I have never been to Iran, but I absolutely love the people, the culture, and their food. The picture above is of a women’s paint ball team in Iran (kinda adds a new twist to our perception of this culture from the west, huh?). Here are two articles I recently came across that provides some background information on this very intriguing country and their people:
Iran: Facing a demographic revolution (CBC News)
The mullahs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, some of them the men who overthrew the shah in 1979, are now facing a new revolution, a revolution of the young against the old. The question for the people of Iran – as well as for Washington and the rest of the world – is how this revolution will play out.
In June 2003, thousands of students took to the streets of Tehran, the capital, and at least six other cities. The demonstrations echoed others, in 1999 and 2002, centred in Iran’s universities.
Although so far the demonstrations in 2003 have been smaller than those in 1999, there is more anger. Reports say that this time the students and others yelled, “Kill all the mullahs” – words never heard before, at least in public, in the theocratic state.
Iran in 2003 is a nation of the young. The latest figures (2000) from the U. S. Central Intelligence Agency World Fact Book, say that 31.6 per cent of the population – about 21 million out of the population of 66 million – are 14 or younger. Other estimates say that 70 per cent of the population is under the age of 30. (more…)
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Youth shapes Iran’s economy (BBC)
Increased use of the internet is helping many young Iranians to connect to the outside world. But this poses a major challenge to the government as the urban youth in particular calls for greater economic and political reform.
Nearly three quarters of Iran’s population is under the age of 30 and this new generation has a new way of doing things.
They have a different attitude to business and making money.
Many also feel frustrated by Iran’s isolation from the international community. (more…)
Here is a link to an Iranian online community:
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