The Burden of Knowing
From Political Refugee to Citizen of the World
by Edith Ballantyne

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This book arose from a conviction that a better world is not only possible but absolutely necessary—a world with justice and equity, without war. Comprehensive and meticulously researched, The Burden of Knowing is based on the life of Edith Ballantyne (1922–2025) and the historic Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. Edith's lifelong work to remove the obstacles to a just peace and beautiful world, her faith in humanity, and her zest for life remain an inspiration to many. Edith Ballantyne (née Müller) was born to German-speaking committed social-democrat parents in Sudetenland in the northwest region of the newly formed Czechoslovakia. As World War II broke out, Edith and her family became political refugees from fascism and immigrated to a remote part of western Canada where they knew neither the language nor the culture. One by one they went to Toronto to work in the war-time industries. After the war Edith moved to Switzerland with her husband, a journalist with the International Labour Organization, and began work with the new United Nations World Health Organization. Within the non-governmental organization community and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Edith used her profound knowledge of international relations and the UN internal processes to strengthen the UN and build civil society access to the UN. In a spirt of solidarity she worked to bring demands for peace and justice to the global community. Geneva remained her home until she passed away at the age of 102. At the urging of friends and colleagues, Edith at ninety-six years, in collaboration with Regina Birchem, began to write of her life as a political refugee from fascism to becoming a citizen of the world. The Burden of Knowing is the result of that collaboration.

www.theburdenofknowingbook.com

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Regina Birchem, Ph D , biologist, author, independent scholar has research and teaching experience in cell and plant biology at several universities From 1990 to 1994 she held the Florence Marie Scott Chair in Developmental Biology at Seton Hill University, Pennsylvania Dr Birchem served on the board of the Geneva-based Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and contributed as non-government participant in major United Nations global conferences on sustainable development She currently resides in rural Minnesota, United States.

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Contributors

Author

Edith Ballantyne

With

Regina Birchem

Foreword by

Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz