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)

Dahlia Wasfi

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Overview

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Dahlia Wasfi born New York, NY December 6, 1971. American physician and peace activist. As daughter of Iraqi father and American Jew, she demanded US immediate unconditional withdrawal from Iraq.

Quotations

“Since World War II 90% of the casualties of war are unarmed civilians, a third of them children. Our victims have done nothing to us, from Palestine to Afghanistan, to Iraq, to Somalia, to wherever our next target may be, their murders are not collateral damage they are the nature of modern warfare.
They don’t hate us because of our freedoms, they hate us because every day we are funding and committing crimes against humanity.
The so-called war on terror is a cover for our military aggression to gain control of the resources of Western Asia. This is sending the poor of this country to kill the poor of those Muslim countries.
This is trading blood for oil. This is genocide, and to most of the world, we are the terrorists. In these times, remaining silent on our responsibility to the world and its future is criminal, and in light of our complicity in the supreme crimes against humanity in Iraq and Afghanistan and ongoing violations of the UN Charter and international law, how dare any American criticize the actions of legitimate resistance to illegal occupation?
Our so-called enemies in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, our other colonies around the world, and our inner cites here at home are struggling against the oppressive hand of empire demanding respect for their humanity.” (to Congressional Progressive Caucus, Apr. 27, 2006; photo youtube.com)

Vera Baker Williams

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Overview

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Vera Baker Williams born Hollywood, CA January 28, 1927 (d. 2015). Prize-winning children's author and illustrator. Antiwar poster for May Day, 1971. Executive Committee, War Resisters League, 1980-84. Imprisoned one month for women’s blockade of Pentagon, 1981; Amnesty International prisoner of conscience.

Quotations

“I was also taking part in feminist actions and in protests against this country’s wasteful pouring of our resources into military might. After all, creating a nonviolent world in books will not suffice to bring down the military budget.” (Horn Book, Nov. 20, 2001; photo nytimes.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)

Shailene Woodley

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Overview

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Shailene Woodley born Simi Valley, CA November 15, 1991. Actress. Arrested for support of native women’s protest against Dakota pipeline, 2016.

Quotations

“Will you choose money, or will you choose children? Will you choose ignorance, or will you choose love? Will you choose blindness, or will you choose freedom? . . . I am not scared. I am not afraid. I am grateful, and I am amazed to be standing by the sides of so many peaceful warriors. Standing Rock ‘protests’ are rooted in ceremony and in prayer. I’ve been there.” (Time, Oct. 20, 2016; photo marieclaire.com)

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)

Gertrude Weil

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Overview

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Gertrude Weil born Goldsboro, NC December 11, 1879 (d. 1971). American Jewish progressive civic reformer and suffragist. Led League of Women Voters in lobbying the World Court for disarmament; promoted good relations with Latin America.

Quotations

“The abolition of war is humanity’s supreme need today. . . Thus in working toward this end, woman takes her place in world progress.” (“Thoughts on Armistice Day” c. 1928, in Melissa Klapper, Ballots, Babies and Banners of Peace)

“As women are the producers of the race, they would be naturally the conservers of the race. . . Viewed from any standpoint, we cannot see no justification for war. . . We find that war abrogates the teachings of all religions. The is nothing in war compatible with the doctrine of human brotherhood and the universal law of love.” (Leonard Rogoff, Gertrude Weil, p. 164; photo Jewish Women’s Archive)

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)

Yoko Kawashima Watkins

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Overview

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Yoko Kawashima Watkins born Harbin, Manchuria, Japanese-occupied China October 5, 1933. Japanese-American children’s writer; antiwar pacifist. Author of controversial semi-autobiographical story of war in Korea So Far From the Bamboo Grove, 1986. Received Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award.

Quotations

“Now myself and other Japanese people who see themselves as peacemakers and who lived in North Korea are in small ways trying to mend the Japanese government’s mistakes. I have been shouting all along, 'Forgive us!' 'No more fighting!' 'No more nuclear!' And who suffers most during any war? It’s innocent, unknown civilians!. . .  I say that peace must start from each one of us. To do that, first, we must be kind to each other. If we all carry hatred and revenge inside us, then we will never achieve peace in the world.” (quote and photo, Korea JoongAng Daily, Feb. 2, 2007)

Freda Wuesthoff

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Overview

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Freda Wuesthoff (née Hoffmann) born Berlin, Germany May 16, 1896 (d. 1956). German pacifist, physicist, and patent attorney. Founded women’s Stuttgart Peace Circle against nuclear weapons, 1947. Promoted peace education in German schools.

Quotations

“I think it is possible that the women of other countries could understand more quickly than men that there are really only two choices: further wars, that is, the agonizing death of the human race—or the start of humanity for lasting peace.” (letter to friends, Dec. 12, 1946 fembio; photo.geni.com)

Margaret Murray Washington

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Overview

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Margaret Murray Washington born Macon, MI March 9, 1877 (d. 1925). African-American educator; international activist. Co-founder and first president, International Council of Women of the Darker Races, 1922. Led petition to Congress denouncing Belgian atrocities in Congo, 1910; opposed US occupation of Haiti.

Quotations

“If we wish to help each other let us not only praise ourselves, but also criticize. Plain talk will not hurt us.” (wiki; photo firstthoughtco.com)

Delia Webster

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Overview

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Delia Webster born Vergennes, VT December 17, 1817 (d. 1904). “Petticoat Abolitionist” jailed for aiding slaves escape; teacher, author, and suffragist. Conductor on Underground Railroad, Lexington, KY. Tried for helping slaves escape on her 27th birthday, 1844; sentenced to two years hard labor, but pardoned after two months. Second arrest 1854, escaped and rearrested, tried, and acquitted. Nurse during Civil War; founded school for African-American children.

Quotations

“From my earliest knowledge of the existence and nature of American slavery, I have had an utter abhorrence of it, as a system of uncompounded wickedness, alike opposed to Christianity, and the principles of republican government.” (“Thoughts on Slavery”, Kentucky Jurisprudence, pp. 83-84, Frances Eisan, Saint or Demon, p. 10; photo vermonthistory.org)

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)

Lillian Wald

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Overview

Lillian D. Wald born Cincinnati, OH March 10, 1897 (d. 1940). Nurse and community activist. “Militant pacifist” and “practical idealist.” Founder and first president of American Union Against Militarism, 1914. Co-founded League of Free Nations Association, forerunner of Foreign Policy Association, 1918. Active in feminist Women’s Peace Party and WILPF.

Quotations

“Women are here to reaffirm their protest against war, to restate their unalterable faith in the righteousness of Peace.” (Better World Heroes; photo Wikipedia)