mnsss376 Women and Life on Earth Records, 1979-2009 (ongoing) Finding Aid Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College

Northampton, MA

Finding aid exported into EAD from InMagic DB/Textworks 7.01. Encoded by Margaret Jessup. 2006-12-01 Finding aid written in English. Sophia Smith CollectionSmith College Women and Life on Earth Records, 1979-2009 (ongoing) (bulk dates 1980- 82) Finding Aid MS 132 2006

Collection Overview Women and Life on Earth (Berlin, Germany) Women and Life on Earth Records1979-2009 (ongoing) 1980-82 MS 132 12 boxes (11.25 linear ft.) English Sophia Smith Collection

Smith College Northampton, MA

Peace, anti-nuclear, and ecofeminist network. Records include conference materials, correspondence, minutes by-laws, financial records, newsletters, writings, talks, clippings, subject files, notes, posters, photographs, memorabilia, and audio tapes. NOTE: There is no container list online for this finding aid. You may contact the Sophia Smith Collection if you want one sent to you. Historical Note

Women and Life on Earth was founded in August 1979, after the accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania by 12 women from the northeastern U.S. who were active in anti-nuclear, alternative energy, peace and women's organizations. They were concerned about the "proliferation of nuclear weapons and technologies, toxic wastes, urban decay, and ecologically destructive means of production," and the threats posed to the quality of life on earth. They formed WLOE to "bring these concerns into the political arena." The organization's kick-off event was a conference: "Women and Life on Earth: A Conference on Eco-Feminism in the '80s," held in March 1980 (the spring equinox) at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. It brought together 600 women from the northeastern U.S. WLOE took advantage of the momentum generated by the conference and organized the Women's Pentagon Action, an anti-nuclear protest. In November 1980, 2,000 women encircled the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, demanding "no more amazing inventions for death."

Women and Life on Earth activities continued in the U.S. and Britain for several years. In 1999 WLOE launched the Women and Life on Earth Internet project "to connect women internationally, share information and support changes necessary to ensure life and peace with justice in the new millennium." In August 1999 an international board of advisors was formed at a meeting held in western Massachusetts. In 2001 the project moved to Berlin, Germany with coordinator Anna Gyorgy, and the 'war on terror' that followed the September 11, 2001 attacks in the U.S., and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq "gave further proof of the need for international communication and solidarity for peace with justice."

In January 2004 the German-based association (full name: "Women and Life on Earth: women for international cooperation for peace, ecology and social justice") was granted non-profit status. They currently have an active email mailing list and Web site, and publish an electronic newsletter in German and English, to report on "women and peace, globalization and ecology." It also organizes local programs and guest speakers. [Source: WLOE Web site: http://www.wloe.org]

Scope and Contents of the Collection

Records include planning materials pertaining to "Women and Life on Earth: A Conference on Eco-Feminism in the '80s," held at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (March 1980); and the Women's Pentagon Action (Washington, DC, Nov. 1980), both organized by WLOE. Additional materials include correspondence, minutes by-laws, financial records, newsletters, writings, talks, clippings, subject files related to the environment and peace, notes, posters, photographs, memorabilia, and audio tapes.

NOTE: There is no container list online for this finding aid. You may contact the Sophia Smith Collection if you want one sent to you.

Information on Use Terms of Access and Use

The papers are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection with the following restrictions:

Collection is stored offsite; researchers must request boxes 48 hours in advance.

Researchers must sign an Access Agreement Form, agreeing to protect confidentiality, before using this collection.

Access to audiovisual materials may first require production of research copies.

Note: this collection has not been fully processed and therefore may be difficult to use.

Copyright to unpublished materials may be owned by the creator, or their heirs or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Permission to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use" must also be obtained from the Sophia Smith Collection as owners of the physical property.

Preferred Citation

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:

Women and Life on Earth Records, Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College, Northampton, Mass.

Additions to the Collection

Periodic additions to collection are expected and may not be reflected in this record.

Search Terms Gyorgy, Anna Women and Life on Earth (Berlin, Germany)--History--Sources Women and Life on Earth: A Conference on Eco-Feminism in the '80s," (1980: Amherst, Mass.) Antinuclear movement--History--Sources Ecofeminism--History--Sources Environmental protection--Citizen participation--History--Sources Nuclear disarmament--History--Sources Nuclear power plants--Environmental aspects Pacifists--History--20th century--Sources Peace--Societies, etc.--History--Sources Peace movements--History--20th century--Sources Women environmentalists--History--Sources Women and peace--History--20th century--Sources Women--International cooperation--History--20th century--Sources Women's Pentagon Action (1980: Arlington, Va.) Gyorgy, Anna Additional Information