Draft:Marie Bohlen
Marie Bohlen (née Nonnast; July 4, 1924 – 2014) was an American-born Canadian environmentalist, artist, Quaker, and pacifist. She is recognized as one of the founding figures of Greenpeace and is credited with proposing the idea of sailing a boat to protest U.S. nuclear testing at Amchitka Island, Alaska—a pivotal moment that catalyzed the formation of the organization.
Early life and background
[edit]Marie Bohlen was born in Pennsylvania, United States, on July 4, 1924. She was a nature illustrator and a member of the Sierra Club. In 1958, she met Jim Bohlen at a Quaker peace march in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They married, and she introduced him to the Quaker Society of Friends and the Sierra Club. In 1967, concerned about their son Paul’s eligibility for the U.S. military draft, the Bohlens immigrated to Vancouver, Canada, where they met Dorothy and Irving Stowe and co-founded the Don’t Make a Wave Committee, which later became Greenpeace.[1]
Role in founding Greenpeace
[edit]In February 1970, during discussions on how to stop U.S. nuclear bomb tests in Alaska, Bohlen proposed the idea of sailing a boat up to the test site to confront the bomb. This proposal became the first Greenpeace campaign. Although she intended to represent the Quakers on the boat, she ultimately decided to remain in Vancouver to work with Dorothy Stowe and others.[1]
The group organized a boat, the Phyllis Cormack—renamed Greenpeace—and set sail to Amchitka to “bear witness” (a Quaker tradition of silent protest) to the nuclear test.[2]
Artistic work and animal welfare
[edit]Bohlen was also known for her work as a nature illustrator. Her 1969 book, North American Birds, resides on coffee tables across the continent. She saved many animals by rehabilitating wounded birds, rescuing abused pets, and making frequent contributions to animal rights causes.[3]
Legacy
[edit]Bohlen passed away in 2014. She is remembered as a “founding mother of Greenpeace” and for her significant contributions to environmental activism and animal welfare.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "The women who founded Greenpeace". Greenpeace International. 2025-05-16. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is available under the CC BY 2.0 license.
- ^ "Greenpeace History". Greenpeace Australia Pacific. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
- ^ "Marie Bohlen". BC SPCA. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
Category:1924 births Category:2014 deaths Category:Canadian environmentalists Category:American pacifists Category:People associated with Greenpeace