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The Peace Symbol Is One Of The Most Recognizable And
Familiar Symbols In The World.
The CAMPAIGN FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT,
obviously a peace organization, lays claim for its
origin. "The Campaign" has proof: the original
sketches made by Gerald Holton, a graduate of the
Royal College of Art, who was a professional designer,
artist, and conscientious objector. In 1958, Mr. Holton
said he was in personal despair over the growing threat
of nuclear armaments. He envisioned Goya's famous
painting of a peasant about to be shot to death by
firing squad. The peasant's hands were outstretched
in the painting as a sign of both despair and hope.
Holton transformed this action from Goya's painting
into a symbol, that to him, represented the semaphore
letters of "N' (for nuclear) and "D"
(for disarmament).
Gerald Holton's preliminary sketches
were presented to staff at the "Peace News"
newsletter in London and to the "Direct Action
Committee Against Nuclear War". These British
grass-roots organizations, along with some others
a short time later, formed what is still known and
operating as the "Campaign For Nuclear Disarmament".
Another story of the origination
of the peace symbol has it being designed by an artist
within the British Military as a flag which meant
'stand down of nuclear weaponry', is only rumor.
Whether or not Mr. Holton ever
owned, or had friends and neighbors who owned a Mercedes
Benz, is speculative fantasy.
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