In August, CODEPINK members traveled to Greece to support migrants and war refugees living in the Kara Tepe refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos. We delivered your donated baby shoes, socks, and clothes to the Hope Project, a distribution and art center, and Kara Tepe. We witnessed horrible living conditions, lack of resources, and heard stories about the prevalence of assaults in the camps. The conditions we witnessed were shocking, so we are dedicated to making another trip in December to deliver much-needed boxer briefs for boys and hygiene products for refugees.

Hundreds of Afghan refugees who fled violence and destruction in their home countries now live in horrid conditions on the Greek Island of Lesbos. While visiting the Kara Tepe camp, we spoke to a translator who helped the U.S. military in Afghanistan and now lives with his wife and children as a refugee in the squalor of one of many hastily erected refugee camps in Greece. He talked about how disappointed he was in the U.S. and NATO because he risked everything to help the United States and feels forgotten. While refugees are forced to survive in low substandard living conditions the Trump administration continues to reduce the number of refugees admitted into the country, while at the same time increasing the country’s military budget by billions of dollars.

It’s not surprising that the Trump administration prioritizes profit over human life, but the fact that the International Rescue Committee (IRC), known for its essential work with migrants and refugees, is honoring Blackrock CEO Larry Fink with the John C. Whitehead Humanitarian Award is truly shocking. Fink and his investors reap huge profits from the same war and weapons which continue to create refugees of war and violence around the world. Join us in urging the IRC to reconsider its award to Laurence D. Fink.

While we commemorate the lives lost in the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, the situation in the country has gone from bad to worse. Every day, thousands are forced to flee because of war and violence while wealthy investors justify the sale of more weapons because of the continued instability and unrest in the region. Consider helping refugees by purchasing new boxer briefs for young refugee boys who are stranded on the Greek island of Lesbos.

For a world without weapons and war,
Ann, Ariel, Brienne, Caroline, Carley, Jodie, Katie, Kirsten, Mark, Medea, Nancy, Paki, and Tighe