Mu Sochua

Overview

Mu Sochua born Phnom Penh, Cambodia May 15, 1954. Human rights activist. Founded Cambodia's first women’s organization Khemara, 1991. Led thousands of nuns and monks in march for peace and non-violence during 1993 election. As Minister of Women’s Affairs, helped pass Prevention of Domestic Violence law, and negotiated agreements with neighboring lands to stop traffic in women, 1998-2004; resigned in protest against corruption. Nobel Peace Prize nominee, 2005. Awarded Eleanor Roosevelt Prize for leadership in human rights, 2009.

Quotations

“My approach to peace has always been through building voices and forces with various groups, either at local, national, regional or international level. I strongly believe in a life free from fear and violence.” (sochua.wordpress.com/bio; photo vitalvoices.org)

Karin Soder

Overview

Karin Söder (née Bergenfur) born Frykerud, Värmland, Sweden November 30, 1928. Member of Parliament, 1971-91; first woman Foreign Minister, 1976-78; first woman to head major Swedish political party, 1985. Chair of Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), 1978-79; Chair of Save the Children Sweden, 1983-95; two-time President of Nordic Council, 1984-85, 1989-90.

Quotations

"Nuclear weapons kill immediately and kill over time. . . Massive use of existing nuclear arsenals would destroy all life on earth, a global suicide. . . The question now is if we have the collective will and wisdom to step out from the shadow of annihilation and transform the Vision of a World Free of Nuclear Weapons into reality." (Swedish Declaration on the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, April 11, 2010; photo Wikipedia)

Nancy Soderberg

Overview

Nancy Soderberg born San Turce, Puerto Rico March 13, 1958. American diplomat. National Security Council, 1992-97; UN representative, 1997-2001. Advocate for human rights and peace in Ireland.

Quotations

“Bush thought we would invade Iraq and democracy would blossom all around the Arab world. That did not happen.” (It's a Free Country, Feb. 15, 2011)

“Women are an under-utilized positive force for peace.” (Oct. 24, 2000, State Dept. release; photo Wikipedia)

Yukika Sohma

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)

Anna Sokolow

Overview

Anna Sokolow born Hartford, CT February 9, 1910 (d. 2000). American dancer and choreographer. Produced “Anti-war Trilogy” at the First Anti-War Congress, sponsored by the American League Against War and Fascism, 1933. Established Mexico's first modern dance academy, 1939. Created other anti-war productions including: “Inquisition '36”, “Excerpts from a War Poem”, and “Slaughter of the Innocents” about the Spanish Civil War. Illustrated the sorrow of the Holocaust in “Dreams”, 1963.

Quotations

“Art should be a reflection and a comment on contemporary life. . . The artist should belong to his society. . . yet without feeling that he has to conform to it. . . Then, although he belongs to his society, he can change it, presenting it with fresh feelings, fresh ideas.” (Jewish Virtual Library)

Berta Soler

Overview

Berta de los Angeles Soler Fernandez born Matanzas, Cuba July 31, 1963. Co-founder of Ladies in White, a group dedicated to nonviolently protesting detention of political prisoners.

Quotations

"We do not advocate revolution. We do not use violence. We march peacefully on the streets. We have two arms: our white dresses and the gladiolas."(Christian Reforms, May 25, 2013; photo GEA photowords)

Dorothee Solle

Overview

Dorothee Sölle born Cologne, Germany September 30, 1929 (d. 2003). German liberation theologian; pacifist led protests against Apartheid, war in Central America and nuclear weapons; book The Arms Race Kills Even Without War, 1983; feminist.

Quotations

"It is possible to violate laws and regulations governing property without committing violence against human beings." (On War and Love, 1983; photo liberationtheology.org)

Julia Solly

Overview

Julia Solly (née Muspratt) born Seaforth, Lancashire, England December 21, 1862 (d. 1953). South African botanist; pacifist, feminist, suffragist, and social reformer. Opposed Boer War, World War I, and Nazi regime. Co-founded South African Peace and Arbitration Society opposing World War I, June 1915. First woman member of South African scientific society.

Quotations

“Never will or can war end war—the nations that sow the dragon’s teeth of armed men and instruments must, at intervals, reap a crop of hatred and mistrust.” (Jus Suffragi, Sept. 1, 1915, p. 345)

Rebecca Solnit

Overview

Rebecca Solnit born Bridgeport, CT June 24, 1961. American peace activist author who recorded her participation in anti-nuclear movement: Nevada test site; opposed Vietnam War, Iraq War.

Quotations

“We were not against the US and for Iraq; we were against the war, and many of us were against all war, all weapons of mass destruction—even ours—and all violence, everywhere. We are not just an antiwar movement. We are a peace movement.” (TomDispatch, May 19, 2003; photo inthesetimes.com)

Hannah Greenebaum Solomon

Overview

Hannah Greenebaum Solomon born Chicago, IL January 14, 1858 (d. 1942). Social reformer; associate of Jane Addams; member of WILPF. Organized World's Parliament of Religions, 1890; delegate to International Council of Women, 1904.

Quotations

"Declaration of war! I had been one who dreamed of our being able to plan a better world; one promising freedom from the tyranny of force, forever." (Autobio., p. 177; photo http://bit.ly/y5qDru)

Myrtle Solomon

Overview

Myrtle Solomon born Kensington, London, England June 9, 1921 (d. 1987). Lesbian pacifist; head of War Resisters International, 1975-86.

