Climate Justice Unity March: Day 5

Wednesday, April 26, 2017 – Sully to Reasnor (10 miles) We scramble out of our tents early today for the ride to Des Moines for Donnielle Wanatee’s trial. She was arrested for trespass at Governor Branstad’s office during the February 22 Day of Action Against DAPL. Donnielle pled “not guilty” and asked for a jury trial. The judge denied her request. Nevertheless, she persists. It’s a miserable morning. The wind and rain make it impossible for our cook, Chap Myers, to keep the stove lit. Continue reading →

Climate Justice Unity March: Day 4

Tuesday, April 25, 2017 – Searsboro to Sully (8.5 miles) As I pack up my tent this morning, Sarah informs me that she woke with a pit in her stomach, an odd sense of foreboding. She’s spoken with Shelley Buffalo and Fernando Manakaja as well, and they also have the same sense of unease — an intuition that someone or something may try to harm us today. I take their intuition seriously. Our marching column is tight, and we walk two-by-two on the gravel shoulder Continue reading →

Climate Justice Unity March: Day 3

Monday, April 24, 2017 – Montezuma to Searsboro (9.5 miles) Searsboro is one of those small, forgotten Iowa towns bypassed by the main highway. It’s a sprawling community of 142 people, built on hillocks tucked away in a valley along English Creek. I’ve driven by Searsboro dozens of times, wondering what it was like but never bothering to stop. From the highway you see only a few of Searsboro’s houses. Today, as our march winds its final mile over and around several steep, rolling hills, Continue reading →

Climate March across Iowa encounters mixed opinions on climate change

Link to original article: whotv.com/2017/04/24/climate-march-across-iowa-encounters-mixture-of-opinion-on-climate-change/ Coverage by WHO, Des Moines, Iowa, April 24, 2017 Ed Fallon has marched hundreds of miles in Iowa and other states for causes related to the environment and climate change, but he had never seen the unfriendly hand gestures that greeted him this week. Fallon, who serves as the director of Bold Iowa, organized this march. A group is going from Deep River, Iowa, to the State Capitol, marching 10-12 miles every day. Each night they hold a dinner and Continue reading →

Climate Justice Unity March: Day 2

Sunday, April 23, 2017 – Deep River to Montezuma (10 miles) As we circle up this morning and prepare to leave Deep River, a man driving an ATV pulls up. He introduces himself as Darrin Ehret — the guy next door who put up the Confederate flag yesterday. He was surprised at how quiet and respectful we were last night, and that inspired him to come over. Based on the things he’d heard on Facebook, he was expecting all kinds of noise and bad behavior. Continue reading →

Climate Justice Unity March: Day 1

Saturday, April 22, 2017 – Little Creek Camp to Deep River (12.8 miles) Today saw three notable “firsts,” none of them good. Our troupe of 25-30 marchers were flipped off three times by passing drivers. I’ve walked 700 miles along Iowa’s highways and gravel roads and never had someone do that to me. Also today, as we were taking a break on a gravel road, I walked a short distance across a field to talk with a young farmer who was watching us. I introduced myself, explained Continue reading →

Amid discourse, climate march aims for unity

Link to original article: www.desmoinesregister.com/story/tech/science/environment/2017/04/21/amid-discourse-climate-march-aims-unity/305834001/ Coverage by The Des Moines Register, Des Moines, Iowa April 21, 2017 In a world filled with conflict, an eight-day walk across Iowa aims to encourage the opposite all while talking about the earth’s climate – a sometimes controversial issue. The Climate Justice Unity March is an eight-day walk starting at Little Creek Camp in Williamsburg and ending in Des Moines on April 29 for the People’s Climate March at the Iowa State Capitol. It is being held by Bold Iowa, an environmental Continue reading →

Toilet paper provided; bring your own towel

Q: What’s more challenging than marching ten miles a day for eight days? A: Organizing the logistics to make such a march possible. Seriously. Shari Hrdina, Sarah Spain and I have done this before, organizing the coast-to-coast Great March for Climate Action in 2014. Did we learn our lesson? Apparently not. Here we are again, organizing the Climate Justice Unity March reminded on a daily basis just how complex are the logistics of a march of 25 people. One example: Check out these pictures of our Enviro-Commode/Solar Continue reading →

Climate Justice Unity March: Wish List

Many camping items are needed for the Climate Justice Unity March. If have any of these items to loan to us for the duration of April 21-29, please contact [email protected]. Industrial Shelving for the gear truck (already have) 3 Large Coolers for perishable food items Two-Burner Cook Stove Smaller Cook Stove Propane Tanks Storage Containers with lids for dry goods storage 2 Large Water Coolers (have one) 2 Coffee Makers, 12-cup size at least (have one) 2 Tea Pots that can go on cook stoves Continue reading →

Climate Justice Unity March: Packing List

Sign up to join the April 22-29 Climate Justice Unity March. Everything you bring must fit into only two duffel bags or suitcases, and one small backpack to carry while you walk. Please label your bags and all individual items.  Leave valuables at home. Personal Identification Credit card or ATM card Sunscreen Lip balm with sunscreen Bug spray or wipes Bandanas Travel towel (quick dry) Hand towel (quick dry) Body wipes (only compostable) Hand sanitizer Deodorant Ear plugs Ziploc bags First aid kit Prescription medications Tylenol/ibuprofen Continue reading →