Tarja Cronberg

Overview

Tarja Cronberg (née Mattila) born Helsinki, Finland June 29, 1943. Finnish Green politician, “a Peace-builder”; Minister of Labor 2007-09; European Parliament member 2011-14, chaired its Iran committee which achieved nuclear control treaty 2015; Director Copenhagen Peace Research Institute 2001-03; vice president International Peace Bureau.

Quotations

“The [Iran treaty] is a small step towards a world free of nuclear weapons. It has, until further notice, reduced the risk of proliferation in the Middle East. The alternative—no deal—would have carried with it a much greater risk of proliferation. It is also an example of how nuclear diplomacy can work in a multilateral context. States do change their behavior, when regime change is not on the table.” (“Diplomacy Can Work”, Sept. 1, 2015; photo tarjacronberg.fi)

Margaret Brackenbury Crook

Overview

Margaret Brackenbury Crook born Dymock, Gloucestershire, England May 5, 1886 (d. 1972). Radical suffragist and feminist; professor of religion Smith College. First British Unitarian woman minister; counseled World War I conscientious objectors; served in Quaker relief during war, 1916-17; executive secretary American WILPF, 1920.

Quotations

There was no room for her in the car.
There was a mother in it.
And five children
And the driver.
There was no room in the car.
In any case she had lived
Six years beyond her span.
The children must have their mother.
She was nobody's mother,
Since the last war, that is.
She was nobody's wife,
That is since that last war.
She gave them all that she had;
Now she had only herself to give,
At seventy-six, and all alone.
All that was left to her
From the last war
Was a generous spirit.
(The children must have their mother.)
She stepped from the running board;
And the overloaded car
Started for Paris.

("Refugees", from Shoreline Unitarian Univ.; photo Unitarian-Universalist Assn.)

Rachel Crowdy-Thornhill

Overview

Rachel Crowdy-Thornhill born Paddington, London, England March 3, 1884 (d. 1964). Internationalist; poet. Highest ranking woman in League of Nations Secretariat, 1919-1932; headed section on Social Questions and Opium Traffic. Played instrumental role in 1921 treaty against White Slave Traffic, and 1925 treaty on illicit drugs.

Quotations

“You may be able to disarm the world. . . but unless you introduce better economic conditions, better social conditions and better health conditions in the world, you will not be able to maintain peace even if you attain it.” (April 12, 1927; 1930 photo, National Portrait Gallery)