Quotations

"Peace is not just the absence of war, nor a lull in the inevitable storm. Nor is nonviolence a secret weapon to be used to stop a particular war." (IFOR Patterns in Reconciliation #7, p. 39, 1972; photo wri-irg.org)

Simonetta Sommaruga

Overview

Simonetta Sommaruga born Zug, Switzerland May 14, 1960. Pianist, Socialist member of Swiss parliament 1999; on foreign affairs committee and head of delegation of European parliament; Federal Council Justice Minister 2019; president of private development organization Swissaid 2003.

Quotations

On her visit to Niger: "Hunger is a scandal." (Feb. 14, 2007)

"We pay the price for the failures of the missed integration policy of the last years today." (IBNLive, Sept. 29, 2011; photo Wikipedia)

Susan Sontag

Overview

Susan Sontag (née Rosenblatt) born New York, NY January 16, 1933 (d. 2004). Essayist; opposed Vietnam War, made trip to Hanoi, 1967; lived in Sarajevo during siege, 1993.

Quotations

"War-making is one of the few activities that people are not supposed to view 'realistically.'" (AIDS and Its Metaphors, 1988).

"I'm sickened by the way that the delivery of so-called humanitarian aid is once again as a justification—or cover—for war." (Salon interview, Oct. 16, 2001)

Gillian Martin Sorensen

Overview

Gillian Martin Sorensen born Columbus, OH March 4, 1941. UN Foundation leader. UN Undersecretary for Information & Public Policy, 1993-97; UN Assistant Secretary for External Affairs, 1997-2003.

Quotations

“There’s a lot of experience here from women on the front lines. . . women who have moved from being victims of war to being architects of peace.” (Harvard Crimson, Nov. 12, 2002; photo Wikipedia)

Rosalie Sorrels

Overview

Rosalie Sorrels born Boise, ID January 1, 1933. Anti-Vietnam War folk singer; sang protest songs "Enola Gay," "I Will Not Obey," "Trooper's Lament," "Killing Ground."

Quotations

"Give us your sons and give us your daughters;
No one is safe or immune from the slaughter.
How indifference makes them rage.
What can one say?
I will not obey."

("I Will Not Obey"; 1966 photo http://bit.ly/wy7Is0)

Mira Sorvino

Overview

Mira Sorvino born Manhattan, NY September 28, 1967. American actress; UN Goodwill Ambassador to combat human trafficking 2009-12; Amnesty International envoy and award winner; appealed to Congress to support UN peacekeepers in Darfur 2006.

Quotations

“We have all chanted, 'Never Again' in response to various mass atrocities that have occurred in the past century. . . Unfortunately, 'again' is now." (to House Int. Affairs, Sept. 20, 2006)

"What we need are people who are brave enough to stand up to these forces [of violence against women]. It's really this monumental fight and we have no resources, but we have the heart." (seawolfliving, Feb. 3, 2016; photo People Magazine, Jan. 21, 2006)

Mercedes Sosa

Overview

Mercedes Sosa born Tucumán, Argentina July 9, 1935 (d. 2009). Pacifist folk singer; "the voice of Latin America." Opposed dictators; arrested and exiled 1979; UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.

Quotations

"Peace shall be recovered, when all the people’s rights are respected." (La Prensa, Feb. 17, 1982; photo Wikipedia)

Nasrin Sotoudeh

Overview

Nasrin Sotoudeh born Gilan, Iran May 30, 1967. Human rights defender of prisoners including Nobelist Shirin Ebadi; arrested 2010 for spreading propaganda and harming state security; held in solitary, sentenced 11 years; 4 week hunger strike 2010; 49-day fast 2012; Sakharov Prize 2012; freed 2013.

Quotations

“Of course I am optimistic for the future. I have no doubt that equality will prevail, because without equality you cannot have peace and love, and without peace and love, life is empty.” (Arseh Sevom, March 30, 2012; photo Int. campaign for HR)

Laila Soueif

Overview

Laila Soueif born London, England May 1, 1956. Egyptian math professor; active protester of human rights; mother of two activist daughters Sanaa and Mona Seif, son Aala; leader of Tahrir Square revolution 2011; first demonstration as student Dec. 1971 against student arrests; university professors’ organization got less military control 2003; co-founded Egyptian Association against Torture 1993; protested repression at Mahalla 2008; physically intervened in arrests in revolution 2011.

Quotations

“There will be no way to govern this country unless there are radical changes that address the demands of the poor, the youth, and the most marginalized.” (Nicola Pratt interview, May 10, 2012, Jadaliyya; photo 3aan.com)

T. S. Soundaram

Overview

T. S. Soundaram Ramachandran (née Iyengar) born Thirinulveli, Madras, India August 18, 1904 (d. 1984). Physician associate of Gandhi; active in Quit India movement; started Gandhigram program of rural health, education, development; founded Kasturba Hospital 1947; began Gandhigram Rural Institute 1947; member of national legislature 1957-67; as Deputy Minister of Education she introduced compulsory free education, and National Service.

Quotations

“Small things add up to big results later.” (The Hindu, Feb. 24, 2014; photo geni.com)