United, We Are Strong

August 7, 2018 by Ed Fallon
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Dear Friends, I’ve been an activist for 33 years and continue to learn something new every day. Often, I learn from my mistakes, so I’m hardly above criticism. In fact, I value it. With that in mind, I need to clarify some things I wrote last week. I first encountered M.K. Gandhi’s writings when I was 21. I knew immediately that I’d found a mentor who would inspire me the rest of my life — despite aspects of Gandhi’s character that are troubling and deeply Continue reading →

Judge’s ruling against pipeline company bodes well for Bold Iowa

July 26, 2018 by Ed Fallon
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2:00 p.m. CT, July 26, 2018 Contact: Ed Fallon at (515) 238-6404 or ed@boldiowa.com BOLD IOWA RESPONDS TO JUDGE’S RULING ON “SLAPP” SUIT Judge’s decision on one plaintiff likely to vindicate Bold Iowa, others as well Des Moines, IA —  US District Judge Billy Roy Wilson today dismissed criminal racketeering claims levied against BankTrack in a lawsuit filed last August by Energy Transfer Partners (ETP). BankTrack is a nonprofit that encourages people to divest from financial institutions that provided funds for ETP and the Continue reading →

Raising awareness for effective action

July 25, 2018 by Ed Fallon
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Dear Friends, I’m a big believer in pacing oneself. We’ve got to take time to smell the roses even in the midst of intense struggle. Yet sometimes — often, in all honesty — the demands of fighting for justice require some pretty exhausting days. The First Nation – Farmer Climate Unity March will be a string of such days. But the importance of this march — raising awareness about the historic lawsuit that could stop the flow of oil through the Dakota Access Pipeline — Continue reading →

A year later, still no federal charges against ‘saboteurs’ of Dakota Access Pipeline. Why?

July 23, 2018 by Shari Hrdina
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Link to original article: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2018/07/23/dakota-access-pipeline-iowa-sabotage-no-federal-charges-jessica-reznicek-ruby-montoya/801287002/ Covered by The Des Moines Register, Des Moines, Iowa, July 23, 2018 Excerpt: by William Petroski It’s been one year since two Iowa environmental activists claimed responsibility for deliberately causing millions of dollars in damage to the Dakota Access Pipeline project, but federal prosecutors haven’t filed charges against them. The activists — Jessica Reznicek, 36, and Ruby Montoya, 28 — have gone into hiding. The lack of federal prosecution has some Iowans wondering whether charges will ever be filed. “As Continue reading →

Penalties increased for future pipeline ‘sabotage’ in Iowa

July 23, 2018 by Shari Hrdina
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Link to original article: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2018/07/23/iowa-lawmakers-enact-tough-penalties-future-pipeline-sabotage-access-pipeline-standing-rock-native/805866002/ Covered by The Des Moines Register, Des Moines, Iowa, July 23, 2018 Excerpt: by William Petroski Criminal sabotage of Iowa pipelines, telecommunications facilities, water treatment plants and other critical infrastructure could result in long prison sentences and large fines under a new state law approved by the Iowa Legislature in its 2018 session. The measure was drafted by state homeland security officials in the wake of millions of dollars in damage that protesters inflicted on Iowa sections of the Dakota Access Continue reading →

Advocates search for oil spill info

July 21, 2018 by Shari Hrdina
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Link to original article: http://www.nwestiowa.com/news/advocates-search-for-oil-spill-info/article_5fc72796-8c68-11e8-9df1-ef2d89818d57.html Covered by The N’West Iowa REVIEW, Sheldon, Iowa, July 21, 2018 Excerpt: By Lana Bradstream DOON—There are no protesters, but that does not mean people do not care about the oil spill near Doon. Three Iowa environmental advocates — Bold Iowa members Ed Fallon and Christine Nobiss of Des Moines and David Thoreson of the Iowa Great Lakes — traveled to Doon and Rock Rapids on Tuesday to inquire about and investigate the June 22 BNSF Railway derailment, which resulted in Continue reading →

Investigating the Doon tar sands oil spill

July 19, 2018 by Ed Fallon
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Dear Friends, Christine Nobiss, David Thoreson, and I traveled to northwest Iowa this week to investigate the June 22 tar sands oil spill near Doon (check out our livestream). We spoke with Iowa DNR and Lyon County officials, a landowner, an engineer working at the site, a reporter with the N’West Iowa REVIEW, and KSFY TV (check out KSFY’s story here). We learned a lot! — Lyon County officials did an excellent job as first responders during the hours and days immediately following the spill. Continue reading →

Bold Iowa assesses impact of oil spill

July 17, 2018 by Shari Hrdina
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Link to original article: http://www.ksfy.com/content/news/Bold-Iowa-assesses-impact-of-oil-spill-488454851.html Covered by KSFY Television, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, July 17, 2018 Excerpt:   DOON, Iowa (KSFY) – A local environmental group is mobilizing to help landowners impacted by last month’s train derailment and oil spill in Doon, Iowa. Bold Iowa builds alliances to fight climate change and protect the state’s soil, air and water. Organizers met with landowners, engineers and county leaders Tuesday to get a better assessment of the situation and the environmental impacts. Bold Iowa director Ed Fallon saif they need Continue reading →

Marcher blogs and social media links

July 17, 2018 by Shari Hrdina
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Follow the marchers’ experiences while they are on the First Nation – Farmer Climate Unity March! Christine Lehman-Engledow Profile Facebook Christine Lehman-Engledow Christine Nobiss Profile Facebook  Seeding Sovereignty, Christine Nobiss, Indigenous Iowa Instagram @SeedingSovereignty David Houston Profile Facebook David Houston Website Homes4MyPeeps David Thoreson Profile Facebook David Thoreson Twitter @bluewaternews Instagram @DavidThoreson Debbie Griffin Profile Facebook Downtown Disciples Twitter @DTDisciplesDSM Instagram @DTDisciplesDSM Ed Fallon Profile Blog Fallon Forum Talk show The Fallon Forum airs Mondays from 11:00 a.m.-Noon and is available afterward as a podcast. Facebook Ed Fallon, Fallon Forum Continue reading →

Meet the Marchers

June 26, 2018 by Shari Hrdina
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Meet the marchers of the First Nation – Farmer Climate Unity March. Click on image to read their profiles. If you’d like to march, click here to apply. Sponsor a marcher! Click Donate, indicate amount, then SELECT YOUR MARCHER with “Specify marcher name or open scholarship.” Or send a check to avoid processing fees. Meet the marchers