Stephen Payne.

WS365828: Three Approaches To Peace Activism

BA (Hons) Art & Design. University Centre Weston. Year One. January 2025

Three Approaches to Peace

Activism

Stephen Payne
WS365828
University Centre Weston
Bath Spa University

“Three Approaches to Peace Activism”

BA (Hons) Art & Design
AAD4003-20
2023/24
Culture and Meaning Summative AssignmentCourse Tutor: Jamie
Dormer-Durling

John Lennon as once quoted as saying “Peace is not something you wish for, it’s something you
make, something you do, something you are and something you give away”.

Seventh National March for Palestine in London on Saturday 13th January is part of a global day of
action.
 Stephen Payne. WS365828: Three Approaches To Peace Activism
BA (Hons) Art & Design. University Centre Weston. Year One. January 2025

Three Approaches to Peace Activism

John Lennon/Yoko Ono, The Quakers, Greenpeace

Peace activism has long been a meaningful cause and has been fronted by
prominent personages from all walks of life including those from religious
backgrounds, politicians, celebrities and even suspected cult leaders.

Some of those involved in the peace activism movement, in one form or another
have included Martin Luther King, Mahatma Ghandi, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Sir
Robert Geldoff but also the likes of Father Divine who became the leader of the
Peace Mission (1919 – 1965) which attracted attention as a potential cult but which
in fact, stood for many enviable causes, supporting total racial integration and
promoting and supporting grass roots businesses.

While there have been peace movements as far back as The Peace of God which
was formed at the Council of Charroux in AD 989, recognised peace activists as we
know them today probably have their origins in theologian, David Low Dodge who
founded the New York Peace Society in 1815.

With the League of Nations becoming the first inter-governmental peace organisation
in 1920, international peace activism was born.

The question surrounding peace activism may well be, how can the movement as a
whole make an impact and, even more questionable is how an individual can make a
difference.

To answer that question, we will seek to discover the impacts of an individual and
two organisations with very different but sharing a linked past.

As with all kinds of activism, interest will ebb and flow with current affairs. Today with
war raging in the Middle East and in Eastern Europe we can expect to see increased
political and peace related marches and protests on our streets and in fact protests
have been held in London every Saturday since the Israel-Gaza war started

John Lennon as once quoted as saying “Peace is not something you wish for, it’s something you
make, something you do, something you are and something you give away”.

Seventh National March for Palestine in London on Saturday 13th January is part of a global day of
action.
 Stephen Payne. WS365828: Three Approaches To Peace Activism
BA (Hons) Art & Design. University Centre Weston. Year One. January 2025

Protests like these are sure to raise the profile of peace activism and It is certain to
throw up new activists and arguments. There will always be those who wish, hope
and pray for peace but equally, there will always be individuals, nations and causes
to pit those wishes, hopes and prayers against.

Over the years photography has played a large part in recording and reporting
conflicts around the world including those from the battlefields of the first and second
world wars, a new genre of photographer has emerged as the war photographer of
whom there are some very well-known names such as Don McCullin and the late
Lee Miller. It is due to the bravery and skills shown in the field that we have such
vivid memories of conflict engraved within our brain and which, hopefully may one
day contribute to a more peaceful existence.

Within this document we look at three very different approaches to peace activism
and how it can reveal itself:

 John Winston Lennon/Yoko Ono

 The Quakers
 Greenpeace

These three well known entities all broach the subject of peace activism in different
ways.

John Lennon/Yoko Ono used their own personalities and creativeness to raise
awareness of war through the acorn, billboard posters in Times Square and their
‘Bed In’ protests in Amsterdam and Montreal.

The Quakers, for their part, live by a commitment to peace which states: “We work to
build peaceful relationships between individuals, communities and nations, to nurture
life on this planet, We strive to live in ways that are consistent with the peace we
seek. We are convinced that no end can justify the means of killing another human
being” (Peace Campaigning & Networking Group, July 2021).

Quakers are convinced that no end can justify the means killing another human
being.

John Lennon as once quoted as saying “Peace is not something you wish for, it’s something you
make, something you do, something you are and something you give away”.

Seventh National March for Palestine in London on Saturday 13th January is part of a global day of
action.
 Stephen Payne. WS365828: Three Approaches To Peace Activism
BA (Hons) Art & Design. University Centre Weston. Year One. January 2025

Greenpeace are probably one of the best-known activism groups as regards the
environment and peace. Governments and corporations need to be held accountable for
the climate crisis. Together, we can make them take immediate steps to protect current and
future generations. From fisherfolk to farmers, youth to seniors, let’s stand together and make
the world a greener, more just, and safer place. (Greenpeace International website)

Greenpeace are also known for their massive involvement in intervening with nuclear
and chemical testing programmes throughout the world.

