A close-up of a white poppy. Photo: Trish Carn.
White poppy appeal to remember all victims
The Peace Pledge Union urges that Remembrance Day not be misused
The organisation that produces white poppies is calling for Remembrance Day to focus on supporting all victims of war rather than glamorising the armed forces.
With hate crime and xenophobia on the rise, the Peace Pledge Union (PPU) said that Remembrance Day should not be misused to promote nationalistic and militaristic feelings.
The British Legion, which produces red poppies, insists that Remembrance should be solely for armed forces personnel from the UK and allied states.
White poppies, in contrast, are designed to remember all victims of war, both civilians and members of armed forces, of all nationalities. White poppies also represent a commitment to peace and a rejection of militarism.
The last two years have seen record sales of white poppies, and it is likely the trend will continue in 2016.
Jay Sutherland, sixteen, who organises the white poppy appeal in Ayrshire, Scotland, said: ‘With the red poppy appeal now being sponsored by arms companies such as Lockheed Martin, it is crucial that the white poppy is seen more and that more people know about it.’
