TIL the iconic white peace dove on blue background was created by a Finnish designer named Mika Launis 50 years ago in 1975, my birth year.

The peace dove would become a prominent companion throughout my childhood in 1970/80s cold war Germany; my mum and grandma would wear it during protests; Hans Hartz would sing about it; eventually I’d teach myself to draw it, and I guess I still can – though I didn’t draw this one, just found it in downtown Leer today.

Lovely to see it’s still around.

A blue and white fabric band is wrapped around a metal street pole fixed to a red brick wall. The band shows a white, abstract dove silhouette on a blue background. The fabric edges are frayed and a small green tassel hangs from one side.