Artifact:0006

On December 15, 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono began the next stage of their campaign for peace. Huge posters and billboards bearing the slogan “War is Over! If You Want It.” appeared in 12 major cities around the world. Thousands of handbills and posters were printed to be posted around the cities and handed out to pedestrians. The ad also appeared in numerous publications around the globe. This handbill was made during this period, signed by Yoko Ono and kept by Ritchie Yorke as a part of his collection.

Ritchie Yorke was involved in this peace campaign as an ambassador, helping Lennon and Ono plan and organise some of the major moments such as the meeting with Canadian PM Pierre Trudeau. His position as ambassador led to him travelling the world alongside Ronnie Hawkins in 1970 to display the posters in various places, including the dangerous trip to the Chinese border.

This campaign set a precedent around the world and showed numerous artists that they could use their success and celebrity for positive causes and to affect a real change. It’s strong branding and use of repetition ensured that the message was cemented in the minds of it’s audience. Though the posters were at the time unsuccessful in ending the Vietnam War raging at the time, they can be considered a significant part of changing the public opinion on the conflict.