Blanche Margaret Meagher

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Overview

Blanche Margaret Meagher born Halifax, Canada January 27, 1911 (d. 1999). Diplomat; first female Canadian ambassador, 1957; throughout her career, posted to Greece, Israel, Austria and Sweden; opened relations with China. 1970; chaired International Atomic Energy board.

Quotations

"I like to think that my record made some small contribution to the cause of equal opportunities for women in the Canadian foreign service." (Margaret Weiers, Envoys Extraordinary, p. 61; 1959 photo Wikipedia)

Faith Meckley

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Overview

Faith Meckley born Geneva, NY February 19, 1995. Environmental activist; college journalism student. Participated in Great March for Climate Action, May 2014, and Keystone protest, Washington D.C., August 2014; arrested for trespassing in protest against fracking, Seneca Lake, 2014.

Quotations

“Your honor, I committed the act of trespass to protect Seneca Lake. I did this peacefully and with love.” (Dec. 17, 2014; photo fltimes.com)

Fatima Meer

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Overview

Fatima Meer born Durban, South Africa August 12, 1928 (d. 2010). Gandhian Muslim anti-apartheid leader and writer; sociology professor. Founded Student Passive Resistance Committee, 1946. Banned by South African government, subject to restricted movement, surveillance, and censorship, 1952-56, 1976-86. Organized women’s Anti-Pass March, protesting pass laws, which restricted movement of non-white citizens, 1956. Revived Gandhi’s commune Phoenix Settlement, 1969. Held six months in prison without trial, 1975. Survived assassination attempt, 1976; home twice firebombed. Published first authorized biography of Nelson Mandela, Higher Than Hope, 1990.

Quotations

“Gandhi did not say, 'I will be the change'; he said YOU be the change you want to see in the world. Though many people may feel that Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent principles are no longer relevant, I believe these principles are more relevant than ever in today's very violent world.” (“Gandhi's Legacy of Non-Violence”, self-growth.com; photo wiki.ulwazi.org)

Ermira Mehmeti

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Overview

Ermira Mehmeti born Skopje, Yugoslavia October 6, 1979. Albanian member of Macedonian Parliament; peacemaker in postwar reconciliation. Nobel Peace Prize nominee, 2005.

Quotations

On her message: “Peace and democracy are the crucial values that can bring the country into Europe, that diversity strengthens the nation and is the cornerstone of this young democracy, and that reconciliation must be promoted.” (World People's Blog; photo ljampress.com)

Hansa Mehta

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Overview

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Hansa Mehta born Surat, Gujarat, India July 3, 1897 (d. 1995). Nonviolent freedom fighter twice arrested in Gandhi's Salt Campaign; served five months in prison; feminist editor, educator and playwright; first Indian delegate to UN Human Rights Commission which drafted Universal Declaration, insisting that instead of "men" it read "all human beings are created free and equal"; chaired UN Human Rights committee on enforcement of rights; advocated Human Rights court; first delegate on UN Commission on Women; gave first Indian flag on behalf of women 1947; drafted Indian constitution; member of WILPF.

Usha Mehta

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Overview

Usha Mehta born Saras, Surat, Gujarat, India March 25, 1920 (d. 2000). Gandhian nonviolent freedom fighter; politics professor and PhD at Bombay University. Founded Secret Congress Radio, an underground radio station, 1942; arrested and sentenced to 4 years prison.

Quotations

“In the international field it is said in the event of a third war there will be no victor and no vanquished, the whole world will be destroyed.” (Rediff interview)

Freda Meissner-Blau

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Overview

Freda Meissner-Blau born Dresden, Germany March 11, 1927. Austrian anti-nuclear activist. Led successful civil disobedience effort to save Hainberg Forest, 1984. Founder of Austrian Green Party, 1987. Chaired first International Human Rights Tribunal in Vienna, 1995. Received Nuclear-Free Future Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her work with UNESCO and the Atomic Energy Agency, 2007.

Quotations

“Nonviolence is the most radical form of resistance because it robs power of its aims.” (1989, in Rocheleau & Thomas-Slater, Feminist Political Ecology: Global Issues and Local Experience, 1996, p.92; photo Wikipedia)

Lise Meitner

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Overview

Lise Meitner born Vienna, Austria-Hungary November 7, 1878 (d. 1968). Austrian physicist called “Mother of the Atomic Bomb.” First woman full professor Berlin; exiled as Jew 1938; lifelong pacifist.

Quotations

“I will have nothing to do with a bomb!” (1943, in Ruth Sime, Lise Meitner: A Life in Physics)

"Women have a great responsibility and they are obliged to try, so far as they can, to prevent another war. I hope that the construction of the atom bomb not only will help to finish this awful war, but that we will be able to also use this great energy that has been released for peaceful work." (Eleanor Roosevelt interview, NBC, Aug. 9, 1945, in Patricia Rife, p. 253; photo New York Times)

Maria Emma Mejia

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Overview

María Emma Mejía Vélez born Medellín, Colombia September 27, 1953. Diplomat and journalist. Colombian Foreign Minister, 1996-98; sought reconciliation with Venezuela and opposed arms purchases. Second Secretary of the Union of South American Nations, 2011-12.

Quotations

"I don't wish to see our continent rearming again. . . We feel we are making progress in our social programs in the region and we should continue that instead of arming." (Army Times, April 27, 1998; photo Wikipedia)

Jeanne Melin

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Overview

Jeanne Mélin born Carignan, Ardennes, France September 7, 1877 (d. 1964). French novelist and poet; absolute pacifist and feminist; co-founder WILPF; opposed both World Wars and Cold War; founded Association for Peace through Law 1901; advocated peace education 1907; ran for President 1947.

