Claire Goll (née Aischman) born in Nuremberg, Germany October 29, 1890 (d. 1977). Franco-German pacifist; poet and novelist; journalist; opposed World War I.
"The man was the brain, but women were the heart of the world. And yet we were silent. . . We bear the greater guilt." ("The Wax Hand", 1918, in Ingrid Sharp "Blaming the Women"; photo Jewish Women Ency.)
Jane Goodall born London, England April 3, 1934. Primatologist and animal rights activist; Gandhi-King Award for nonviolence 2001; UN Messenger for Peace 2002; International Peace Award 1999.
"We humans, therefore, have a choice ahead of us, we don't have to go the aggressive route. We can push and push and push towards love and compassion. That is where I believe human destiny ultimately is taking us." (Reason for Hope, 1999; photo Wikipedia)
Eva Gore-Booth born Lissaway, Sligo, Ireland May 22, 1870 (d. 1928). Irish pacifist poet and dramatist; suffragist; WILPF member. Published essay on nonviolence during World War I, 1915; wrote nonviolent play "Fionavar".
"[U]nless we make some vital change in our way of looking at life, every step in our advancing knowledge of science is a new danger for the human race, and that perfection in that knowledge might really and practically work out at the wiping out of humanity itself." (Religious Aspects of Non-Resistance, 1915; photo spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk)
Hildegard Goss-Mayr born Vienna, Austria January 22, 1930. Nonviolent peacemaker; honorary president of International Fellowship of Reconciliation; trained nonviolent revolutionaries in Madagascar and Philippines, 1986. Awarded Kreisky Human Rights prize, 1979; recipient Niwano Peace Prize, 1991; Nobel Prize nominee: 1979, 1987, 1995.
"If I continue to live, I must give my life so that violence may be conquered." (Levellers blog, Dec. 27, 2006; photo http://bit.ly/AxTSag)
Heide Göttner-Abendroth born Langewiesen, Thuringia, Germany February 8, 1941. German feminist, student of matriarchy. Organized Societies of Peace conference, 2005; Nobel Peace Prize nominee, 2005.
"Matriarchy presents us a well-balanced, egalitarian and peaceful society without wars of conquest and the rule of dominance. I am convinced that matriarchy is needed for a humane world." (1000peacewomen; photo Wikipedia)
Olympe de Gouges (née Marie Gouze) born Montauban, Tarn, France May 7, 1748 (died by guillotine 1793). "Angel of Peace"; revolutionary feminist author and pamphleteer; authored Declaration of the Rights of Women, 1791; human rights advocate; wrote anti-slavery play; opposed death penalty.
"Woman is born free and remains equal to man." (Art. 1 of Declaration; photo ladiesroom.fr)
Juliette Gréco born Montpellier, France February 7, 1927. French singer and actress. “Muse of the Existentialists.” Member of Movement of Peace; sponsor of Committee for Education for Nonviolence and Peace. Arrested by Gestapo for resistance, 1943. Sang in Chile in opposition to dictator Pinochet.
“[I have always yearned for revolution]: bloodless, peaceful and beginning with the human spirit.”
“. . . I don't take orders well and I'm not very obedient.” (The Guardian, Feb. 9, 1999; photo gettyimages.org)
Virginie Griess-Traut born Colmar, Lorraine, France October 18, 1814 (d. 1898). Leading French woman pacifist. Spent 25 years in utopian socialist Fourierist colony, Algeria, 1849-74. Member of International League for Peace Freedom, 1869. Published Manifesto of Women against war, Geneva, 1877. Proposed international arbitration committee to ensure Afghan independence, 1885. Member of French Society for Arbitration, 1889; Committee of the Society of Peace, 1889. Chaired Association of Women for Peace; Vice-President, Society for Peace through Education. Promoter and benefactor of International Peace Bureau, the first peace information clearing house, Geneva, 1891.
“We, the women of all countries, we, who form the half of the contingent of Nations, we, whom the laws of men have excluded from those councils in which of old, the voice of our mothers made the cause of peace to triumph, we to whom barbarous war spares neither death nor the most cruel outrages . . . we, whose mission on earth is conciliation, peace and devotion, we whom a longer silence would render accomplices of this detestable waste of human lives and of riches, the devastation of entire countries—we protest with all our energy against war, that odious abuse, that offense; against the voluntary abandonment of the effectual and peaceful method of 'international arbitration.'” (Manifesto of Women Against War, 1877, in Global Fund for Women, CLIO, June 15, 2009; photo charlesfourier.fr)
Susana "Suze" Groeneweg born Strijensas, South Holland, Netherlands March 4, 1875 (d. 1940). Dutch teacher and politician; suffragist leader; pacifist, anti-militarist, disarmament advocate. First woman in Dutch parliament, 1918; served 20 years as Socialist.
Annette Groth born Bielefeld, Germany May 16, 1954. Member of German Reichstag, 2009, chaired Human Rights Committee; took part in Gaza Freedom flotilla in which 9 protesters were killed, 2010; sociologist, education officer UN High Commission for Refugees, 1992-97; active in Association for Prevention of Torture and refugee relief.
“It was like war, They had guns, Taser weapons, some type of teargas and other weaponry, compared to two-and-a-half wooden sticks we had between us. To talk of self-defence is ridiculous.” (The Guardian, Jun. 1, 2010; photo bundestag.de)
Hanna Grunwald-Eisfelder born Berlin, Germany March 21, 1900 (d. 1994). American psychoanalyst. Founded Medical Aid for Refugee Children, 1933; made Honorary Chair of Amnesty International, 1978.
Marie Guillot born Damerey, Burgundy, France September 9, 1880 (d. 1934). French educator and organizer; pioneer in unionizing teachers. Pacifist, anarchist, socialist syndicalist, and feminist. Opposed World War I; prophesied outcome of war.
“[A] country like Germany cannot be annihilated and that war can only exasperate the faults of its public opinion. . . Let’s imagine Germany is defeated (could it be more defeated than France in 1870, and can we prevent a nation which wants to live to be reborn from its ashes?), okay, let’s admit it is. Chances of war will in no way be reduced.” (to Pierre Monatte, Dec. 29, 1914; photo Wikipedia)
Marie Guisse-Matlet born Wanze, Belgium December 15, 1920 (d. 1998). Belgian feminist; pacifist; militant Communist.
Women in Peace
is dedicated to highlighting the achievements of extraordinary, peacemaking women from around the world.
