Clemence Royer

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Overview

Clémence Auguste Royer born Nantes, France April 21, 1830 (d. 1902). French feminist and pacifist, philosopher, scientific genius; active in International League of Peace & Freedom 1867; opposed conscription and standing armies in feminist journal La Fronde; condemned Boer War; insisted upon scientific education of women 1889.

Quotations

"If Europe wants to survive, instead of committing suicide, it had better prepare to defend itself against the anger of the world's peoples generated by British imperial conquests that turned proud peoples into servile colonies." (Sandi Cooper, von Suttner's Sisters, p. 7; photo Wikipedia)

Joan Ruddock

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Overview

Joan Ruddock (née Anthony) born Pontypool, Wales December 28, 1943. Chair of Committee for Nuclear Disarmament, 1981-5; member of parliament, 1987; first Junior Minister for Women, 1997; Minister for Energy & Environment, 2009.

Quotations

"I am a socialist feminist. But I am also active in the peace movement and in the struggle against nuclear war." (Nawal el Saadawi Reader, p. 279; photo Parl. Gp. For Energy Studies)

Rosemary Radford Ruether

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Overview

Rosemary Radford Ruether born St. Paul, MN November 2, 1936. Catholic theologian; opponent of Vietnam War, US wars in Central America, Iraq; feminist.

Quotations

“True nonviolence must be based, first of all, on a secure sense of one’s own value as a human being. Violence toward others, far from being an expression of self-worth, is based on a repression of one’s sense of vulnerability which then translates into hostility toward others.” (“Feminism and Peace”, 1983; photo catholicsforchoice.org)

Marie Runyon

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Overview

Marie Runyon born Brevard, SC March 20, 1915. Former New York state assemblyperson. As member of Granny Peace Brigade, arrested 20 times, including an attempting to enlist in protest against Iraq War, Times Square; acquitted, 2005. Worked with housing advocacy group Harlem Restoration Project.

Quotations

"You're damned right we've made an impact. In fact, we grannies have been at the forefront of the anti-war movement before hardly anybody else was doing anything about it. We're extremely worried about what kind of world we're leaving to our grandchildren, and that has given us tremendous motivation to do all we can to stop these insane wars." (joanwile.blogspot.com, Jan. 16, 2009; photo alittleredhen.com)

Dorothy Rupert

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Overview

Dorothy Rupert born Meadow Grove, NE October 20, 1926. Colorado legislator, 1986-2001; legislated against female genital mutilation. Active in WAND and WILPF, opposed Vietnam War and nuclear weapons; Nobel Peace Prize nominee, 2005.

Quotations

On her greatest challenge: "Maintaining hope in the face of global uncertainty about how human beings will figure out how to live on this earth together." (quote and photo Conscious Woman, November 3, 2008)

Loret Miller Ruppe

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Overview

Loret Miller Ruppe born Laurium, MI September 29, 1936 (d. 1996). Longest serving Director of Peace Corps 1981-9. US Ambassador to Norway 1989-93; established 3 projects to help address regional challenges: Caribbean Basin Initiative 1983, Initiative for Central America, and African Food Systems Initiative 1985.

Quotations

"The Peace Corps is needed now more than ever. It is our nation's greatest peace-building machine." (Peace Corps 35th Anniversary, March 1-3, 1996; photo Peace Corps)

Ruslana

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Overview

Ruslana Lyzhychko born Lviv, Ukraine May 24, 1974. European pop star. UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, 2005. Member of Ukrainian Parliament, 2006-07. Led nonviolent protests in Orange Revolution, 2004, and Euromaidan protests, 2013-14.

Quotations

“I want peace and of course I want a lot of changes in my country. . . We know that we have power and we want to ask Yanukovych, please stop. You're a dictator. We have a lot of aggression from this government. Please stop, please stop.” (CNN, Jan. 28, 2014; photo Wikipedia)

Dora Russell

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Overview

Dora Russell (née Black) born Thornton Heath, Surrey, England April 3, 1894 (d. 1986). Co-founder of Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND); led Women's Peace Caravan to Moscow 1958; opposed conscription in World War I.

Quotations

"Marriage, laws, the police, armies and navies are the mark of human incompetence." (The Right to be Happy, 1927)

"We do not want our world to perish... Only by learning to love one another can our world be saved. Only love can conquer all." (Challenge to the Cold War, vol. 3, Ch. 14, 1985; photo Wikipedia from Spartacus Educational)

Nancy Ruth

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Overview

Nancy Ruth (née Jackman) born Toronto, Ontario, Canada January 6,  1942. Nonviolence advocate, peace activist, feminist, internationalist, and politician. As Canadian Senator, chaired Human Rights Committee, 2005.

Quotations

“I am one of these Canadians who for some years has withheld from my income tax payment the percentage of the military budget. I have put that money on deposit with the peace tax fund held by Conscience Canada. I encourage you to do so too.” (Briarpatch, May 5, 2008)

“Women cannot be treated only as victims of war and beneficiaries of peace. Violence against women cannot be curtailed unless women are full and active participants in society. Women still face obstacles because of economic insecurity, and limited access to education, training and justice. They still occupy few positions of leadership in civil society, mediation teams, national militaries, and civilian police forces. These factors hinder women’s access to the decision making table and their ability to play an influential role in peace operations.” (Report of Human Rights Committee, May 5, 2010; photo branksome.on.ca)

Barbara Rutting

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Overview

Barbara Rütting born Ludwigsfelde-Wietstock, Brandenburg, Germany November 21, 1927. German film actress and author; animal rights advocate. Star of two antiwar films: Canaris, 1954, and Lysistrata, 1961. Arrested in protest against Pershing missiles, Mutlangen, 1983. Early member of Green Party, 1982; resigned from party as pacifist after Green support of NATO bombing of Kosovo, 1999. Elected deputy of Green Party in Bavarian parliament, 2003-08; protested Greens' approval of Afghan military aid, 2005.

Quotations

"When many little people take many little steps in many little places, they can change the world!" (photo hinter-den-schlagseilen)

Khadija Ryadi

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Overview

Khadija Ryadi born Taroudant, Morocco December 27, 1950. Won UN Human Rights Prize 2013; led Moroccan Human Rights Assn. 2007-14; statistical engineer.

Quotations

“[I would] like to see that Governments work more on implementation of the provisions of international treaties that they have ratified and also of the laws that they have already enacted.” (UNHRC, Dec. 10, 2013; photo africatopsuccess.com)

Agnes Ryan

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Overview

Agnes Ryan Stevens born Stuart, IA November 10, 1878 (d. 1954). Feminist; editor; vegetarian; pacifist; WILPF speaker; proposed school of nonviolence, 1940.

Quotations

"Wars will never cease while men still kill other animals for food, for to turn any living creature into a roast, a steak, a chop, or any other type of 'meat' takes the same kind of violence, the same kind of bloodshed, and the same kind of mental processes required to change a living man into a dead soldier." (For the Church Door, March 1943; photo c. 1920 U. New Hamp.)

Hélène Ryckmans

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Overview

Hélène Ryckmans born Thysville, Democratic Republic of Congo May 20, 1959. Active peacemaker in Congo and development sociologist. Belgian President of World According to Women, 1996-2014. Chaired conference on Women, War & Peace, 2004. Green member of Senate, 2014. Nominated Woman of Peace, 2011.

Quotations

“Sociopolitical violence against women and girls in times of war or in times of 'peace' has increased in all continents. Rape as a weapon of war, recognized as a result of the exactions in the former Yugoslavia, is perpetuated in the different continents.” (“Population and Development”, p. 24; photo pour écrire la liberté)

Hanna Rydh

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Overview

Hanna Rydh born Stockholm, Sweden February 12, 1891 (d. 1964). Swedish archaeologist; women's rights advocate. Delegate to League of Nations, 1938; member of Swedish parliament, 1943-44; president of International Alliance of Women, 1946-52.

Quotations

"Women must unite in something greater than national or race loyalties, and that is the motherhood of the whole wide world." (Address to IAW, Sept. 1949, quoted in Offen, European Feminisms pp. 380, 506; port. by Maira Kalman http://bit.ly/IQ4368)