life in the desert

Sunday, March 05, 2006

What is CODEPINK?
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 International and Neighbors for Peace and Justice. The vigil culminated on March 8, International Women's Day, when we celebrated women as global peacemakers with a week of activities, rallies and a march to encircle the White House in pink. Over 10,000 people participated, and a group of 25 women, including Alice Walker, Maxine Hong Kingston, Susan Griffin, Starhawk, Jodie Evans and Medea Benjamin, were arrested for taking our peaceful protest right up to the White House gate.Since then CODEPINK has become a worldwide network of women and men committed to working for peace and social justice. We have taken delegations to Iraq, Iran, Palestine/Israel and Venezuela to forge ties of friendship with our neighbors. We have become famous for confronting the warmongers, whether in the halls of Congress, the national conventions of both the Republicans and Democrats, George Bush's fundraisers, or Donald Rumsfeld's house. We have sent hundreds of thousands of dollars in humanitarian aid to the people of Iraq, organized work brigades to assist the survivors of Hurricane Katrina, and helped Cindy Sheehan set up her vigil outside of George Bush's Texas ranch.
How can you get involved?
Sign up for our weekly e-alerts and invite your friends to sign up. Over 60,000 people now receive our weekly updates.
Join a local CODEPINK or start one of your own. There are over 250 local CODEPINK groups throughout the US and overseas. Check our website to see if there's a group near you, or to start one of your own. Some groups have a few participants, others have many. Each groups acts autonomously and does its own dreaming and scheming. Groups may hold weekly vigils, unfurl banners over freeways or organize educational events; others get more rowdy by blocking military recruiting centers or holding sit-ins in the offices of elected officials.
Educate yourself about effective responses to violence and terrorism by reading CODEPINK's new book, Stop the Next War Now. Visit our website to learn about our current campaigns and stay informed about the real news.
Make purchases from our CODEPINK on-line store. We have a wonderful array of CODEPINK t-shirts, scarves, buttons, bumper stickers, and books. It's a great way to increase our visibility-and they make great gifts.
Make a donation. We are able to build this movement thanks to the generosity of our supporters. You can donate on-line or send a check toCODEPINK, 2010 Linden Ave, Venice, CA 90291. We are a non-profit organization and your donations are tax-deductible.
We thank you for your interest and look forward to working together for a world in which we relate to each other through compassion, generosity, kindness, love and joy.
Click here to read CODEPINK Co-Founders' bios.

# Posted by Marybeth @ | 9:00 PM

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