Jemima Khan

/

Overview

Jemima Khan (née Goldsmith) born London, England January 30, 1974. Journalist; UNICEF UK Goodwill Ambassador. Publicly opposed Iraq and Afghan wars.

Quotations

"Why the pretence of 'making the world a safer place' when we all know an unjust war will incite such hatred that new recruits will be queueing up to join al-Qa'eda?" (Telegraph, April 2, 2003)

"There comes a moment when you have to ask what is more dangerous, terrorism or counterterrorism. . . Afghanistan is still the worst place in the world for women to live. . . So by any standards, our mission in Afghanistan has failed." (AFP, Oct. 10, 2011; 2011 photo Wikipedia)

Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan

/

Overview

Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan (née Sheila Irene Pant) born Almora, Uttarakhand, India February 13, 1905 (d. 1990). “Mother of Pakistan.” Diplomat and stateswoman; professor of economics. First First Lady of Pakistan, 1947-51; first Muslim woman delegate to the UN, 1952. Ambassador to Netherlands, 1954-61, Italy, 1966. First chancellor of Karachi University, 1977. Openly opposed military rule. Awarded UN Human Rights Prize, 1978.

Quotations

“God gives and God takes, but God’s work of service to humanity must go on. In the interest of that service, which must rise above all personal considerations and even grief, however great.” (Adventist Review, Nov. 1951, p. 24; photo Pakistan360degrees)

Zarina Khan

/

Overview

Zarina Khan born Tunis, Tunisia February 19, 1954. “Citizen of the World.” Actress, philosopher, poet, filmmaker, and peacemaker. Set up “Theater & Liberty in War” in war-torn Sarajevo 1993, producing “Dictionary of Life”; UNESCO expert in culture of peace 1995; nominee for Nobel Peace Prize 2005.

Quotations

“[V]iolence and its opposite, the respect of the others, are the backgrounds of the history of humanity. Denying the violence, seeking to erase is an illusion, it is like trying to win over the night. . . So, we have to look at violence's face, in order to understand its functioning, how it begins, which are its deep roots that help its growth. In the same way, the functioning of the human being has to be understood . . . by each of us. It is the first step in the transformation process of our society. . . 'Who is he, the one I am hitting?' asks immediately the next question: 'What is this something in me that is hitting him?' . . . To explore the mystery, one has to express it. Who am I? Who are you? You are a mystery for me if I am a mystery for myself. Discovering you, I will discover myself, and if I discover in you, who is so different from me, parts of myself, I will discover that in the same time I am unique and strangely like you, that we are sharing the same story, the story of 'human beings,' and that we have to write it, together.” (“Culture as space of encounter, resistance and reconstruction”; photo rfi.fr)

Maryam al-Khawaja

/

Overview

Maryam al-Khawaja born Damascus June 26, 1987. Bahraini human rights activist. International spokesperson for Bahrain Center for Human Rights. Exiled and arrested on return, 2014; released and sentenced to year in prison, in absentia.

Quotations

“When you're talking about human rights, it's black and white. . . There's no excuse for committing human rights violations.” (Alalam, Aug. 27, 2013)

Zainab al-Khawaja

/

Overview

Zainab al-Khawaja born Damascus October 21, 1983. Bahraini human rights activist. Underwent 10-day hunger strike to protest detentions of her family, 2011. Arrested for sit-in at UN office, 2011; again arrested and beaten while in police custody, 2011. Arrested three times, 2012. Arrested and sentenced to three years in prison for destroying a picture of King Hamad, 2014.

Quotations

“People are sick and tired of living in a country where they cannot speak about what is on their mind. I am speaking out, but we are paying a high price for it.” (Spiegel, April 29, 2012; photo Wikipedia)

Angelique Kidjo

/

Overview

Angélique Kidjo born Cotonou, Benin July 14, 1960. Grammy Award-winning singer; first African woman named UN Ambassador for Peace, 2002; African Union Peace Ambassador for Year of Peace and Security, 2010. Supported Darfur peace, women's rights, climate change action; sang at Nobel Peace Prize Concert, 1996, 2002, 2011.

