Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega

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Overview

Maria Teresa Fernández de la Vega born Valencia, Spain June 15, 1946. First woman vice-president of Spain 2004; Doctor of Law, author of "Human Rights in Council of Europe"; celebrated International Women's Day 2006 with first forum "Spain-Africa: Women for a better world"; led Socialist government which withdrew from Iraq 2004 and announced plan for Palestinian peace 2006; set up courts for violence against women 2004.

Quotations

"Now, Spain is leading the way in equal rights." (UK Times, Nov. 29, 2006; photo revistavanityfair.es)

Solange Fernex

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Overview

Solange Fernex born Strasbourg, France April 15, 1934 (d. 2006). French biologist; WILPF leader; Gandhian nonviolent protester; member of European Parliament, 1989-94. Tented outdoors five months against French nuclear plant, 1975; underwent 40-day "Fast for Life" for nuclear disarmament, Paris, 1983; co-founded Green Party, 1983; opposed sending NATO to Balkans.

Quotations

"NATO is not the solution, it is part of the problem." (Peacework, March 24, 1999; photo nuclear-free.com)

Sara Bard Field

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Overview

Sara Bard Field born Cincinnati, OH September 1, 1882 (d. 1974). Pacifist poet; suffragist leader; Christian Socialist who spent early years in Burma; opposed nuclear weapons.

Quotations

"To effectively banish War forever, we must destroy Industrial Slavery and build the Industrial Democracy." (Feb. 15, 1921 dedication of busts of Mott, Stanton & Anthony in Capitol rotunda)

"What is more fundamental than this problem of solving war before it's too late?" (Amelia Fry interview, July 12, 1962, University of California; photo Oregon History Project)

Olga Fierz

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Overview

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Olga Fierz born Baden, Aargau, Switzerland July 26, 1900 (d. 1990). Swiss teacher and humanitarian; active in Czech Fellowship of Reconciliation and War Resisters International; honored 1964 as Righteous Among The Nations for saving Jewish children in Prague and postwar rehabilitation; co-publisher of pacifist magazine Brotherhood, 1924-42.

Quotations

“The words ‘war’ and ‘peace’ do not have the meaning they once had in the lives of modern peoples. War has become a technical feature of a cruel, mass human slaughterhouse. . . The world of peace is understood to be state of a mere cease-fire of mistrust and hatred, a resting time in which exhaustion collects new forces and new cash for arms. Can we really talk about peace in our world? In a society where you do not ask about exploitation or deceit? Real peace is when Love will live in all hearts, and when everyone will feel like members of one family.” (Brotherhood 1928-9, V pp. 2-3, thesis of Hana Moracová, p. 28; photo righteous among the nations)

Christiana Figueres

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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

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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)

Loretta Filipov

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Overview

Loretta Filipov born May 1, 1936. Wife of 9/11 victim. Founding member of September 11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, 2002.

Quotations

“I was very cognizant that there was enough loss of human life I did not want to see more lives lost in waging an indiscriminate war.  I told that to the powers that be. . . But. . . let’s not go to war.  Enough lives have been lost and you’re not going to help by killing other people who didn’t do anything.” (quote and photo Concord Oral History Project, June 18, 2002)

Zlata Filipovic

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Overview

Zlata Filipović born Sarajevo December 3, 1980. Kept diary of Bosnia War, 1991-93.

Quotations

"Why is politics making us unhappy, separating us when we ourselves know who is good and who isn't? We mix the good, not with the bad. And among the good there are Serbs and Croats and Muslims, just as there are among the bad. I simply don't understand it. Of course, I'm 'young,' and politics are conducted by 'grown-ups.' But I think we 'young' would do it better. We certainly wouldn't have chosen war!" (photo UN Dialogue)

Sebnem Korur Fincanci

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Overview

Şebnem Korur Fincanci born March 21, 1959. President Turkish Human Rights Foundation; Professor Forensic Medicine Istanbul 1996; led sit-in at Parliament for peace 2016; arrested for terrorism 2016, advocating Kurdish free speech; first International Medical Peace award 2011 for opposition to torture.

Quotations

“Torture is not absent in Turkey. There are other forms of torture. The aim of torture is to eliminate people’s personalities and integrity and also to spread fear in society. We see that there are attacks against the society’s integrity. There are intense efforts toward marginalizing and isolating people via disinformation, threats and insults.” (Daily News, Feb. 20, 2015; photo imctv.com.tr)

Isobel Finnerty

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Overview

Isobel Finnerty born Timmins, Ontario, Canada July 15, 1930. Canadian Senator 1999-2005, served on Foreign Affairs and Human Rights committees; activist and international peace trainer in Benin political participation 1994.

Quotations

"Politics, above everything else, is people." (farewell speech, June 22, 2005; photo collectionscanada.gc.ca)

Shulamith Firestone

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Overview

Shulamith Firestone (née Feuerstein) born Ottawa, Canada January 7, 1945 (d. 2012). U.S.leader of second-wave feminism 1968; broke with Jeannette Rankin Brigade antiwar protest DC to bury “Traditional Feminism” in torchlight at Arlington Cemetery, demanded that women resist war as citizens, not women.

