Climate activists go to trial
The judge and prosecutor have both said this will be an important trial. The more support we gather, the greater our impact.
Author Archives: Ed Fallon
When Labor and Climate work together
Since June, Dakota Access has been pressuring the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) to allow it to double the flow of oil through the Dakota Access Pipeline. To its credit, the IUB has refused to be pushed or rushed. In September, IUB members Geri Huser and Nick Wagner voted to require Dakota Access to file an amendment to its permit.
Meanwhile in other states, Big Oil continues to push hard for legislation to punish peaceful, non-violent pipeline protesters. Last year's fight at the Iowa Statehouse recently garnered some attention in Wisconsin, where our coalition with labor has not gone unnoticed.
My take on the “debate”
Big kudos are due to Bernie Sanders and Tom Steyer for talking briefly about climate, despite the lack of a single climate question from the moderators. Tiny kudos to Pete Buttigieg, Andrew Yang, and Amy Klobuchar for at least mentioning climate in their responses to other questions.
Lots going on!
We've got a quick update for you this week on some important developments. Please read and share.
CLIMATE JUSTIFICATION TRIAL.
DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE (DAPL).
CLIMATE BIRD DOGS.
IOWA'S ANTI-PROTEST LAW.
JESSICA AND RUBY.
Climate Activists’ Trial Again Delayed
The Iowa Climate Defenders Five (Todd Steichen, Martin Monroe, Miriam Kashia, Kathy Byrnes, and Ed Fallon) appeared before a judge today only to have the trial rescheduled for November 12 at 1:00 at the Polk County Justice Center, 222 5th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50309. Before the trial, the five held a press conference outside the building.
Iowa Climate Defenders Five go to trial
“Given the absolute urgency of the climate crisis and our concern about a million species that will soon be extinct if we don’t act to reverse this crisis immediately, we felt totally justified to be there and to confront Republican donors and the president himself to take action to address climate change, before it’s too late,” said Miriam Kashia of 100 Grannies for a Livable Future, one of the five arrested.
Where steak, penguins and the grim reaper meet
Dear Friends, FIRST … On Friday, September 27, at 11:00 a.m. at The Federal Plaza, 219 S. Dearborn St. in Chicago, Dakota Access Pipeline opponents will hold a rally and march to demand that Illinois Governor Jay Pritzer declare a climate emergency and halt doubling the capacity of the pipeline. Some of Iowa’s water protectors are hoping to join our friends in Illinois. SECOND … We witnessed an historic groundswell of climate-strike actions last Friday, garnering attention across Iowa and around the world. Des Moines: Here’s Continue reading →
How Dare We!
Greta Thunberg spoke at the United Nations Climate Action Summit yesterday. "You have stolen my dreams and my childhood!" roared Thunberg to the world leaders gathered for the Summit. "People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!"
Indeed, how dare they. The Summit, was convened to garner commitments for more aggressive action against climate change, and it did not go well. While some smaller nations stepped up to the plate with deeper, though still inadequate, commitments, the three biggest greenhouse gas emitters -- the United States, China, and India -- failed miserably.
Climate Strike, Steak Fry, DAPL
Over 11,000 people and eighteen presidential candidates are expected to attend Saturday's Polk County Steak Fry. We plan to bird-dog every politician there on one or more aspects of the climate crisis, and to make a strong showing for climate action before local, national, and international media, too. If you're coming and would like to help, let us know ASAP.
Letter to Greta Thunberg
Dear Greta — I write to invite you to visit Iowa, where the presidential campaign is in full force. Since January, over 250 Bold Iowa supporters have lobbied presidential candidates on the climate crisis. Sometimes we ask questions, listen, and display our signs. Sometimes we dress as penguins, in response to the tragic collapse of the second largest colony of Emperor Penguins earlier this year. Once, we got arrested protesting President Trump’s climate denial at a GOP fundraiser. Five of us go to court next Continue reading →