Hypatia Bradlaugh Bonner

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Overview

Hypatia Bradlaugh Bonner born London, England March 30, 1858 (d. 1943). Peace activist, prominent atheist; founded Rationalist Peace Society 1910; opposed imperialism, Boer War, death penalty.

Quotations

“Women do not bear arms? Why should we? If at empire building women are not competent, may they always remain so.“

“If some women are on the side of peace today, more will be tomorrow for as they get wider and deeper insight into national and international affairs so will they see that their whole interests are opposed to militarism and bound up with the maintenance of peace.” (Oct. 1910, Int. Arbit. & Peace Association, London, in Josephine Rubin, “Women & Peace”, Whole Earth Papers, Spring 1978, p. 3; photo Atheist Centre)

Mary Lucinda Bonney

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Overview

Mary Lucinda Bonney Rambaut born Hamilton, NY June 8, 1816 (d. 1900). Indian Rights activist; circulated petition to observe treaties; opposed Boer War and Spanish American War.

Quotations

On 1879 response to US army invasion of Oklahoma: "A moral wrong upon our Government! It took hold of me." (Notable American Women vol. II, p.197; photo beingwoman.blogspot.com)

Lauren Booth

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Overview

Lauren Booth born Islington, London, England July 22, 1967. Broadcaster journalist; co-sponsor of nonviolent Free Gaza Movement; broke blockade of Gaza 2008; converted to Islam 2010; opposed Iraq War initiated by her brother-in-law, prime minister Blair.

Quotations

"As a war criminal in Iraq and Afghanistan, Tony Blair should be arrested and go on a trial in Hague international court." (Malaysia University, Jan. 20, 2011, in Iran English News; photo InterfaithDialogueCenter)

Betty Boothroyd

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Overview

Baroness Betty Boothroyd born Dewsbury, Yorkshire, England October 8, 1929. Anti-apartheid leader; first female Speaker of House of Commons, 1992; member of European Parliament.

Quotations

"Look out girls, you're going to be knocked back. Pick yourself up and get on with it. . . Don't let anybody put you down." (http://www.wwom.org/interview.html; photo London.gov)

Lady Borton

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Overview

Lady Borton born Washington DC September 8, 1942. Quaker hospital administrator with American Friends Service Committee rehabilitation center Quang Ngai, Vietnam 1969-71, and with boat refugees Malaysia 1980; postwar aid Vietnam 1993-95.

Quotations

"There is no tally sheet in the exchange of small kindnesses; but there is shared memory and, from each person, the assurances of good things to come." (Anna Hough, "Lady Borton", Prezi, Sept. 20, 2012; photo PBS)

Jill Ann Boskey

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Overview

Jill Ann Boskey born Newark, NJ January 13, 1947 (d. 1999). Antiwar activist; led 5 Women Against Daddy Warbucks shredded draft files at Rockefeller Center 1969, breaking A+1 typewriter keys symbolic of draft status; member Students for Democratic Society; students burned draft cards Central Park; co-founded feminist Diana Press, Baltimore; later attorney for disabled.

Quotations

“If the destruction we have wrought against the files upsets you-we ask you to think about the destruction of lives which you have helped perpetuate in Vietnam. If you question what we consider our obligation to do this, we ask you to question rather the insidiousness of American 'peace with victory' in Vietnam and of future American counterinsurgency efforts elsewhere.” (Great Speckled Bird, July 14, 1969, p. 15; photo warresisters.org)

Gabrielle Bouet

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Overview

Gabrielle Bouët (née Dechézelles) born Assi-Bou-Nif, Algeria September 24, 1885 (d. 1977). Radical French pacifist syndicalist teacher; issued antiwar manifesto of teachers Chambery 1912; antiwar throughout World War I; opposed World War II.

Quotations

"[F]or a better future for the whole of humanity. So we are committed pacifists: we believe we are close to the moment when international conflicts will be resolved without bloodshed." (Louis Bouët, Trente Ans de Combat Syndicaliste et Pacifiste, pp. 149-70, 1973; photo bataillesocialiste)

Elise M. Boulding

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Overview

Elise M. Boulding (née Hansen) born Oslo, Norway July 6, 1920 (d. 2010). Quaker sociologist and "Mother of Peace Research"; International chair of WILPF 1977-80; opposed Vietnam War by illegally aiding North Vietnamese Red Cross 1967.

Quotations

"We must look towards societies that set a high value on nonaggression and noncompetitiveness, and therefore handle conflicts by nonviolent means." (photo hastingsnonviolence.blogspot.com)

Isabelle Bourgeois

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Overview

Isabelle Alexandrine Bourgeois born Washington DC April 28, 1966. Swiss journalist and Chief Editor of International Red Cross (IRC) journal Avenue of Peace. Delegate of IRC to Kosovo, 2000; Ethiopia, 2002; Iran, 2003; Iraq War, 2003; Libya, 2004-08. Took part in World March for Peace and Nonviolence, 2009.

Quotations

“The World March is the continuation of my commitment to promote peace, harmony and unity among people beyond races, religions, social and cultural differences.” (World March Base Team; photo ch.linkdin)

Hetty Bower

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Overview

Hetty Bower born Dalston, East London, England September 28, 1905. Marched in over 30 antiwar parades, including 2011 when she was 106, and 2012 three mile Oxfam hike for Palestinian olive farmers (28 Sept).

