Nic Waal

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Overview

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Nic Waal (née Caroline Nicolaysen) born Oslo, Norway January 1, 1905 (d. 1960). Pioneering Norwegian child psychiatrist; radical Socialist active in Norwegian resistance. Rescued German Jewish children; arrested, 1945, but escaped. Honored by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among Nations.

Quotations

“Many people think something with their heads and feel something different with their heart. Many close completely off their feelings when they think. This is often called being logical. But the heart also has its logic. It is said that women think with their hearts—as if this was something contemptible. . . I am inclined to say that the restless and spontaneous heart behind opinions was and is the most important in opinions earlier, now, and in the future.” (1960 wikipedia; photo wikipedia.com)

Margaret Windeyer

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Overview

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Margaret “Margy” Windeyer born Buxted, Sussex, England November 24, 1866 (d. 1939). Australian feminist and suffrage leader; internationalist; librarian. Commissioner of World Exposition, Chicago, 1893. Delegate to first World’s Congress of Representative Women, 1893.

Quotations

“I think it will be the aim of every woman. . . to see that by her vote she can free her sisters from the bondage of custom and ignorance. . . in the extension of franchise to women. . . the state will be before the family, and the great nation of all, the world, will be before the state.” (“Discussion on Women’s Political Future”, Rogers and Boussaba, Women in International and Universal Exhibitions; photo Wikipedia)

Sahra Wagenknecht

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Overview

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Sahra Wagenknecht born Jena, German Democratic Republic September 16, 1959. German politician. Leader of Left Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS) in Reichstag and European Parliament, 2010. Opposed Syrian War & German military abroad; against NATO buildup against Russia.

Quotations

“I consider it so dishonest to say we are fighting terrorism, while at the same time cooperating with and delivering weapons to those who openly support terrorism. . . You can't fight terror with terror.” (Deutsche Welle, Aug. 25, 2017; photo Wikipedia)

Lilian Wolfe

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Overview

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Lilian Wolfe born Edgware Road, London, England December 22, 1875 (d. 1974). English feminist; pacifist; anarchist. Arrested for antiwar activity encouraging draft resistance, 1916; sentenced to two months in Holloway Prison. During interwar decades, resided at Whiteway Colony, Tolstoyan nonviolent community. Wrote for antiwar anarchist journal Freedom. Opposed World War II in War Commentary, 1936-44; ran Freedom Press for 25 years. Protested at CND Aldermaston, 1958; arrested for sit-ins, 1961-64.

Quotations

“The hope of Britain lies with the country’s youth.” (her motto, from J.B. Priestley; photo pedigogia libertaria)

Charlotte Waterlow

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Overview

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Charlotte Waterlow born London, England May 31, 1915 (d. 2011). “Global Citizen.” World Federalist; history teacher; Middle East service in Foreign Office.

Quotations

“The fate of the world depends on balancing the development of the mind, so powerfully promoted by science, with the development of the heart—the capacity to experience the higher emotions, the capacity to love.” (foreword to The Hinge of History 1995)

“[T]he crisis point is dawning: grow up or blow up! What does 'growing up' involve? First, to feel and express love, compassion and concern for others.” (The Federalist Debate, March 2003, p. 27; photo federalunion.org.uk)

Brigitte Wada

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Overview

Brigitte Wada born Nalliers, Vendée, France November 9, 1959. President 2008ff. Secretary-General 2001-08 Woman Federation for World Peace-France.

Quotations

“We know that it is not easy to build a culture of peace and a happy world. It takes a lot of devotion, sacrifice and tears. We women have overcome for many years many discriminations and difficulties. With the wisdom and experience we have accumulated, we can build strong and happy families resplendent with sincere love. Let us continue to extend our work for peace to our neighbors, the community and the world!” (“Le Role de la Femme dans la Construction de Paix”, March 6, 2010, Universal Peace foundation; photo WFWP)

Elin Wagner

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Overview

Elin Wägner born Lund, Sweden May 16, 1882 (d. 1949). Swedish journalist; feminist; pacifist; novelist, and radical environmentalist. Covered Hague Women's Conference, 1915; led Women's Unarmed Uprising Against War, 1935; authored plan for world parliament, 1935. Published The Alarm Clock, 1941.

Quotations

"[P]eace on earth. But peace with the earth." (photo sv.Wikipedia)

Marion Wallace-Dunlop

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Overview

Marion Wallace-Dunlop born Inverness, Scotland December 22, 1864 (d. 1942). Artist; militant suffragist, twice arrested, 1908, 1909; first British hunger strike lasting 91 hours; arrested for smashing windows, 1911.

