Sharon Olds

/

Overview

11.19 olds crop.jpg

Sharon Olds born San Francisco, CA November 19, 1942. American poet. Inspired by anti-Vietnam women poets. “May 1968” recreated resistance to Vietnam War; “The Dead and the Living” lamented Armenian genocide, 1983.

Quotations

On refusing the First Lady's dinner invitation: “[T]o speak about my deep feeling that we should not have invaded Iraq, and to declare my belief that the wish to invade another culture and another country—with the resultant loss of life and limb for our brave soldiers, and for the noncombatants in their home terrain—did not come out of our democracy but was instead a decision made "at the top" and forced on the people by distorted language, and by untruths. I hoped to express the fear that we have begun to live in the shadows of tyranny and religious chauvinism—the opposites of the liberty, tolerance and diversity our nation aspires to. . . So many Americans who had felt pride in our country now feel anguish and shame, for the current regime of blood, wounds and fire. I thought of the clean linens at your table, the shining knives and the flames of the candles, and I could not stomach it.” (The Nation, Oct. 10, 2005; photo vogue.com)

Louise Olivereau

/

Overview

Louise Olivereau born Douglas, WY April 9, 1884 (d. 1963). Seattle stenographer poet, pacifist and philosophical anarchist, opposed to all force and violence; sentenced 1917 to 10 years prison for "espionage" of counseling conscientious objection to World War I, served 28 months.

Quotations

"We do not counsel resistance. . . We counsel one thing—obedience to your own conscience." (Sarah E. Sharbach, "A Woman Acting Alone: Louise Olivereau and the First World War", Pacific Northwest Quarterly, vol. 78, pp. 1-2, January-April 1987)

"Anarchy, then, is a condition without force or violence. Anarchism is the working philosophy of those who desire to bring about a condition of society in which force and violence will have no place. . . I am convinced that violence breeds violence, war breeds hatreds and fears and revengeful desires which lead to other wars." (her trial defense, in Minnie Parkhurst, "The Louise Olivereau Case", p. 23, 1917; photo from prison http://bit.ly/J0YdRL)

Mildred Scott Olmsted

/

Overview

Mildred Scott Olmsted born Glenolden, PA December 5, 1890 (d. 1990). Quaker peace activist; delivered Quaker relief in Germany, 1919; WILPF US national organization secretary, 1935; WILPF Executive Director, 1954-66.

Quotations

"I said before I left Germany that I would never again support a war for any cause. People are always exploited." (F. Early interview, July 27, 1985 in Atlantis 12. I: 148; photo Swarthmore.edu)

Cathinca Olsen

/

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)

Kristina Olsen

/

Overview

Kristina Olsen born San Francisco, CA May 26, 1957. Folk singer and composer. Joined Sept. 11th Families for a Peaceful Tomorrow after the loss of her sister. Interfaith Peace Delegation to Afghanistan, Iraq.

Quotations

One world; one seed
A little love from time to time. . .
We’ll make it grow, a sheltering tree
And that is all we’ll need
(“The Art of Being Kind”)

“I believe that we have to be able to create peace in our own lives and hearts before we can hope to have peace in the world. When we listen to another without judging, when we listen with patience and tolerance, when we speak truthfully, with a tone of voice that promotes understanding, then we are all peacemakers, capable of healing and transforming the world we all share.” (David Portorti, September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, 2003, p. 211; photo kristinaolsen)

Catherine O'Neill

/

Overview

Catherine O’Neill (née Vesey) born Queens, NY July 17, 1942 (d. 2012). Founding chair of Women’s Refugee Commission working to aid women in war zones 1989; IMF publicity; director UN office in DC 1999-2005.

Quotations

“I have never stopped being struck by the ability of women from all different parts of the world to bond, connect, understand their shared values, and click with their aspirations. It’s fantastic, and it’s a great sign of hope.” (Easthampton Star, Jan. 10, 1913; photo New York Times)

Amelia Opie

/

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)

Margaret Arach Orech

/

Overview

12.04 orech crop.jpg

Margaret Arach Orech born Lira, Uganda December 4, 1956.  Founding director Uganda Landmine Survivors Association (ULSA) 2001; lost leg to landmine, 1998; ambassador for Nobel Prize organization International Campaign to Ban Landmines; Joan Kroc WomanPeacemaker, 2014.

Quotations

“I used what happened to me as my stepping stone for starting peace-related activities. I didn’t want what happened to me to happen to others. . . I became a voice of the people injured by the lack of peace that we talk so much about. It’s like the wounded person becoming a healer for other wounded souls.” (Tara Ruttenberg interview, Nov. 4, 2014; photo twitter.com)

Julia Ormond

/

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)

Maria Esperanza Ortega

/

Overview

María Esperanza Ortega born Arcatao, El Salvador August 1, 1953. Member, Association of War Victims of El Salvador. Founding member of Coordinadora de Comunidades y Repoblaciones (“Coordination for Communities and Repopulation”), 1988. Nobel Peace Prize nominee, 2005.

Quotations

“My dream is that one day, in spite of the tiredness, we shall be able to achieve much more than what was achieved through armed conflict.” (quote & photo Peace Women Across the Globe: Ortega)

Maria Otero

/

Overview

Maria Otero born La Paz, Bolivia August 26, 1950. American President of Acción International, leading microfinance 2000; first Latina Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs 2009-13; chaired Bread for the World 1992.

Quotations

"I wanted to focus on helping women empower themselves through work so they can be leaders in their own lives." (Newsweek, Nov. 14, 2005; photo Wikipedia)

Elise Ottesen-Jensen

/

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)

Roza Otunbayeva

/

Overview

Roza Otunbayeva born Frunze, USSR (now Bishkek, Kyrgizstan) August 23, 1950. Professor of Philosophy; UN Special Envoy for Abkhazia dispute 2002; Thrice Kyrgiz Foreign Minister; a leader in Tulip Revolution 2005; as interim President (2010-11) she ended ethnic violence, introduced a new constitution and elections, the start of the Arab Spring according to Vladimir Putin.

Quotations

"We have totally changed the code of behaviour in my country. . . We hope that this will be the way for years to come." (UN press conference, Nov. 22 ,2011; photo Wikipedia)

Ruth Bryan Owen

/

Overview

Ruth Bryan Owen Rohde born Jacksonville, IL October 2, 1885 (d. 1954). First female American ambassador, posted to Denmark, 1933; delegate to UN founding San Francisco, 1945; UN representative, 1949; twice US Representative; first woman on US House Foreign Affairs Committee; influential speaker on peace and UN; plan of world government, 1942. Served in Jane Addams's Hull House; administered relief in Belgium; served as nurse in World War I; promoted women as "Mothers of Humanity."

Quotations

"The modern mother considers the world her home." (Women in Congress, p. 91)

"Women should have a place on all councils which decide questions of war and peace between nations." (in Litoff & Smith, What Kind of World Do We Want, p. 131; 1929 photo Wikipedia)