Object of the Fortnight 11/06/2014

The temporary exhibition area has been refurbished. This area now consists of three mini-displays. The popular Sierra Leone: Building Peace after War display remains. Selected artwork by peace activist and artist Margaret Glover that relates to the theme of anti-nuclear also stays on display. The latest addition are personal effects belonging to the late Professor Joseph Rotblat. Professor Joseph Rotblat was a nuclear scientist who became an anti-nuclear activist. His anti-nuclear work and efforts resulted in him being jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1995 with the Pugwash Conferences (an annual anti-nuclear conference Rotblat set up). Objects on display include his Nobel Peace Prize ephemera, scientific instruments and graduation gowns. In keeping this the anti-nuclear theme, prints by Gerald Holtom are displayed. These show early depictions of the Direct Action Committee (later known as the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) symbol. This was adopted as the universal symbol of peace. Also displayed is a roof tile from a Japanese house destroyed by the nuclear bomb.

Roof Tile in display Box. 

This is a fragment of roof tile from a house that stood in the Japanese City of Nagasaki. The city was destroyed by a nuclear bomb nicknamed ‘Fat Man’ on the 9th August 1945. The bomb was a result of the work of the Manhattan Project Team that Joseph Rotblat boycotted, once he believed that evidence suggested such weapons were no longer needed to stop Hitler and the Nazis. Fragments of buildings survived in Nagasaki near the centre of the blast. Fragments of people did not. This tile was donated to The Peace Museum by Councillor North from Leeds ( himself a life-long opponent of nuclear weapons) and is a stark reminder of the damage that can be done by nuclear weapons. The Museum can be visited on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 10am – 4pm to see these displays and the other galleries. Visits outside of these times for groups can be made with prior arrangement. Please contact the Museum.