life in the desert: C O D E P I N K

Saturday, March 04, 2006

C O D E P I N K

CODEPINK emerged out of a desperate desire by a group of American women to stop the Bush administration from invading Iraq. The name CODEPINK plays on the Bush Administration's color-coded homeland security alerts-yellow, orange, red--that signal terrorist threats. While Bush's color-coded alerts are based on fear and are used to justify violence, the CODEPINK alert is based on compassion and is a feisty call for women and men to "wage peace."CODEPINK can be found at presidential speeches and in the halls of Congress, in the neighborhoods of Baghdad and the streets of Manhattan-vigiling, chanting, protesting, mobilizing and demanding an end to war.
What is our mission?
CODEPINK is a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end the war in Iraq, stop new wars, and redirect our resources into healthcare, education and other life-affirming activities. CODEPINK rejects the Bush administration's fear-based politics that justify violence, and instead calls for policies based on compassion, kindness and a commitment to international law. With an emphasis on joy and humor, CODEPINK women and men seek to activate, amplify and inspire a community of peacemakers through creative campaigns and a commitment to non-violence.
Why women?
CODEPINK is not exclusively women-we invite men to join us-but we are particularly eager to see mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and daughters, female workers, students, teachers, healers, artists, writers, singers, poets and all outraged woman rise up and oppose the war in Iraq. Women have been the guardians of life-not because we are better or purer or more innately nurturing than men, but because the men have busied themselves making war. Because of our responsibility to the next generation, because of our own love for our families and communities, it is time we women devote ourselves-wholeheartedly-to the business of making peace.
How did it get started?
Medea Benjamin, Jodie Evans, Diane Wilson, Starhawk and about 100 other women kicked off CODEPINK on November 17, 2002. We set up for a 4-month all-day vigil in front of the White House during the cold of winter. The vigil inspired people from all walks of life, and from all over the country, to stand for peace. Many organizations joined us, including Greenpeace, WILPF, WAND, Public Citizen, NOW, Women for Women Internati

# Posted by Marybeth @ | 9:54 PM

0 Comments:

Post a Comment
<< Home