Hania Ris

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Overview

Hania Wislicka Ris born Lodz, Poland June 15, 1913 (d. 1998). Pediatrics Professor Univ. of Wisconsin; pacifist member Physicians for Social Responsibility made friendship visit to USSR 1982; Swiss-trained doctor fought for American accreditation; crusader for birth control.

Quotations

"Contrary to what so many people in this country think, it is my observation that the Russians are greatly concerned about the prevention of nuclear war. . . the preservation of peace is on everyone's mind." (Milwaukee Journal, Dec. 19, 1982)

Bessie Rischbeith

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Overview

Bessie M. Rischbieth (née Earle) born Adelaide, Australia October 16, 1874 (d. 1967). Australian social reformer and feminist leader; peace activist; theosophist. Sculptor and textile designer. Delegate to League of Nations, 1935. Witnessed and supported suffragist struggle, London, 1908. Visited Gandhi's ashram. Led protests against abuse of aborigines. Blocked bulldozers in environmental protest at Narrows Bridge, Perth, 1963.

Quotations

There are women on the warpath
And we mean to make it plain, 
That dictatorial parties
Won't get our vote again!

(1964 poem, in Theosophy in Australia, June 1998, Vol. 62, no. 2; photo Wikipedia)

Michele Rivasi

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Overview

Michèle Rivasi born Montélimar, Drôme, France February 9, 1953. Ecologist. Founded Radiological Research Commission following Chernobyl disaster, 1986; co-sponsor of forum on nuclear pollution, Polynesia, 1999. Director of Greenpeace France, 2003-04. Member of National Assembly; Green Party member of European Parliament, 2009; Green Party candidate for French Presidency, 2017.

Quotations

“[T]his great message that is ours: ecology is peace. Growth, lobbies engender war. To save the climate, the oceans, our species and the others, we must stop all wars, all bombings. We do not need weapons but protection. My adversary is war.” (blog, Nov. 2, 2016; photo europarl.euro)

Jane Roberts

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Overview

Jane Keeney Roberts born San Diego, CA August 27, 1941. Teacher who founded Friends of UN Population Fund 2002 when US cut funds.

Quotations

"It’s up to us to send a different message about the compassion, character, and the cooperative spirit of America. The women of the world have it so tough. Can’t we reach out to ease their burden?" (Common Dreams, Aug. 4, 2004; photo AmericansforUNFPA)

Margaret Dreier Robins

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Overview

Margaret Dreier Robins born Brooklyn, NY September 6, 1868 (d. 1945). International labor leader who called International Congress of Working Women 1919 DC; opposed Versailles Treaty on feminist grounds.

Quotations

On women's responsibility: "War against war" (Blanche Cook, Eleanor Roosevelt, p. 540, 1991)

"[War is] the murderer of the human race. War is the destroyer of brotherhood. It is the poison in the cup of goodwill." (Vienna, Aug. 14, 1923, in Mary Dreier, Margaret Drier Robins: Her Life, Letters and Work, p. 181, 1950)

Annot Robinson

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Overview

Annot Robinson (née Wilkie) born Montrose, Angus, Scotland June 8, 1874 (d. 1925). British schoolmistress; Socialist labor organizer. Powerful suffragist and pacifist orator. Twice arrested for suffrage protests; served 6 months in Holloway Prison and 3 weeks in Strangeways Prison for crashing into Parliament in a moving van, 1908. Founding member of WILPF, 1915. Women’s Peace Crusade, 1917; WILPF Manchester organizer, 1918-22; organizer of Zurich conference which she found “very inspiring,” 1919. Delegate to investigate Back and Tan militia violence, Ireland, 1920.

Quotations

“When women fight for their own hand then men will be relieved of the insufferable burden of chivalry and will be masked to fight in the light of day for their own hand.” (draft speech c. 1910, in June Balshaw, Suffrage, Solidarity and Strife, p. 304; photo chorltonhistory.blogspot.com)

Jo Ann Robinson

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Overview

Jo Ann Robinson born Culloden, GA April 12, 1912 (d. 1992). English teacher, credited by M.L. King as one of first organizers of Montgomery bus boycott, as president of Women’s Political Council; proposed bus boycott according to Rosa Parks.

Quotations

"An oppressed but brave people, whose pride and dignity rose to the occasion, conquered fear, and faced whatever perils had to be confronted. The boycott was the most beautiful memory that all of us who participated will carry to our final resting place." (Memoirs, p.11; photo encyclopdiaofalabama.org)

Mary Robinson

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Overview

Mary Robinson born Ballina, Mayo, Ireland May 21, 1944. UN High Commissioner for Refugees 1997-2002; First woman president of Ireland 1990-7; International Human Rights Law professor; founding president Council of Women World Leaders 1996; Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience for Human Rights 2004.

