Jessie Ashley

Overview

Jessie Ashley born New York, NY August 6, 1861 (d. 1919). Pioneering woman lawyer; Socialist; suffragist; opposed World War I: co-founder and treasurer Bureau of Legal Advice 1917 aiding conscientious objectors; co-founded National Birth Control League 1915, editor Birth Control Review; arrested for distributing birth control info Carnegie Hall 1916; friend of Emma Goldman, whom she bailed out; supported Lawrence Mill Strike 1912.

Quotations

“War should not even be suggested as a means of social progress.” (Intercollegiate Socialist, April 1917, p. 9; photo Library of Congress)

Anne Ashmore-Hudson

Overview

Anne Ashmore-Hudson born Atlanta, GA June 23, 1942. Psychologist; early member of Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee; jailed four days 1960 for first sit-in against segregation Atlanta City Hall.

Quotations

On her first night in jail: "[We] sang, prayed, danced, played games, told jokes. . . " (Harry Lefever, Undaunted by the Fight, p. 68, 2005; photo thehistorymakers.com)

Hanan Ashrawi

Overview

Han'an Ashrawi born Ramallah, Palestine October 8, 1946. Diplomat, poet, and professor. Palestinian peace negotiator.

Quotations

“The occupation is a source of violence that has to stop.” (CNN, May 12, 2002)

“The hunger strikers’ courage is magnificently inspiring, and their selflessness deeply humbling. They have truly demonstrated that non-violent resistance is an essential tool in our struggle for freedom.” (Alternatives International Journal, June 1, 2012; 2007 photo Wikicommons)

Catherine Ashton

Overview

Catherine Ashton born Upholland, Lancashire, England March 20, 1956. British diplomat. Active leader in Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), 1977-83. As Leader of the House of Lords, gathered approval of Treaty of Lisbon, 2007. First Vice President European Commission, 2010-14. First person to serve as High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, dictating EU Foreign and Security Policy, 2009-14. Instrumental in normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia, 2013. Led successful negotiation with Iran on limiting nuclear production, 2013.

Quotations

“The only solution to the Syria crisis is a political one.” (addressing European Parliament, Oct. 23, 2013)

Margaret Ashton

Overview

Margaret Ashton born Withington, Manchester, England January 19, 1856 (d. 1937). Suffragist; pacifist; opponent of WWI. First woman to serve as City Councilor, Manchester, 1908. Barred from attending Hague Women's Peace Conference, 1915. Founding member of WILPF. Organized peace rally, 1917; removed from city education committee for traitorous pacifism, 1917.

Quotations

“As women are still deprived from direct power to shape the destiny of this country, we must demand that our fellow men do their utmost to preserve peace and prevent the destruction of our communities. You are the only people who can prevent this crime from taking place. We are in contact with our sisters in Europe and America and we all believe that nothing can be gained from violence. We must appeal instead to reason and humanity.” (Hazel Roy’s reconstruction of Aug. 4, 1914 speech; portrait Spartacus educational)

Alexandra Asseily

Overview

Alexandra Asseily born Russia June 5, 1937. Lebanese-British psychotherapist and author; leader of Guerrand-Hermès Peace Foundation; member of Ara Pacis Initiative Council for Dignity, Forgiveness, Justice & Reconciliation. Founded Centre for Lebanese Studies, Oxford; founded Garden of Forgiveness on Green Line of Battle, Beirut, 1998.

Quotations

"The greatest gift we can give our children is to become good ancestors, to take our grievances and to deal with them in our generations and not pass them down expecting our children to fight our battles for us." (Post & Courier, June 17, 2010; photo KAICIID Dialog Centre)

Lucy Asuagbor

Overview

Lucy Asuagbor born Mamfé, Cameroon September 16, 1951. Judge of International Court for Yugoslavia 2001; Cameroon chief justice; African Commission on Human rights.

Quotations

"And Jesus said blessed are those who fight for Justice." (Nov. 6, 2005, Up Station Mountain Blog; photo lecamerounaisinfo.com)

Kaisha Atakhanova

Overview

Kaisha Atakhanova born Karaganda, Kazakhstan July 18, 1957. Biologist; led successful campaign to prevent the commercial import of nuclear waste into Kazakhstan. Awarded Goldman Environmental Prize, 2005; Nobel Peace Prize nominee, 2005.

