Amelia Lambrick

Overview

Amelia Lambrick AKA Hypatia born North Melbourne, Victoria, Australia March 23, 1864 (d. 1956). Australian theosophist social reformer, and peace activist. WILPF leader. Lectured on nonviolent leaders Gandhi and Kagawa. Contributed to Peace for 1937 Australian Peace Congress, Melbourne, International Peace Campaign.

Quotations

“Peace stands for truth, justice, brotherhood, and these are the foundations of all true civilization.” (1937 Aust. Dict. Biography; photo people Australia)

Carmen Lawrence

Overview

Carmen Lawrence born Northam, Western Australia March 2, 1948. Psychology professor and politician. First woman Premier of Australian state, 1990-93; Member of National Parliament, 1994-2007. Minister of Health and Women, 1997. Opposed Iraq War; strong advocate for refugees.

Quotations

“I've seen no evidence despite Colin Powell's descriptions last night of the massing of arms. It's quite clear the only reason the United States is contemplating attacking Iraq is because they believe they can't retaliate. So none of the arguments is convincing.” (PM, Feb. 6, 2003)

“I want to make a few broad and bold statements about my beliefs on war and peace. Firstly that deadly conflict is not inevitable. It may seem strange to say that but I believe it’s important to repeat. It doesn’t emerge inexorably from human interaction. We’re not condemned by our natures to settle disputes with violence. We can be peaceful.

"Secondly, the means to prevent deadly conflict is increasingly urgent, especially given the spread or more and more lethal weapons.

"Thirdly, its not that we don’t understand the roots of deadly conflict, but that we don’t act to preserve the peace.” (Australian Ministry of Peace, March 1, 2003; photo john.curtin.edu.org)

Maire Leadbeater

Overview

Maire Leadbeater (née Locke) born New Zealand October 19, 1945. Second-generation anti-nuclear and human rights activist, daughter of Elsie Locke. Spokesperson for New Zealand Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, which earned a nuclear-free zone and ban on nuclear-powered ships. Campaigned for human rights in Burma, East Timor, Philippines, Papua and Indonesia; published Peace, Power & Politics: How New Zealand Became Nuclear Free, 2013.

Quotations

''There is a place for everything in the peace movement, I think. For some, it is about activism, jumping in front of ships, going on marches, those sorts of things. . . there is also the role of peace researchers and lobbyists.'' (Otago Daily Times, November 22, 2013; photo Nelson Envir. Center)

Ruth E. Lechte

Overview

Ruth Elizabeth Lechte born Melbourne, Australia August 8, 1932 (d. 2012). Feminist; environmentalist; peace activist. Founding staff member of Fiji YWCA, 1962. Spearheaded opposition to nuclear testing in Mururoa, leading to nuclear-free Pacific, 1968. Assumed position of Pacific Area Secretary of the World YWCA, 1974; delegate to various international women’s conferences. Awarded Order of Fiji, 1995, and Order of Vanuatu, 2009.

Quotations

“[T]he continuous action of French nuclear testing on Mururoa Atoll was a major threat to Pacific states.” (June 7, 1995, UNESCO Environmental Education in the South Pacific)

Elsie Locke

Overview

Elsie Locke (née Freeman) born Hamilton, New Zealand August 17, 1912. (d. 2001). Author; historian; peace activist; communist; defended Maori rights; opposed conscription and nuclear weapons; co-founded Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, which led to nuclear free zone; opposed Korean, Vietnam and Iraq Wars.

Quotations

"I don’t like it when they’re trained for jungle warfare. We haven’t got any jungles to be warfaring in."

"The (first) Gulf War was about oil and if it had not been there, there wouldn’t have been all that action." (in Maureen Birchfield, "A Life of Elsie Locke." Peace Researcher, vol. 39, Jan. 2010; photo NZ Nat. Lib.)

Isabel Longworth

Overview

Isabel Longworth (née Swann) born Temora, Australia June 1, 1881 (d. 1961). Australian dentist. Peace activist; WILPF leader; lifelong socialist. Militant opponent of conscription during World War I. Secretary of Women’s Peace Army, 1915-19. Claimed responsibility for ending indentured labor in Fiji, 1916. As member of New Guinea Natives' Welfare Committee, sheltered sailors until working conditions on ships improved. Published pamphlet An Open Road to International Order, 1938. Established Newcastle branch of the Australian League of Nations Union, 1938; postwar, it became the Australian Association for the United Nations. Ran for House of Representatives as Scientific Socialist, 1946, 1949. Objected to compulsory salute of the flag in schools; opposed Korean War.

Quotations

“My objective is to turn the United Nations Organization into a world government and eradicate all the present military powers. If this happened it would be the end of all wars.” (March 31, 1954 news, Josiah Cocking diary, p. 95; photo ancestry.com)