Berta Cáceres

Overview

Berta Cáceres born La Esperanza, Intibucá, Honduras March 4, 1973 (d. 2016). Indigenous Lenca environmental activist. Led nonviolent fight against Gualcarque dam; awarded Goldman Environmental Prize, 2015.

Quotations

“Let us wake up, humankind! We’re out of time. We must shake our conscience free of the rapacious capitalism, racism and patriarchy that will only assure our own self-destruction. . . Our Mother Earth, militarized, fenced-in, poisoned, a place where basic rights are systematically violated, demands that we take action. Let us build societies that are able to coexist in a dignified way, in a way that protects life. Let us come together and remain hopeful as we defend and care for the blood of this Earth and of its spirits.” (2015; quote and photo Democracy Now!)

Lydia Cacho

Overview

Lydia Cacho Ribeiro born Mexico City, Mexico April 12, 1963. Mexican journalist, feminist activist against violence to women and girls; arrested for defamation and threatened.

Quotations

"I am not a martyr for human rights—I am an activist and a believer in human rights." (Amnesty Int. US, Spring 2011, p. 9; photo Wikipedia)

Mary S. Calderone

Overview

Mary Steichen Calderone born Paris, France July 1, 1904 (d. 1998). Quaker Medical Director of Planned Parenthood 1953; founded SIECUS Sex Info & Education 1964; American pioneer in sex education; lifelong absolute pacifist.

Quotations

"One hardly thinks of Friends, men or women, as revolutionaries and, in truth, their outer demeanor, comportment, and life style have tended to be quite conservative. But on major social issues—slavery, peace, alternative service during war, religious ecumenicism, racial equality—on such issues Quaker concern and conscience come on strong. Quaker voices are usually heard loud and clear ‘speaking truth to power.’" (Friends General Conference, "Friends and Womankind," 1996; photo Wikipedia)

Helen Caldicott

Overview

Helen Caldicott born Melbourne, Australia August 7, 1938. Physician led international opposition to nuclear tests 1971; co-founded Women's Action for Nuclear Disarmament (WAND) 1980; active in Physicians for Social Responsibility which won Nobel Prize 1985.

Quotations

"As a doctor, as well as a mother and a world citizen, I wish to practice the ultimate form of preventive medicine by ridding the earth of these technologies that propagate disease, suffering, and death." (Nuclear Madness, 1978; photo wic.org)

Mary Whiton Calkins

Overview

Mary Whiton Calkins born Hartford, CT March 30, 1863 (d. 1930). Pacifist; professor of psychology and philosophy; first female president of the American Psychological Association. Member of Fellowship of Reconciliation; member of WILPF. Defended Sacco and Vanzetti in print; advocated pacifism in World War I; believed in the ethical duty of loyalty to the universal community.

Quotations

“[T]he devotion of man to the universal community is no mystic attitude but practical service.” (Good Man & the Good, 1918, p. 59; photo feministvoices.com)

Micheline Calmy-Rey

Overview

Micheline Calmy-Rey born Chermignon, Sion, Valais July 8, 1945. First woman Swiss Foreign Minister 2003, second female President 2007; Social Democrat; member Council of Women World Leaders; co-author of UN report on "The Future We Want", Global Sustainablility 2012.

Quotations

"[F]or the majority of conflicts, the most sustainable solution is a negotiated one rather than a military victory. And for the international community it makes more sense and is more cost effective to invest in the mediation and prevention of conflicts rather than in expensive and difficult peacekeeping operations." (UN General Assembly, Sept. 21, 2011; photo de.Wikipedia)

Bhikaji Cama

Overview

Bhikhaji Cama (née Patel) born Mumbai, India September 24, 1866 (d. 1936). Indian independence leader; unfurled first tricolor flag at Socialist conference Stuttgart 1907; anti-imperialist; banned from India, arrested in France for antiwar activity 1914; interned 1916; nonviolent, but accepted resistance to violence; did relief work against the plague, which she caught 1896.

Quotations

“Work for Indian's freedom and independence. When India is independent women will not only [have] the right to vote, but all other rights.” (Geraldine Forbes, Women in Modern India, p. 100; photo Wikipedia)

Mahawa Bangoura Camara

Overview

Mahawa Bangoura Camara born Conakry, Guinea March 13, 1927. Guinea’s representative to the UN. Ambassador to US, 1995; Guinean Foreign Minister, 2000-02.

Quotations

On responding to 9/11: “The new collective challenge is to bring to light the image of a world of equality, dignity, equity and international solidarity, translated into an economic and social cooperation and in a real ‘social adjustment,’ having the human being as a centre of reference.” (UN Chronicle, Dec. 2001; photo smolec.pl)

Amanda Camilo Ibarra

Overview

Amanda Camilo Ibarra born Putumayo, Colombia April 17, 1972. Peacemaker coordinator of Peaceful Route of Women.

Quotations

"We women of Colombia, we will not continue giving birth sons and daughters for war!" (“Mujeres valorosas,” June 21, 2011)

“War made us booty, as victims, our families torn away, it drove us out of the land, and we inherited despair and tears. Women opted for political negotiation, because we paid too high a price for the violence, war and injustice. It is essential work to rebuild the social fabric." (“Putamayo gives homage to women victims”, Oct. 8, 2010; photo DW.com)

Kay Camp

Overview

Kay Camp (née Katherine Lindsley) born Mt. Kisko, NY July 10, 1918 (d. 2006). Quaker International president of WILPF 1974-80; led opposition to Vietnam War and nuclear weapons; first meeting of Russian and American women 1961; led delegation to Vietnam for Vietnamese women peace agreement 1971; led human rights visit to Chile 1974; US delegate to UN Disarmament meeting 1978; 3 years UNESCO commissioner 1980-2; created Stop the Arms Race (S.T.A.R) campaign 1980; war tax resister; arrested for trying to see President Reagan 1983.

