Georgiana Sibley

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Overview

Georgiana Sibley (née Farr) born Millbrook, NY May 30, 1887 (d. 1980). American church woman and leader of ecumenical movement. Served as Church Women United (CWU) official observer at the founding of the UN, 1945. As President of United Council of Church Women, opposed draft, 1945. National president, CWU, 1946-48. Founded Rochester UN Association, 1946. Leader in racial desegregation; urged control of atomic weapons.

Quotations

“[We seek] international abolition of conscription and the rapid development of the strength of world government and of its police force.” (to President Truman, Oct. 25, 1945, in Melanie Johnson, Building Bridges, p. 71; photo hws.edu)

Anna Siemsen

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Overview

Anna Marie Siemsen born Westphalia, Germany January 18, 1882 (d. 1952). German; professor; peace educator; member of WILPF. Protested World Wars I and II; voted against military expansion as Socialist pacifist member of Reichstag, 1928-30; exiled from Germany, 1933; worked for European unity after WWII.

Quotations

"Never Again a German Army!" (speech, Cologne, Jan. 1950; photo http://bit.ly/ADeM9D)

Simone Signoret

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Overview

Simone Signoret (née Kaminker) born Wiesbaden, Germany March 25, 1921 (d. 1985). Famous French actress, peace activist; opposed Algeria War; rejected nuclear weapons; introduced Jane Fonda to anti-Vietnam War rallies; publicly opposed Russian invasion of Hungary.

Quotations

“For me there are no laws. . . You do what you want and know is right. That is the only law. Individual courage is the only interesting thing in life.” (People, June 12, 1978; 1959 sketch by Nicholas Volpe, Wikipedia)

Marina Silva

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Overview

Marina Silva born Breu Velho, Acre, Brazil February 8, 1958. Nonviolent environmental activist; rubber tapper. Promoter of Amazon forest preservation; led early nonviolent Empate protests with assassinated leader Chico Mendes, 1980s. Senator, 1995-2011; as Environment Minister, saw 60% reduction of deforestation, 2003-08. Green Party presidential candidate, earning almost 20% of votes, 2010; Socialist Presidential candidate, earning 21% of votes, 2014. Awarded Goldman Prize, 1996; named UNEP Champion of the Earth, 2007; received Sophie Prize, 2009.

Quotations

"My option has always been for non-violent actions. Civil disobedience actions can occur without violence, without disrespecting fundamental rights—for example, without injuring people or damaging property." (Folha de S.Paulo, Aug. 18, 2013; photo adbb.org.br)

Carol Ruth Silver

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Overview

Carol Ruth Silver born Boston, MA October 1, 1938. UN clerk; Freedom Rider; arrested Jackson, MS, 1961 on Trailways bus from Nashville; jailed 40 days; worked with Cesar Chavez; San Francisco Supervisor, 1978-89; involved with OLPC, donating computers to Afghan children.

Quotations

"We were doing something to change the world in a very direct and dangerous way. Just like the kids in Libya with their Facebook apps are changing the world, we changed the world." (San Francisco Chronicle, April 14, 2011; 1978 photo http://bit.ly/w7Iz4s)

Althea Simmons

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Overview

Althea Simmons born Shreveport, LA April 17, 1924 (d. 1990). Civil rights activist; lawyer; chief lobbyist for NAACP, esp. Mississippi voting rights. Advocated for recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as national holiday.

Quotations

"[F]ight the good fight, and march on 'til victory is won." (resolution cited in Benjamin Hooks, The Crisis, Oct. 1990, p. 52)

Jeanmarie Simpson

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Overview

Jeanmarie Simpson born Ray, AZ November 20, 1959. American pacifist theater actress, whose roles include Jeannette Rankin and Mary Dyer; leader of WILPF.

Quotations

"What's wrong with being a socialist country?!! 'Jointly Needed, Jointly Owned.' There can still be free enterprise, but the basics—housing, food, health care, utilities, education—are off limits to the market. All the rest—go for it! Make your damn widgets. But by god, pay a living wage and provide safe and sanitary working conditions. What the hell is wrong with that?" (Facebook, April 2009; photo 1977 wiki)

Jean Sinclair

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Overview

Jean Sinclair born Germiston, South Africa July 2, 1908 (d. 1996). Founder 1955 Black Sash women's movement against Apartheid; mother of activist Sheena Duncan.

