Miriam Soljak (née Cummings) born Thames, New Zealand June 15, 1879 (d. 1971). Pioneering feminist; communist; educator of Maoris. Pacifist; active in WILPF. Lost citizenship for marrying Austrian enemy alien during World War I; opposed repression of Samoan independence. Opposed conscription. (photo teara.govt.nz)
Maya Soetoro-Ng born Jakarta, Indonesia August 15, 1970. Professor of Education; half-sister of President Obama. Director, Matsunaga Institute for Peace & Conflict Resolution; co-founded Ceeds of Peace.
“[T]he best things that grownups do, we do for the children, and that they inspire great good in us. I also want them to remember that the world is intertwined and that we therefore have to be gentle in the way that we treat one another and the Earth, so that our impact on others is benevolent and good.” (Kam Williams interview, May 3, 2011; photo wikipedia)
Florence Melian Stawell born Kew, Melbourne, Australia May 2, 1869 (d. 1936). Classical scholar. Barred from attending International Women's Peace Conference, The Hague, 1915. Opposed World War I; promoted League of Nations. Authored books on world order: The Price of Freedom, 1918; The Growth of International Thought, 1929.
“Let us remember that true Patriotism means love, and that true love is never narrow-minded.” (Patriotism and the Fellowship of Nations, p. 91, 1916; photo Wikipedia)
Rose Scott born Glendon, New South Wales October 8, 1847 (d. 1925). Pioneering Australian internationalist; feminist; peace organizer. Opposed Boer War; promoted arbitration and international organization.
"Men have come to look upon women as a sort of appendage to themselves, a sort of tail that has only to wag when man—the dog—is pleased. And many men's attitude. . . is that of serious and painful surprise. . . if. . . informed that in the future his tail would assert its own individuality." (New South Wales Parl.; photo c1866 wikicom pd)
Jocelynne Scutt born Perth, Western Australia June 8, 1947. Australian lawyer, feminist who opposed wars in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan.
"When a country is invaded illegally, international law is breached, UN determinations flagrantly ignored, and truth disappears, the only solution is to get out. Nothing done in the name of the occupation of Iraq can be moral. When based in illegality, lies, untruths and hypocrisy, moral foundations crumble like sand. The Iraqi occupation is immoral. That is the bottom line." (On Line Opinion, March 5, 2007; photo holmeslist.com.au)
Shirley "Mum Shirl" Smith born Cowra, New South Wales, Australia November 22, 1924 (d. 1998). Aboriginal Australian human rights leader; led 700+ women in anti-nuclear protest at Pine Gap, Nov. 1983.
"NO MORE—WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH" (photo Koori Hist, website)
Jessie Street (née Lillingston) born Chota Nagpur, Bihar, India April 18, 1889 (d. 1970). Australian feminist, Socialist and peace leader; only woman on Australian delegation to San Francisco Conference founding UN; Delegate of UNESCO 1947-8, vice chairperson; UN Human Rights Commission 1948; founded League of Nations Union 1918; executive of World Peace Council 1950; opposed Cold War and nuclear weapons; defended aboriginal rights, leading to successful referendum 1967.
"Vital changes of policy have been brought about by moral pressure." (Australian Dict. of Biog.; photo vrroom.naa.gov.au)
Women in Peace
is dedicated to highlighting the achievements of extraordinary, peacemaking women from around the world.