Quotations

“We must learn to fight the warmongers on their own terms, though they believe us capable only of rolling bandages. Until we have united into a force to be reckoned with, we will be patronized and ridiculed into total political ineffectiveness. So if you are really sincere about ending this war, join us tonight and in the future.” (invitation, Jan. 15, 1968; “Jeannette Rankin Brigade”; photo inthesetimes.com)

Ruth First

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Overview

Ruth First born Johannesburg, South Africa May 4, 1925 (d. 1982). Journalist and author, Communist editor; anti-Apartheid leader assassinated by bomb sent by South African security forces; arrested for treason 1956; interned 117 days, and exiled 1963.

Quotations

Nelson Mandela’s Aug. 17, 1992 tribute: "Ruth spent her life in the service of the people of Southern Africa. She went to prison for her beliefs. She was murdered because of her acute political acumen combined with her resolute refusal to abandon her principles. Her life, and her death, remains a beacon to all who love liberty." (Aug. 17, 1993; photo brandeis.edu)

Bernice Fisher

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Overview

Bernice Fisher born Punxsutawney, PA December 8, 1916 (d. 1966). "Godmother of the restaurant 'sit-in' technique." Civil rights activist and labor organizer. Socialist; Baptist pacifist; Gandhian nonviolent resistance advocate. Head of Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), Chicago chapter. Founding member of Committee of Racial Equality (CORE), 1942. Took part in one of first American sit-ins at Jack Spratt’s Coffee Shop, Chicago, 1943.

Quotations

On James Farmer’s idea of nonviolent action: “Thank God! At last, we may be able to turn this nation around. It’s the most exciting idea I’ve ever heard!” (Victory without Violence, p.21; photo Wikipedia)

Welthy Honsinger Fisher

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Overview

Welthy Honsinger Fisher born Rome, NY September 18, 1879 (d. 1980). American missionary, friend of Gandhi; established literacy centers in Allahabad, Lucknow at Gandhi’s request 1947; founded World Education 1951 in 50 countries; founded World Literacy Canada 1955, including "The Gandhi Way" about social justice issues that children experience in their everyday life such as violence, poverty, and gender discrimination; "Asian Nobel Prize" Magsaysay Award for peace and international understanding 1964; began as headmistress girl’s school Nanchang 1906.

Quotations

"I love the world and I love people." (New York Times, Sept. 19, 1974; photo schugurensky.faculty.asu.edu)

Ingrid Fiskaa

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Overview

Ingrid Fiskaa born Bryne, Norway April 16, 1977. Norwegian politician and peace activist. Socialist Left Deputy in Parliament, 1997-2005, 2009-13. Spokesperson for Peace Initiative Against Iraq War, 2002-03; led protest against troops in Iraq, 2005. Led Peace Initiative, 2005-06. State Secretary for Environment and International Development, 2009; chaired Peace Support Group in Nepal, 2011. Led protests against NATO presence in Afghanistan.

Quotations

“We believe Bush is responsible both for the illegal war in Iraq and for the many war crimes in the aftermath of war.” (Nettavisen, March 17, 2006; photo arkiv.attac.no)

Eleanor Fitzgerald

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Overview

Mary Eleanor “Fitzi” Fitzgerald born Deerfield, WI March 16, 1877 (d. 1955). American theater professional, associate of Emma Goldman; pacifist anarchist opposed to World War I; co-founded No Conscription League 1917; co-founded and managed anarchist magazine The Blast, 1916; Assistant Editor, Mother Earth; member of feminist debate circle Heterodoxy; director Provincetown Players.

Quotations

“The stupidity of law is best illustrated in the fact that all those who dared speak in favor of simple birth control method were jailed and fined; yet the most violent birth control method—War, is being hailed and sanctioned by that very law.” (Mother Earth, Aug. 1917, p. 198; photo uk.pinterest.com)

Jeanette Fitzsimons

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Overview

Jeanette Fitzsimons born Dunedin, New Zealand January 17, 1945. Environmentalist; first woman co-leader Green Party; member of parliament, 1996-2010. Founded Campaign for Climate Change; introduced bill to extend prohibition of nuclear weapons.

Quotations

"[I]n the end there is no security from nuclear materials unless there is security for everyone. It was, rather, to take another tiny step towards a nuclear free South Pacific and, eventually, a nuclear free world." (in Parliament, May 29, 2002; photo Wikipedia)

Colette Flesch

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Overview

Colette Flesch born Dudelange, Luxembourg April 16, 1937. President of Council of Europe 1980; Foreign Minister of Luxembourg 1980-4; Director-General European Commission 1990-1999 during four important events: united Germany joined EU, Maastricht Treaty 1992, single market 1993, Austria, Finland and Sweden joined EU; European Community observer of Rwandan elections 2003.

Quotations

"For us it [the fall of the Berlin Wall] was the reunification of Europe. . . One felt that Europe was restored." (SR Online, Oct. 22, 2010; photo Wikipedia)