Quotations

"Right to life, the base of human rights." (Dec. 13, 1936, in Isabelle Vahé, "Entre ombres et lumieres." p. 8, 2006)

"Down with war! This is the call of all the innocent victims." (April 25, 1915 to Aletta Jacobs, in Sandi Cooper, "French Feminists", Peace & Change, p. 23, Jan. 2011; photo univ. Angers)

Eugenie Meller-Miskolczy

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Overview

Eugénie Meller-Miskolczy born Budapest, Hungary January 14, 1872 (d. 1944/5). Hungarian Jewish feminist leader; suffragist; writer; pacifist; opposed WWI; active in WILPF. Arrested and sent to Kistarcsa concentration camp, July 1944.

Quotations

"[The Council of the League of Nations is] an imperialist corporation of the Great Powers." (Rupp, Worlds of Women, p. 213, 1933; 1939 photo http://bit.ly/AuzMl2)

Valentina Melnikova

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Overview

Valentina Melnikova born Moscow February 28, 1946. Founding head of Committee of Soldiers Mothers of Russia (CSMR), 1989; chair of United People's Party of Soldiers' Mothers. Opposed Chechen War, 1994; participated in Mother’s March for Life and Compassion, 1995; opposed 10,000 Russian troops in Ukraine, 2014. Received Sean MacBride Peace Prize, 1995.

Quotations

"[Putin is] violating not only international laws, not only the Geneva Convention, [he] also is breaking Russian Federation law about defense. . . and as for [commander-in-chief of the Russian airborne troops] Vladimir Shamanov, we should be too disgusted to even mention his name—he forces his servicemen to fight in a foreign state, Ukraine, illegally, while mothers receive coffins with their sons, anonymously." (Daily Beast, Aug. 28, 2014; photo droppingknowledge.org)

Jean Melzer

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Overview

Jean Melzer (née McLeod) born Elsternwick, South Australia February 7, 1926 (d. 2013) Australian politician; peace activist. Labor Party Senator, 1974-81. Led fight against uranium; candidate for Nuclear Disarmament Party (NDP), 1984; founded Nuclear Free Australia Party, 1985. Active in United Nations Association, WILPF, Save Our Sons against conscription. Supported Palestinian and aboriginal rights; opposed Vietnam War.

Quotations

“Don’t let Australia become the quarry and waste dump of the world.” (nuclearnewsaustralia, June 13, 2013; photo nla.gov.au)

Lidia Menapace

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Overview

Lidia Menapace (née Brisca) born Novara, Italy April 3, 1924. Peace activist; feminist politican; Senator 2006; pacifist teacher; essay on non-violence 2004; co-founded Permanent Women’s Convention Against War; joined unarmed resistance to Mussolini; critic of Israeli occupation; opposed NATO, favoring a neutral Europe.

Quotations

“We urge you to immediately sign on to the legislation to impeach Dick Cheney to prevent a disaster for mankind.” (author of letter of 14 Italian Senators, Aug. 1, 2007)

“I also believe that non-violent methods are more effective than violent ones: you have to be trained, continually narrowing the use of weapons to 'resolve disputes.'” (Per Lunga Vita, May 3, 2012; photo barinedita.it)

Rigoberta Menchu

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Overview

Rigoberta Menchú born Chimel, Guatemala January 9, 1952. Indigenous rights advocate; UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador; awarded Nobel Peace Prize, 1992.

Quotations

"Change cannot come through war. War is not a feasible tool to use in fighting against the oppression we face. War has caused more problems." (Nobel Women's Initiative; 2003 photo Wikipedia)

Luz Mendez de la Vega

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Overview

Luz Méndez de la Vega born Retalhuleu, Guatemala September 2, 1978 (d. 2012). Leading literary figure, poet, writer, and actress; peacemaker: only woman negotiator final peace agreement, 1996.

Quotations

“[W]hat I was experiencing at the peace negotiations was the result of the patriarchal system, which is embedded in all the ideologies and political affiliations. That knowledge and commitment to feminism were strong tools for my own empowerment at the peace table. That was also a turning point in my life.” (Vermot interview, June 2014; photo inclusivesecurity.org)

Merlie Mendoza

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Overview

Merlie “Milet” Mendoza born Philippines January 16, 1964. Peacemaker. Joined Office of Peace Commissioner 1991. coordinated Culture of Peace program Sulu 2005; Peace and Human Security program in Basilan and Sulu 2002; assisted humanitarian relief, Mindanao, 2001. division chief Peace Consultation program 1994; Director Office of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process 1993; deputy peace commissioner 1989; kidnapped for two months, Basilan, 2008. Joan Kroc Woman Peacemaker, 2010.

Quotations

“The mastery of the art of peace goes hand in hand with the mastery of the self, and that strength that you bring with you is reinforced by your relationships with people who are in very difficult situations.” (Mary Liepold, “The Power of Powerlessness”, Joan Kroc Institute Narratives, p. 51; photo peacexpeace.org)

Anne-Catherine Menétrey-Savary

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Overview

Anne-Catherine Menétrey-Savary born Aigle, Vaud, Switzerland January 29, 1938. Swiss antimilitarist politician; Green Party member National Council 1999-2007; author and psychologist; promoted abolition of army; supported conscientious objectors.

Quotations

On the Israeli bombing of Gaza: “This has to stop. It is necessary to stop this war, to lift the blockade of Gaza, to denounce the perpetrators of war crimes to the international criminal court. Above all, we must give back to the Palestinians the means to live, the prospects for the future, we must guarantee the recognition of their rights and justice, without which there will never be peace.” (Lausanne, Jan. 14, 2009, Ché Tafel, politique; photo RTs.ch)