Badge collection relating to disarmament and the anti-nuclear movement

The disarmament movement call for the reduction and limitation of weapons and military forces. Disarmament is considered central to maintaining peace and international security. The Library's badge collection has a focus on nuclear disarmament, reflecting the focus of activism during the Cold War period.

Pine Gap is an Australian-United States intelligence and nuclear arms facility in the Northern Territory. On 11 November 1983 seven hundred women from the Women For Survival group staged an anti-nuclear protest at the gates of the base, led by Indigenous women. This marked the beginning of a women-only peace camp, lasting for two weeks. Although non-violent in nature, 111 women were arrested for trespassing. They all gave their names to police as 'Karen Silkwood', an American anti-nuclear activist rumoured to have been killed in suspicious circumstances.

Pine Gap was again the site of protests in October 1987, when the 'Close the Gap' action group attempted to serve an eviction notice on the base.

The Library has a growing collection of badges related to Australian women that have been donated by a number of Library members and supporters.

The badges in our diverse collection have been generated by campaigns such as that against sexism, sexual harassment, war, nuclear energy and abortion laws. Others promote and celebrate working mothers, peace, International Women's Day and feminist values. Women's groups are well represented, although few political party badges have been collected. We do, however, have a badge from Jessie Street's campaign as the Labor candidate for the seat of Wentworth in 1943.