International Peacemaking To End All Wars poster

This poster of badges represents the anti-nuclear protest and peace movements in New Zealand (and overseas) during the 1980s.

It is based on an actual display of protest and peace badges created by Lawrence (Larry) Ross (1927-2012, Canada/New Zealand). Ross founded the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone Committee in Christchurch in 1981. He conceived the now iconic anti-nuclear logo of a green CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) symbol over a map of New Zealand. This logo can be found in many other forms of protest material culture, such as banners, placards, badges, stickers, and T-shirts. Such imagery is still potent in New Zealand which has been legally nuclear-free since 1987.

Larry Ross designed and financed this poster in 1987. Jonathan Sligh took the photograph. At the time of its production, Jonathan Hunt, MP for New Lynn, wrote: 'This poster shows that New Zealand is determined to be nuclear-free. I hope it is displayed not only in as many places as possible in New Zealand but also overseas and that other countries will match New Zealand's stand on this most important issue facing the human race'.

Posters and badges play an important role in protest paraphernalia - they are easily made, cheap to produce, and easy to distribute. They enable a broad range of people to participate in protest at a daily, ground level, and therefore are familiar material culture to many people.