February 18
/Women peacemakers born today
1876 Alma Dolens born Perugia, Italy (d. unknown). Feminist; journalist. Leading Italian peace advocate who organized first Italian women's peace organization. Opposed Italian war against Libya, 1911.
1930 Norma Becker born Bronx, NY (d. 2006). Teacher and protest leader. Founded the anti-Vietnam War protest group, the Fifth Avenue Peace Parade, 1965; founded the anti-nuclear organization Mobilization for Survival, 1977. Chairperson of War Resisters League, 1977-83.
1933 Yoko Ono born Tokyo, Japan. Pacifist singer and artist. Her band, the Plastic Ono Band, released the single "Give Peace a Chance," 1969; established LennonOno peace award, 2002.
1946 Ana Maria Cetto Kramis born Mexico City, Mexico. Mexican physics professor. Director of Pugwash Conference board when it won 1995 Nobel Peace Prize. Deputy Director of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) when it won 2005 Nobel Peace Prize, 2003-10.
1974 Julia Butterfly Hill born Mount Vernon, MO. Spent 738 days living in the redwood tree Luna in civil disobedience protest against logging practices.
Women's peacemaking on this day
1943 Nazis arrested Sophie Scholl for distributing resistance leaflets in Munich.
1960 In Chicago, Eroseanna Robinson received one-year prison sentence for refusing to pay taxes for war.
1980 Danish Women for Peace Appeal: “Arm for Lasting World Peace”
1992 Dr. Linda Reiser discharged from US Army as conscientious objector.
1991 Sadako Ogata appointed UN High Commissioner for Refugees.