Quotations

"In a society where the rights and potential of women are constrained, no man can be truly free. He may have power, but he will not have freedom." (A Voice for Somalia, Oct. 1992; photo Wikipedia)

Adi Roche

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Overview

Adi Roche born Clonmel, Tipperary, Ireland July 11, 1955. Peace activist and anti-nuclear advocate. Volunteer for Irish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament's peace education program, 1982. Irish representative on Great Peace Journey, 1983-85. Began work in Chernobyl, 1985; founded Chernobyl Children International which rescued over 22,000 children, 1991. Took part in first Mercy Mission airlift, 1995.

Quotations

“Chernobyl Children International (CCI). . . is founded on hope and courage: the hope that the children—one by one and heartbeat by heartbeat—will thrive; and the courage to envision and create a better world.” (CCI website about us; photo carlow-nationalist.ie)

Anna Rochester

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Overview

Anna Rochester born New York, NY March 30, 1880 (d. 1966). Marxist historian; labor reformer. Editor of pacifist magazine World Tomorrow, 1922-26; early leader of Christian Socialist Fellowship of Reconciliation. Founded women’s commune with partner Grace Hutchins, 1920.

Quotations

“The generation that has experienced the horrors of war will pass, the waste of life and common wealth will be forgotten, and some new call to a great ideal will be sounded.” (Jesus Christ and the World Today, with Grace Hutchins, 1922, p. 142; photo Janet Lee, Comrades and Partners, 2000)

Anita Roddick

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Overview

Anita Perilli Roddick born Littlehampton, Sussex, England October 23, 1942 (d. 2007). Nonviolent human rights activist; organized protest against Iraq War, London, 2003; founded Body Shop, promoting human rights and environmental issues, 1976; founded Children on the Edge for East Asian orphans, 2000.

Quotations

"The older you get, the more radical you become. There’s a Dorothy Sayers quote I love, 'A woman in advancing old age is unstoppable by any earthly force.'" (http://www.anitaroddick.com/aboutanita.php)

Ulla Roder

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Overview

Bodil Ulla Røder born Denmark August 24, 1954. Ploughshares protester, sprayed "USELESS" on British sub; disabled Mayfair nuclear raft Loch Goil 1999 for which Trident trio were tried and acquitted.

Quotations

"No more butchery—enough is enough." (Danish Peace Academy, May 1, 2001)

On cutting RAF Tornado bomber with bolt-cutters: "My job was done. No more will anyone face the horrors of war from that plane. One more war machine was disarmed. I felt a deep inner peace." (Trident Ploughshares, March 21, 2003; photo mortensenfilm.dk)

Amelia Rokotuivuna

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Overview

Amelia Rokotuivuna born Fiji August 7, 1941 (d. 2005). Fijian feminist who fought for peace, justice and equality; sat-in at French office in protest for nuclear free Pacific.

Quotations

"[T]he only way forward is to create this kind of caring community. . . There is always hope for the future; hope that things will be better." (film clip at funeral June 9, 2005; photo narseyonfiji.wordpress)

Henriette Roland Holst-van der Schalk

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Overview

Henriette Roland Holst-van der Schalk born Noordwijk, Netherlands December 24, 1869 (d. 1952). Dutch poet; friend of Gandhi; nonviolent Communist.

Quotations

Love is the sense of the life of the planets,
and human and animal. Nothing can disturb
Its rise within: This is the sure truth:
Perfect Love transcends everything.
(1918; 1921 port. M. deKlerk)

Sophia Alekseyevna Romanov

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Overview

09.17 sophia.jpg.png

Sophia Alexeyevna Romanov born Kremlin, Moscow, Russia September 17, 1657 (d. 1704). First woman ruler of Russia; Princess and Regent during minority of her brother Peter the Great; she suppressed military revolt; controlling foreign policy, made Eternal Peace with Poland (Moscow) 1686, which lasted for a century; first treaty with China (Nerchinsk) 1689.

Eleonore Romberg

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Overview

Eleonore Romberg (née Hagspiel) born Münich-Ramersdorf, Germany June 19, 1923 (d. 2004). German sociology professor: independent Green party member of Bavarian parliament 1986-90; headed German WILPF; twice international leader of WILPF Vice pres. 1972-4, President 1986-92; Bavarian Peace Prize; International Peace Woman award 2004.

Quotations

On postwar life: "Never again war!"

"It was clear: Now a new life begins, it was a spirit of hope." (Wir Frauen, p. 23, summer 2003; photo barbara-lochbihler.de)

Linda Ronstadt

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Overview

Linda Ronstadt born Tucson, AZ July 15, 1946. Antiwar rock singer, opposed Vietnam War and Iraq War; sang at rally against nuclear weapons Central Park 1982.

Quotations

"We were lied to about the reasons for entering into war against Iraq and thousands of people have died—it’s just as immoral as racism." (Aug. 14, 2006; photo rollingstone.com)