Whilst all of the above have made an impact on peace activism, each has tackled
the issue in very different ways, each of which has created an awareness,
worldwide, of the issue, each of them can claim to have achieved support however,
the endearing legacy and continuing activities within the peace movement shows a
clear sustaining objective and targeted response to the changing circumstances
facing world peace.

In this paper we will look at the initial driving forces of each of the three protagonists
and how those driving forces have been met and have developed.

In the case of John Lennon/Yoko Ono’s peace activism it appears that their initial
interests can be laid in response to the Vietnam war but accentuated by their
individual love of art and creativity. To emphasise and reinforce their response we
can refer to three directions in which their activism raised public awareness and
helped to shape a generation’s feelings towards mainly, American involvement in
foreign wars.

The acorn project, while initially seen as an art project inspired by Yoko Ono, was
soon accepted as their first international act of peace activism but this in itself
caused a stir and helped to define the couples’ activities as self-serving by some of
the worlds press and governments. (Thames & Hudson 1995)

It was later agreed that the acorns could be planted within a meadow in front of the
new cathedral. The acorns were eventually planted on an East-West axis in white
plastic pots lowered into two holes. This act was to have symbolised the East and
the West united in peace. A white bench seat was placed close to the acorn site to
encourage visitors to sit and contemplate world peace. Later John and Yoko sent
John Lennon as once quoted as saying “Peace is not something you wish for, it’s something you
make, something you do, something you are and something you give away”.

Seventh National March for Palestine in London on Saturday 13th January is part of a global day of
action.
 Stephen Payne. WS365828: Three Approaches To Peace Activism
BA (Hons) Art & Design. University Centre Weston. Year One. January 2025

two acorns each to several prominent politicians worldwide with the aim of planting
them in the name of world peace. Positive responses were received from, amongst
others, the President of South Africa, Prime Minister Golda Meir of Israel and King
Hussein of Jordan.

March 1969 see’s the first of the Bed In protest’s which was held in the Amsterdam
Hilton where the couple gave numerous interviews with journalists. Lennon
described the bed in as ‘a commercial for news about peace instead of war’ this
signified a change in the direction of Lennons song writing from concentrating on
love as a message to fully endorsing peace in his songs and in his art.

The second of the two Bed In protest’s came in June 1969 and was held in Montreal
with the clear objective of recording what was to become a peace anthem. A
promotion of the event saw John describe everyone as The Plastic Ono Band,
heralding the band name for a whole host of future projects.

The song recorded at the Bed In featuring the voices of all friends and reporters
present at the time was ‘Give Peace a Chance’. This song was soon adopted as a
peace anthem and became a massive international hit record.

John & Yoko Plastic Ono Band release the Christmas hit record Happy Xmas (War is
Over) (Plastic Ono Band.1971) which becomes a regular favourite every year and
one which for a whole generation, brings back memories, good and bad, of John and
of the Vietnam war.

To coincide with the release of the record, John and Yoko launch a self-funded media
campaign for peace utilising the world press and huge billboards across the USA and
major cities. Times Square billboards featured the message ‘WAR IS OVER! IF YOU
WANT IT. Happy Christmas from John and Yoko’ (Holtzer. J. 1982)

John later mentioned “We had a lot of response from other than pop fans, which
was interesting, from all walks of life” (Thames and Hudson, 1995).

John Lennon as once quoted as saying “Peace is not something you wish for, it’s something you
make, something you do, something you are and something you give away”.

Seventh National March for Palestine in London on Saturday 13th January is part of a global day of
action.
 Stephen Payne. WS365828: Three Approaches To Peace Activism
BA (Hons) Art & Design. University Centre Weston. Year One. January 2025

Luminous advertisement on Times Square, New York

(Holtzer. J, 1982)

The Quaker (Friends) work for peace can be traced back in history to 1660 when as
a group they declared to Charles 11 that the Quakers “utterly deny all outward wars
and strife and fighting with outward weapons” (Fell. M, 1660)

Since that time the Quakers have stood tall against military action and have
promoted peace. Quakers see peace activism as a daily commitment supporting
short-and long-term positive actions through ‘bearing Witness’ to a different way- a
way that affirms the value of life rather than denies it through warfare.

While the Quakers have worked in all manner of activism including provoking a
rethink on prison conditions in 1813, help in the relief work during the Irish famine
1846/7 and the opening of a Quaker sponsored School of Peace Studies at
University of Bradford in 1972, the vast majority of programmes undertaken during
the last 170 plus years has focused almost entirely on mainly peaceful protests,
notably of which was the series of speeches by John Bright, MP for Manchester, who
spoke out in protest at the Crimean War and the British governments support of it.

