December 18, 2009



December 18, 2009

Dear friend of CODEPINK,

My almost annual list of ten good things about the waning year has never before posed such a tremendous challenge. In the face of this challenge, I decided to try a minimalist thought experiment, blocking out the many baneful events that colored 2009, and instead seeking out the small, yet powerfully bright notes to inspire and give us hope for the year head.

#1 Tens of thousands of people from around the world took to the streets of Copenhagen to call for meaningful action to address climate change, despite continuous attempts to squelch it. Inside Copenhagen's meeting halls, indigenous peoples from small island nations and the Himalayas spoke powerfully about their rights and their needs.

#3 According to recent polls a majority of Americans now see the war in Afghanistan as not worth fighting, and seventy-five percent say no new troops should be sent to that country. Public opinion is on our side.

#5 The creative and courageous use of Twitter and other social media by protesters in Iran kept the world informed and brought thousands of people into the streets of Teheran, including students, young people and thousands of young women.

#7 One of Obama's first acts in office was to lift the Global Gag Rule, which ended restrictions on U.S. funding for organizations that provide family planning services and that are often the first responders for women in the fight against HIV.

Read Medea Benjamin's full list here!

Support CODEPINK's work for the coming year and help us continue to be a part of the hope and change we want to see! When you make a donation of $50 or more you will receive a deck of our new War Criminal Cards, designed by Iraqi designer, Marina Murad. Marina was born in Baghdad and her family escaped to Amman, Jordan during the height of the first Gulf War. They immigrated to America in the early 1990's. She grew up in Redlands, California, and received her BA from University of California, Riverside in Fine Arts. She is currently obtaining her MFA from Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. She designed these cards as part of her personal commitment to peace and justice.

Even after all the disappointments of this year, the items on this list and our own strength and persistence give me immense hope in the possibilities to come as we greet the New Year. As visionary activist and writer Grace Paley said, "The ONLY recognizable feature of HOPE is ACTION" - so ACT today and support CODEPINK with a donation and get your Grace Paley t-shirt, designed by Phillip Niemeyer in our store!

So here's a toast to our power and our passion -- we have our work cut out for us in 2010!

Medea Benjamin and the CODEPINK Team
(Dana, Emily, Farida, Gael, Gayle, Janet, Jodie, Kitty, Marina, Nancy, Paris, Rae, Suzanne, and Whitney)



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