Patricia Giles

/

Overview

11.16 giles rsz.jpg

Patricia Giles (née White) born Minlaton, Australia November 16, 1928 (d. 2017). Australian legislator and nurse midwife. First president of World Women Parliamentarians for Peace, 1985; chair of UN Global Commission on Women’s Health, 1993-96; three-time president of International Alliance of Women, 1996–2002. Led Australian delegation to UN Women’s Year. Supported Women’s Peace Camp, Canberra.

Quotations

“[A] career in politics can be civilised and rewarding; that it provides a unique opportunity to influence people and events, and to serve one's country and its people; and that it can be constructive, rewarding and even fun.” (quoted by Senator George Brandis in Senate, Aug. 10, 2017; photo spirit radio.com.au)

Dorothy Gibson

/

Overview

07.05 gibson crop.jpg

Dorothy Gibson (née Alexander) born Malvern, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia July 5, 1899 (d. 1958). Australian pacifist, communist, progressive educator. Executive in prewar Victorian Council Against War and Fascism, and International Peace Campaign. Member of postwar Australian Peace Council, 1949; served in Congress for International Co-operation and Disarmament, 1959, opposing Vietnam War. (photo auscp.org.au)

Vida Goldstein

/

Overview

Vida Goldstein born Portland, Victoria, Australia April 13, 1869 (d. 1949). Australian feminist and opponent of draft; first woman in English-speaking world to run for office 1903; founding president of Women's Peace Army 1915 opposing World War I and draft; co-founder WILPF 1919; opposed nuclear weapons 1946.

Quotations

"Protest, to be effective, must be followed by resolute action." (1946, Friends of St. Kilda Cem., foskc.org/goldstein.htm)

"War is out of date. Under modern conditions it cannot accomplish what those who support war want it to accomplish. Every deadly weapon is met with the invention of a still more deadly weapon... We must aim at changing our social and industrial system so as to produce for use and not for profit."(womenworkingtogether.com.au, ch.7; photo awm.gov.au)

Déwé Gorode

/

Overview

Déwé Gorode born Ponérihouen, New Caledonia June 1, 1949. Kanak independence leader using peaceful methods; poet and writer; Nobel Peace Prize nominee 2005; jailed 3 times; first woman university professor; Vice-President 2001-09; first woman in colonial government 1999.

Quotations

“Violated by the lecherous desires of senior men. Prestige, virility, war—male concepts for the Great House of men, built on the broad backs of women! Sharing, solidarity, humility, the word of women, conceived, nourished, and carried in our entrails of beaten wives.” (“Ute Murunu pelite fleur de cocotier”, 1994, p. 21; photo pacific-bookin.nc)

Neha Gupta

/

Overview

Neha Gupta born New Zealand May 23, 1996. American humanitarian. Founded Empowering Orphans at the age of nine, 2005; International Children’s Peace Prize 2014.

Quotations

“When you look at the world, you see so much discrepancy between what you have and what others do not. There are many more poor people than rich people. You should not only sympathise with people, you have to empathise, and turn ideas into action.”  (International Children’s Peace Prize, 2014; photo girlslife.com)