Sinéad O'Connor

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Overview

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Sinéad O’Connor born Glenageary, Dublin, Ireland December 8, 1966. Irish singer and songwriter; militant pacifist. Advocated for peaceful union of Ireland; gave benefits for victims of Iraq War.

Quotations

“Nothing born of violence can succeed. Let's be one country.” (Irish News, Mar. 28, 2015)

On U.S. War on Terror: “I understand entirely why people would want to fight back. But I don’t think it actually achieves anything. It doesn’t bring back your lost people.” (Sinéad O’Connor’s Religion and Political Views, Hollowverse)

A no brute force do it.
Your weapons can't do it
So hear this!
Throw down your arms and come,
Throw down your arms and come,
Throw down your arms and come,
Drop them
Put them away to stay.

(“Throw Down Your Arms”, 2005; photo alternativenation.net)

Patricia O’Brien

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Overview

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Patricia O’Brien born Brunei February 8, 1957. Lawyer and law professor. First woman to serve as UN Legal Counsel and Under-Secretary for Legal Affairs, 2008-13. Ambassador of Irish mission to UN Geneva, 2013-current.

Quotations

“We are now truly in an age of accountability. . . The beginning of the end of impunity has begun.  No one is above the law. Leaders will be held accountable—this is a relatively new concept in terms of its implementation.  Sovereignty as a barricade to international criminal justice is gone.  And finally, there can be no sustainable peace without justice.” (UN News Centre, Aug. 19, 2013; photo Geneva Gender Champions)

Maura O'Connell

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Overview

Maura O'Connell born Ennis, County Clare September 16, 1958. Irish singer at Music for Peace concert Nashville Peace & Justice Center 2003.

Quotations

if we get another shot—
better try to aim a little higher.
it's gonna take a lot of thought
but we can't keep fighting fire with fire!

when guns of love are brought in to battle
the nights will burn like never before.
pride will fall.
foundations rattle.
when guns of love
put an end to war.
("Guns of Love")

"I got my first e-mail today, saying I shouldn't support the Peace and Justice Center, and I said, 'Should I be supporting the Bombing and Injustice Center?' That wasn't in the Yellow Pages." (CMT, March 13, 2003; 2006 photo wikicom pd)

Sybil Oldfield

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Overview

Sybil Oldfield (née Mence) born London, England April 28, 1938. British professor; biographer of women peacemakers. Active in Committee for Nuclear Disarmament, 1968-present; member of WILPF, 1978-present.

Quotations

“We do need a disarmament race worldwide; we do need an effective, impartial, and therefore respected international UN policing force. Perhaps we should not withhold aid but rather give to the subjects of dictatorship, acting on the basic principle of fellow humanity, instead of punishing the victims for the crimes of their rulers.” (‘Thinking Against the Current’, p. 123; photo sussex.ac.uk)

Cathinca Olsen

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Overview

Cathinca Olsen born Copenhagen, Denmark August 3, 1868 (d. 1947). Gandhian ceramist, painter and designer. Leader of Gandhian Friends of India; stayed at his ashram 1928-9 where she painted.

Quotations

"All over the world there are dark and threatening clouds, unworthy and terrible things happen. . . I am very glad as are many all over the world to know that the warm and vivid eyes of the man who wishes all the world good are open." (May 28, 1933 letter to Gandhi; text and photo Danish Peace Academy)

Amelia Opie

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Overview

Amelia Opie (née Alderson) born Norwich, England November 12, 1769 (d. 1853). Quaker; pacifist; Romantic poet and novelist; abolitionist.

Quotations

The Negro toils and bleeds and dies.
The ships to English country go,
And bear the hardly-gotten treasure.
Oh! That good Englishmen could know
How Negroes suffer for their plea.
("Black Man's Lament", 1826; photo by husband, Historic Norfolk)

Julia Ormond

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Overview

Julia Ormond born Epsom, England January 4, 1965. Actress; active in opposition to human trafficking; UN Goodwill Ambassador, 2005.

Quotations

"Global poverty. . . really is the source of the vast majority of global problems and conflict. Slavery is what happens at poverty's most extreme end." (Lori Berger interview 2010; 2008 photo Wikipedia)

Elise Ottesen-Jensen

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Overview

Elise "Ottar" Ottesen-Jensen born Høyland, Norway January 2, 1886 (d. 1973). Pioneering feminist; anarcho-pacifist; founded International Planned Parenthood, 1952.

Quotations

"I dream of the day when every new born child is welcome, when men and women are equal, and when sexuality is an expression of intimacy, joy and tenderness." (personal motto, per Cindy Larsen; photo Wikipedia)