Quotations

"Wars must end in the minds of women." (Peace & Freedom, p. 32, Fall 2006; photo Swarthmore.edu)

Joan Brown Campbell

Overview

Rev. Joan Brown Campbell born Youngstown, OH November 13, 1931. Global Peace Initiative of Women, 2002; US director of World Council of Churches; peace missions to South Africa, Cuba, Serbia.

Quotations

"Compassion is a dangerous dream because it rocks the foundations of old interests and gives us new ground to stand on." (Gandhi Ashram, Penang, TED blog, Nov. 12, 2009; photo Charter for Compassion)

Clara Campoamor

Overview

Clara Campoamor born Madrid, Spain February 12, 1888 (d. 1972). Spanish feminist politician and suffrage leader. Co-founded Spanish Women’s League for Peace, 1930. Among first women elected to National Assembly, 1931. Delegate to League of Nations. Director of Public Welfare, 1933. Active in League of Women Against War and Fascism, 1933. Exiled by fascist Franco regime, 1936.

Quotations

“You have the right given you by law, the law that you created, but you do not have Natural Law, the fundamental right that is based on respect for every human being, and what you do is wield power; let women show and you'll see how that power can not go on being denied.” (Oct. 1, 1931 to National Assembly; photo nodo50.org)

Caroline Canafax

Overview

Caroline Canafax (née Newberger) born Seattle, WA February 17, 1921 (d. 2011). Peace teacher and activist. International Vice-President of WILPF; sang against war with Raging Grannies. Founding editor of Pacific Vision newsletter focused on Asia-Pacific region, 1987.

Sharon Capeling-Alakija

Overview

Sharon Capeling-Alakija born Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada May 6, 1944 (d. 2003). Director of United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) 1989-94; Director of UN Volunteers 1998ff; Canadian volunteer teacher in Tanzania and Barbados 1964.

Quotations

"All of us. . . know about the positive energy that can be set free when lives are touched by people who care. . . Care is at the core of the concept of community." (Aug. 23, 2001, UN Volunteers; photo Univ. Sask.)

Marcelle Capy

Overview

Marcelle Capy (née Marques) born Cherbourg, France March 16, 1891 (d. 1962). French journalist and public speaker. Founded anti-war feminist weekly La Vague, 1916.

Quotations

“Hang that bestiality which awakened screaming in the flesh of Europeans who thought they were civilized. We, the women, have learned, that all that horror which made us suffer, we express our disgust at the brutality.” (A Voice of a Woman in the Melee; photo literature.dk)

Claudia Cardinale

Overview

Claudia Cardinale born La Goulette, Tunis April 15, 1938. Italian film actress. UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Women’s Rights, 2000; Ambassador for Water Day, 2006.

Quotations

“How can we ensure peace on earth? First, by managing our resources wisely. . . Good actions and wise choices lead to better options and open other avenues because they are embarked on with love, and once love is awakened, it cannot be hampered—it consumes everything.” (Cathy Lee, The Future of Drylands, pp. 37-38; photo Wikipedia)

Rachel Carey-Harper

Overview

Rachel Carey-Harper born San Jose, CA November 25, 1950. Quaker; founder of Clothesline Project against violence towards women, Hyannis, 1990.

Quotations

"A nonviolent education requires skills in conflict resolution that benefits not only our relationship to other countries but most important, our relationship to each other. It develops attitudes and behaviors that foster constructive problem solving and truth. . . an anti-war perspective deserves at least equal weight to the one that advocates killing, destruction and propaganda." (draft minute re: Beth Verani, June 24, 2010)

Estela de Carlotto

Overview

Estela Barnes De Carlotto born Buenos Aires, Argentina October 22, 1930. Recipient of UN Human Rights Award, 2004; president of Grandmothers of the Plaza of May.

Quotations

"I wonder myself why I deserve to receive this recognition if I do what I must, which my heart dictates. . . the love, the resistance, the obstacles, the conviction, the commitment, the challenge." (Barcelona Oct. 4, 2005; photo cerro mercedario Feb. 15, 2010)

Lucy Perkins Carner

Overview

Lucy Perkins Carner born York, PA November 30, 1883 (d. 1989). Quaker social worker and pacifist leader. Active in Fellowship of Reconciliation, WILPF, War Resisters League, and American Friends Service Committee. Refused taxes for Vietnam War. Demonstrated against germ warfare, Fort Detrick, 1968.

Quotations

“That method leading to understanding and persistent good will across all barriers, and, underlying it, loyalty to one’s own conviction at whatever cost—these qualities are as much needed today as much as they were in the days of Jane Addams.” (“Incorrigible Jane Addams”, The Rotarian, Sept. 1965, p. 43; photo Swarthmore College Peace Collection)

Rosamond Carr

Overview

Rosamond Carr (née Halsey) born South Orange, NJ August 28, 1913 (d. 2006). Humanitarian. Returned to Rwanda after evacuation to found Imbabzi ("a place where you will find all the love a mother would give.") orphanage for 300 children after Rwanda genocide 1994.

Quotations

Confronted with spear-bearing mob seeking an enemy: “You don’t mind killing old women. . . If you want to kill someone, here I am. Kill me.” (“Land of a Thousand Hills: My Life in Rwanda”, 1999; photo New York Times)