Author Archives: Ed Fallon

Wanted: Bold Iowans

October 19, 2017 by Ed Fallon
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Dear Friends, I’m writing with an urgent appeal. Since March of 2016, Bold Iowa has been a key leader on climate change and eminent domain. In fact, our work is recognized not just in Iowa but across the country. Yet for Bold Iowa to continue, we need your help NOW! We’ve built a powerful rural-urban network of environmentalists, farmers, Indigenous communities, landowners, and property-rights advocates. But our funding is perilously tight, and we truly need your support NOW! If even 10% of those receiving this message contribute $25, that would Continue reading →

“Here Comes The Sun” House Party

October 19, 2017 by Ed Fallon
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The first of six house parties organized by Climate March and Bold Iowa, and supported by a Polk County Community Betterment grant, brought together thirty people on October 18, 2017 for food, music and conversation about solar energy. Food was provided by Catering by Cyd. For details, contact Cyd Koehn at [email protected]. Music was provided by Dartanyan Brown, Zach Ide and Ed Fallon. The main event featured Tim Kruse of Green Light Renewable Services, discussing opportunities and challenges facing the rapidly-growing solar industry. For more information about Continue reading →

Sinking the Santa Maria

October 11, 2017 by Ed Fallon
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Dear Friends, [Please come to the trial for Emma Schmit and Mahmud Fitil, pipeline fighters arrested last fall for blocking construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline during Bold Iowa‘s Farmers Defense Camp. For more detail, check out this excellent video by Rodger Routh. We’ve been asked not to wear pipeline shirts in the courtroom.] I’ve never understood why Christopher Columbus was given a holiday. [Listen to Donnielle Wanatee on this week’s Forum.] I get why we celebrate the impressive lives of men (yeah, they’re all men, but Continue reading →

Illinois Supreme Court gets it right on eminent domain

September 29, 2017 by Ed Fallon
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Dear Friends, As the battle against the Dakota Access pipeline moves from countryside to courtroom, from protest to litigation, pipeline opponents in Iowa have yet another reason to be optimistic. Last week, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled against Rock Island Clean Line (RICL) — the Texas company proposing a 500-mile wind transmission line across Iowa and Illinois. The Court ruled unanimously that RICL is not a public utility and does not have the right to use eminent domain. Click here to read the entire ruling. Continue reading →

Fleeing Irma

September 15, 2017 by Ed Fallon
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Dear Friends, Sometimes I just wanna scream. (OK, sometimes I do, though never loud enough to wake the neighbors or chickens.) HOW MUCH MORE EVIDENCE DO WE NEED!!? (Caps, bold, italics and underline intended) Consistent with what climate scientists have forecast: * Storms are getting stronger — never before have two Category 4 hurricanes hit the U.S. in the same year. * Unprecedented wildfires continue to rage in ten Western states, with 21,000 firefighters working to contain them. * Heck, there was even a large wildfire Continue reading →

Call on Gov. Kim Reynolds to Remove Richard Lozier from the IUB

September 7, 2017 by Ed Fallon
339 comments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 10:00 a.m. CT, September 7, 2017 Contact: Heather Pearson at (402) 452-0534 or [email protected] Ed Fallon at (515) 238-6404 or [email protected] CALL ON GOV. KIM REYNOLDS TO REMOVE RICHARD LOZIER FROM THE IUB Citing “gross partiality” as referenced in the Iowa Code Des Moines, IA — Bold Iowa and its partners call on Governor Kim Reynolds and other members of the Executive Council of Iowa (Paul D. Pate, Secretary of State; Michael L. Fitzgerald, Treasurer of State; Bill Northey, Secretary of Agriculture; and Mary Continue reading →

National Call to #StopETP

August 30, 2017 by Ed Fallon
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Dear Friends, I’m so excited about my new flock of chickens! Over the past two months, they’ve made solid progress toward becoming fully enrolled members of the Des Moines Society of Colorful Egg Layers. Like an overly protective parent, I worry about them when I leave town. But fortunately, I have two wonderful friends, Emily and Johanna, who mind them in my absence. (Emily, Johanna, in terms of chicken sitters, you’re the best!) On the other end of the chicken-sitter spectrum is Mr. Fox. If my only option were to put Continue reading →

BREAKING: Oil Company’s Lawsuit Targets Iowa Pipeline Opponents

August 22, 2017 by Ed Fallon
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5:00 a.m. CT, August 22, 2017 Contact: Ed Fallon at (515) 238-6404 or [email protected] BOLD IOWA CITED IN OIL COMPANY’S SWEEPING LAWSUIT Allegations of “racketeering” absurd, claims Bold Iowa’s leader Des Moines, IA — In response to the sweeping, 187-page lawsuit by Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) against Greenpeace and numerous other NGOs, Bold Iowa’s director, Ed Fallon, labeled it “a corporate witch hunt” and “a desperate, insidious effort to silence public opposition to the Dakota Access pipeline (DAPL) and other fossil-fuel expansion Continue reading →

Petition to Remove Richard W. Lozier, Jr., from the Iowa Utilities Board

August 15, 2017 by Ed Fallon
489 comments
Click here to sign petition. Petition Delivery on Friday, September 8 at 11:00 a.m. Iowa State Capitol, 1007 E Grand Avenue, Des Moines Join Bold Iowa, Indigenous Iowa, Iowa CCI and Bakken Pipeline Resistance Coalition on the west steps of the Iowa State Capitol building for a brief press conference. Then we’ll visit the Governor’s office. Click here for Facebook event. We call on Governor Kim Reynolds and other members of the Executive Council of Iowa (Paul D. Pate, Secretary of State; Michael L. Fitzgerald, Continue reading →

Stand in Court with #NoDAPL Land Protector Emma Schmit and Mahmud Fitil Pleading “Not Guilty”

August 15, 2017 by Ed Fallon
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Friday, October 13 at 9:00 a.m. Calhoun County Court House, 416 4th St, Rockwell City, Iowa Date is subject to change. Check back closer to date to confirm. Land Protector Emma Schmit and Mahmud Fitil will appear in court in to plead “Not Guilty” to trespassing charges while participating in a Bold Iowa nonviolent action to stop Dakota Access construction. Pipeline Fighters are invited to show up in court and stand in solidarity. Click here for details.