Women peacemakers born today

1905 Mariquita Platov born Manhattan, NY (d. 2000). Nonviolent artist, poet, and playwright; founder of Greek Orthodox Peace Association.
1937 Alexandra Asseily born Russia. Lebanese-British psychotherapist and author. Leader of Guerrand-Hermès Peace Foundation; member of Ara Pacis Initiative Council for Dignity, Forgiveness, Justice & Reconciliation.
1939 Margaret Drabble born Sheffield, Yorkshire, England. Quaker pacifist; leading British novelist. Openly opposed Iraq War.
1947 Laurie Anderson born Glen Ellyn, IL. Antiwar musician and performance artist. Spoke against the Iran-Contra Affair, the Gulf War, and the Iraq War.
1947 Borka Pavićević born Kotor, Montenegro, Yugoslavia. Pacifist dramaturge who opposed Balkan wars; newspaper columnist, playwright; founded Centre for Cultural Decontamination against "nationalism, xenophobia, intolerance, hatred and fear," 1994; co-founded Belgrade Circle opposing Serbian nationalism 1992.
1951 Angie Zelter born London, England. British nonviolent activist. Member of International Woman's Peace Service; Snowball Campaign. Arrested over 100 times, imprisoned 16 times. Awarded Sean MacBride Peace Prize, 1997; received Right Livelihood Award, 2001.

Women's peacemaking on this day

1660 Margaret Fell wrote first Quaker peace testimony. "We follow after those things that make for peace, love and unity. . . Our weapons are not carnal but spiritual."
1916 In Chicago, the National Women's Party first convened at the Blackstone Hotel.
1972 Jane Briggs Hart, wife of Michigan senator Philip Hart, refused war taxes. "I cannot contribute one more dollar toward the purchase of more bombs and bullets."
1985 "Women's Alternatives for Negotiating Peace" Women's International Peace Conference held through June 9, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.