Ada Wells

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Overview

Ada Wells (née Pike) born Shepherd’s Green, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England April 29, 1863 (d. 1933). Pioneer New Zealand suffragist; peace advocate, spoke publicly against militarism, imperialism; opposed draft, aided conscientious objectors World War I.

Quotations

“War is organised murder.” (Oct. 1913, Voices Against War)

“She had been termed unpatriotic, and if to believe in the brotherhood of man was to be unpatriotic—well, then, she was unpatriotic.” (Lyttleton Times 1917, Voices Against War; 1918 photo Voices Against War.)

Melissa F. Wells

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Overview

Melissa F. Wells (née Foelsch) born Tallin, Estonia November 18, 1932. UN Undersecretary for Administration, 1992-3; 40-year career US diplomat; ambassador to ECOSOC, 1977; Cape Verde, 1977; Mozambique, 1987; Zaire, 1991; Estonia, 1998; Special Representative to Sudan, 1994.

Quotations

"The destruction is maniacal." (Time, Feb. 1, 1988 on Mozambique civil war; photo c. 1998 State Dept. pd)

Penny Wensley

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Overview

Penny Wensley born Toowoomba, New South Wales October 18, 1946. Australian diplomat; first Australian female representative to UN, 1997.

Quotations

"But heads of mission who also happen to be women are role models; and the judgments made about our effectiveness reflect not only on our countries but on women in general. There exists an extra dimension to our experience – at least until there are many more of us in places that count." (The Interpreter, May 20, 2009; photo WW Guide to Women in Leadership)

Marion Craig Wentworth

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Overview

Marion Craig Wentworth born St. Paul, MN January 25, 1872 (d. 1942). Playwright and speaker. Wrote popular antiwar vaudeville play “War Brides”, revealing war’s suffering at home, 1915; made into silent film, 1916.

Quotations

“What. . . to breed a soldier for the empire, to restock the land? And for what? For food for the next generation’s cannon? Oh, it is an insult to our womanhood! You violate all that makes marriage sacred!” (“War Brides”, 1915, p. 32)

Miriam Were

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Overview

Miriam K. Were born Lugala, Kenya April 12, 1940. Quaker; physician; public health official. UNICEF Ethiopia Chief Health Adviser, 1985-90; WHO Representative, 1990-93; UN Population Fund Director, 1993-2000. Founded UZIMA Foundation for youth health, 1995. First recipient of Noguchi Africa Prize, 2008.

Quotations

"Compassion is the missing ingredient in development work. . . this is particularly needed in the health sector. . . We need the UN now more than ever!" (UN University Tokyo, May 29, 2008; photo africanexecutive.com)

Claudette Werleigh

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Overview

Claudette Werleigh (née Antoine) born Cap-Haïtien, Haiti September 26, 1946. Lawyer and diplomat; peace advocate. Secretary General, Haiti National Caritas, 1976-87. Haitian Foreign Minister, 1993-95. Haiti's first woman Prime Minister, 1995-96. Representative to OAS summit, 1998. Headed conflict transformation at Life & Peace Institute, Uppsala, 1999. Secretary General and Envoy, Pax Christi International, 2007-10.

Quotations

“As long as there are violent conflicts, as long as people die from the deliberate actions of others, conflict transformation, reconciliation and peacebuilding will remain relevant.” (Bijoyeta Das, “Building Bridges, Building Peace,” p. 60; photo catholica.com.au)

Mary Hamilton Wesley

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Overview

Mary Hamilton Wesley born Cedar Rapids, IA October 13, 1935 (d. 2002). Freedom Rider; led resistance in Parchman Prison; second female CORE Field Secretary, 1961; first female CORE Southern Regional Director, 1963. Miss Mary case won in Supreme Court, 1963.

Quotations

"I will not answer them unless I am addressed correctly." (crmvet.org; photo Miss. 50th)

Rebecca West

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Overview

Rebecca West (née Cicely Isabel Fairfield) born London, England December 21, 1892 (d. 1983). Internationalist; author.

