Mobile Peace Monuments

T R A I N

1946-1947 - "The Atom Train" (England). "In 1946, former Manhattan Project scientist Joseph Rotblat [1908-2005] took the lead in setting up the Atomic Scientists Association (ASA) in order to stimulate public debate. This included many leading scientists of the day. It adopted a non-political agenda with the aim of educating the public on the peaceful uses of radioactivity & nuclear power issues. A project was conceived, called 'The Atom Train' (image). The Churchill College Archive contains 'Memorandum on Atomic Energy Train Exhibition' dated 12th November, 1946. This document was co-authored by Rotblat & was 'designed to give the public the facts in a simple & attractive manner' & would use 'charts, diagrams & photographs & demonstrate some simple experiments.' It would of been instructive to use film shows, but it was decided that this 'would interfere with the steady flow of people.' Two railway coaches were identified to house the exhibition - one for the exhibits & the other for accommodation. The aim was to assemble the exhibition in Liverpool & be available in the spring of 1947 so as to travel around the UK, in the spring & summer months."

B O M B S

1983 - "Amber Waves of Grain," Colorado, Nebraska & Texas (USA). "In February 2006, a stunning art & educational exhibit about the nuclear arms race was given to the Peace Farm [near Panhandle, Texas] by the Prairie Peace Park near Lincoln, Nebraska, where it had been installed since 1994. Created by Denver artists Barbara Donachy & Andy Bardwell, Amber Waves of Grain is a clay replica of the US nuclear arsenal as it stood at the peak of the Cold War: some 31,500 strategic & tactical nuclear warheads, over 1600 land & sea based missiles, 324 strategic bombers & 37 nuclear submarines. The pieces range in size from 4" warheads to 3" nuclear submarines. Created in 1982-83, the exhibit was shown in 18 locations before being installed at the Prairie Peace Park, including the National Mall in Washington, DC, universities, museums & other locations." /// Second image shows the exhibit at the Boston Science Museum in February 1985. /// The Peace Farm near Panhandle, Texas (USA), was 20 acres of land on the southern boundary of the atomic Pantex Plant. "Established as an information source about the Pantex Plant and to stand as a visible witness against the weapons of mass destruction being assembled there." Included the Madre Sculpture (qv).

B O O T S

January 2004 - "Eyes Wide Open," American Friends Service Committee, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA). "Exhibit containing a pair of combat boots to represent every American soldier & marine who has died in the Iraq war, as well as shoes representing Iraqi civilians who lost their lives during the invasion & occupation. First shown in Chicago's Federal Plaza in January 2004. At that time, the exhibit contained 504 pairs of boots. As of March 2007, the national exhibit contained over 3,400 pairs of boots & had visited more than 100 cities in 40 states. However, as a result of its unmanageable size, the exhibit has been broken down state-by-state. Currently, nearly every state has its own state exhibit. The national exhibit in its entirety would currently contain more than 4,000 pairs of empty boots." /// Image shows some of the boots in street at National Civil Rights Museum (site of Martin Luther King's assassination) in Memphis, Tennessee.

T E N T S

May 17-25, 2006 - Les Tentes de la Paix / Tents of Peace, Abu Tor Hill, Sherover Promenade, Jerusalem (Israel). "Une vingtaine de tentes (et une toile de 160 mètres de longueur sur 70 mètres de largeur) imprimées du mot 'paix' calligraphié par l’artiste Clara Halter dans plus de 50 langues et 18 alphabets." Halter previously created permanent peace monuments in Paris (France), St. Petersburg (Russia), and Hiroshima (Japan).

T O M B S T O N E S

March 2007? - "Arlington Midwest," Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition, Toledo, Ohio (USA). "Traveling exhibit meant to show the human cost of war and to honor the fallen US service members of the Iraq & Afghanistan conflicts. Built primarily of recycled materials & maintained by a volunteer workforce. Includes a simulated tombstone with name, rank, age & home state for each fallen US service member. If your organization is interested in hosting Arlington Midwest, please email Jeff (gratefulzenz@hotmail.com)." Has been shown in Lucas County, Ohio; Kent State University; Adrian, Michigan; Detroit, Michigan; Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Washington, DC. Upper image shows Arlington Midwest on grounds of the Lucas County Courthouse in Toledo. Lower image shows Arlington Midwest on the National Mall in front of the White House./// Click here for 2007 article from Toledo Blade.

E X H I B I T

August 15-September 21, 2013 - Peace Philanthropy Travelling Exhibition, The Hague (Netherlands). Formal name: "Peace Philanthropy Then and Now - In the Footsteps of Andrew Carnegie." Created by the International Network of Museums for Peace. "An international travelling exhibition to celebrate the centenary of the Peace Palace in The Hague (NL) will be opened in the Atrium (City Hall of The Hague) and available for travel after International Peace Day 2013."