CND badges: history & timeline

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) badge stands as a powerful symbol of peace, protest, and political solidarity, leaving a deep mark on culture, music, and social movements.

The history of the CND badge

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) was founded in Britain in 1958, driven by rising public fear of nuclear war during the Cold War. In preparing for its first major demonstration — the Easter Aldermaston March — CND leaders sought a clear, bold symbol to unite diverse groups under a common call for unilateral nuclear disarmament.

The badge, bearing a simple yet profound design, quickly became more than a protest item. It evolved into a powerful international symbol for peace and nonviolence, worn by millions across movements for civil rights, environmental justice, and an end to war.

The design of the CND badge

Artist and peace campaigner Gerald Holtom created the CND symbol by combining the semaphore flag signals for the letters "N" (two flags pointed downward at an angle) and "D" (one flag pointed straight up, one pointed straight down). These were placed within a circle symbolising the Earth, to give a sense of unity and global responsibility.

Holtom said he also drew on deeper emotions, intending to depict a human figure in despair, arms outstretched downward. Yet to many, the badge suggested resolve and moral clarity. Its stark black-on-white form was easy to reproduce, and soon handmade versions filled Britain’s streets and later the wider world.

Popular slogans linked to CND badges

From the beginning, the CND badge was worn alongside banners and placards bearing slogans such as "Ban the Bomb," "Nuclear Disarm Now," and "No More Hiroshimas." In the 1960s and 70s, "Make Love, Not War" also became associated with the symbol, linking it to the broader counterculture of that era.

Later campaigns adapted slogans to new political challenges: "Stop Trident" targeted Britain’s nuclear submarine programme; "No to NATO Nukes" protested the presence of American nuclear weapons in Europe. These slogans kept the badge’s meaning fresh across generations, always rooted in the call for peace and justice.

Alliance with left-wing political groups

From its early days, the CND movement found strong allies among Britain’s left-wing political parties and organisations. The Labour Party, especially its left wing, showed sympathy toward the disarmament cause, with figures like Tony Benn and Michael Foot offering vocal support. In 1960, the Labour Party conference even temporarily adopted a policy of unilateral nuclear disarmament, partly under CND influence.

Beyond party politics, CND worked alongside trade unions, socialist organisations, and international solidarity groups. Many activists saw the struggle against nuclear weapons as inseparable from broader struggles against imperialism, militarism, and social injustice. This alignment strengthened CND’s base but also drew criticism from opponents who claimed it was a tool of leftist ideology — a claim the movement always firmly rejected, standing by its non-partisan, humanitarian principles.

Use in popular music and punk culture

In the 1960s, the badge became part of the visual language of protest music. Folk artists like Bob Dylan and Joan Baez wore the badge while performing peace songs at rallies and concerts, helping to spread its recognition among youth movements worldwide.

In the 1970s and 80s, the punk movement — known for its fierce anti-establishment stance — embraced the CND badge as a symbol of defiance against war, government authority, and corporate power. Bands such as Crass, The Clash, and later anarcho-punk groups adopted the peace symbol on album covers, posters, and clothing. The badge, often scrawled hastily or altered artistically, took on a new rawness that connected peace ideals with anger against social injustice and the threat of nuclear annihilation.

This punk association gave the CND badge renewed relevance for a generation disillusioned by politics, offering a rebellious yet hopeful message: that peace is not passive, but a fight worth waging creatively and loudly.

The cultural impact of the CND badge

Across the decades, the CND badge has appeared on everything from political pamphlets to fashion runways. It has been worn by Nobel Prize winners, rock stars, students, religious leaders, and ordinary people moved by a deep commitment to nonviolence.

While some lament the commercialisation of the symbol, many still see its widespread use as a victory: proof that the ideal of peace cannot be confined or silenced. In street protests, peace vigils, and climate marches today, the badge continues to speak across generations, bridging past struggles with present hopes.

