What does it mean to advocate for women’s rights in Iran while ignoring the devastating impact of war and sanctions on their lives? War and sanctions destroy infrastructure, hospitals, and universities, take innocent lives, and strip women of opportunities and a future. Iranian women face enormous challenges, and war and sanctions only make their struggles harder. You cannot claim to stand for women’s rights while ignoring the policies that undermine their safety, livelihoods, and opportunities. If you care about Iranian women, stop the US war on Iran. End the sanctions!

What does it look like when a city is designed for people, not profits? At Shanghai’s Urban Planning Museum, we explore how a megacity of 25 million people has transformed polluted industrial areas into vibrant public spaces, expanded green spaces and ecological reserves, and developed “15-minute communities” where residents can access schools, grocery stores, healthcare, and public transportation within walking distance. Shanghai offers a powerful example of what long-term urban planning and investment in public infrastructure can accomplish when people’s needs are prioritized over unchecked urban sprawl. China is not our enemy. We have so much to learn from each other.

This week at CODEPINK, we: ☮️ Confronted war criminal Pete Hegseth ☮️ Organized against the data centers threatening the Great Lakes ☮️ Dispelled U.S. war propaganda on our China trip & more! Check it out: codepink.org/oct16_2026

What does it look like when cities invest in people? In Shanghai, a once-polluted neighborhood has been transformed into a community filled with green spaces, housing, public transportation, and accessible services.From restored waterways and nature reserves to high-speed rail and neighborhood health centers, this community offers a glimpse of what people-centered urban development can look like. “This is what development looks like. This is when you take your resources and you apply it to the people.” China is not our enemy. We have a lot to learn from each other.

What if we spent more money on parks and communities instead of war? At Fuxing Park in Shanghai, we met Carrie from St. Louis, Missouri, who was amazed by the vibrant public spaces, the sense of safety, and the kindness of people she encountered in China. Despite warnings from friends and family before her trip, her experience has been completely different from what she expected. Imagine what we could build in the United States if our tax dollars went toward creating safe, welcoming spaces for everyone instead of funding endless wars. Make parks, not war! China is not our enemy!

Just another weekday morning at Fuxing Park in Shanghai! Children singing, retirees dancing and exercising, live music, and people simply enjoying life together. A beautiful glimpse of everyday life in China. While Washington keeps portraying China as a threat, moments like these remind us of something simple: people everywhere want the same thing: a peaceful life, strong communities, and a future for their families. China is not our enemy!

What can a Chinese city most Americans have never heard of teach us about Trump's trade war? Ganzhou is a major hub for rare earth minerals that power everything from electric vehicles to advanced technology. And as Washington discovered, trying to cut China out of global supply chains is easier said than done. The US and China are deeply interconnected. Instead of tariffs, economic warfare, and endless confrontation, we need cooperation that benefits people in both countries. China is not our enemy!

Across China, public water dispensers offer free hot and cold water, making it easier to stay hydrated without relying on single-use plastic bottles. A simple service with a big impact on people and the planet. Because access to clean drinking water should be a human right, not a privilege. 干杯! Cheers!

China has built a high-speed rail network connecting cities across the country at speeds of over 200 mph. Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to struggle with slow, aging passenger rail infrastructure. It’s a question of national priorities. What if we invested more of our tax dollars in public transportation instead of war? Instead of more bombs, give us bullet trains! Join us in Washington, DC, November 10–12, for the Taxpayer Uprising to demand that our tax dollars serve our communities, not fund wars.

Where was Hegseth speaking yesterday when activists repeatedly disrupted him? Basically a military-industrial complex amusement park. The AUSA is an annual exposition that brings together the War Department, the tech industry, and the arms industry to learn about the latest and greatest killing technologies. This is why Pete Hegseth wants a $1.5 trillion War budget: to buy expensive weapons systems we don't need for wars we never should have started.

In China, residents are turning shared spaces into thriving gardens, growing everything from bok choy and sweet potatoes to peppers, beans, and sugar cane. Many bring generations of farming knowledge with them, keeping their connection to the land alive even in urban communities. Follow along as we discover everyday life in China beyond the Western media narratives. China Is Not Our Enemy!