Quotations

"Before a war, military science seems a real science, like astronomy; but after a war it seems more like astrology."

"The whole of the Vietnam War was the blackest comedy that ever was, because it showed the way you can't teach humanity anything." (Marina Warner interview, 1981; photo wikicommons)

Anne Warren Weston

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Overview

Anne Warren Weston born Weymouth, MA July 13, 1812 (d. 1890). Co-founder of first nonviolence society, Boston 1838; proposed world's first nonviolence newspaper, The Non-Resistant.

Quotations

"The interest I take both in the cause of peace and that of abolition... I am desirous that the Non-Resistant Society should possess an organ of communication." (to W.L. Garrison, Nov. 11, 1838)

Caroline Weston

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Overview

Caroline Weston born Weymouth, MA October 13, 1808 (d. 1882). Pioneering supporter of world's first nonviolence society, Boston, 1838; abolitionist; school mistress.

Quotations

"We believe that our efforts may avail something to give 'a discontented & sorrow-stricken world.' We hope that we may be instrumental in promoting the great truths with which we have begun to make ourselves acquainted and that the time may soon arrive when Men no longer over-come of evil shall over come evil with good—when love shall throw down the barriers which pride, hatred would separate those who claim kindred with one another as the kindred of a common father." (draft appeal Sept. 1839, Bos. Pub. Lib. footnote)

Ellen Gould White

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Overview

Ellen Gould White (née Harmon) born Gorham, ME November 26, 1827 (d. 1915). Founder of pacifist Seventh Day Adventists, 1863; founded Loma Linda Hospital, 1909; abolitionist.

Quotations

"God's people, who are His peculiar treasure, cannot engage in this perplexing war, for it is opposed to every principle of their faith." (1863 Brock Liberty 118; photo wikicommons)

Charmaine White Face

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Overview

Charmaine White Face (Zumila Wobaga) born Pine Ridge Reservation, SD March 12, 1947. Oglala Sioux leader; biologist and journalist. Active participant in UN International Indigenous Rights Declaration, 2002. Fasted at Geneva Conference on Indigenous Rights, 2004. Joined 50-day Walk for a New Spring, 2015. Received 2007 Nuclear Free Future award for founding Defenders of the Black Hills, 2002; Giraffe Award for “sticking out her neck,” 2016.

Quotations

“Good can happen. Every time we do something, we give people the opportunity to do what is right. Even if nothing happens, they have the opportunity to know what's right." (Rapid City Journal, July 16, 2016; photo Wikipedia)

Marjorie M. Whiteman

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Overview

Marjorie M. Whiteman born Liberty Center, OH November 30, 1898 (d. 1986). American authority on international law; editor of classic Digest of International Law (1963-72); helped draft UN Charter 1945 and Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1949; legal counsel to Eleanor Roosevelt in UN Human Rights Commission; originated concept of consultation in inter-American affairs 1936; rescued documents of Charter of Organization of American States (OAS) in Bogotá revolution 1948; adviser on Law of the Sea 1958; first State Dept. Counselor for International Law 1965.

Quotations

“This Digest of International Law treats of public international law and related matters, particularly during the last two decades. . . The author has not attempted to adopt the role of prophetess. She has endeavored to treat of materials in an objective fashion.” (Intro.; photo intlawgirls)

Josepha Whitney

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Overview

Josepha Newcomb Whitney born Washington D.C. September 27, 1871 (d. 1968). Visual artist, specializing in landscapes. Suffragist. Chair of Connecticut Women’s Peace Party. President of New Haven League of Women Voters. Democratic candidate for state Senate, 1922.

Quotations

“[I]n striving to establish democracy and to give the peace-loving half of the people a voice in questions of militarism, commercialism and arbitration the woman-suffragists are the real ‘peace-fanatics.’” (The Survey, vol 33, 1915, p. 117; photo cornwallis historical society)