Women peacemakers born today

1840 Wilhelmina Sherriff Bain born Edinburgh, Scotland (d. 1944). New Zealand pacifist who opposed Boer War; promoted arbitration and disarmament as alternatives to war; she said she "would live, and die, for Peace" (Dict. New Zealand Bio.); opposed conscription 1909; teacher, feminist, suffragist, poet.

1900 Betty Muther Jacob (d. 1993). Quaker "Godmother of Peace Studies" Univ. of Hawaii; founded Matsunaga Institute for Peace 1986, International Center for Democracy; assistant to executive directors of UNRRA, 1945-46, UNICEF, 1947-54.

1901 Florence Eldridge born Brooklyn, NY (d. 1988). Celebrated actress, co-founder Congress of American Women (CAW) 1946 opposing Cold War, NATO and a-bomb; CAW was condemned as "Communist hoax" by Congressional un-American activities committee; leaders included wife of Republican governor Gifford Pinchot and Susan B. Anthony II.

1913 Georgia Lloyd born Winnetka, IL (d. 1999). Second generation pacifist leader, daughter of Lola Maverick Lloyd; lifelong socialist; author of peace plans through history; led Campaign for World Government 1943-90; co-founder World Federalists 1947; active in WILPF and War Resisters League; NGO observer at UN founding San Francisco 1945.
1937 Meg Beresford born London. British campaigner against nuclear weapons. Organizing Secretary for European Nuclear Disarmament (END), 1981-83; General Secretary of Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, 1985-90.

1939 Claudette Colvin born Birmingham, AL. As 15-year-old, was first person to refuse to yield bus seat, 1955 Montgomery AL.

1939 Ellen Lee Ziskind born Lowell, MA. Freedom Rider arrested Jackson MS 1961; became Boston psychiatric social worker.

1948 Benita Ferrero-Waldner born Salzburg, Austria. UN Chief of Protocol 1995; Foreign Minister of Austria 2000; European External Relations Commissioner 2004; key diplomat in release of Bulgarian nurses and Palestinian doctor imprisoned by Libya 2007; peacemaker in Aceh.

Women's peacemaking on this day

1981 First Peace Camp established Greenham Common by Women for Life on Earth, lasted two decades.

1995 Hillary Clinton addressed the Beijing Women’s Conference. “[H]uman rights are women's rights. . . And women's rights are human rights.”
2001 Maria de los Angeles assassinated Mexico City; City Councilwoman lawyer investigating corruption.
2005 Lisa Shannon began the first Run for Congo Women as a solitary 30-mile trail run, Portland.
2014 At Cardiff Summit talk, Afghan woman Samira Hamidi protested NATO’s lack of female input with sign: “TALK TO ME NOT ABOUT ME.”