White button with green text and the illustration of a green pine tree among some hills. 

People have been concerned about the effects of nuclear weapons since the mid 1950s, stemming from nuclear tests in the Pacific, but there was no real movement against nuclear power until the early 1970s when some scientists started to raise concerns about the dangers of nuclear power. The movements combined into an international antinuclear movement that encompassed both antinuclear power and antinuclear weapons activities by the mid 1970s. This button was made in 1977 and became an international symbol of the antinuclear movement. It was used to protest the proposed creation of a floating nuclear power plant off the coast of New Jersey. This power plant was proposed in the early 1970s and canceled in 1978 after environmental protests.

Grey button with blue, red and green text. An image of black hands breaking free from chains appears on the button. 

The South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) was a national liberation movement in Namibia and is a major political party in the country today. It was founded on April 19, 1960, by Andimba Toivo ya Toivo and Sam Nujoma. During the Namibian War for Independence, the SWAPO became the major force that fought South African attacks and was recognized by the U.N., in 1972, as “legitimate representative” of the Namibian people. The Namibian War for Independence ended in 1988 and its first election was held in 1990. The country elected Sam Nujoma as its first president. Since then, the SWAPO has been the governing party of the country; in 2014, it received nearly 87% of the popular vote.

Brown button with orange text.

In 1972 Colorado passed an amendment to their state constitution guaranteeing equal rights for women within the state. In 1976 Colorado's Measure 6 was proposed to remove the equal rights amendment from the state constitution. This button was worn in opposition to the measure, which did not pass.

Yellow gold button with black lettering. 

The Immoral Minority was created to oppose the Moral Majority. The Moral Majority was formed in 1979 by Jerry Falwell, and supported Ronald Reagan in the 1980 presidential election. The Moral Majority wanted prayers in schools, a ban on abortion, and an end to Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) with the Soviet Union. They also opposed the ERA. By calling themselves the Moral Majority, they made their opposition the Immoral Minority, a name which some liberals seized with pride. A group formed in Olympia, Washington who called themselves the Immoral Minority. They used humor to combat some of the policies of the Moral Majority.  November 4, 1980 was the presidential election where Reagan was elected for the first time.

Teal and White button with white lettering on the top half and on the bottom half an image of stripes and the statue of liberty appears. 

In the 1960s, the pro-choice movement became a major political movement in the United States. Pro-choice supporters believe that women have the right to terminate a pregnancy and legally have an abortion. Abortion became legal in the United States after the 1973 Supreme Court ruling in the landmark case, Roe v. Wade. Since that time, the issue has remained relevant as the pro-life movement, which advocates for the right to life for unborn babies, seeks to overturn this decision and make abortion illegal. The platform of Democratic Party has aligned with abortion-rights advocates, and a number of different organizations support the cause, as well.

Yellow gold button with black and red text. 

The death of God is a concept taken from the 19th century German philosopher Neitche, who meant that God was no longer a valid source of morality. In the 1960s this idea evolved into the death of God theology, which argues that the concept of God is no longer relevant in our secular world. Supporters believe that Christianity should become a philosophy of love based in Jesus's teachings. This button plays on the concept of the death of God. It also references the conspiracy theory that Hitler did not die, but fled to Argentina, as many other Nazis did after WWII. It satirizes both conspiracy theorists and Christians, by implying that God being alive is a conspiracy theory.

White button with black text and the image of Africa. Namibia is highlighted in red on the illustration. 

Namibia was a former German territory (formerly named South West Africa) that was placed under South African control after the end of World War I. At the end of the Second World War, many indigenous people in Africa sought to gain independence from colonial powers. Freedom leaders in Namibia petitioned the United Nations to revoke the colonial power of South Africa, claiming that the South African government abused its power. In 1966, the U.N. revoked South African sovereignty over Namibia, yet South Africa refused to recognize this mandate. A series of guerilla attacks occurred between South African and Namibian forces. The Namibian War for Independence ended in 1988, with the help of Western intervention. Namibia held elections in 1990 and has maintained independence since then.

Green button with white text.

The Equal Rights Amendment was proposed to guarantee equal rights for women in both 1923 and 1972. The ERA passed Congress and was proposed for ratification on March 22, 1972 with a seven year deadline for ratification. As the deadline approached advocates protested for an extension and, as a result of these protests, Congress moved the deadline to June 30, 1982. The ERA fell three states short of ratification by the extended deadline.

The top half of the button is yellow with orange text and the bottom half is orange with yellow text.

White button with black text. The Shell logo is in the background.

The Boycott Shell movement was part of anti-apartheid movement started in 1987 by organizations in the U.S., the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. Apartheid was a South African policy that discriminated against black citizens based on race. Shell was a main target of this movement because it provided fuel to the South African military and police, who maintained the apartheid. According to the boycotters, the South African government could not maintain the apartheid without companies like Shell, because it did not have its own oil supply. As the boycott continued, local groups picketed Shell stations throughout Great Britain, causing Shell’s share of the U.K. market to fall by 6.6%. The apartheid in South Africa officially ended in 1994.