White Peace Poppies are worn to remember all who have died in wars, both civilians and soldiers. Normally we make them available at the Peace & Justice Centre. This year due to COVID the Centre has been closed.
However, white poppies are available this year (2020) from the following venues in Edinburgh:
- One World Shop – underneath St. John’s Church, Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4BJ
- The New Leaf Co-op – 23 Argyle Place, Edinburgh, EH9 1JJ
- Zero Waste Hub by SHRUB Coop, 22 Bread St EH3 9AF
- Real Foods, 8 Brougham St, EH 3 9JH
- Lighthouse Bookshop – 43-45 W Nicolson St, Newington, Edinburgh EH8 9DB
- Quaker Meeting House, Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh
- Teviot Row House, University of Edinburgh, Bristo Pl,
In Penicuik:
- Penicuik Storehouse, 22 High St, Penicuik EH26 8HW
White Poppies are worn in the run-up to Remembrance Day every year by thousands of people in the UK and beyond. There are three elements to the meaning of White Poppies:
1. Remember: White Poppies recall all victims of all wars, including victims of wars that are still being fought. This includes people of all nationalities. It includes both civilians and members of armed forces. Today, over 90% of people killed in warfare are civilians.
2. Stand up for peace: White Poppies symbolise the conviction that there are better ways to resolve conflict than through the use of violence. They embody values that reject killing fellow human beings for whatever reason.
3. Challenge Militarism; A message originally associated with Remembrance Day, after the first world war, was “never again”. This message slipped away. In response, White Poppies were developed in 1933 by the Co-operative Women’s Guild to affirm the message of “no more war”.
For more information on White Poppies, visit the Peace Pledge Union website.
