Author Archives: Ed Fallon

Trial date changed for Iowa climate activists

Polk County District Court officials have moved the trial date for the Climate Defenders Five (Todd Steichen, Martin Monroe, Miriam Kashia, Kathy Byrnes, and Ed Fallon). The trial had been scheduled for Thursday, September 5 at 2:00. The five are now scheduled to appear before a judge on Thursday, October 10 at 2:00 at the Polk County Justice Center, Courtroom #110, 222 5th Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309. At 1:30, defendants will hold a press conference outside the building.

Busy two weeks in climate country

Dear Friends, In terms of Iowa climate action, a whole lot is barreling down the pike. First up is the CNN Climate Crisis Town Hall scheduled for Wednesday, September 4 from 4:00 – 11:00 p.m. central time. Yeah, I know. Seven hours. Ouch! For those with the stomach (and backside) to persevere through the entire town hall, it should be worth the effort. This is the most in-depth exploration of ten of the Democratic presidential candidates’ positions on climate yet. While it’s not the climate debate Continue reading →

Risking arrest for our future

Dear Friends, Earlier this summer, President Trump visited West Des Moines for a GOP fundraiser. Bold Iowa was there to expose the president’s climate denial to the donors who came to support him. Five of us — Todd Steichen, Kathy Byrnes, Miriam Kashia, Martin Monroe, and I — blocked an entrance to the facility’s parking lot. We then carried our banner toward the building and were arrested by West Des Moines police. We were charged with simple misdemeanor trespass. WE GO TO TRIAL AND NEED YOUR SUPPORT! Continue reading →

Iowa Climate Activists on Trial for Arrest at Trump Fundraiser

Thirty Bold Iowa supporters called out the president’s climate denial to the donors who came to support him. Protestors blocked one of the entrances to the facility’s parking lot. Later, five carrying a banner approached the building, hoping to enter and bring their urgent message to the attention of president and his supporters. At that point, they were arrested by West Des Moines police for simple misdemeanor trespass.

Burning the Rainforest

Dear Friends, Over the past few weeks, unprecedented melting in Greenland and the Arctic has dominated news stories about the escalating climate crisis. This week, attention shifted to the tragedy unfolding in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest. “Brazil has had more than 72,000 fire outbreaks so far this year, an 84% increase on the same period in 2018, according to the country’s National Institute for Space Research. More than half of them were in the Amazon.” “It is unclear which fires have been deliberately set by farmers Continue reading →

Standing with frontline communities

Dear Friends, As Energy Transfer Partners pushes to double the flow of oil through the Dakota Access Pipeline, it’s important to remember not only fossil fuels’ impact on the climate crisis but the devastation pipelines and extraction projects have on “sacrifice zones” — often communities of color, and almost always in regions with little economic and political clout. I found this message and the accompanying photos from Jennifer Falcon a powerful statement about what we’re fighting for. Thanks to Regina Tsosie with Sage Sisters for Continue reading →

Bold Iowa straw poll

Dear Friends, Last Friday, 75 Bold Iowa supporters came to Ritual Cafe and cast votes for their top five presidential candidates. While not scientific, the results are instructive, with four takeaways of particular interest. Here’s how it broke out: 16.6% – Elizabeth Warren                     2.7% – Marianne Williamson 12.7% – Bernie Sanders                       1.2% – John Hickenlooper 10.4% – Kamala Harris           Continue reading →

Straw Poll Event Sponsors

Thanks to all who donated generously to help sponsor our “Turn Up the Heat for Climate Action” celebration, fundraiser, and straw poll. With your support and the donations of those who pitched in at the event, we raised over $4,000 for continued work to bird-dog presidential candidates on climate! Alan Yegge Barb Norblom Ben Fallon Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Bob & Rita Krasen Carla McIntire Carolyn Fallon Channing Dutton Charles Goldman Chet Guinn Daenna Newkirk Dave Brotherson Ed Fallon Eddie Mauro Fionna Fallon Griffieon Continue reading →

Let’s Celebrate Our Success!

Dear Friends — Whether it’s last week’s historic melt-off in Greenland or the Trump administration’s latest attack on climate science, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that we truly are making progress. With that in mind… COME TO BOLD IOWA’S CELEBRATION/FUNDRAISER THIS FRIDAY! (If you can’t attend, please consider a donation to support our work.) On August 9, 2014, the Great March for Climate Action stopped at Ritual Cafe in Des Moines during its 3,100-mile trek across the US. Exactly five years later, Continue reading →

Second debate’s top three casualties

Dear Friends, Bold Iowa likes to give out prizes. (See Climate Hall of Fame Awards.) While we heard some encouraging remarks about the climate emergency during this week’s debate, three moments stand out as worthy of awards. I’ll simply call them the Wrong, Wronger, and Wrongest Awards. The WRONG AWARD goes to Joe Biden. After Jay Inslee criticized the slow timeline in Biden’s climate plan, moderator Danna Bash asked, “Would there be any place for fossil fuels, including coal and fracking, in a Biden administration?” Biden’s response: “No. We Continue reading →