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0 / 30 Fotos
Aung San Suu Kyi - The State Counselor of Myanmar since 2016, she was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991.
© Getty Images
1 / 30 Fotos
Bob Dylan - Not only did he write the song 'Masters of War,' which has a clearly anti-war message, he also took part in protests against the Vietnam War in the 1960s.
© Getty Images
2 / 30 Fotos
John Lennon and Yoko Ono - The former Beatles member transformed upon meeting Ono. They were both actively involved in protest and activism, especially against war.
© Getty Images
3 / 30 Fotos
Nelson Mandela
- Mandela is a national hero for South Africa, and of course his legacy is celebrated all over the world. He always tried to stop conflict and bring about democracy.
© Getty Images
4 / 30 Fotos
Bianca Jagger - Originally from Nicaragua, she has taken part in a huge number of peace and humanitarian campaigns, including challenging the regime in her own country.
© Getty Images
5 / 30 Fotos
Thích Nhất Hạnh - A Buddhist monk and peace activist, he is now in his 90s. Living in New York City as a lecturer at the time of the Vietnam War, he returned to help fellow monks in peaceful protest.
© Getty Images
6 / 30 Fotos
Joan Baez - The American singer has been protesting for decades. She took part in protests against the Vietnam and Iraq wars, and has publicly spoken out on many human rights issues.
© Getty Images
7 / 30 Fotos
Leo Tolstoy - Whilst his pacifism was based on religious teachings, and he wasn't an active protester, Tolstoy wrote at great length on the immorality of war and violence.
© Getty Images
8 / 30 Fotos
Vera Brittain - A regular contributor to the pacifist magazine 'Peace News,' she was condemned for criticizing the Allied Forces carpet bombing German cities in WWII.
© Getty Images
9 / 30 Fotos
Mahatma Gandhi - An extremely recognizable and iconic figure, Gandhi was responsible for putting an end to the British Empire's rule over India. He achieved this through non-violent means.
© Getty Images
10 / 30 Fotos
Wangari Maathai - Maathai was a Kenyan professor and activist. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her courage in standing up to the oppressive Kenyan regime.
© Getty Images
11 / 30 Fotos
Albert Einstein - Hitler came to power while Einstein was in the USA, therefore he did not return to his native Germany. The genius scientist campaigned against nuclear weapons.
© Getty Images
12 / 30 Fotos
Helen Keller - She was a very active participant in many socially progressive causes, one of which was active opposition to war and military interventionism.
© Getty Images
13 / 30 Fotos
Oscar Wilde - The famous and influential writer Wilde once wrote, "As long as war is regarded as wicked, it will always have its fascination. When it is looked upon as vulgar, it will cease to be popular."
© Getty Images
14 / 30 Fotos
Angelina Jolie - Jolie has been actively involved in humanitarianism for well over a decade, and has visited several war zones. She is a Special Envoy to the United Nations.
© Getty Images
15 / 30 Fotos
Paul Rusesabagina - The inspiration behind the 2004 film 'Hotel Rwanda,' he worked in a hotel which housed well over a thousand people during the genocide in Rwanda and saved them all.
© Getty Images
16 / 30 Fotos
Jane Fonda - Perhaps the most famous vocal opponent of the Vietnam war, even nicknamed "Hanoi Jane," Fonda continues to this day to take part in meaningful protests.
© Getty Images
17 / 30 Fotos
Aldous Huxley - Huxley was a highly influential British writer who relocated to the US later in life. He wrote about pacifism extensively and was very anti-war.
© Getty Images
18 / 30 Fotos
Hawa Abdi - The Dr. Hawa Abdi Foundation was set up in Somalia as an NGO to promote peace and provide assistance for all in need of it. Abdi has been exemplary in her humanitarian work.
© Getty Images
19 / 30 Fotos
Kurt Vonnegut - The writer made many references to war and nuclear attacks in his novels, and in real life his opinions were held very firmly against any kind of war.
© Getty Images
20 / 30 Fotos
Susan Sarandon - Sarandon has taken part in many protests, most notably against the 2003 Iraq War. She has also spoken out on a number of social and environmental issues.
