Peter Kennard

On Thursday 9th June 2022, London CND had the immense priviledge of being given access to some of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection of anti-nuclear posters, in the presence of the artist Peter Kennard.

After a few minutes of perusing through a rich layout of posters from CND, Greenpeace and many other organisations from Germany to the USA, our group of 25 gathered up to listen to Peter Kennard.

Throughout the 1970s and 80s Peter Kennard’s hugely powerful photomontages ensured that the movement, and the striking imagery that came to represent it, were etched onto the public consciousness.

Peter has gone on to become one of Britain’s leading political artists, creating work which has come to define modern protest.

His iconic, haunting images have appeared in publications such as New Scientist, The Guardian, New Statesmen and many more.

It was fascinating to hear about the behind-the-scenes of how Peter produced his striking collages with kids’ toys, cardboard and many other unexpected elements.

We were shocked to hear that CND had to take a reactionary campaign to court for violating the copyright of one of these posters - only to be told by the judges that the copyright couldn’t be violated on the ground that “there wasn’t enough artistic thinking behind the poster”!

Through this rich collection of posters, we are reminded that the struggle for nuclear disarmament is as pressing as ever. While the UK already owns hundreds of nuclear bombs 8 times more powerful than the ones dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the UK government announced an increase of 40% of its nuclear stockpile in 2021. Furthermore, while the Ukraine war saw direct threats of nuclear escalation, the news broke out last month that US nuclear weapons would return to the base of Lakenheath in Suffolk, 100km from London.

As our Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament continues, the need for impactful imagery and design persists.

We are very grateful to the V&A archivist Zorian for working with us on this event and preparing the posters, and to Peter Kennard for his haunting work and fascinating presentation.

Peace One Day Report - Ann Garrett

Peace One Day Report  - 2021, by Ann Garrett

This was a virtual event on September  21st and was kindly facilitated by Julia Saumagne of London Region CND.

The evening began with music from Nick Jeffries  and the Gillies [ Susan Turner and Mark Evans ] followed by Hanifa Smith who spoke about the Woodcraft Folk and their involvement in human rights and peace issues. She showed film excerpts  to illustrate this.

There was also music from Paul Steele and Curtis Savage , and poems from Richard Hart, Patricia Mc Kinnon - Lower, Roisin Robertson, Leon and Ben Silver and Ann Garrett .

Kirsten Bayes  - Senior Outreach Worker for CAAT  spoke about the immoral Arms Fair and the Uk’s profits from selling weapons to Saudi Arabia, as a result of which millions have died , especially in the Yemen.

David Leal showed part of a film of the work of the Peace One Day organisation, who campaigned to get the UN to pass a resolution to make September 21st each year  a global day of peace and non violence. Their work has a great influence in countries  throughout the world . especially with young people and in third world communities . They have recently been focussing on human rights situations resulting from climate change.

We were grateful to David Leal, Mike Coulston and other technicians for their competences throughout the evening and to all those who attended and participated,  sharing their talents and messages in working to make changes in an increasingly challenging world .

Gini  Bevan and Ann Garrett [ chair and member of the SE London Peace , Justice and Solidarity Network ].