World's best-known protest symbol turns 50

BBC ^ | Thursday, 20 March 2008 | Kathryn Westcott

[fishhound]

It started life as the emblem of the British anti-nuclear movement but it has become an international sign for peace, and arguably the most widely used protest symbol in the world. It has also been adapted, attacked and commercialised.

CND logo It had its first public outing 50 years ago on a chilly Good Friday as thousands of British anti-nuclear campaigners set off from London's Trafalgar Square on a 50-mile march to the weapons factory at Aldermaston.

The demonstration had been organised by the Direct Action Committee Against Nuclear War (DAC) and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) joined in.

Gerald Holtom, a designer and former World War II conscientious objector from West London, persuaded DAC that their aims would have greater impact if they were conveyed in a visual image. The "Ban the Bomb" symbol was born.

He considered using a Christian cross motif but, instead, settled on using letters from the semaphore - or flag-signalling - alphabet, super-imposing N (uclear) on D (isarmament) and placing them within a circle symbolising Earth.

The sign was quickly adopted by CND.

Holtom later explained that the design was "to mean a human being in despair" with arms outstretched downwards.

[fishhound]

So that's where it came from.

[Kozak]

I prefer this one....

[fishhound]

Nice!

[higgmeister]

Some symbol, I've never heard of it.

I've done the same thing though, with the letters N, O and N for Nuclear Ordnance Now!

[WSGilcrest]

I remember my daddy back in the ‘60s called it the footprint of the American chicken.

[RandallFlagg]

It started life as the emblem of the British anti-nuclear movement but it has become an international sign for peace cowardice.....

Fixed...

Footprint of the American chicken.

[RandallFlagg]

Heh.
12 seconds...

[Radix]

An upside down broken cross has symbolic meaning to left wing idiots?

Really? Ya think?.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

That’s one explanation.

Another is that it represents an inverted broken Cross, denying and renouncing Christ.

And the best one is, “Footprint of the American Chicken.”

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

Note to self: TYPE FASTER or be at the bottom of the thread ;^)

[wastedyears]

Agreed

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Don't have time to find the link but anyone else remember the stupid hippie a few years ago who had a placard at a major protest. It turns out it wasn't a peace sign he had on display to all but it was the Mercedes emblem instead.

[snarks_when_bored]

Holtom later explained that the design was "to mean a human being in despair" with arms outstretched downwards.

That's also what an Alfred E. Newman "What, me worry?" shrug looks like.

[redstateconfidential]

Thinks a lot Britain, first the damned Hippy sign and then that Prat George Galloway..Bollocks!

[Republic_of_Secession.]

The symbol is in fact supposed to be an anti-Christ symbol which was only usurped by the peace activists but it was by no means created by them as this symbol existed prior.

[dighton]

By remarkable coincidence, my Italian friends have taught me a rude gesture or two, well older than fifty years.

[PGR88]

L.O.S.E.R.

[2ndDivisionVet]

The footprint of the American Chicken, as we used to say!

[swampdweller]

You Choose:

[Syncro]

Well, what ever it's origin this has some meaning:

Holtom later explained that the design was "to mean a human being in despair" with arms outstretched downwards.

If you turn the symbol over with out the circle, it is the Germanic Rune for Man.

If you turn it over, it's meaning changes to Man Dies.

If you then put a circle around it, it symbolizes Man Dies Completely.

Peace, brother