'Better active today than radioactive tomorrow' badge
Object
Badge
Production date
1981-1983
Object number
2023.51
Physical Description
Rectangular metal badge with rounded corners. The design comprises a white background with blue and red text reading 'Better active now that radioactive tomorrow'.
Object history
The slogan 'Better active today than radioactive tomorrow' has been used transnationally across West Europe -but also Australia and the US- by the early anti-nuclear movements throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The motto claims a shared understanding of the threats that nuclear waste and technologies represented for citizens' health, as well as constituting a unifying thread that led communities all over the world to gather in protest for the anti-nuclear cause.
This badge, which features the popular slogan, was produced by/for GLC (Greater London Council) in the early 1980s. The badge shows how GLC was opposed to the official Thatcher's government views on nuclear weapons and their storage on UK territory, and refused to collaborate with the government's nuclear defence strategy.
Instead, in 1982, GLC declared London a 'Nuclear-free Zone' and during the following year, known as 'GLC Peace Year 1983', the Council organised a series of cultural initiatives, such as rallies, concerts, murals, art commissions, documentary films and photography exhibitions, to promote values of peace and international cooperation, and support the world-wide anti-nuclear campaign.
This badge, which features the popular slogan, was produced by/for GLC (Greater London Council) in the early 1980s. The badge shows how GLC was opposed to the official Thatcher's government views on nuclear weapons and their storage on UK territory, and refused to collaborate with the government's nuclear defence strategy.
Instead, in 1982, GLC declared London a 'Nuclear-free Zone' and during the following year, known as 'GLC Peace Year 1983', the Council organised a series of cultural initiatives, such as rallies, concerts, murals, art commissions, documentary films and photography exhibitions, to promote values of peace and international cooperation, and support the world-wide anti-nuclear campaign.
Associated Organisation
Greater London Council (Produced for)
Associated Place
Material
Metal
Dimension
Height (Height): 4.4cm
Width (Width): 7cm
Width (Width): 7cm
On display?
No
Inscription
Better active now that radioactive tomorrow
GLC
Working for London and Peace
GLC
Working for London and Peace
