Peace Circle® Guardians: From Heart to Hands
This page presents individuals honored in the Liperi Peace Circle as exemplars of value-based action. Each embodies the journey from inner conviction (Heart), through thoughtful understanding (Head), to transformative action (Hands).
1. Bertha von Suttner (1843–1914)
❤️ Heart: A deep belief in peace and the moral responsibility to prevent war.
💡 Head: Clear advocacy through literature, highlighting the horrors of conflict.
🙌 Hands: Inspired the peace movement and became the first woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
2. Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948)
❤️ Heart: Compassion and nonviolence as a path to justice.
💡 Head: Philosophy of Satyagraha—truth and civil disobedience.
🙌 Hands: Led India’s nonviolent struggle for independence.
3. Pablo Picasso (1881–1973)
❤️ Heart: Empathy for human suffering in war and oppression.
💡 Head: Used visual art to express protest and provoke thought.
🙌 Hands: Created iconic works like Guernica, symbolizing peace.
4. Dag Hammarskjöld (1905–1961)
❤️ Heart: Commitment to ethical leadership and inner peace.
💡 Head: Diplomatic vision rooted in spirituality and neutrality.
🙌 Hands: Modernized the UN and died while working for peace in Africa.
5. Rachel Carson (1907–1964)
❤️ Heart: Love and concern for the natural world.
💡 Head: Groundbreaking ecological insight in 'Silent Spring'.
🙌 Hands: Ignited the global environmental movement.
6. Mother Teresa (1910–1997)
❤️ Heart: Unconditional love for the poor and suffering.
💡 Head: Focused religious teachings into acts of mercy.
🙌 Hands: Served the dying and marginalized with humility.
7. Nelson Mandela (1918–2013)
❤️ Heart: Justice and forgiveness rooted in lived experience.
💡 Head: Political wisdom and reconciliation.
🙌 Hands: Leadership in dismantling apartheid and uniting a nation.
8. Andrei Sakharov (1921–1989)
❤️ Heart: Moral courage to speak against oppression.
💡 Head: Scientific intellect applied to ethical responsibility.
🙌 Hands: Advocated for human rights in the Soviet Union.
9. Jimmy Carter (1924–2024)
❤️ Heart: Faith in human dignity and compassion.
💡 Head: Diplomatic approach to peace and human development.
🙌 Hands: Founded the Carter Center and promoted global health.
10. David Attenborough (1926–)
❤️ Heart: Awe and respect for life on Earth.
💡 Head: Decades of scientific storytelling and ecological awareness.
🙌 Hands: Educated generations on biodiversity and climate.
11. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968)
❤️ Heart: Love and justice in the face of racial hatred.
💡 Head: Nonviolent resistance grounded in moral reasoning.
🙌 Hands: Led the U.S. civil rights movement.
12. Desmond Tutu (1931–2021)
❤️ Heart: Joyful commitment to justice and equality.
💡 Head: Theology of reconciliation and truth-telling.
🙌 Hands: Chaired South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
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13. Chief Raoni Metuktire (1932–)
❤️ Heart: Stewardship of indigenous lands and culture.
💡 Head: Traditional knowledge combined with political activism.
🙌 Hands: Defended the Amazon and indigenous rights.
14. Jane Goodall (1934–)
❤️ Heart: Deep love and respect for all living beings.
💡 Head: Scientific insight into chimpanzee behavior and empathy.
🙌 Hands: Global advocacy and education for nature conservation.
15. Dalai Lama (1935–)
❤️ Heart: Compassion, nonviolence, and spiritual clarity.
💡 Head: Buddhist philosophy adapted to modern ethics.
🙌 Hands: Spreads messages of peace and interfaith understanding.
16. Václav Havel (1936–2011)
❤️ Heart: Belief in truth and freedom.
💡 Head: Playwright’s lens on power and responsibility.
🙌 Hands: Led Czech Republic through post-communist transition.
17. Martti Ahtisaari (1937–2023)
❤️ Heart: Faith in diplomacy and equality.
💡 Head: Patient mediation and multilateral cooperation.
🙌 Hands: Resolved international conflicts from Kosovo to Namibia.