Quotations

"I march because I can see no reason for further killing. I have walked on every march against us going to war. At my age there is not very much I can do but while my legs can carry me I am going to march." (photo mylondondiary.com 2011)

Kay Boyle

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Overview

Kay Boyle born St. Paul, MN February 19, 1902 (d. 1992). Author of more than 40 books of non-fiction, fiction, poetry, short stories, and children's literature. Nonviolent peace activist. Blacklisted by major periodical publications during McCarthy era. Participated in civil defense protest, New York, 1960. Marched 150 miles with Cesar Chavez, 1964. Went on fact-finding mission to Cambodia, 1966. Twice arrested for protests against Vietnam War, 1967; jailed 31 days for sit-in at Oakland draft center. Refused taxes for war, 1968; fired as professor for her role in student strike, 1968. Protested US bombing of Libya, 1986. Opposed nuclear weapons.

Quotations

"What did we gain? We—when I say we I mean the younger generation and the stand which older people took—I think we stopped the war in Vietnam." (Kay Mills interview, Oct. 12, 1986; photo Wikipedia)

Amelia Boynton Robinson

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Overview

Amelia Boynton Robinson (née Platts) born Savannah, GA August 18, 1911 (d. 2015). Nonviolence advocate and civil rights activist. Key figure in planning of Selma marches, 1965. During first Selma to Montgomery march, beaten unconscious by police at Edmund Pettus Bridge, March 7, 1965.

Quotations

"I was not afraid." (Moni Basu interview, cnn.com, Jan. 9, 2015)

"Only until all human beings begin to recognize themselves as human beings will prejudice be gone forever. . . People ask me what race I am, but there is no such thing as race. I just answer: 'I'm a member of the human race.'" (Jane Ridley interview, New York Post, Dec. 1, 2014; photo lipstickalley.com)

Bertha Bracey

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Overview

Bertha Bracey born Bournville, Birmingham, England June 1, 1893 (d. 1989). English humanitarian. Quaker teacher and relief worker in Austria, 1921; fed children and worked for reconciliation with Germans, Nuremberg, 1921; Berlin, 1926. Founding Secretary of German Emergency Committee to help Jewish refugees, London, 1933. Set up Quaker school for 100 Jewish children in Ommen, Holland, 1934; organized Children’s Transport of Jewish children to England, 1938-39. Flew out 300 children from Theresienstadt camp, 1945. Led Allied refugee effort, 1946; Women’s Affairs for Occupation, 1946-53. Honored as “Righteous Among the Nations.”

Quotations

“I would quote an American writer [Niebuhr] who said, ‘Religion is the hope that grows out of despair.’ One reason why our generation is not religious is that it has become too sentimental to be thoroughly pessimistic. It has never looked into the bottomless abyss, on the edge of which all citadels of faith are built.” (Cleo Lampos; photo geo.brown.edu)

Selma Brackman

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Overview

Selma Brackman born Far Rockaway, NY October 27, 1922 (d. 2010). Organized Peace Worker Women's Strike for Peace, 1968; organized the National Teach-In on World Community, Columbia University, 1969; director of the First International Exhibit for Peace, 1971; founded War & Peace Foundation, 1981.

Quotations

"Armed conflict for any nation is a public health hazard and the use of child soldiers has become a feature of armed conflict in every region of the world." (The Child Soldier, Montreal, May 2002).

Anne Braden

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Overview

Anne Braden born Louisville, KY July 28, 1924 (d. 2006). Peace and justice journalist; anti-racism leader; first arrested 1951 in protest against execution of Willie McGee, a black convicted of rape; convicted and exonerated of dynamiting Wade house Louisville 1954.

Quotations

"In every age, no matter how cruel the oppression carried on by those in power, there have been those who struggled for a different world. I believe this is the genius of humankind, the thing that makes us half divine: the fact that some human beings can envision a world that has never existed." (Fellowship, Jan/Feb. 2005; photo walkimgbutterfly.com)

Heloise Brainerd

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Overview

Heloise Brainerd born Wallingford, VT April 30, 1881 (d. 1969). Bilingual Latin American expert, semi-official envoy with Pan American Union 1909-35; promoted WILPF (LIMPAL) expansion in Latin America.

Quotations

On her trip to Latin America: "I was most impressed with the splendid enthusiasm which was expressed by these countries for the newer phases of education, and by the interest shown in fostering friendship and good understanding between these countries with each other and the United States." (New York Times, Nov. 22, 1928; photo LIMPAL)

References

http://bit.ly/1rXAcj2

Gayle Brandeis

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Overview

Gayle Brandeis born Chicago, IL April 14, 1968. Author and poet. Founding member of Code Pink, 2002, Women Creating Peace, 2003.

Quotations

On the Iraq War: "You wonder how we ever could have started such a tragic and unnecessary war." (Toronto, Nov. 2008; photo codepinkalert.org)

“Code Pink works hard to keep the human cost of war visible; we can’t give our elected officials the luxury of looking away, of pretending that we are waging a humane and compassionate war.” (Toronto, Pink Tank, Nov. 17, 2008; photo codepinkalert.org)

This is what the body says:
release the peace

that lives within your skin.
("The Body Politic of Peace")

Fransziska Brantner

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Overview

Fransziska Brantner born Lörrach, South Baden, Germany August 24, 1979. Expert on UN reform; Green member Reichstag 2013; European Parliament 2009-13; foreign affairs spokesperson for Greens; promoted European Institute for Peace for conflict resolution; active in creation of European External Action Service; opposed European Somalia mission 2014, 2016; abstained on UN missions to Afghanistan 2014, Darfur 2013, South Sudan 2014, Central African Republic 2014.

Quotations

“I am not calling for a UN mandate for international intervention as is the case in Libya, but for a peacekeeping mission inside Syria. . . we need a full UN peacekeeping mission and I think it would be high time to prepare for it now.” (to European Parliament, June 12, 2012; photo badische.zeitung)