The Real Iran

In recent years, the media has damaged Iran’s image so badly that when people hear the name of Iran, they only picture black chadors, terrorism, and ayatollahs. These stereotypes are being constructed to make it easier for governments to attack Iran with public approval. That is why NoWar SA wishes to play a small but essential role in breaking down these negative stereotypes.

What do you know about the real Iran?

Business, Engineering and Technology

Pierre Omidyar The founder/chairman of the eBay auction site. The founder/chairman of the eBay auction site.

Farzad Nazem Chief Technical Officer and Executive Vice President of Yahoo! Inc. Chief Technical Officer and Executive Vice President of Yahoo! Inc.

Omid Kordestani The Senior Vice President for Worldwide Sales and Field Operations of Google. The Senior Vice President for Worldwide Sales and Field Operations of Google.

Firouz Naderi The Associate Director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The Associate Director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).

Parisa Khosravi Senior Vice President and Managing Editor, International News Gathering, CNN. Senior Vice President and Managing Editor, International News Gathering, CNN.

Entertainment & Popular Culture

Freddie Mercury The lead singer of Queen. The lead singer of Queen.

Christiane Amanpour The chief international correspondent for CNN. The chief international correspondent for CNN.

Anoushe Ansari The world's first female space tourist. The world's first female space tourist.

Abbas Kiarostami An internationally acclaimed film director who has received some 100 awards and has been a member of the jury at numerous festivals, most notably the president of the Cannes Film Festival. An internationally acclaimed film director who has received some 100 awards and has been a member of the jury at numerous festivals, most notably the president of the Cannes Film Festival.

Reza Badiyi Director of episodes of Mission: Impossible, Hawaii Five-O, Mannix, The Six million Dollar Man, Starsky and Hutch, The Rockford Files, Police Squad! Dr.Quinn, Medicine Woman, Star Trek Deep Space Nine, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Nikita and Sliders. Director of episodes of Mission: Impossible, Hawaii Five-O, Mannix, The Six million Dollar Man, Starsky and Hutch, The Rockford Files, Police Squad! Dr.Quinn, Medicine Woman, Star Trek Deep Space Nine, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Nikita and Sliders.

Shohreh Aghdashloo 2003 Academy Award Nomination Academy Award Nomination.

Marjane Satrapi Graphic novelist, illustrator and children’s book author. Graphic novelist, illustrator and children’s book author.

Shahram Shiva Rumi translator, author, lecturer and performer.

Lily Afshar Regarded as one of the world’s best female classical guitarists. Regarded as one of the world’s best female classical guitarists.

Omid Djalili The only Iranian Comedian in the world, which is “technically three more than Germany!” The only Iranian Comedian in the world, which is “technically three more than Germany!”

Samira Makhmalbaf At age 27 At age 27 considered to be one of the best directors of contemporary world cinema.

Shahrdad Rohani Best known for arranging and conducting the ‘Yanni Live at the Acropolis’ concert, the most widely viewed program ever shown on Public Television in the United States, and the second best-selling music video of all time Best known for arranging and conducting the ‘Yanni Live at the Acropolis’ concert, the most widely viewed program ever shown on Public Television in the United States, and the second best-selling music video of all time

Nazanin Afshin-Jam Miss World Canada Miss World Canada 2003.

Ramona Amiri Miss World Canada 2005.

Shiraz Wine Australia's most popular red wine stems from Shiraz – the city of flowers, wine and poetry in Iran – in the heart of an ancient winemaking region where the process of wine making possibly originated 7000 years ago. Australia's most popular red wine stems from Shiraz – the city of flowers, wine and poetry in Iran – in the heart of an ancient winemaking region where the process of wine making possibly originated 7000 years ago.

Sports

Andre Agassi The former World No. 1 Professional tennis player.

Ali Daei The first male soccer player who scored 100 goals in international play. The first male soccer player who scored 100 goals in international play.

Humanitarianism

Abdol-Hossein Sardari Iran’s charge d’affaires in Paris who issued Iranian passports to many non- Iranian Jews, and saved the lives of hundred of Jews from the Nazis. Iran’s charge d’affaires in Paris who issued Iranian passports to many non- Iranian Jews, and saved the lives of hundred of Jews from the Nazis.

Camila Batmanghelidjh The founder of the children's charity Kids Company, which serves in excess of 20,000 children a year. The founder of the children's charity Kids Company, which serves in excess of 20,000 children a year. The winner of the UK's Women of the Year 2006 award. The winner of the UK's Women of the Year 2006 award.

Mina Bissell A possible candidate for a Nobel prize for her 30 years of scientific effort which has become increasingly influential in the field of cancer biology and cancer therapeutics. A possible candidate for a Nobel prize for her 30 years of scientific effort which has become increasingly influential in the field of cancer biology and cancer therapeutics.

Shirin Ebadi 2003 Nobel Peace Prize Winner.

Architecture and Design

Farshid Moussavi World leader in Architectural Engineering. World leader in Architectural Engineering.

Fariborz Sahba Designer of the “Lotus Temple” which, in 2002, attracted more than 50 million visitors, making it the most visited building in the world. Designer of the “Lotus Temple” which, in 2002, attracted more than 50 million visitors, making it the most visited building in the world.

Hossein Amanat The architect of Azadi Tower, the symbol of Tehran. The architect of Azadi Tower, the symbol of Tehran.

Historical Figures

Rumi (1207 – 1273) Persian poet. Persian poet. His followers, the Whirling Dervishes, believe in performing their worship in the form of dance and music. His followers, the Whirling Dervishes, believe in performing their worship in the form of dance and music.

Omar Khayyam (1048 – 1131) Persian poet, mathematician, philosopher and astronomer. Persian poet, mathematician, philosopher and astronomer. ∆ = b² – 4ac ∆ = b² – 4ac

Cyrus the Great Cylinder (539BC) The first charter of Human Rights. Abolished forced labour, prohibited oppression and terror, and guaranteed freedom of and guaranteed freedom of settlement and religion.

Razi (865 – 925) Celebrated chemist, physicist and philosopher, discoverer of medical applications for alcohol. Celebrated chemist, physicist and philosopher, discoverer of medical applications for alcohol.

Farabi (870 – 950) Widely regarded to be second only to Aristotle in knowledge; alluded to by his title of "the Second Teacher" Widely regarded to be second only to Aristotle in knowledge; alluded to by his title of "the Second Teacher"

Abu-Rayhan Biruni (973 – 1048) Contributed greatly to the fields of mathematics, philosophy, medicine, and Science. Contributed greatly to the fields of mathematics, philosophy, medicine, and Science.

Avicenna (980 – 1037) Persian physician, philosopher, and scientist. His “The Canon of Medicine” was a standard medical text in many European universities for five centuries. Persian physician, philosopher, and scientist. His “The Canon of Medicine” was a standard medical text in many European universities for five centuries.

Saadi (1184 – 1283) One of his poems is used to grace the entrance to the Hall of Nations of the UN building in New York: One of his poems is used to grace the entrance to the Hall of Nations of the UN building in New York: “The children of Humanity are each other’s limbs “The children of Humanity are each other’s limbs That share an origin in their creator When one limb passes its days in pain The other limbs cannot remain easy. You who feel no pain at the suffering of others It is not fitting you be called human.”

NoWar SA says no to war on Iran