Collectability and legacy of the CND badge

Original CND badges, especially those from the 1958 Aldermaston March, are now prized by collectors and historians alike. Badges from key events — such as the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp, where women blockaded a US missile base — are particularly sought after for their historical significance.

Modern collectors value not only the rarity of these badges but the stories they tell: of courage, perseverance, and solidarity across decades. CND itself still produces badges today, ensuring that the spirit of resistance and hope continues to be passed into new hands.

Current campaigns involving the CND badge

Today, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament remains a vital voice in international peace work. It campaigns against Britain’s Trident nuclear system, opposes the renewal of nuclear arms treaties that increase global tensions, and stands against the expansion of NATO’s nuclear role.

At marches for climate justice, refugee rights, and peace, the familiar badge is seen again — a quiet but firm reminder that the dream of a nuclear-free world remains alive. The badge calls on each generation to imagine, and work toward, a world where peace is not an ideal alone but a living reality for all.

39 Random Badges

Timeline of CND badges

1958 – Creation of CND and its badge

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) is founded in Britain. Artist Gerald Holtom designs the CND symbol for the Easter Aldermaston March. The badge combines the semaphore signals for "N" and "D" inside a circle, symbolising the Earth and global unity.

1958 – First public appearance: Aldermaston March

Thousands march from London to Aldermaston, many wearing the new badge. The badge becomes a symbol of mass, peaceful protest against nuclear weapons.

1960 – CND influences British politics

The Labour Party adopts a temporary policy of unilateral nuclear disarmament at its annual conference. CND’s influence among left-wing political groups and trade unions grows.

1960s – Badge embraced by the peace and civil rights movements

In Britain and the United States, the CND badge becomes a wider peace symbol. Folk musicians like Joan Baez and Bob Dylan wear the badge at performances and rallies.

1968 – Rise of global youth movements

The badge becomes linked with the counterculture of the 1960s. Slogans like "Make Love, Not War" and "Ban the Bomb" popularise the badge even more widely.

1970s – Adoption by punk and alternative movements

Punk bands such as Crass and The Clash incorporate the CND badge into their music, album art, and fashion. The badge becomes a sign of defiance, rebellion, and anti-establishment feeling.

1980s – Revival through Greenham Common and Trident protests

The CND badge reappears strongly in mass protests against nuclear missile deployments in Britain. Women’s peace camps at Greenham Common use the badge on banners and clothing. New slogans arise: "Stop Trident" and "No Cruise Missiles."

1982 – CND badge at massive London protest

Around 250,000 people march in London’s Hyde Park carrying CND symbols to protest nuclear weapons escalation. The badge becomes a unifying image across different peace groups.

Late 1980s - Early 1990s – Badge enters popular culture and fashion

The badge appears widely on clothing, posters, and jewelry. It becomes a global symbol not just of anti-nuclear protest, but broader peace and social justice movements.

2000s – Continued alliances with global movements

CND allies itself with the anti-globalisation and climate justice movements. The badge is seen at anti-war protests against conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

2010s – Badge features in climate justice and anti-Trident protests

CND continues to oppose the renewal of Britain’s Trident nuclear system. The badge appears at climate marches and new movements for environmental and social peace.

Present day – The CND badge as a living legacy

The badge remains a potent symbol at peace marches, climate actions, and anti-war demonstrations. It is a treasured collectible, especially original versions from the 1950s and 1960s. The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament remains active, keeping the spirit of peace alive across new generations.

Notes on symbolism and slogans over time

Early slogans included "Ban the Bomb" and "No More Hiroshimas." Later slogans like "Make Love, Not War," "Stop Trident," and "No to NATO Nukes" refreshed its meaning. The badge was worn proudly by musicians, artists, students, trade unionists, Quakers, and peace campaigners across the world. It was adopted into punk, anarchist, socialist, and environmentalist movements, showing its wide reach and enduring spirit.

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