Quotations

"Over 100 tests were done openly in Kazakhstan, and many more were done underground. Together, the radiation was more than 100 times that of the Hiroshima bomb. Many millions of people were affected by it. The nuclear testing site was closed by the president of Kazakhstan in 1990, but he was not able to stop the radiation. That will continue for years to come. . . And the worst effects were not with the first and second generations of people—the worst will come with the third, fourth, and fifth generations." (Grist, April 19, 2005; photo goldmanprize.org)

Seyran Ates

Overview

Seyran Ateş born Istanbul, Turkey April 20, 1963. German-Turk feminist Muslim lawyer; one of 1000 women nominated by WILPF for Nobel Peace Prize for defense of women's rights; severely wounded by Muslim fanatic 1984.

Quotations

"By nature, human beings are looking for freedom and also for pleasure, fun, even fun with sex. This is a human right and a human feeling all over the world." (Phyllis Chesler interview, Nov. 30, 2009; photo isioma.net)

Natacha Atlas

Overview

Natacha Atlas born Schaerbeek, Brussels, Belgium March 20, 1964. Singer of Jewish/Muslim heritage. UN Goodwill Ambassador, 2001. Boycotted Israeli apartheid, 2011.

Quotations

“The dialogue I want to set up is a dialogue among people—the real people whose lives are, and have been, irrevocably shaped by the conflict. A dialogue which acknowledges the incalculable human loss and tragedy on all sides while refusing to sit in judgement. A dialogue which is fuelled solely by the desire for the conflict and suffering to end. . . It is this kind of dialogue—a dialogue among people—which, I firmly believe, is the way forward. . . I have an unwavering faith in music as the universal means of communication—the fundamental means through which people can connect with each other on the most basic of levels: their shared humanity. . . As a Middle Eastern artist, it is my fervent hope that we can use our music to begin to build—and eventually cross—the bridges that the region so desperately needs.” (Creative Community for Peace, July 6, 2015; photo allyouneed.free.fr)

Catherine Dupe Atoki

Overview

Catherine Dupe Atoki born Kabba, Kogi state, Nigeria October 10, 1955. Chair of African Commission on Human Rights, 2011-12. Awarded Gusi Peace Prize, 2013.

Quotations

“[T]he concept of ‘pax Africana’—that the peace of Africa is to be assured by Africans themselves.” (Oct. 9, 2012 Yamoussoukro; photo thepost-ng.com)

Marie-Hélène Aubert

Overview

Marie-Hélène Aubert born Nantes, Brittany, France November 16, 1955. Literature professor and ecologist politician. Green Party deputy to National Assembly, 1997-2002; Assembly vice-president, 2001; Green Party member, European Parliament, 2002-08. Co-authored report on Polynesia nuclear tests, 1999; rapporteur on Kyoto Climate Protocol, 2000. Proposed nonviolent Civil Intervention for Peace.

Quotations

“The prevention of conflicts, their anticipation, and the monitoring of events seem to me essential elements, not only for the Civil Intervention of Peace but also in political action. This is a crucial issue for us.” (Oct. 2001, Irénées.net; photo linkedin)

Hubertine Auclert

Overview

Hubertine Auclert born Tilly, Allier, France November 10, 1848 (d. 1914). French feminist; pacifist; tax refuser, 1880.

Quotations

"The peace of the world, harmony of society, welfare of humanity will exist only [with] women's suffrage." (from cartoon of men voting for war/women voting for peace, La Citoyenne #73, June-July 1883; photo 1910 wikimedia commons)

Colette Audry

Overview

Colette Audry born Orange, Vaucluse, France July 6, 1906 (d. 1990). French novelist, film writer, and radical critic. Pacifist, feminist, militant socialist. Advocated negotiation rather than war in Algeria; close friend and subject of Beauvoir. Opposed Stalinism, militarism and World War II.

