Alice Locke Park

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Overview

Alice Locke Park born Boston, MA February 3, 1861 (d. 1961). Absolute pacifist; opposed Spanish-American War; quit Unitarian society over its failure to oppose World War I. Delegate to International Women's Congress for Peace and Freedom, the Hague, 1915; member of Ford Peace Expedition, 1915; leader of WILPF. Founded Palo Alto Women's Peace Party, 1915. Her poem "Disarm Christmas" opposed the giving of war toys.

Quotations

"Because war will interrupt the regular suffrage work, as war has for long done in other cases, is no reason why we should turn aside from our chosen work and take up other work." (letter to Carrie Chapman Catt, Feb. 17, 1917, in Bolt, Women's Movements, p. 246)

Melissa Parke

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Overview

Melissa Parke born Donnybrook, Australia August 11, 1966. Served as lawyer for UN, Kosovo, 1999-2002; Gaza 2002-3. Established UN Ethics Office, 2005-06. UN legal adviser investigating murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, 2006-07. Member Australian Parliament, 2007-present. Australian Minister of Development, 2013.

Quotations

“[I]ssues of food security and eliminating global poverty must be central to addressing the root causes of conflict and terrorism.” (speech, Oct. 30, 2012; photo Wikipedia)

Rosa Parks

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Overview

Rosa Parks (née McCauley) born Tuskegee, AL February 4, 1913 (d. 2005). Described by the US Congress as, "the mother of the freedom movement." Initiated Montgomery Bus Boycott by refusal to surrender seat to a white passenger, 1955.

Quotations

"I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear." (1955 photo, Wikipedia)

Irene Marryat Parlby

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Overview

Irene Marryat Parlby born London, England January 9, 1868 (d. 1965). Canadian delegate to League of Nations, 1930; one of the Famous Five, a group of women who greatly impacted women's rights in Canada.

Quotations

"Evolution cannot be brought about by the use of dynamite." (Status of Women Canada, www.swc-cfc.gc.ca; photo http://bit.ly/xt2Cfc)

Elsie Clews Parsons

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Overview

Elsie Clews Parsons born New York, NY November 27, 1875 (d. 1941). American anthropologist and sociologist; self-styled “militant pacifist,” publicly opposed World War I, as member of Women’s Peace Party. Leader of American League to Limit Armaments, 1915. Feminist member of Heterodoxy Club; co-founder New School.

Quotations

“One may be a nonresistant in war because of a very passionate resistance against adding to the pain and suffering of the world.” (New York Tribune, Jan. 22, 1918; photo Spartacus-educational.com)

Susan Partnow

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Overview

Susan Partnow born Los Angeles, CA February 20, 1947. Speech pathologist; peace activist; mediator; co-founded Families for Peace, Seattle, 1983-1990, citizen diplomat Middle East Listening Project, 1992, Peace Trees Vietnam, 1998; compassionate listening project.

Quotations

“It is within the families themselves where peace can begin. If families can learn to respect their members, and deal with conflict resolution, that would be the first step to keeping peace on a global level.” (Puget Sound Consumers Coop Newsletter, Spring 1986; photo engagingptresence.org)

Frances Partridge

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Overview

Frances Partridge (née Marshall) born London, England March 15, 1900 (d. 2004). British author; lifelong pacifist; opponent of both World Wars and Cold War.

Quotations

“If only people would realise that their son’s dying and killing other people’s sons isn’t going to benefit humanity in any way, but almost certainly the reverse.  What good did the First World War do?” (A Pacifist’s War, 1945, p. 180; photo Librarything)

Ila Pathak

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Overview

Ilaben Pathak born Gujarat, India May 23, 1933 (d. 2014). Pioneering feminist. Gandhian social reformer; linguistics professor. President, WILPF India; vice-president, WILPF International. Co-founded Ahmedabad Women’s Action Group (AWAG), 1981.

Quotations

Threatened with guns, she replied: “Go on, shoot me if it will make you feel better, dear.” (Reema Jadela in WILPF obit, Jan. 17, 2014)

Her slogan: “Silence is not a virtue, Break the silence of oppression.” (photo cowomaniya.com)

Medha Patkar

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Overview

Medha Patkar born Mumbai, India December 1, 1954. Gandhian; nonviolent protester against Narvada dams; march and fast for life, 1986; recipient of Alternate Nobel Prize, 1991.

