In connection with the 50th anniversary for Albert Schweitzer’s radio speech against nuclear arms, and the launch of the ican campaign (for worldwide abolision of nuclear weapons), IPPNW students around Norway (encouraged by a certain tall German doctor) spent last Saturday distributing small packs of sunflower seeds. In 1996, when Ukraine got rid of its last nuclear warhead, Ministers from the United States, Russia and Ukraine marked the event by scattering sunflower seeds on the former Ukrainan missile base. Since then, and sparked by the then US Secretary of Defense William Perry’s comment that ”sunflowers instead of missiles in the soil will ensure peace for future generations,” this amazing flower has been a symbol of a world free of nuclear weapons. This morning, as purple crocuses lit up the grey flowerbed covered by several inches of snow only days ago – quietly replacing frost with bloom – I realised once more how the connection between peace movements and flowers is incredibly apt.
Tuesday, 24 April 2007
Crocuses
In connection with the 50th anniversary for Albert Schweitzer’s radio speech against nuclear arms, and the launch of the ican campaign (for worldwide abolision of nuclear weapons), IPPNW students around Norway (encouraged by a certain tall German doctor) spent last Saturday distributing small packs of sunflower seeds. In 1996, when Ukraine got rid of its last nuclear warhead, Ministers from the United States, Russia and Ukraine marked the event by scattering sunflower seeds on the former Ukrainan missile base. Since then, and sparked by the then US Secretary of Defense William Perry’s comment that ”sunflowers instead of missiles in the soil will ensure peace for future generations,” this amazing flower has been a symbol of a world free of nuclear weapons. This morning, as purple crocuses lit up the grey flowerbed covered by several inches of snow only days ago – quietly replacing frost with bloom – I realised once more how the connection between peace movements and flowers is incredibly apt.
