Marge Farmer

Overview

Marge Farmer (née Marjorie A. Squire) born September 29, 1928. Montessori teacher; founded Comité Hispano Montessori, Omaha, NE. Established Fundacion Corazon (Foundation with a Heart), Nicaragua; offered aid to Central American war refugees; participated in civil disobedience against SAC.

Quotations

"We have no children, but hope that our progeny will be peace, justice and love in the world." (War Resisters League 1991 Calendar, July 28; port. by husband, Bill, timmcmahan.com)

Christiana Figueres

Overview

Christiana Figueres born San José, Costa Rica August 7, 1956. Costa Rican diplomat, expert on global climate change; UN Climate Chief 2010; founded Center for Sustainable Development in the Americas (CSDA) 1995; Hero of the Planet 1991.

Quotations

"Lo and behold, we have one home, our planet. . . We are all absolutely interconnected and interrelated." (Norwalk, CT, Apr. 29, 2008; photo Wikipedia)

Ana Figueroa Gajardo

Overview

Ana Figueroa Gajardo born Santiago de Chile June 19, 1907 (d. 1970). Known in Chile as "The Woman." Chilean diplomat, suffragist and professor of English; Delegate to UN 1950; first woman to chair a major UN committee, Social, Humanitarian and Cultural, 1951; first woman on Security Council 1952; first woman Assistant Director of ILO 1960.

Quotations

"Do you know that 51% of the world's population are women and only 49% men? Diplomatic representation in the UN ought to follow the same proportion." (Erika Kuhlman, A to Z of Women, p. 363, 2002; photo guide2womenleaders.com/UN_Representatives)

Alice Cunningham Fletcher

Overview

Alice Cunningham Fletcher born Havana, Cuba March 15, 1838 (d. 1923). American anthropologist; Indian rights reformer; chronicler of Indian peacemaking. Convinced Congress to pass Omaha land allotment, 1882.

Quotations

"‘Not all white men are bad, there are some good ones.’ He [Wajapa] replied, ‘Perhaps so, a few.’ I responded, ‘I don’t wonder that you think them all bad, your people have been wronged by white men.’" (Diary, Sep. 21, 1881; photo Wikipedia)

Monica Frassoni

Overview

Monica Frassoni born Veracruz, Mexico September 10, 1963. Secretary General of Young European Federalists, 1985-87. Italian member of European Parliament, 1999-2009; co-chair European Green Party/European Free Alliance, 2009-. Opponent of nuclear weapons; proponent of nonviolence.

Quotations

"After the experience the World has had in Iraq, we stress the need to better co-ordinate peace efforts with the United Nations. The UN should be reformed to become an efficient instrument for peace and disarmament. Unilateral action and pre-emptive war strategies—as promoted by the United States—have proved to be a recipe for disaster." (EurActiv, Dec. 14, 2013; photo europeangreens.edu)