Irving Stowe
Encyclopedia
Irving Harold Stowe was a Yale
lawyer, activist, visionary and a key founder of Greenpeace
. He was named one of the “BAM 100” (Brown University’s 100 most influential graduates of the 20th century”).
Irving Stowe was born Irving Strasmich in Providence, Rhode Island
. He graduated magna cum laude from Brown University
in Economics before completing a law degree at Yale. In the 1930s he studied Mandarin, believing it to be the language of the future. He chaired the Legal Advisory Committee of the Rhode Island Council for Human Rights; marched against nuclear proliferation; and on his wedding night (an elopement with Dorothy Rabinowitz
, a social worker and fellow activist,) both bride and groom attended a benefit dinner for the NAACP.
In 1961 Stowe moved with his wife and their two young children to New Zealand
, where he taught Admiralty Law at the University of Auckland
. He joined protests against the Vietnam War
. Born Jewish, he and his wife both became ardent pacifist and changed their religion to Quaker and their surname to Stowe, emulating Quaker author Harriet Beecher Stowe
.
In 1966, Stowe and his family moved to Vancouver
, Canada, where he became a full-time activist. He drew up the Constitution for a small group trying to stop nuclear testing on Amchitka Island, the Don't Make a Wave Committee
. Fellow activists Marie and Jim Bohlen
and law student Paul Coté were among the earliest members. At the end of one meeting, Stowe flashed the "V" sign customary in the Sixties and said, "Peace". Bill Darnell responded "Let's make it a green peace", coining the phrase that has become ubiquitous.
An environmental columnist, Stowe understood the symbiotic relationship between the media and activism and recruited gifted journalists to the Amchitka campaign. Always passionate about music, he played classical violin, had his stereo equipment custom built, and to finance the first Greenpeace voyage he organized a benefit concert with Joni Mitchell
, James Taylor
, Phil Ochs
and Chilliwack
, now known as the Amchitka Concert. He was on the executive board of the New Democratic Party
of Canada but declined requests to run for office, preferring to work independently as an activist.
In 1972 the Don't Make a Wave Committee officially changed its name to Greenpeace. Stowe died of pancreatic cancer
two years later, at the age of 59. After his death, newspaper columnists characterized him as “a man of principle”, one who "made a substantial impact on this world, perhaps as much of an impact as could possibly be sought after outside of the realms of politics, literature and art.”. Bob Hunter
, who later became president of Greenpeace International, eulogized Stowe in his Vancouver Sun newspaper column: "No one could say that Irving wasted his time here. He expended himself fully. He contributed precisely as much as he could. When other men were lying back, waiting to see what nightmare would materialize next, Irving was moving like a human whirlwind toward the goal of heading the nightmare off."
YALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
lawyer, activist, visionary and a key founder of 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...
. He was named one of the “BAM 100” (Brown University’s 100 most influential graduates of the 20th century”).
Irving Stowe was born Irving Strasmich in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, 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...
. He graduated magna cum laude from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in Economics before completing a law degree at Yale. In the 1930s he studied Mandarin, believing it to be the language of the future. He chaired the Legal Advisory Committee of the Rhode Island Council for Human Rights; marched against nuclear proliferation; and on his wedding night (an elopement with Dorothy Rabinowitz
Dorothy Stowe
Dorothy Stowe, born Dorothy Anne Rabinowitz was an American born Canadian social activist and environmentalist. She co-founded Greenpeace.-Biography:Stowe was born in Providence, Rhode Island...
, a social worker and fellow activist,) both bride and groom attended a benefit dinner for the NAACP.
In 1961 Stowe moved with his wife and their two young children to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, where he taught Admiralty Law at the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
. He joined protests against the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Born Jewish, he and his wife both became ardent pacifist and changed their religion to Quaker and their surname to Stowe, emulating Quaker author 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...
.
In 1966, Stowe and his family moved 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, where he became a full-time activist. He drew up the Constitution for a small group trying to stop nuclear testing on Amchitka Island, 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...
. Fellow activists Marie and Jim Bohlen
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 law student Paul Coté were among the earliest members. At the end of one meeting, Stowe flashed the "V" sign customary in the Sixties and said, "Peace". Bill Darnell responded "Let's make it a green peace", coining the phrase that has become ubiquitous.
An environmental columnist, Stowe understood the symbiotic relationship between the media and activism and recruited gifted journalists to the Amchitka campaign. Always passionate about music, he played classical violin, had his stereo equipment custom built, and to finance the first Greenpeace voyage he organized a benefit concert with Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell, CC is a Canadian musician, singer songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in her native Saskatchewan and Western Canada and then busking in the streets and dives of Toronto...
, James Taylor
James Taylor
James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
, Phil Ochs
Phil Ochs
Philip David Ochs was an American protest singer and songwriter who was known for his sharp wit, sardonic humor, earnest humanism, political activism, insightful and alliterative lyrics, and haunting voice...
and Chilliwack
Chilliwack (band)
Chilliwack are a Canadian rock band that had their heyday during the 1970s and 1980s. Although they are a Canadian band, the members were all born in, as well as reside in, the United States of America. They are perhaps best remembered for their five biggest songs "My Girl ", "I Believe", "Whatcha...
, now known as the Amchitka Concert. He was on the executive board of the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
of Canada but declined requests to run for office, preferring to work independently as an activist.
In 1972 the Don't Make a Wave Committee officially changed its name to Greenpeace. Stowe died of pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
two years later, at the age of 59. After his death, newspaper columnists characterized him as “a man of principle”, one who "made a substantial impact on this world, perhaps as much of an impact as could possibly be sought after outside of the realms of politics, literature and art.”. Bob Hunter
Robert Hunter (journalist)
Robert Lorne Hunter was a Canadian environmentalist, journalist, author and politician. A member of the Don't Make a Wave Committee in 1969 with Dorothy and Irving Stowe, Marie and Jim Bohlen, and Ben and Dorothy Metcalfe...
, who later became president of Greenpeace International, eulogized Stowe in his Vancouver Sun newspaper column: "No one could say that Irving wasted his time here. He expended himself fully. He contributed precisely as much as he could. When other men were lying back, waiting to see what nightmare would materialize next, Irving was moving like a human whirlwind toward the goal of heading the nightmare off."