Agnes Sanford

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Overview

Agnes Sanford born Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China November 4, 1897 (d. 1982). American theologian preacher; famous founder of Inner Healing Movement; absolute pacifist.

Quotations

“I learned the essential decency of human nature, and the utter and absolute evil of war. . . Our mistake is the usual one of assuming that there is no difference between the races. If we could recognize those differences, learn to cope with them, and to cope with them, come to love them, and to bring out the good, then we might have a better world. Until we do learn, no amount of warfare will make it better, but will make it progressively worse.” (Sealed Orders, pp. 203-04; photo heyjol.trip)

Shigeko Sasamori

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Overview

Shigeko Sasamori (née Niimoto) born Hiroshima, Japan June 16, 1932. 13-year-old atomic bomb survivor.

Quotations

“We must never start a war. Never own any nuclear weapon. Stop the nuclear power plant. That is what we should declare to the world.”

“It is very important to keep our heart of love and consideration by our side and we won’t want to start to have any war. Life is the most important thing in our world.” (Memories of War I, Oct. 8, 2015; photo now.etown.edu)

Heisoo Shin

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Overview

Heisoo Shin born Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea April 23, 1950. South Korean professor of sociology; leader in exposing of sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II; spearheaded international campaign against violence to women in war; Nobel Peace Prize nominee 2005. Vice-chair of UN Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) for 2003-04; member of UN committee on violence against women, 2005; member of UN committee on Afghanistan, 2006; convened Gyeongnam World Conference on Women’s Human Rights, 2008-09.

Quotations

"We have established that rape and sexual slavery during wartime are violations of women’s rights and should be punished. Because of our movement, hopefully such a thing will never happen again." (quote and photo World People's Blog)

Yukika Sohma

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Overview

Yukika Sohma (née Ozaki) born Tokyo, Japan January 26, 1912 (d. 2008). Japanese pacifist; opposed WWII and apologized for Japan’s role. Founded Japan-Korea Women’s Association, 1977; founded Association to Aid the Indochinese Refugees (later Assn. for Aid and Relief), 1979.

Quotations

"I want to keep Japan's heart open so that my country will not be a menace, as she once was, but an asset to the world." (1980 speech at Caux, in M. Henderson, All Her Paths Are Peace, p. 113)

"If we keep our hearts open, we can always do some good." (Washington Post, April 8, 2007)

"I hope, from the bottom of my heart, that the whole world will see peace and all people can live happily. To get there, of course, countries will need to work together to build trust." (quote & photo AAR Japan)