Margarethe Fass-Hardegger

Overview

Margarethe Fass-Hardegger born Bern, Switzerland February 20, 1882 (d. 1963). Swiss union organizer. Militant feminist, anti-militarist, and suffragist. Co-founded Socialist League. Led first women’s strike. Arrested twice for advocating birth control; sentenced to one year in prison. Founded three anarchist communes. Advocated abolition of Swiss army.

Quotations

“I devoted myself to a single purpose: Together with like-minded comrades to build this new society—to show you how to live together, cooperating without a wage system, without suppression—just in freedom.” (Farewell speech to union, March 31, 1909; photo margarethe-hardegger.ch)

Klara Marie Fassbinder

Overview

Klara Marie Fassbinder born Trier, Germany February 15, 1890 (d. 1974). German radical pacifist; author; educator. Fired by Nazis for opposing anti-Jewish policies; fired by postwar government for opposing rearmament. Proponent of German reunification; co-founded West German Women’s Peace Association, 1952. Opposed both World Wars, Cold War policies, nuclear stockpiling, and the Vietnam War.

Jennifer Fasulo

Overview

Jennifer Ann Fasulo born Schenectady, NY February 12, 1967 (d. 2010). Human rights activist; opposed wars in Middle East; supported women of Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan. Co-founded Solidarity with Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq (SOWFI), 2004.

Quotations

"Where is the outrage at the crimes against women's humanity that are being promulgated all over the world and bolstered by U.S. aggression and occupation?" (letter to WBAI, April 24, 2004; photo Bataille Socialiste)

Crystal Bird Fauset

Overview

Crystal Bird Fauset born Princess Anne, MD June 27, 1893 (d. 1965). First female Black state legislator in US 1938; founded Africa House New York, c. 1955; co-founded UN Council of Philadelphia; headed American Friends Service Committee section of interracial section 1927.

Quotations

"[My purpose is] in having people of other racial groups understand the humanness of the Negro wherever he is found." (blackpast.org; photo Wikipedia)

Anne Feeney

Overview

Anne Feeney born Charleroi, PA July 1, 1951. American singer and activist lawyer; album Wild Wimmin for Peace: The Great Peace March, 1986; active protests against Vietnam War and Apartheid; arrested 1972 Miami protesting Nixon’s nomination; arrested 2017 Day Without a Woman.

Quotations

On the Iraq War: "[With] a lifelong commitment to issues of peace and social justice. I feel we're on the brink of global war." (post-dispatch.com, Oct. 2, 2002)

Was it Cesar Chavez? Maybe it was Dorothy Day?
Some will say Dr. King or Gandhi set them on their way
No matter who your mentors are it's pretty plain to see
That, if you've been to jail for justice, you're in good company
(“Have You Been to Jail for Justice?”, 1999; photo Sisterhood)

Marsha Feinland

Overview

Marsha Feinland born Far Rockaway, NY May 21, 1949. Peace and Freedom candidate for President 1996; teacher, union leader; won 243,407 votes for US Senate 2004 calling for withdrawal from Iraq and Middle East, abolishing nuclear weapons.

Quotations

“Over 1,000 U.S. soldiers have been killed in Iraq. Countless civilians have perished, adding to the toll from Afghanistan, Colombia, and other sites of endless war. Our government is not helping to establish democracy, but rather is fueling the battles with our unwanted presence. I say, 'Bring the troops home now!' . . .As a Jewish American, I chose to run for U.S. Senate partly as an act of conscience in support of the rights of Palestinians in Israel and the occupied territories. The wall which impedes people from conducting a normal life must come down. Israel should abandon the settlements and retreat to its pre-1967 borders. I do not condone any violence against civilians, and favor full rights for all people in any state.” (Peace & Freedom Party, 2004; photo peaceandfreedom 2012)

Millicent Fenwick

Overview

Millicent Hammond Fenwick born New York, NY February 25, 1910 (d. 1992). Politician; diplomat; described by Walter Cronkite as "the Conscience of Congress." US Representative, 1972-84; opposed Vietnam War, capital punishment and military spending. Helped establish the Commision on Security and Cooperation in Europe, which oversaw European human rights affairs, 1976. US Ambassador to UN Food & Agricultural Organization (FAO), 1983-87.

Quotations

"The only people who would be in power are those who care more about people than they do about power." (photo Wikipedia)

Edna Ferber

Overview

Edna Ferber born Kalamazoo, MI August 15, 1885 (d. 1968). Popular author and playwright who opposed World War I.

Quotations

On the example of World War II: "[It shows] the futility, the idiocy, the utter depravity of war." (A Kind of Magic, p. 202, 1963; photo fineartameerica.com)

Irene Fernandez

Overview

Irene Fernandez born Kedah, Malaysia April 18, 1942 (d. 2014). Malaysian human rights activist. Founded Tenaganita (“Women Force”), 1991. Arrested for exposing torture and abuse of immigrants, 1996; given one year sentence, released on bail. Received Right Livelihood Award, 2005.

Quotations

"[T]here is no such thing as ‘illegal’ human beings. For me, the whole world belongs to all of us. We are one earth." (Sun Daily, July 30, 2005)

Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega

Overview

Maria Teresa Fernández de la Vega born Valencia, Spain June 15, 1946. First woman vice-president of Spain 2004; Doctor of Law, author of "Human Rights in Council of Europe"; celebrated International Women's Day 2006 with first forum "Spain-Africa: Women for a better world"; led Socialist government which withdrew from Iraq 2004 and announced plan for Palestinian peace 2006; set up courts for violence against women 2004.