From as early as the 1950’s Quaker opposition to nuclear war starts to build. Friends
make their position known at protests and marches at Aldermaston Atomic Weapons
Establishment. Around the same time the CND movement was being formed and the
Quakers have long been supporters and have worked together on many occasions
to further the abolishment of nuclear weapons.

John Lennon as once quoted as saying “Peace is not something you wish for, it’s something you
make, something you do, something you are and something you give away”.

Seventh National March for Palestine in London on Saturday 13th January is part of a global day of
action.
 Stephen Payne. WS365828: Three Approaches To Peace Activism
BA (Hons) Art & Design. University Centre Weston. Year One. January 2025

The Quakers have also held the British government to task over their failure to
uphold its commitment to multilateral disarmament by not participating in
negotiations on the nuclear ban treaty (Parker P. 2017)

It is through their involvement in nuclear disarmament and protesting of nuclear

testing that the Quaker movement has been instrumental in the origins of another
organ of peace activism, Greenpeace.

Greenpeace, founded in 1971, has now developed into an organisation of activists

and campaigners with supporters from all age groups.

Originating as the ‘Don’t Make the Wave Committee’ the group of activists from a
whole range of organisations and beliefs, including Quakers and ecologists, Marie
Bohlen raised the question, “why not sail up there and confront the bomb?” (Bohlen.
1971)

It was following an early meeting of this group that the name Greenpeace was first
used and adopted as the name of the loosely formed organisation. The group formed
a plan to sail to Amchitka, an island in Southwest Alaska where the US government
were conducting underground nuclear tests however, funding was extremely tight
and the group called upon Joan Baez, a major folk singer and member of the Quaker
movement, to organise a concert to raise funds and awareness of the campaign.
Joni Mitchell and James Taylor headlined the concert attended by 16,000 fans which
raised over $23,000 and all of a sudden, the plan was a reality. The trip itself
however, turned into a nightmare and as regards the object of the trip, a complete
failure. The US navy, having got news of the trip, intercepted The Greenpeace and
stopped the plan in its tracks. The result of the action though, was far from what the
US government expected. The voyage and the actions of the navy caused a huge
flurry of public interest and raised the profile of the fledgling organisation far above
their own expectations. “While their campaign could be said to have failed, the
memory of what happened at Amchitka had lasting effects, and what came out of it
was one of the most intense environmental activist groups in the world –
Greenpeace” (Kinney DJ 2012).

John Lennon as once quoted as saying “Peace is not something you wish for, it’s something you
make, something you do, something you are and something you give away”.

Seventh National March for Palestine in London on Saturday 13th January is part of a global day of
action.
 Stephen Payne. WS365828: Three Approaches To Peace Activism
BA (Hons) Art & Design. University Centre Weston. Year One. January 2025

The three organisations/individuals included in this paper have all had their
successes and can be seen to have achieved their objectives, at least in part,
however how have they held up over the passage of time?

During his lifetime, and especially the late sixties and early seventies John Lennon
was very well known as a peace activist, he was very much loved by many and
despised by a few. Many people called him a hero for standing up for his beliefs and
others attacked him for exploiting his popularity as an ex-Beatle for his own self-
satisfaction.

Does John Lennon’s record as a peace activist span the decades and is it as
relevant today as it once was? The acorns that were planted were dead and
forgotten within months and the three replies he had received from politicians
worldwide to his call to plant acorns were three from hundreds of acorns he had sent
out. True his music from the time is still played on various radio stations and enjoyed
by many, but does it still hit home with his message of peace?

Speaking about the single, ‘Happy Xmas (War is Over), Emma Davies (sales and
marketing executive – The Beatles Story) is quoted as saying “To this day, the song
remains a Christmas favourite in several countries as well as frequently being
covered by other popular artists and included on new Christmas compilation
albums. As its legacy burns brighter than ever still with the help of Yoko Ono, John
Lennon’s vision of peace and unity continues to touch the ears, minds and hearts of
people all over the world with a simple message – war is over, if we want it”
(Davies 2022).

The Quakers, after 350 plus years are still very active in the peace movement having
launched many local groups promoting peace in schools, universities and among
social groups, it runs courses in peace management and conflict resolution and is a
very inclusive organisation, moving with the times. As peace activist’s the Quakers
are very relevant today and enjoy a forceful but quietly underground existence.

John Lennon as once quoted as saying “Peace is not something you wish for, it’s something you
make, something you do, something you are and something you give away”.

