Dorothy Stowe
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Stowe, born Dorothy Anne Rabinowitz (December 22, 1920 – July 23, 2010) was an American
born Canadian social activist and environmentalist
. She co-founded Greenpeace
.
. While a college student, she organized and served as the first president of a social workers local of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
. Despite being called a communist by the governor, she won her workers a 33% wage increase.
In 1953, Stowe married Irving Strasmich
. The couple became Quakers and changed their surname to Stowe in honor of Harriet Beecher Stowe
, a pioneer Quaker abolitionist and noted author. The couple had two children, Robert (b. 1955) and Barbara (b. 1956). In 1961, the family moved to New Zealand to avoid supporting the American government's policies with their taxes. When France started its own nuclear tests in Polynesia, the Stowes relocated to Vancouver
, Canada.
In 1968, with Jim
and Mary Bohlen, the Stowes founded a group called the Don't Make a Wave Committee
to protest announced U.S. nuclear bomb tests on Amchitka Island in Alaska. They chartered a fishing boat named Phyllis Cormack, renamed Greenpeace, to sail to the island. The boat was intercepted by the United States Coast Guard
, but the resulting publicity helped bring about the cancellation of the tests. In 1972, Stowe and the other co-founders changed their group's name to Greenpeace. While not as publicly visible as some other members of Greenpeace, she worked hard as a behind-the-scenes organizer. In 2005, when Irish rock band U2
played a concert in Vancouver, they invited Stowe, and Bono
dedicated the song "Original of the Species
" to her.
Stowe died in Vancouver
at UBC Hospital
on July 23, 2010, at the age of 89. Her death came just weeks after the death of fellow Greenpeace co-founder Jim Bohlen. Stowe was predeceased by her husband Irving, who died of cancer in 1974.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
born Canadian social activist and environmentalist
Environmentalist
An environmentalist broadly supports the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that seeks to improve and protect the quality of the natural environment through changes to environmentally harmful human activities"...
. She co-founded Greenpeace
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
.
Biography
Stowe was born in Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
. While a college student, she organized and served as the first president of a social workers local of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is the second- or third-largest labor union in the United States and one of the fastest-growing, representing over 1.4 million employees, primarily in local and state government and in the health care industry. AFSCME is part of the...
. Despite being called a communist by the governor, she won her workers a 33% wage increase.
In 1953, Stowe married Irving Strasmich
Irving Stowe
Irving Harold Stowe was a Yale lawyer, activist, visionary and a key founder of Greenpeace. He was named one of the “BAM 100” ....
. The couple became Quakers and changed their surname to Stowe in honor of Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe was an American abolitionist and author. Her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin was a depiction of life for African-Americans under slavery; it reached millions as a novel and play, and became influential in the United States and United Kingdom...
, a pioneer Quaker abolitionist and noted author. The couple had two children, Robert (b. 1955) and Barbara (b. 1956). In 1961, the family moved to New Zealand to avoid supporting the American government's policies with their taxes. When France started its own nuclear tests in Polynesia, the Stowes relocated to Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Canada.
In 1968, with Jim
Jim Bohlen
Jim Bohlen , was an American engineer who worked on the Atlas ICBM missile program, later emigrated to Canada after becoming disillusioned with the US government's nuclear policy during the Cold War and one of the co-founders of Greenpeace.Bohlen, one of the approximately half-dozen founders of...
and Mary Bohlen, the Stowes founded a group called the Don't Make a Wave Committee
Don't Make a Wave Committee
The Don't Make a Wave Committee was the name of the anti-nuclear organization which later evolved into Greenpeace, a global environmental organization...
to protest announced U.S. nuclear bomb tests on Amchitka Island in Alaska. They chartered a fishing boat named Phyllis Cormack, renamed Greenpeace, to sail to the island. The boat was intercepted by the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
, but the resulting publicity helped bring about the cancellation of the tests. In 1972, Stowe and the other co-founders changed their group's name to Greenpeace. While not as publicly visible as some other members of Greenpeace, she worked hard as a behind-the-scenes organizer. In 2005, when Irish rock band U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
played a concert in Vancouver, they invited Stowe, and Bono
Bono
Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
dedicated the song "Original of the Species
Original of the Species
"Original of the Species" is a song by rock band U2 and the tenth track from their 2004 album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.-Promotion:...
" to her.
Stowe died in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
at UBC Hospital
UBC Hospital
UBC Hospital is a health care facility located on the University Endowment Lands in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It opened in 1968, and is now operated by Vancouver Coastal Health.-Overview:...
on July 23, 2010, at the age of 89. Her death came just weeks after the death of fellow Greenpeace co-founder Jim Bohlen. Stowe was predeceased by her husband Irving, who died of cancer in 1974.