Quotations

"Use music as the weapon of peace." (Berklee School, Boston, August 5, 2010; photo UNICEF)

Nicole Kidman

/

Overview

Nicole Kidman born Honolulu, HI June 20, 1967. Australian actress; Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF 1994; UN Citizen of the World 2004; star of "The Interpreter" at UN 2005; UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador 2006; led UNiTE campaign against violence against women.

Quotations

"[Violence against women] is probably the most widespread human rights violation of our time." (April 22, 2008)

"I do believe there is enormous possibility to change this world." (nkidman.com, Jan. 27, 2006; photo posc.org)

Nicole Kiil-Nielsen

/

Overview

08.21 kiil-nielsen.jpg

Nicole Kiil-Nielsen born Larchamp, Mayenne, France August 21, 1949. French Green politician; elected European Parliament, 2009, serving on Foreign Affairs Committee; anti-nuclear activist since 1960s; aboard “Say Human” Freedom Flotilla II ship “Dignité” to Gaza, 2011.

Quotations

On Israeli raid of Gaza flotilla: “I hope that the death of these pacifists, these activists, will lead us to say this time: ‘That’s enough! It has to stop! . . . Let us put an end to the impunity of Israel!’” (Weekly Standard, Jun. 3, 2010; photo euroarl.eu)

Q’orianka Kilcher

/

Overview

Q’orianka Kilcher born Schweigmatt, Baden-Würtemberg, Germany February 11, 1990. Peruvian-German indigenous rights activist; actress, singer, songwriter. Arrested for protest at White House against Amazon oil, 2010.

Quotations

“I hope to contribute to a global warming of hearts and a climate change in human consciousness.”

“The things I do, I do from the heart and out of love and respect for our planet and all living things. And I draw my courage from my love for justice and truth and I calm my fears by comforting those who are more scared than me. And I try to do my best to make the world a better place, one small action at a time as good as I can. But it’s getting harder and harder to just mind my business because at some point, silence is betrayal and we have to speak up and stand up to power and find the courage to defend justice, compassion and all the values we stand for. . . .But I think humanity has been sleeping for way too long and it’s a good time for all of us to wake up and remember who we were meant to be.” (Feb. 2, 2013 Juan Caceres interview, IndieWire; photo zimbio.com)

Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick

/

Overview

Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick born Detroit, MI June 25, 1945. Six-term U.S. Representative 1997-2011; Chaired Black Caucus 2007-9; opposed war in Iraq 2002; supported international organization and UN; Delegate to Nairobi UN Women's Conference 1996; for impeachment of Cheney for war crimes; for Dept. of Peace & Nonviolence.

Quotations

"I was against the war in Iraq from the beginning; I will continue to stand strong. . . The war in Iraq has cost us more than 3,500 of the lives America’s finest women and men. Over 20,000 more remain maimed and disfigured for life." (June 25, 2008; quote and photo from official website)

Phan Thi Kim Phuc

/

Overview

Phan Thi Kim Phuc born Trảng Bàng, Vietnam April 2, 1963. Famed as 9-year-old fleeing bombs, 1972. UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, 1994. Founded foundation for child victims of war, 1997.

Quotations

“Forgiveness made me free from hatred. I still have many scars on my body and severe pain most days but my heart is cleansed. Napalm is very powerful, but faith, forgiveness, and love are much more powerful. We would not have war at all if everyone could learn how to live with true love, hope, and forgiveness.” (NPR, Dec. 28, 2009; Nick Ut photo cnn.com)

Carol Weiss King

/

Overview

Carol Weiss King born Manhattan, NY August 24, 1895 (d. 1952). Human rights lawyer who defended unpopular immigrants.

