IN answer to the letter from George Hunter November 8) regarding white poppies, the Peace Pledge Union was set up in the 1930s by the wives, sweethearts, sisters, mothers of the men who were killed in "the war to end all wars" when they saw the signs of it happening again.

The aim is to wear a white poppy to remember all victims of war, to challenge militarism and to build a culture of peace. The peace pledge is "War is a crime against humanity. I renounce war, and am therefore determined not to support any kind of war.I am also determined to work for the removal of all causes of war". The website is www.ppu.org.uk. There is a peace vigil on the last Thursday of every month from 5-6pm in Buchanan Street, Glasgow. at Donald Dewar's statue.

Unfortunately the women were not able to stop the Second World War, but we are determined to work to create a peaceful world no matter how long it takes.

Margaret Forbes,

26 Corlic Way, Kilmacolm.

IT is good to see the November poppies popping up reflectively – and even excitedly – in your opinion pages ("We all have a duty to learn as well as to remember", The Herald, November 7, and Letters, November 6, 7 & 8). Maybe readers could also share opinions about what is to be remembered this weekend, about the First World War killing fields. The German and Russian empires each had some two million military deaths. Britain and its empire around a million.

The UK stands out, it seems, by adding the Second World War to the First World War (the war to end wars) then awarding the poppy symbol to conflicts far and wide, and quite often misbegotten.

Jack Newbigging,

13 Heatherstane Bank, Irvine.