Quotations

“Anything is preferable to war.” (Beauvoir, Prime of Life, p. 284; photo snpview)

Anita Augspurg

Overview

Anita Augspurg born Verden, Germany September 22, 1857 (d. 1943). German peace leader; Dr. jurisprudence; actress and photographer; co-founder of WILPF and first German woman's suffrage organization 1902; opposed death penalty and militarism; promoted nonviolence in Ruhr unrest, and reconciliation.

Quotations

"Womanly feelings were above all race hatreds and that German women stretched out their hands for friendship and international love." (New York Times, April 28, 1915)

Marie Carmele Rose Anne Auguste

Overview

Marie Carmèle Rose-Anne Auguste born Jeremie, Haiti November 29, 1936. Nurse and human rights advocate; antiwar singer. Reopened State University Hospital during military coup, breaking in with an axe and recruiting doctors and staff, 1991. Minister Delegate for Human Rights and the Fight Against Extreme Poverty, 2012. Received Reebok Human Rights Award, 1994. Nobel Peace Prize nominee, 2005.

Quotations

Enough, we say!
NO! NO! NO!
77 times NO, Bush,
so that solidarity weaves
its way around the world
How can we say YES to war?

(Peace Women Around the Globe: Auguste; photo Cheney College)

Aung San Suu Kyi

Overview

Aung San Suu Kyi born Rangoon, Burma June 19, 1945. Politician; human rights advocate. Lived 15 years under house arrest as political prisoner. Received Sakharov Prize, 1990; Nobel Peace Prize, 1991; Nehru Award, 1992.

Quotations

“If we love and cherish each other as much as we can while we can, I am sure love and compassion will triumph in the end.” (letter to Michael Aris, c. 1971)

“The education and empowerment of women throughout the world cannot fail to resolve in more enduring, tolerant, just, and peaceful life for all." (Krishna Malik, “Three Case Studies”; photo Nobel Prize)

Barbara Avedon

Overview

Barbara Avedon (née Hammer) born New York, NY June 14, 1925 (d. 1994). American TV writer. Initiated Another Mother for Peace movement opposing Vietnam War, 1967.

Quotations

“[F]ifteen friends met at our house to discuss ‘doing something’ about the war in Vietnam. We wanted to do something that would communicate our horror and disgust to our elected representatives in one concerted action.” (Feb. 8, 1967, in “War is Not Healthy”, Age of Reason, Feb. 28, 2008; photo donnareed.org)

Rachel Foster Avery

Overview

Rachel Foster Avery born Pittsburgh, PA December 30, 1858 (d. 1919). Quaker pacifist; suffragist, right hand to Susan B. Anthony; founded International Council of Women, 1888; co-founded International Women's Suffrage Alliance, 1904; national speaker on peace, 1907.

Quotations

"International Congress of Women, composed of delegates of all civilized countries. . . considering all questions between nations, throwing the influence of a united womanhood in favor of better conditions for humanity, better educational opportunities for the world's children, and in favor of that equality between man and woman which shall give to man the high privilege of living, not with his social and political inferiors, but with his social and political equals, which shall lend its influence toward peace and the healing of the nations." (conclusion of World's Congress, May 22, 1893, in Sewall II: 926; 1890 photo wikicommons pd)

Ayo Ayoola-Amale

Overview

Ayo Ayoola-Amale born Jos, Nigeria May 23, 1970. Ghanaian poet, lawyer, and peacemaker. Founding president, Ghana WILPF. Began Center for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC), Accra.

Quotations

“Real peace will come only when we all find peace within ourselves and we conquer hatred. I discover for myself the true nature of war and peace in the world. Peace activism today goes beyond taking to the streets in anger to rage against the system, it’s about finding peace from within and then sharing that peace with others through inspired action that is meaningful to you. As a 21st century peace activist i search beyond how others construct the current state of the world, and define it for myself. It’s an authentic path of inner growth and discovery where i hold in my heart that if i choose peace in my life, the world will follow. . . Importantly, my work is to further humanity’s evolution in the direction of progressive values of peace, love and harmony.” (”Activists or Lobbyists?”, March 31, 2015; photo Wikipedia)