Quotations

"We are all immigrants and the children of immigrants. Why then should we suddenly in our superiority turn away from the immigrant and hold ourselves better?" (1952, in Ann Ginger, Carol Weiss King: Human Rights Lawyer, 1895-1952, p. 91, 1993; photo Amazon.com)

Coretta Scott King

/

Overview

Coretta Scott King born Heiberger, AL April 27, 1927 (d. 2006). Singer; wife and companion of Martin Luther King, Jr. Founding member of the Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy, 1957. Performed in Freedom Concerts, 1964. Following the death of her husband, founded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Atlanta, 1968. Opposed Iraq War and capital punishment.

Quotations

On joining WILPF: "[The] women of the world, united without any regard for national or racial divisions [could] become the most powerful force for international peace and brotherhood." (My Life with Martin Luther King, Jr., 1969, p. 209)

"The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members. . . a heart of grace and a soul generated by love." (Jan. 17, 2000; photo wikipedia)

Mary E. King

/

Overview

Mary Elizabeth King born New York, NY July 30, 1940. Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at the UN University for Peace, Costa Rica. Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) activist, 1962-66. Deputy director of American domestic volunteer agency ACTION, overseeing Peace Corps and VISTA, 1977-81. Awarded Jamnalal Bajaj International Prize for Gandhian work, 2003; El-Hibri Peace Education Prize, 2009; James Lawson Award for Nonviolent Achievement, 2011.

Quotations

“Since nonviolent resistance is based on an understanding of power more profound than is military force, the dogs of war are less likely to be unleashed as more societies learn, and with greater accuracy, of the power of nonviolent action.” (“Waging Peace”, Bulletin Peace Studies Inst., 2006, p. 20; photo Wikipedia)

Barbara Kingsolver

/

Overview

Barbara Kingsolver born Annapolis, MD April 8, 1955. American author and biologist. Protested Vietnam War; self-exiled during Gulf War, 1990. Joined antiwar organization Not In Our Name, 2003. Published anti-colonial novel The Poisonwood Bible based on her childhood experiences in the Congo, 1999. Received Dayton Literary Peace Prize Distinguished Achievement Award, 2011.

Quotations

“I fear the sound of saber-rattling, dread that not just my taxes but even my children are being dragged to the cause of death in the wake of death.” (“And our flag was still there”, Sept. 25, 2001)

Maxine Hong Kingston

/

Overview

Maxine Hong Kingston born Stockton, CA October 27, 1940. Author; peace activist. Arrested for White House antiwar protest, 2003.

Quotations

"The First Precept, which is a vow against killing: 'I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to condone any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, and in my way of life.'" (Intro, Veterans of War; photo LA Times books)

Helen Kinnee

/

Overview

Helen Kinnee born December 25, 1913 (d. 2005). Peace activist; led weekly vigil against Titan missile in Chico, CA.

Quotations

"Something has to be done. Perhaps one person alone can’t change things. But one person makes a small ripple and other people make ripples which affect yet more people, until altogether, the ripples make one enormous wave whose power cannot be ignored." (Code Pink Calendar, Tokyo, June 2, 2006; photo newsreview.com)

Glenys Kinnock

/

Overview

Glenys Kinnock (née Parry) born Roade, Northamptonshire, England July 7, 1944. Internationalist who founded One World Action 1989; British Minister for UN and Africa 2009-2010; Minister for Europe 2010; Welsh member of European Parliament 1994-2009; anti-Apartheid leader and promoter of third world development.

Quotations

"[T]he deteriorating situation in Darfur. Tension is building up very seriously and a large-scale military confrontation is threatened, as thousands and thousands of Sudanese troops are now moving into the region with trucks, bombs and guns. We also face a massive humanitarian catastrophe." (European Parliament, Sept. 4, 2006)

"I welcome the fact that we now have collective responsibility to protect civilians against genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and all crimes against humanity. Now we look forward to the proof that in the future the UN will be able to avoid those failures that we so tragically saw in Bosnia and Rwanda." (European Parliament, Sept. 28, 2005; photo Wikipedia)