From: derek@nezsdc.icl.co.nz (Derek Tearne)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.urban
Subject: Re: Peace Symbol
Date: 25 Jan 93 20:37:37 GMT
Organization: Fujitsu New Zealand

In article <1993Jan25.092131.18566@wetware.com> drieux@wetware.com (drieux, just drieux) writes:
>haefner@infonode.ingr.com (Mark W. Haefner) writes:
>] 
>] Recently several articles have been on the ankh and I thought I would
>] ask if anyone has information on where the "peace symbol" is derived
>] from. I have heard that its origins are occultic and was used by some
>] ancient pagan societies. Is this true? If so, who? Anyone care to 
>] offer some reliable info?
>
>
>Well depends on who you talk to.
>
>Theory One: the CND [Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament] was
>alledged to have brought it about as a 'signal flag' representation
>of their call letters.
>

Actually the peace symbol: 
                              ...
                            .  |  .
			   .   |   .
			  .    |    .
                          .   /|\   .
			  .  / | \  .
			   ./  |  \.
			     ..|..

Is a representation of the ICBPM Missile (Inter Continental Ballistic Peace
Missile missile).  Which was an early peace movement project.  

The idea was that after all the nukes had been disarmed they would use the
missiles for a peaceful purpose.  They would be 'armed' with a Pot Pourri
of flower petals and other herbs and launched into the atmosphere and peace
and love would rain down upon the world.

Unfortunately this project caused a great rift between the 'Peaceniks' and 
the burgeouning 'green' movement.  The greens were worried about the effect
on the environment of CFP's (Californian Flower Petals) on the Ozone layer.

The peaceniks said - "well hey man we're talking about like groovy world peace
which is like wow the most ya know"

The greens said "But who knows what effect this will have on the greenhouse 
effect and UV levels"

Peaceniks "Like wow, ya mean the whole like world a big greenhouse, man we
could like grow flowers for peace - cool.  UV doesn't that mean like hey 
man really tanned bodies - love those bronze chicks."

Greens "But the environmental impact!"

Peaceniks "Well what does that really mean anyway" (sounding less hip as they
	  inexorably turn into capitalists)

Greens "Well we don't really know, but it could be bad, skin cancer, mutated 
	sheep etc."

PeaceYuppies "Sheep? where is this Ozone layer anyway Australia or something"

GreenAge "Yes actually the worst effected area will be over Antarctica 
	and the Southern Hemisphere.  Australia,  New Zealand, South Africa 
	and South America will be worst affected"

Yuppies "Hey that's not America! Who cares, does anyone live there anyway?"

New Age "Well I suppose it is a long way away. So I guess we can do it.
	 Gotta go and listen to this new Wyndham Hill. Ciaox<tm>"

Yuppie  "OK bye.  What was that about a rocket?".

And so ended the ICBPM missile project.  The symbol is still there though and 
now that the missiles are in fact being disramed who knows, we may yet see
California flowers drifting down on the breeze...  Nah.


ObQuote:  George Bush (on discovering the northern ozone layer was also 
	  depleted)  "We're not talking about uninhabited areas of the 
	  southern hemisphere any more"

Derek "Burn time 15 minutes today" Tearne



-- 
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