As November 11 approaches, it can be disheartening to see the rise of militarism, war and genocide across the world. The annual White Poppy Campaign aims to recognize all of the victims of war, not just those who fought in uniform, but civilians and innocent bystanders as well.
Since 2009, Vancouver Peace Poppies have actively worked to promote the message of the white poppy in their community.
Teresa Gagné is a co-founder of Vancouver Peace Poppies. In an interview with rabble.ca, she explained that rather than being a symbol of remembrance, the white poppy symbolizes the need forpeace.
“Remembering is important, but it’s not enough,” said Gagné. “If we’re gonna stop and take a day to remember the costs and consequences of war, we gotta stop and be willing to remember all the costs and consequences, not just the ones that make us feel good about ourselves and our country.”
Remembering is not enough
After World War I, the Red Poppy Campaign was created to remember the allied soldiers who lost their lives in that conflict. The campaign was later extended to remember Canadians and their allies who fought in any conflict.
War has changed however. Gagné explained that in World War I, only about 10 per cent of the casualties in that war were civilians.
As we’re seeing in modern day conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine, the number of civilian victims of war has grown significantly in the last century.
The White Poppy campaign is to remember all victims of war and to truly drive home the message of: Never Again.
“All those comfortable concepts like valor and patriotism and sacrifice, we gotta be willing to remember also the uncomfortable things, the wasted lives, excessive force, devastation, social trauma, and all those ruined lives. And we also think it’s important to look at the effect of war on the environment,” said Gagné.
The environmental cost of war
War is an environmental disaster. Not only does war destroy and scar beautiful natural landscapes, it also emits a lot of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
According to a report by Scientists for Global Responsibility, in 2022, all of the world’s militaries combined accounted for 5.5 per cent of global emissions for that year. If the world’s militaries were a state, they would be the world’s fourth largest greenhouse gas emitter.
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) monitors the impacts that war has on the environment. It has found that the war in Ukraine has led to a toxic poisoning of the ecosystems of that country. Not only has the landscape been devastated thanks to munitions that have been expended, but also due to spilled oil from destroyed refineries as well as other toxic chemicals and radiation released into the environment thanks to damage to nuclear installations and other facilities.
“The mapping and initial screening of environmental hazards only serves to confirm that war is quite literally toxic,” said UNEP executive director Inger Andersen in a UNEP report. “The first priority is for this senseless destruction to end now. The environment is about people: it’s about livelihoods, public health, clean air and water, and basic food systems. It’s about a safe future for Ukrainians and their neighbours, and further damage must not be done.”
Peace movement continues to grow
When Vancouver Peace Poppies began in 2009, they started with distributing just 500 white poppies.
Now, 15 years later, Gagné says they are distributing an average of 5,000 white poppies every year.
“It’s made a difference. It really opened up the discussion. When we started, it was quite controversial, and I won’t say that there’s no controversy anymore, but most people are quite accepting of the idea that we need to also be willing to count the civilian costs and not just remember the military,” said Gagné.
There particularly has been a growing interest in schools, where teachers have approached Vancouver Peace Poppies about having white poppies for their students, so that they can wear a white poppy alongside their red one if they choose.
Vancouver Peace Poppies will be holding a white poppy ceremony on Monday, November 11 from 2pm to 3:30pm Pacific time at the Vancouver Unitarian Centre.
Support rabble today!
We’re so glad you stopped by! Thanks for consuming rabble content this year.
rabble.ca is 100% reader and donor funded, so as an avid reader of our content, we hope you will consider gifting rabble with a donation during our summer fundraiser today.
Whether it be a one-time donation or a small monthly contribution, your support is critical to keep rabble writers producing the work you’ve come to rely on as a part of a healthy media diet.
Become a rabble rouser — donate to rabble.ca today.
Nick Seebruch, editor