Quotations

"It is the right of the subject to petition the King, and all commitments and prosecution for such petitions are illegal." (excerpt from Bill of Rights she posted on parliament building, 1909; Oxf. Dict. Nat. Bio citing Rosen 118; photo Spartacus.edu)

Margot Wallstrom

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Overview

Margot Wallström born Skellefteå, Sweden September 28, 1954. UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict 2010; European Environment Commissioner 1999-2004; First Vice President European Commission 2004-10.

Quotations

"It’s just a matter of believing that the right man in the right place can be a woman." (Oreja de Europa, Nov. 12, 2009; photo Wikipedia)

Anne Warburton

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Overview

Anne Marion Warburton born June 8, 1927. First female British ambassador 1976; to UN Geneva 1983-85; led European investigation of rape in Balkan war 1992; President Lucy Cavendish College.

Quotations

"The rape of Muslim women has been—and perhaps still is—perpetrated on a wide scale and in such a way as to be part of a clearly recognizable pattern, sufficient to form an important element of war strategy." (Feb. 1993 report)

Barbel Wartenberg-Potter

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Overview

Bärbel Wartenberg-Potter born Pirmasens, Palatinate, Germany September 16, 1943. Lutheran bishop of Lübeck. Called on US to "renounce counter-violence" against Islam; opposed wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; signed appeal "Another War in Europe? Not in our name!", 2014.

Quotations

"[T]he common denominator between religious communities should hopefully be the protection of life, the sanctification of life. . . religious leaders have to speak unanimously against violence and for the protection of life. We have to contribute to peaceful solutions of conflicts and brand every destruction of life as a godless deed. We also must fight and eliminate violent speaking, much of real violence starts with the violence of the words. In all religions prayers for peace, theology of peace and exercises of nonviolent conflict resolution should be promoted." (European Conference of Religious Leaders, Berlin, March 5, 2008)

Johanna Waszklewicz-van Schilfgaarde

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Overview

Baroness Johanna Waszklewicz-van Schilfgaarde (née Zouterwoude) born Netherlands November 7, 1850 (d. 1937). Dutch peace organizer; founded Alliance of Women for peace, 1899; opposed Boer War.

Quotations

"I sent an appeal to women of all nations, convinced that their simultaneous actions in every country might have a positive effect on the stubborn bellicosity of our men, Our League [of women] understands the armed peace is as evil as war." (1896, La Fronde, April 8, 1898; photo Trouw.com)

Edith Waterworth

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Overview

Edith Alice Waterworth born Castleton, Lancashire, England October 18, 1873 (d. 1957). Australian peace leader and women’s rights advocate. WILPF leader.

Quotations

“Women writers and women speakers may do a great deal by dropping the seed of thought [about peace] into women’s minds, and making the fact that they are the natural defenders of the young.” (Wendy Sharer, Vote and Voice: Women's Organizations and Political Literacy: 1915-1930, 2004, p. 39)

Elizabeth Spence Watson

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Overview

Elizabeth Spence Watson born Newcastle-on-Tyne, England September 12, 1838 (d. 1919). Quaker absolute pacifist; suffragist. Opposed all wars, including World War I.

Quotations

“Just to speak of the wars which I remember, by no means chronologically, the Abyssinian. war—memorable for its many disasters—the Zulu War—the Ashanti war—wars in Uganda—the Chinese opium wars—the Indian Mutiny (1857)—the Afghan war—the South African war—the war in the Soudan. We profess to believe in Christianity, and in teaching Christianity to 'savage people,' and this we do by fire and sword, and making the land of our enemies a desert.” (Reminiscences, Jan. 8, 1918; photo benbeck.com)

Margaret Sturge Watts

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Overview

Margaret Sturge Watts born Everton, Liverpool, England June 12, 1892 (d. 1978). Australian Quaker opponent of World War I, for which she was beaten, kicked and thrown out by audience, but returned by another door. Founding member of Australian WILPF; founded Women's Peace Army, 1916. Activist for hunger relief in postwar Germany and Russia; opposed Vietnam War; aided immigrants.

Quotations

"I wish the women of your society would be more rational, and by uniting with us, put an end to the illogical and insane methods of settling international disputes." (to National Council of Women, Sydney, in Leonard Kenworthy, Living in the Light: Some Quaker Pioneers of the 20th Century, vol. II, p.257; photo Aust. Women's Register)

Simone Weil

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Overview

Simone Weil born Paris, France February 3, 1909 (d. 1943). Philosopher and social activist. Advocate of nonviolence; anarchist. Aided German communists fleeing Hitler's regime, 1932; took part in France's general strike, 1933.

Quotations

"A self-respecting nation is ready for anything, including war, except for a renunciation of its option to make war."

"We must absolutely everything, as a whole and in each detail, including evil in all its forms; notably our own past sins. . . " (Waiting for God, Jan. 19, 1942; photo http://bit.ly/IF0rKL)