Established in 1960, Canadian Voice of Women for Peace (VOW) is a non-partisan Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) comprised of a network of diverse women with consultative status at the United Nations ECOSOC. For over 50 years, VOW has provided a means for women to exercise responsibility for the promotion of world peace and justice, through education of themselves and others to take an equal part in the democratic process of decision making; and to cooperate with women throughout the world to create the mutual respect and understanding necessary for the peaceful resolution of international conflict.

Work towards peace through the use of drama!

Muriel Duckworth: Past president of VOW, multiple peace-awards recipient.

            “War is the greatest destroyer of human life, the greatest polluter, the greatest creator of refugees, the greatest cause of starvation and illness.”

Ursula Franklin: Professor Emerita, U. of Toronto. VOW founding member.

            “Peace is not the absence of war. Peace is the absence of fear. Peace is the presence of justice.”

            “The notion of an ever-present enemy has led, over the decades, to a large backlog of unresolved problems…There are mortgages of missed opportunities particularly for women; missed openings in access to day care, to education, to training, to jobs. There are also unresolved problems of sustainable development, of a health environment….”

“Any modern theology of peace must take into account the worldwide drift toward “techno-fascism,” the anti-people, anti-justice form of global management and power sharing that is developing around the world.”

           
            “Violence is most usefully defined as resourcelessness…Once we recognize violence as resourcelessness – by choice or by perceived necessity – the nature of nonviolence as resourcefulness comes into focus.”

            “It is wrong to gain security by making others insecure.”

Richard Gregg:  

     “Peace is the by-product of the persistent application of social truth and justice and the strong and intelligent application of love.”

Marion Frank, WWII veteran and member of VANA (Veterans Against Nuclear Arms).

     “The white poppy reflects the many ongoing initiatives to break the cycle of violence, and gives an opportunity to rededicate ourselves in the fight for world peace, common security and social justice. As a symbol of resistance it can help take us down the path that can rid us of war forever.”

Fred H. Knelman, WW II veteran from Victoria, B.C. says:

     “I want peace and security for Canadians and the whole world. This is one reason why I will be wearing a white poppy for Remembrance Day, as well as a red one.

     “I want not only to remember those who have fought and suffered as soldiers but to rededicate myself to preventing war and ending militarism. I also want to remember that 95% of the casualties in contemporary wars are civilians.”

Bruna Nota, past international president of WILPF (Women's International League for Peace and Freedom). 

     “We are like the people who created a whole science based on the false premise that the earth is flat. We are operating on the false premise that security is guaranteed by military forces and preparedness. In fact, only by a just sharing of all resources can provide the security in which we can care for each other in trusting and responsible communities.”

Dr. Rosalie Bertell, scientist, author, Grey Nun and president of the International Institute of Concern for Public Health:
       “It seems that many of the world's governments, including our own, are addicted to violence as a way to solve international problems. They suffer from ever increasing military budgets which rarely make us more secure.”

Heather Menzies:   “They say if you want peace, prepare for war. We say, if you want peace, prepare the ground for peace, with empathy, respectful listening and non-violence conflict resolution.”

Susan McMaster:   “Disarmed, you can become disarming.”

Jean Vanier: “It is in belonging that people discover what it means to be human….What we have lost, I think, is an understanding of belonging as a place of mediation.”

            “The movement from exclusion to inclusion, from closedness to openness, from judgement and prejudice to forgiveness and understanding… is a movement of the heart.”

Qur’an: “Oh ye who believe! be steadfast in the cause of Allah (God) bearing witness in equity; and let not a people's enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice. Be always just, that is nearer to righteousness. (Chapter 5 verse 9)

Qur’an: “And the servants of the Gracious God are those who walk on the earth in a dignified manner, and when the ignorant address them, they say, ‘Peace!’"

Ruth (Book of): “Make your peace in the place that you dwell.”

Hebrew Scripture: “Love thy neighbour as thyself.”