Quotations

"Satyagraha is a part of our nonviolent agitational strategy, where people challenge the impacts, but also in a way appeal to the governments and whosoever to take cognizance of the situation and the relevant issues, and change their position." (interview Venu Govindu, Aug. 1999; photo 2002 Wikipedia)

References

Pramila Patten

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Overview

Pramila Patten born Mauritius June 29, 1958. International expert in women’s rights. Vice-Chair of UN Committee on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Served as commissioner of inquiry into Conakry massacre, 2009.

Quotations

“Securing women’s rights is a critical step to addressing the violations of the rights of women and girls during armed conflicts and post conflict settings. . . [E]ven though issues relating to women in conflict and post-conflict are receiving attention at the highest levels, much more needs to be done for this to translate into concrete action on the ground.” (Addis Ababa, June 2012; photo lexpress.mu)

Abby Hutchinson Patton

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Overview

Abby Hutchinson Patton born Milford, NH August 29, 1829 (d. 1892). Singer for peace, abolition and women's rights; poet and member of famous troupe of itinerant singers, song "Kind Words Can Never Die" (1855).

Quotations

"Man's life on this earth is so short that he needs not war to hasten his own or his neighbor's destruction. In this age of enlightenment nations should go to war no more." (A Handful of Pebbles, p. 37, 1891; portrait by Frank Carpenter, coolohio.com)

Alexandra Paul

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Overview

Alexandra Paul born Manhattan, NY July 29, 1963. American actress and athlete, twice arrested for civil disobedience in protest against Iraq War; jailed 5 days; dozen arrests for peaceful protest at Nevada Test Site; Great Peace March for global nuclear disarmament across US 1986; sponsored aid to South Africa and Guatemala.

Quotations

"Civil disobedience is done as a last resort, because someone feels so strongly about something, they are willing to get arrested for their beliefs." (June 11, 2003 trial, on website; photo PBS)

Alice Paul

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Overview

Alice Paul born Laurel Hill, NJ January 11, 1886 (d. 1977). Quaker pacifist; suffragist; member of the National Women's Suffrage Association; later founded National Woman’s Party, 1913; organized first nonviolent pickets of the White House, 1917.

Quotations

"Well, I think that we feel that we ought to continue and I feel that we will continue."(June 1917, when threatened with arrest, A. Fry interview, Dec. 24-26, 1972; 1920 photo Wikipedia)

Ebba Pauli

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Overview

Ebba Pauli born Västerhanunge, Sweden June 12, 1873 (d. 1941). Swedish social reformer and author. Radical pacifist. Co-founded slum settlement Birkagården, 1912. Early member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, 1918; work for International FOR. Co-founded pacifist League for Christian Citizenship.

Quotations

“There is something greater than happiness. Something that never disappears. . . Peace. . . how can I achieve this? One must make great sacrifice. . . second, one must fight a difficult battle and a third must bear a heavy burden. All must bow to the Highest voice in our souls.” (The Hermit; photo frtidsforum.se)

Sita Akka Paulickpulle

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Overview

Sita Akka Paulickpulle born Sri Lanka August 15, 1908 (d. 2003). American nurse and teacher. Peace poet at Washington Peace Center; protested against war at White House.

Quotations

Should not all religious, worldwide, unite to happily live together,
As loving sister, brother? Ensure no nation indulges any war activity!
All truly religious, worldwide, realize people must love, never kill another—
When all nations live happily together, humanity will surely be war free!

(photo prop1.org/sita/index.html)

Ava Helen Pauling

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Overview

Ava Helen Pauling (née Miller) born Beavercreek, OR December 25, 1903 (d. 1981). American pacifist speaker and organizer; anti-nuclear advocate. Three-time national vice-president of WILPF. Founding member, Women Strike for Peace, 1961. Honorary chairwoman, Women Act for Disarmament. Introduced her chemist husband Linus Pauling to peace advocacy, for which he won his second Nobel Prize, 1962. Opposed internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII. Spoke against Cold War militarism.

Quotations

“Say NO to the war in Cambodia
NO to the war in Vietnam
...NO to imperialism
NO to Pentagonism
Let us fight the real enemies of mankind.
Hunger, disease, poverty, illiteracy, discrimination, and exploitation.”

(San Diego City College, May 14, 1970, in Mina Carson, Ava Helen Pauling, p. 166)

“No woman wants to be put up on a pedestal, where she can be easily ignored and neglected... She wants to be taking and doing her part in the affairs of the world with her feet on the ground and sharing in and contributing to the life around her.” (paulingblog, July 25, 2012; photo scarc.library.oregonstate.edu)