Quotations

"Now, Spain is leading the way in equal rights." (UK Times, Nov. 29, 2006; photo revistavanityfair.es)

Solange Fernex

Overview

Solange Fernex born Strasbourg, France April 15, 1934 (d. 2006). French biologist; WILPF leader; Gandhian nonviolent protester; member of European Parliament, 1989-94. Tented outdoors five months against French nuclear plant, 1975; underwent 40-day "Fast for Life" for nuclear disarmament, Paris, 1983; co-founded Green Party, 1983; opposed sending NATO to Balkans.

Quotations

"NATO is not the solution, it is part of the problem." (Peacework, March 24, 1999; photo nuclear-free.com)

Benita Ferrero-Waldner

Overview

Benita Ferrero-Waldner born Salzburg, Austria September 5, 1948. UN Chief of Protocol 1995; Foreign Minister of Austria 2000; European External Relations Commissioner 2004; key diplomat in release of Bulgarian nurses and Palestinian doctor imprisoned by Libya 2007; peacemaker in Aceh.

Sara Bard Field

Overview

Sara Bard Field born Cincinnati, OH September 1, 1882 (d. 1974). Pacifist poet; suffragist leader; Christian Socialist who spent early years in Burma; opposed nuclear weapons.

Quotations

"To effectively banish War forever, we must destroy Industrial Slavery and build the Industrial Democracy." (Feb. 15, 1921 dedication of busts of Mott, Stanton & Anthony in Capitol rotunda)

"What is more fundamental than this problem of solving war before it's too late?" (Amelia Fry interview, July 12, 1962, University of California; photo Oregon History Project)

Olga Fierz

Overview

Olga Fierz born Baden, Aargau, Switzerland July 26, 1900 (d. 1990). Swiss teacher and humanitarian; active in Czech Fellowship of Reconciliation and War Resisters International; honored 1964 as Righteous Among The Nations for saving Jewish children in Prague and postwar rehabilitation; co-publisher of pacifist magazine Brotherhood, 1924-42.

Quotations

“The words ‘war’ and ‘peace’ do not have the meaning they once had in the lives of modern peoples. War has become a technical feature of a cruel, mass human slaughterhouse. . . The world of peace is understood to be state of a mere cease-fire of mistrust and hatred, a resting time in which exhaustion collects new forces and new cash for arms. Can we really talk about peace in our world? In a society where you do not ask about exploitation or deceit? Real peace is when Love will live in all hearts, and when everyone will feel like members of one family.” (Brotherhood 1928-9, V pp. 2-3, thesis of Hana Moracová, p. 28; photo righteous among the nations)

Christiana Figueres

Overview

Christiana Figueres born San José, Costa Rica August 7, 1956. Costa Rican diplomat, expert on global climate change; UN Climate Chief 2010; founded Center for Sustainable Development in the Americas (CSDA) 1995; Hero of the Planet 1991.

Quotations

"Lo and behold, we have one home, our planet. . . We are all absolutely interconnected and interrelated." (Norwalk, CT, Apr. 29, 2008; photo Wikipedia)

Ana Figueroa Gajardo

Overview

Ana Figueroa Gajardo born Santiago de Chile June 19, 1907 (d. 1970). Known in Chile as "The Woman." Chilean diplomat, suffragist and professor of English; Delegate to UN 1950; first woman to chair a major UN committee, Social, Humanitarian and Cultural, 1951; first woman on Security Council 1952; first woman Assistant Director of ILO 1960.

Quotations

"Do you know that 51% of the world's population are women and only 49% men? Diplomatic representation in the UN ought to follow the same proportion." (Erika Kuhlman, A to Z of Women, p. 363, 2002; photo guide2womenleaders.com/UN_Representatives)

Loretta Filipov

Overview

Loretta Filipov born May 1, 1936. Wife of 9/11 victim. Founding member of September 11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, 2002.

Quotations

“I was very cognizant that there was enough loss of human life I did not want to see more lives lost in waging an indiscriminate war.  I told that to the powers that be. . . But. . . let’s not go to war.  Enough lives have been lost and you’re not going to help by killing other people who didn’t do anything.” (quote and photo Concord Oral History Project, June 18, 2002)

Zlata Filipovic

Overview

Zlata Filipović born Sarajevo December 3, 1980. Kept diary of Bosnia War, 1991-93.

Quotations

"Why is politics making us unhappy, separating us when we ourselves know who is good and who isn't? We mix the good, not with the bad. And among the good there are Serbs and Croats and Muslims, just as there are among the bad. I simply don't understand it. Of course, I'm 'young,' and politics are conducted by 'grown-ups.' But I think we 'young' would do it better. We certainly wouldn't have chosen war!" (photo UN Dialogue)

Sebnem Korur Fincanci

Overview

Şebnem Korur Fincanci born March 21, 1959. President Turkish Human Rights Foundation; Professor Forensic Medicine Istanbul 1996; led sit-in at Parliament for peace 2016; arrested for terrorism 2016, advocating Kurdish free speech; first International Medical Peace award 2011 for opposition to torture.

Quotations

“Torture is not absent in Turkey. There are other forms of torture. The aim of torture is to eliminate people’s personalities and integrity and also to spread fear in society. We see that there are attacks against the society’s integrity. There are intense efforts toward marginalizing and isolating people via disinformation, threats and insults.” (Daily News, Feb. 20, 2015; photo imctv.com.tr)

Isobel Finnerty

Overview

Isobel Finnerty born Timmins, Ontario, Canada July 15, 1930. Canadian Senator 1999-2005, served on Foreign Affairs and Human Rights committees; activist and international peace trainer in Benin political participation 1994.

Quotations

"Politics, above everything else, is people." (farewell speech, June 22, 2005; photo collectionscanada.gc.ca)