© Getty Images
21 / 30 Fotos
Noam Chomsky - The prolific writer and activist was arrested many times for his opposition to the Vietnam war. He continues to oppose any kind of imperialism or war.
© Getty Images
22 / 30 Fotos
Cindy Sheehan - She lost her son Casey in the Iraq War, and ever since then has been one of the most prominent and outspoken critics of the regime, and especially of the former President, George W. Bush.
© Getty Images
23 / 30 Fotos
Muhammad Ali - Ali spoke out against the Vietnam war, and refused to join the military. This led to him being listened to and respected more by the counterculture movement.
© Getty Images
24 / 30 Fotos
Leymah Gbowee - Gbowee is a Liberian activist who has spoken out against the damage that war can do and the years it takes for a country to be fully repaired following it.
© Getty Images
25 / 30 Fotos
Jeannette Rankin - The lifelong pacifist opposed both WWI and WWII, and was the only person in Congress to vote against declaring war on Germany and Japan.
© Getty Images
26 / 30 Fotos
Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama - Naturally anti-war, the current Dalai Lama also was very condemnatory of attacks on Muslims in Myanmar by Buddhist monks, and reminded them to remember the teachings of Buddha.
© Getty Images
27 / 30 Fotos
Rosa Luxemburg - Luxemburg was a staunch critic of German imperialism and militarism. She was heavily involved in writing strongly against World War I.
© Getty Images
28 / 30 Fotos
Martin Luther King
- The prominent civil rights campaigner also had a very strong stance on the Vietnam War, which occurred in the 1960s, at the height of Dr. King's fame. Click here to find out more about the amazing life of Dr. Martin Luther King.
© Getty Images
29 / 30 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 30 Fotos
Aung San Suu Kyi - The State Counselor of Myanmar since 2016, she was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991.
© Getty Images
1 / 30 Fotos
Bob Dylan - Not only did he write the song 'Masters of War,' which has a clearly anti-war message, he also took part in protests against the Vietnam War in the 1960s.
© Getty Images
2 / 30 Fotos
John Lennon and Yoko Ono - The former Beatles member transformed upon meeting Ono. They were both actively involved in protest and activism, especially against war.
© Getty Images
3 / 30 Fotos
Nelson Mandela
- Mandela is a national hero for South Africa, and of course his legacy is celebrated all over the world. He always tried to stop conflict and bring about democracy.
© Getty Images
4 / 30 Fotos
Bianca Jagger - Originally from Nicaragua, she has taken part in a huge number of peace and humanitarian campaigns, including challenging the regime in her own country.
© Getty Images
5 / 30 Fotos
Thích Nhất Hạnh - A Buddhist monk and peace activist, he is now in his 90s. Living in New York City as a lecturer at the time of the Vietnam War, he returned to help fellow monks in peaceful protest.
© Getty Images
6 / 30 Fotos
Joan Baez - The American singer has been protesting for decades. She took part in protests against the Vietnam and Iraq wars, and has publicly spoken out on many human rights issues.
© Getty Images
7 / 30 Fotos
Leo Tolstoy - Whilst his pacifism was based on religious teachings, and he wasn't an active protester, Tolstoy wrote at great length on the immorality of war and violence.
© Getty Images
8 / 30 Fotos
Vera Brittain - A regular contributor to the pacifist magazine 'Peace News,' she was condemned for criticizing the Allied Forces carpet bombing German cities in WWII.
© Getty Images
9 / 30 Fotos
Mahatma Gandhi - An extremely recognizable and iconic figure, Gandhi was responsible for putting an end to the British Empire's rule over India. He achieved this through non-violent means.
© Getty Images
10 / 30 Fotos
Wangari Maathai - Maathai was a Kenyan professor and activist. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her courage in standing up to the oppressive Kenyan regime.
© Getty Images
11 / 30 Fotos
Albert Einstein - Hitler came to power while Einstein was in the USA, therefore he did not return to his native Germany. The genius scientist campaigned against nuclear weapons.
