“Local business turns nuclear weapons into jewelry”

Local business turns nuclear weapons into jewelry

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 05:04 PM PST

Posted: Feb 22, 2011 4:54 PM by Courtney Meznarich - Source: KSBY News
Updated: Feb 22, 2011 4:56 PM

A startup company in San Luis Obispo is making peace fashionable. 'From War to Peace' is a jewelry company that donates a portion of its proceeds to peace-promoting organizations. But it's actually what's inside each piece of jewelry that makes this company unique. The new business is literally turning bombs into beauty.

It was a hymn about peace that inspired Paul Ogren to start his San Luis Obispo jewelry business a few years back. Just three months ago, 'From War to Peace's' first pieces of jewelry finally hit stores.

But this isn't your average bronze, silver and gold. It's called "Peace Bronze," and it's made from disarmed nuclear missile systems.

"This copper was mined in Montana, made into the cable running between nuclear missile silos in the 1950's, 60's and 70's," Ogren explained.

Ogren says the cables are dug from the ground in states like Montana, Wyoming, and North and South Dakota. Then they're shipped to the San Luis Obispo shop, where they're melted down, molded and plated with recycled gold and silver.

"A lot of people would like to make a strong personal statement about their commitment to peace, not war, and this is a way to do it," Ogren said.

He says he's simply turning weapons meant to destroy us into art meant to restore us, bombs into beauty and war into peace.

"What we have is a real commitment. We have an absolute belief in the power of peace," he said.

Ogren says all of the metal is free of radiation and safe. To be sure, it's tested on site. You can find his peace jewelry in eight local stores, but he hopes to have it in more than 1,000 stores by the end of the year. It's also available online here.

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