Iran Peace Delegation |
In 2006, CODEPINK expanded our global peace work and joined a delegation in coordination with the Global Exchange Reality Tours Program. Many CODEPINK members organized their own fundraisers to help pay for their trips. CODEPINK Women's Delegation to Iran April 21-29 April 21st |
Building friendships: In this time of increased political tension between the US and Iran, American travel to Iran helps establish the people-to-people ties that facilitate understanding and respect between our two countries. In this spirit CODEPINK organized a delegation of 10 women, led by co-founder Jodie Evans. The Women arrived in Teheran and are sending daily writings about their trip and the people they are meeting.| April 28 There isn't much Iranians agree on, but responses to my questions about the US bombing them always include incredulous laughter, "Unthinkable, insane, outrageous and impossible"... |
| April 26 The days are long and wearing the hijab weighs heavy on all of us, especially in the 90-degree heat. The stories also weigh heavy, but we have not yet met anyone who thinks it might be possible that Bush could drop bombs on them... |
| April 25 As a 24-year old Californian, who has grown up studying environmental science throughout my schooling, the idea of a biodiversity museum seems quite normal to me. However, Iranians find this to be a very new concept... |
| April 24 It is very late and I can't sleep because I drank too much chai (caffeinated tea) with dinner. I am also trying to shrug off this nagging feeling of guilt that has crept up on me. Guilty of things that I have never felt guilty of before in my entire life... |
| April 22 My roommate Zebiba and I walked down to find a manteau (the obligatory baggy overcoat) for her. She is Eritrean (we haven't seen too many Africans in Iran thus far), and since my ankles were revealed, we were quite a sight, apparently. It was clear we were not locals... |
| April 21 We have been here about 16 hours, but it feels like a week. Ten of us spent the day discovering Tehran and surrounds. Our afternoon was spent driving down a tree-lined street that led to the snow covered mountain (Mt. Albers) we could see from our hotel. It is the newer, wealthier part of the city, North Tehran... |