© Getty Images
12 / 30 Fotos
Helen Keller - She was a very active participant in many socially progressive causes, one of which was active opposition to war and military interventionism.
© Getty Images
13 / 30 Fotos
Oscar Wilde - The famous and influential writer Wilde once wrote, "As long as war is regarded as wicked, it will always have its fascination. When it is looked upon as vulgar, it will cease to be popular."
© Getty Images
14 / 30 Fotos
Angelina Jolie - Jolie has been actively involved in humanitarianism for well over a decade, and has visited several war zones. She is a Special Envoy to the United Nations.
© Getty Images
15 / 30 Fotos
Paul Rusesabagina - The inspiration behind the 2004 film 'Hotel Rwanda,' he worked in a hotel which housed well over a thousand people during the genocide in Rwanda and saved them all.
© Getty Images
16 / 30 Fotos
Jane Fonda - Perhaps the most famous vocal opponent of the Vietnam war, even nicknamed "Hanoi Jane," Fonda continues to this day to take part in meaningful protests.
© Getty Images
17 / 30 Fotos
Aldous Huxley - Huxley was a highly influential British writer who relocated to the US later in life. He wrote about pacifism extensively and was very anti-war.
© Getty Images
18 / 30 Fotos
Hawa Abdi - The Dr. Hawa Abdi Foundation was set up in Somalia as an NGO to promote peace and provide assistance for all in need of it. Abdi has been exemplary in her humanitarian work.
© Getty Images
19 / 30 Fotos
Kurt Vonnegut - The writer made many references to war and nuclear attacks in his novels, and in real life his opinions were held very firmly against any kind of war.
© Getty Images
20 / 30 Fotos
Susan Sarandon - Sarandon has taken part in many protests, most notably against the 2003 Iraq War. She has also spoken out on a number of social and environmental issues.
© Getty Images
21 / 30 Fotos
Noam Chomsky - The prolific writer and activist was arrested many times for his opposition to the Vietnam war. He continues to oppose any kind of imperialism or war.
© Getty Images
22 / 30 Fotos
Cindy Sheehan - She lost her son Casey in the Iraq War, and ever since then has been one of the most prominent and outspoken critics of the regime, and especially of the former President, George W. Bush.
© Getty Images
23 / 30 Fotos
Muhammad Ali - Ali spoke out against the Vietnam war, and refused to join the military. This led to him being listened to and respected more by the counterculture movement.
© Getty Images
24 / 30 Fotos
Leymah Gbowee - Gbowee is a Liberian activist who has spoken out against the damage that war can do and the years it takes for a country to be fully repaired following it.
© Getty Images
25 / 30 Fotos
Jeannette Rankin - The lifelong pacifist opposed both WWI and WWII, and was the only person in Congress to vote against declaring war on Germany and Japan.
© Getty Images
26 / 30 Fotos
Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama - Naturally anti-war, the current Dalai Lama also was very condemnatory of attacks on Muslims in Myanmar by Buddhist monks, and reminded them to remember the teachings of Buddha.
© Getty Images
27 / 30 Fotos
Rosa Luxemburg - Luxemburg was a staunch critic of German imperialism and militarism. She was heavily involved in writing strongly against World War I.
© Getty Images
28 / 30 Fotos
Martin Luther King
- The prominent civil rights campaigner also had a very strong stance on the Vietnam War, which occurred in the 1960s, at the height of Dr. King's fame. Click here to find out more about the amazing life of Dr. Martin Luther King.
© Getty Images
29 / 30 Fotos
The most famous pacifists through the years
Making a difference in unforgettable ways
© Getty Images
There are many different reasons why a person would dedicate their lives to peaceful endeavor. They may consider it a "life calling," they may feel strongly against a particular issue, or perhaps they simply have a strong desire to do humanitarian work.
Either way, this selfless behavior is to be commended and admired. Many individuals have made a huge and remarkable difference to the lives of others, and indeed to different nations. Take a look through to find out what these inspiring pacifists have done.
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