Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence

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Overview

Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence born Bristol, England October 21, 1867 (d. 1954). Suffragist leader. Early member Fellowship of Reconciliation. Founding member, Women's Peace Party and WILPF. Opposed World War I and punitive postwar policy. Jailed six times; force-fed.

Quotations

“[T]here could be nothing negative about the idea of peace. War is the negative. Peace is the effort of the human brain applied to the organization of human life and being of the peoples of the world on the basis of cooperation.” (Addams, Women at the Hague, p. 67)

“[T]he only chance of permanent peace in Europe lay in a just settlement after the war...[not] to make the Treaty of Versailles an instrument of vengeance.” (My Part, p. 323; photo “Noordam”, 1915)

Fanny Petterson

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Overview

Fanny Petterson (née Falkman) born Narva, Estonia April 18, 1856 (d. 1915). Swedish peace pioneer. Professor of modern languages. Founded Society of International Concord. Organized Stockholm Peace Congress, 1910. Started peace education group, 1915.

Quotations

“I wish you all, brave organizers and participants, the best success of your valiant efforts, and agree with you wholeheartedly in your righteous protest against this terrible war.” (message to women’s peace conference The Hague, shortly before her death, Bericht Rapport p. 228; photo Linea-rose)

Ann Terry Greene Phillips

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Overview

Ann Terry Greene Phillips born Boston, MA November 19, 1813 (d. 1886). Nonviolent abolitionist; converted husband Wendell to cause of abolition, of which he became major orator and leader with Garrison; delegate to 1840 Anti-Slavery Convention, London.

Quotations

"Wendell, don't shilly-shally," (encouraging him to move recognition of women, June 20, 1840 London; cameo 1838 Mass. Hist. Soc.)

Sonia Picado

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Overview

Sonia Picado Sotela born San Jose, Costa Rica December 20, 1936. Chair of UN Commission on Timor, 1999; co-founder Inter-American Court of Human Rights, 1979; judge in Aloeboetoe decision on indigenous rights, 1993; recipient UN Human Rights award, 1993.

Quotations

"Poverty is the main violation to human rights." (Strasbourg speech, Pasqualucci 797; photo Univ. Miami)

Michele Picard

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Overview

Michèle Picard born Grenoble, France April 20, 1955. Judge International Criminal Tribunal Yugoslavia (ICTY) 2008; Human Rights Advisory Panel Kosovo 2007; President Human Rights Chamber for Bosnia 1997.

Quotations

"The Trial Chamber finds Momčilo Perišić guilty. The Srebrenica tragedy stands as one of the darkest chapters in European history since World War Two. While the Srebrenica enclave was designated as a safe area, the VRS fiercely attacked civilians, as it had previously done in Sarajevo. The VRS’s victims were, again, numerous and defenceless. The Srebrenica atrocities shattered families and left behind countless broken homes." (Sept. 6, 2011 judgment, § 1837-8, 1861; photo ICTY)

Concepcion Picciotto

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Overview

Concepcion “Connie” Picciotto (née Concepción Martín) born Vigo, Spain January 15, 1936 (d. 2016). Maintained the longest-running US peace vigil, located outside the White House, from 1981 until her death; began as anti-nuclear protest, featuring signs: "Live by the Bomb, Die by the Bomb", "Ban All Nuclear Weapons or Have a Nice Doomsday", "Don't Be a Lemming. Save Yourself."

Quotations

"I am in pursuit of Peace and Justice to make people aware, so that they wake up to the reality that weapons of mass destruction threaten the extinction of mankind. The people have to make the change. The governments do not represent the people, they represent the corporations. We have to start from scratch. If the people lead, the leaders will follow. That's when revolutions happen, when the people cannot tolerate anymore. . . People just want to be heard.” (Malaysia Daily Express, Sept. 19, 1993; photo thefullwiki.org)

Isabelle F. Picco

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Overview

Isabelle F. Picco born Monaco November 8, 1962. Monegasque diplomat; delegate to UN since Monaco’s accession 1993; Permanent Representative 2009; Vice President UN General Assembly 2013.

