Women peacemakers born today

1917 Marsha Hunt born Chicago, IL. Actress; internationalist; leader of UN Association; protested House Un-American Activities, 1947; blacklisted despite lack of any communist association.
1927 Corinne Willinger born Bronx, NY. Granny for peace whose 78th birthday present was protest at NY recruitment center 2005; led war toy protest at Toys-R-Us New York 2006.
1929 Nirmala Deshpande born Nagpur, Maharashtra, India (d. 2008). Gandhian social reformer; author; member of Indian Parliament, 1997-99, 2004-08. Joined Vinoba Bhave's Bhoodan land reform movement, 1952; embarked upon 24,000-mile padayatra ("journey on foot") to spread Gandhi's message; led peace marches in Punjab and Kashmir; honored by both Pakistan and India for peace efforts. Led nonviolent peace effort on Tibet, 1997; created Gandhi Peace Center Kingsway Camp, Delhi, 2004; Nobel Peace Prize nominee, 2005.

1945 Graca Machel born Incadine, Mozambique. Spearheaded UN report on child soldiers, 1996.

1948 Ellen Margrethe Loj born Godesby, Denmark. Danish peacemaker; delegate to UN, 2001-7; ambassador to Israel, 1987-92; UN Special Representative to Liberia, 2007.

1948 Diane Wilson born Spindrift, TX. Shrimp fishing captain; self-styled "eco-outlaw"; Vietnam-veteran medic. Began environmental protests, 1998; protest fast against Bhopal leak; arrested for posting banner on Dow Chemical tower, sentenced to 120 days jail, 2002; co-founder of Code Pink, protest against Iraq War; protest US Senate, BP meeting London, 2010.

1973 Kshama Sawant born Pune, India. American social activist; economics professor. Socialist member of Seattle City Council, 2014-present.

Women's peacemaking on this day

2002 Prof. Barbara Wien forced to resign from US Institute of Peace for advising against military response to 9/11.
2002 Women of International Women’s Peace Service nonviolently interposed themselves between armed settlers of Tapuach and unarmed Palestinians.
2005 Granny Peace Brigade founded. Eighteen grandmothers tried to enlist, Times Square. "We will not be silent."

2010 1,700 women led by First Lady Olive Kabila marched against war rape, Bukava, Congo.

2011 Tibetan Buddhist nun Tenzin Wangmo, 20, immolated herself.
2012 Nasrin Sotoudeh fasted 49 days in prison thru December.
2013 Mi’kmaq First Nation woman Annie Clair was arrested for chaining herself to fracking equipment, Elsipogtog, New Brunswick.