Seventh National March for Palestine in London on Saturday 13th January is part of a global day of
action.
 Stephen Payne. WS365828: Three Approaches To Peace Activism
BA (Hons) Art & Design. University Centre Weston. Year One. January 2025

Greenpeace, an organisation we have all heard of and like to support, either

financially or morally is often thought of as an environmental activist and by many as
a peace activist. If we look at the twenty-nine current issues being challenged by
Greenpeace we can see that only two can have any real association with world
peace energy production and nuclear generators. Yes, Greenpeace have had their
successes in the past but can they today, claim to be peace activists?

In conclusion, many forms of peace activism can be effective within specific periods,
it is however, difficult to maintain effectiveness and to remain relevant. In this world
where everything is now on-line and digitalised there is a clear route for publicising
peace activism and that is through the medium of photography. There have always
been photographers who are associated with the peace movement for example,
Robert Keziere, a member of the first Greenpeace mission to Amchitka and more
recently, John Noltner who is hoping to promote peace through a series of images.

Most photographers that are driven by the peace movement were not born to it but
rather probably started their photographic life story out in the wide open countryside
creating amazing landscapes or capturing outstanding wildlife images. There are
clear lines leading from the tranquillity of the countryside or the pure majesty of
wildlife and being able to transport the viewer into a space where there is no anger,
no perfection and only a harmonious and special space.

Fisherman total at ease with the world Beautiful swan at Backwell Lake

Stevepaynephotography.weebly.com

It would truly be an amazing achievement if in the midst of war, turmoil and hurt, it
was possible, through photography, to transport, even momentarily, into such a
John Lennon as once quoted as saying “Peace is not something you wish for, it’s something you
make, something you do, something you are and something you give away”.

Seventh National March for Palestine in London on Saturday 13th January is part of a global day of
action.
 Stephen Payne. WS365828: Three Approaches To Peace Activism
BA (Hons) Art & Design. University Centre Weston. Year One. January 2025

wonderous space and create that special feeling, if only temporarily but, with the
realisation that it could, in turn, spark a movement where war could be a thing of the
past or at least the creation of a dream that oppressed people could cling to and gain
hope from.

“Imagine all the people, living life in peace, you may say I’m a dreamer but I’ not the
only one” (Lennon, 1971)

John Lennon as once quoted as saying “Peace is not something you wish for, it’s something you
make, something you do, something you are and something you give away”.

Seventh National March for Palestine in London on Saturday 13th January is part of a global day of
action.
 Stephen Payne. WS365828: Three Approaches To Peace Activism
BA (Hons) Art & Design. University Centre Weston. Year One. January 2025

References

Bohlen M and Stow R, 1971, don’t make a wave committee, www.greenpeace.org

Davies E, 2022, The Beatles Story, https://www.beatlesstory.com

Fell M. 1660 Declaration to Charles 11. https://www.quaker.org.uk

Holtzer J. 1982. John Lennon, Drawings, Performances Films. Thames & Holden

Kinney DJ, 2012, The otters of Amchitka, the polar journal 2, https://www.keele.ac.uk

Lennon. J. 1971, Imagine, Apple Records, https://applerecords.nl

Peace, Campaigning & Networking Group, 2021, www.quaker.org.uk

Plastic Ono Band 1971, Happy Xmas (War is Over) Apple, https://applerecords.nl

Thames & Hudson. 1995. The acorn Project, Drawings, Performances, Films

John Lennon as once quoted as saying “Peace is not something you wish for, it’s something you
make, something you do, something you are and something you give away”.

Seventh National March for Palestine in London on Saturday 13th January is part of a global day of
action.
 Stephen Payne. WS365828: Three Approaches To Peace Activism
BA (Hons) Art & Design. University Centre Weston. Year One. January 2025

Bibliography

Bohlen M & Stow R. (1971) Don’t make a wave committee, www.greenpeace.org

Davies E. (2022) The Beatles Story, https:/www.beatlesstory.com

Holtzer J. 1982. Luminous advertisement on Times Square, New York

Kinney DJ. (2012) The Otters of Amchitka, the polar journal 2,Greenpeace.
keele.ac.uk

Lennon. JW, (1971) Release of Happy Xmas (War is Over)

Peace, Campaigning & Networking Group, 2021, www.quaker.org.uk

Fell. M. 1660. Declaration to Charles 11. The Quaker Peace Testimony

https://www.quaker.org.uk

Plastic Ono Band 1971, Happy Xmas (War is Over) Apple, https://applerecords.nl

Parker P. 2017, Speaking the truth to power, www.quaker.org.uk

John Lennon as once quoted as saying “Peace is not something you wish for, it’s something you
make, something you do, something you are and something you give away”.

Seventh National March for Palestine in London on Saturday 13th January is part of a global day of
action.