Quotations

"[W]ithout education of women we won't achieve any development or peace in the world." (Women’s Foreign Policy Group, April 15, 2010)

"Indeed, the very essence of our United Nations is to promote and work toward creating a culture of peace." (Xinhuanet, Sept. 9, 2013; photo flickr.com)

Marthe Pichorel

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Overview

Marthe Pichorel (née Collard) born Cherbourg, France August 10, 1878 (d. 1968). Militant pacifist; French syndicalist leader of teachers. Fired as teacher for pacifism, 1917. Condemned wartime “blind hatred” of the enemy, prophesying ill future; signed women’s manifesto against World War II, 1938.

Quotations

“I am convinced that women can do much for the abolition of war, and they will fight with all their strength and all their activity to achieve this goal, because, more than men, they have the horror of these bloody battles, bloody [events which] crush the hearts of mothers and wives. So let us work to waste no time to work: the work is arduous and delicate, but we will never fail!” (appeal on eve of WWI, L'Action Féministe (Laxou-lès-Nancy)-Gallica; photo yves.cordelle.free.fr)

Marge Piercy

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Overview

Marge Piercy born Detroit, MI March 31, 1936. Antiwar poet. Member of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). Opposed wars in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Quotations

Loving feels lonely in a violent world,
irrelevant to people burning like last year's weed
with bellies distended, with fish throats agape
and flesh melting down to glue.
We can no longer shut out the screaming. . . 

(“Community”, 1969)

In your name, we have invaded
come with planes, tanks and artillery
into a country and wonder why
they do not like us
be proud

(“In Your Name”, 2004; photo Am. Poetry Review)

Sonia Pierre

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Overview

07.04 pierre crop.jpg

Solange “Sonia” Pierre born Villa Altagracia, San Cristobal, Dominican Republic July 4, 1963 (d. 2011). Dominican-Haitian human rights leader; arrested age 13 for 5 day Haitian workers protest; won case in Inter-American Human Rights court on racial discrimination 2005; founded MUDHA (Movement of Dominico-Haitian Women) 1983; UNESCO Human Rights Education award 2002; Amnesty International Sagan prize 2003; Kennedy Human Rights prize 2007; US Women of Courage award 2011.

Quotations

"I am not a critic of my country, and this is my country, I am a critic of my government." (Independent, Dec. 6, 2011; photo pinterest)

Agnes Baker Pilgrim

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Overview

Agnes Baker Pilgrim born Lodgson, OR September 11, 1924. Takelma elder tribal member. Designated "Living Treasure" by Confederated Tribes of Stiletz. Founding president, International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers, 2004. After 140 years, revived Sacred Salmon Ceremony.

Quotations

"From the get-go, this council originated from the Spirit World. Every one of us has been called. Through our prayers, we can touch the hearts of the people. We can help stop spiritual blindness around the world. Our prayers can be brought from the four corners of the world for this work. We can be the voice of strength, encouragement, and love, fighting for peace. Remember, even water dripping on a rock can make a difference." (nativevillage.org; photo Wikipedia)

Navi Pillay

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Overview

Navanethem Pillay born Durban, South Africa September 23, 1941. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 2008; Judge International Criminal Court 2003-8; first woman judge Rwanda War Crimes 1995-2003, President 1999.

Quotations

"From time immemorial, rape has been regarded as spoils of war. Now it will be considered a war crime. We want to send out a strong signal that rape is no longer a trophy of war." (Washington Post Magazine, Oct. 11, 1998; photo UN)

Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo

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Overview

Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo born Abrantes, Portugal January 18, 1930 (d. 2004). Chemical engineer; Portuguese ambassador to UNESCO, 1975; Portuguese Prime Minister, 1979; first female candidate for Portuguese presidency, 1986; member of European Parliament, 1987; signatory of leaders' declaration on abolition of nuclear weapons, 1998.

Quotations

"I believe deeply that women can change society. . . Now that we are equal, let us dare to be different!" (Sisterhood is Global, p. 575; photo http://bit.ly/x9pv4p)