The Another Mother for Peace postcard, featuring the sunflower and slogan, became an iconic tool for maternal anti-war advocacy and fundraising.
The Another Mother for Peace (AMP) postcard is a small but powerful piece of activism, reproducing the group’s signature sunflower and slogan: “war is not healthy for children and other living things.” Produced from 1967 onward, these postcards were used by AMP to spread its anti-war message, raise funds, and invite moral reflection. Like the badges and medallions, the postcard turned maternal concern for children into a portable, widely distributed emblem of resistance.
Another Mother for Peace was founded in Los Angeles in 1967 by a small group of mothers, including Barbara Avedon and other civic-minded women. The organisation emerged from grassroots opposition to the Vietnam War, emphasising a maternal perspective rather than political partisanship. AMP’s core belief was that mothers, speaking from caregiving experience, had a moral authority to protest militarism and nuclear escalation.
The postcard and other ephemera were part of a coordinated strategy to make activism accessible. AMP members could distribute them at rallies, send them to politicians, or use them in local educational and community initiatives. The organisation grew rapidly, connecting mothers across the U.S. and inspiring related groups internationally. AMP also published newsletters, organised vigils, and maintained correspondence networks, turning a small emblem — the sunflower postcard — into a symbol of national and international advocacy.
The sunflower design was created by Lorraine Schneider, an artist and mother, initially for a 1965 art competition called 'What I Can’t Forget.' The image — a hand-drawn sunflower with the slogan in simple lettering — was adopted by AMP in 1967 as its official emblem. Its simplicity, domestic aesthetic, and maternal resonance made it immediately recognisable and emotionally persuasive.
AMP postcards were used in multiple ways: as fundraising tools, as letters to policymakers, and as visual statements during rallies and vigils. Mothers, teachers, and allies wore or displayed the image to communicate the moral stakes of war. The postcard format allowed the emblem to reach people in homes and offices, translating personal concern into a visible public presence.
The hand-drawn sunflower, uneven petals, and plain lettering convey domesticity and care. The bright, cheerful flower contrasts with the sobering message about war, reinforcing the moral appeal. The postcard’s small, portable size made it easy to distribute widely and attach to letters, packages, or noticeboards.
AMP postcards helped define a maternal voice in the anti-war movement. The sunflower emblem, through badges, medallions, and postcards, became a widely recognised symbol of moral opposition to war. For badger4peace, the postcard demonstrates how small objects can communicate enduring ethical values, merge art with activism, and make the care of children a visible, persuasive message.
The Another Mother for Peace postcard shows that activism need not be loud to be powerful. In a simple, sunlit image carried by mothers and allies, it turned everyday concern into public persuasion, reminding us that moral clarity, care, and creativity can make a lasting impact.