Quotations

"Our rulers must accept that if they are gambling with civilisation, and that survival is their motive for this oppression, the sooner they reverse their policy and put into practice a policy of social justice and decency, the sooner will South Africa be accepted in the world community, and our chances of survival will be increased." (Black Sash presidential address, 1971; photo sahistory.org.za)

Helvi L. Sipila

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Overview

Helvi L. Sipilä born Helsinki, Finland May 5, 1915. Finnish lawyer. Highest-ranking woman in UN as first woman Assistant Secretary General, 1972-80; organized first International Women's Conference Mexico, 1975; started first development fund for women, 1976.

Quotations

"Peace is only the situation in which a nation has no need for war. . . The only way to prevent war is to strive for justice in the world by reducing discrimination and injustices." (Helsingen Sonomat, May 5, 2000; photo UN)

Zaibun Siraj

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Overview

Zaibun Siraj born Singapore April 13, 1947. Human rights activist. Co-founded feminist Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE), 1985.

Quotations

“STOP THE INSANITY: My Plea to Stop the Crimes and Sexual Jihad Performed by ISIS. When will this insanity end? When will the people conducting these insane activities realize that what they are doing is so wrong? It is a shame that there are people in this world who choose to perform acts of violence, cruelty and inhumane activities in the name of religion. Take ISIS. . . why does it think that it has the support of God in what it is doing? Any rational human being can tell that what ISIS is doing is not something supported by God. The reason for this is that God does not condone violence and cruelty. The world too, does not tolerate the crimes committed by ISIS. The acts committed by ISIS are not Islamic and they do not manifest the ideals of Islam. ISIS activities are contrary to the ideals of Islam. Islam promotes and upholds justice, kindness, fairness, freedom of faith and coexistence.” (blog, Sep. 3, 2014; photo zaibun.com)

Latifah Anum Siregar

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Overview

Latifah Anum Siregar born Jayapura, West Papua, Indonesia September 28, 1968. Indonesian human rights advocate. General Secretary Papua Muslim Assembly 2007-11; chair of Alliance for Democracy in Papua; member of Papua parliament. Awarded 2015 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights “for exemplifying the ideals of human rights and peace, and for her nonviolent endeavors despite multiple threats and kidnappings.”

Quotations

“People may have different views of life that may create conflicts. If we do not understand and forgive each other, life in the earth is diminishing and it is getting harder to achieve the needs. Forgiveness means to open and give chances to come into life more peacefully.” (Ara Pacis Initiative; photo unrepresented nations

Maha Chakri Sirindhorn

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Overview

Maha Chakri Sirindhorn born Bangkok, Thailand April 2, 1955. Thai educator who won Indira Gandhi Peace Prize 2004, Magsaysay Award 1991; UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador 2005.

Quotations

"The reason I like to help people is, I guess, because I'm used to it." (1985 interview on community development)

"Development is not only measured by economic growth. Development also means good public health, appropriate education, wise use of natural resources, conservation of the environment and culture, equitable income distribution, job opportunities, and the freedom to choose one’s own way of living." (Dec. 8, 1990, year-end conference; photo UNESCO)

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

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Overview

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf born Monrovia, Liberia October 29, 1938. Director of UN Development Fund for Africa, 1992-97; leader in campaign against wartime violence against women; authored UN report on women in war, 2002. Elected first female president of African nation, 2005; shared Nobel Peace Prize with Leymah Gbowee & Tawakkol Karman, 2011.

Quotations

"During the years of our civil war, they (Liberian women) bore the brunt of inhumanity and terror. They were conscripted into war, gang raped at will, forced into domestic slavery. Yet, it is the women who labored and advocated for peace throughout our region." (inaugural address, Jan. 16, 2006; photo Liberian Dialogue, Dec. 21, 2010)