18. Kofi Annan (1938–2018)
❤️ Heart: Human dignity and shared responsibility.
💡 Head: UN reform with a focus on people-centered development.
🙌 Hands: Led global action on AIDS, poverty, and peace.
19. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (1938–)
❤️ Heart: Resilience and women’s empowerment.
💡 Head: Policy grounded in human development.
🙌 Hands: Africa’s first elected female head of state.
20. Gro Harlem Brundtland (1939–)
❤️ Heart: Commitment to health and sustainability.
💡 Head: Defined sustainable development for global policy.
🙌 Hands: Launched key environmental frameworks at the UN.
21. John Lennon (1940–1980)
❤️ Heart: Peace, love, and creative rebellion.
💡 Head: Lyrics as tools for global reflection.
🙌 Hands: Inspired anti-war movements and peace activism.
22. Oscar Arias Sánchez (1940–)
❤️ Heart: Faith in negotiation over force.
💡 Head: Political leadership with a peace-first vision.
🙌 Hands: Brokered peace in Central America.
23. Wangari Maathai (1940–2011)
❤️ Heart: Reverence for nature and justice for women.
💡 Head: Linked ecology to democracy and equality.
🙌 Hands: Planted millions of trees with communities.
24. Chico Mendes (1944–1988)
❤️ Heart: Protecting land and life in the Amazon.
💡 Head: Union organizing for forest workers' rights.
🙌 Hands: Martyr for rainforest and indigenous protection.
25. Shirin Ebadi (1947–)
❤️ Heart: Belief in law and justice for all.
💡 Head: Human rights law as a tool for peace.
🙌 Hands: First female judge in Iran and Nobel Peace laureate.
26. Al Gore (1948–)
❤️ Heart: Responsibility for future generations.
💡 Head: Clear articulation of climate science.
🙌 Hands: Mobilized climate action through media and policy.
27. José Ramos-Horta (1949–)
❤️ Heart: Hope for national independence.
💡 Head: Strategic diplomacy on the global stage.
🙌 Hands: Secured East Timor’s freedom through peace.
28. Vandana Shiva (1952–)
❤️ Heart: Defense of biodiversity and traditional wisdom.
💡 Head: Challenged industrial agriculture with science.
🙌 Hands: Empowered small farmers and seed sovereignty.
29. Anote Tong (1952–)
❤️ Heart: Duty to protect island nations.
💡 Head: Framed climate justice as human rights.
🙌 Hands: Advocated for Kiribati’s survival globally.
30. Rigoberta Menchú (1959–)
❤️ Heart: Indigenous dignity and memory.
💡 Head: Narratives of resistance and cultural survival.
🙌 Hands: Brought Mayan voices to the world stage.
31. Leymah Gbowee (1972–)
❤️ Heart: Belief in peace through women's solidarity.
💡 Head: Grassroots organizing across religious lines.
🙌 Hands: Ended civil war in Liberia through nonviolence.
32. Severn Cullis-Suzuki (1979–)
❤️ Heart: Urgency to protect the Earth for youth.
💡 Head: Gave voice to children at global summits.
🙌 Hands: Continues environmental activism and education.
33. Malala Yousafzai (1997–)
❤️ Heart: Girls’ right to learn in safety.
💡 Head: Courage under threat and advocacy through storytelling.
🙌 Hands: Youngest Nobel laureate and global education activist.
34. Greta Thunberg (2003–)
❤️ Heart: Moral urgency for climate justice.
💡 Head: Scientific clarity and commitment.
🙌 Hands: School strikes, speeches, and global mobilization.
35. Hannu Vähäkoski (1979–)
❤️ Heart: Compassion for those in conflict zones.
💡 Head: Understanding needs in real-time crises.
🙌 Hands: A North Karelian who delivers aid to Ukraine and shares human stories.
36. Hannele Mikkanen (1962 - )
❤️ Heart: Rooted in kindness, care, and deep respect for people and nature.
💡 Head: Guided by community wisdom and long-term vision for sustainable wellbeing.
🙌 Hands: Promotes local harmony by nurturing human connection and ecological responsibility in Liperi.