Tag Archives: Dakota Access Pipeline

Busy two weeks in climate country

September 3, 2019 by Ed Fallon
3 comments
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 →

Iowa Climate Activists on Trial for Arrest at Trump Fundraiser

August 28, 2019 by Ed Fallon
27 comments
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

August 22, 2019 by Ed Fallon
2 comments
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

August 15, 2019 by Ed Fallon
448 comments
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 →

Bakken Oil Fuels Chinese Repression

June 27, 2019 by Ed Fallon
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Dear Friends, Last week, Bold Iowa achieved a small victory in regard to the Dakota Access Pipeline. Dakota Access wants to drastically increase the flow of oil across Iowa — from 570,000 barrels per day to 1.1 million! The carbon emissions from this increased capacity would be the equivalent of thirty coal-fired power plants. Our planet simply can’t take any more. The only path to sanity and survival is to leave the oil in the ground and quickly reduce our fossil-fuel consumption to net zero. Continue reading →

Dakota Access Proposes to Increase Oil Flowing Through Iowa

June 13, 2019 by Ed Fallon
35 comments
“Dakota Access’s proposal raises so many unanswered questions it is not possible for Bold Iowa, the general public, the IUB, nor concerned state and local elected officials to fully grasp the impact of the proposed expansion without adequate time and study. The involvement of landowners along the route, Story County residents, and all Iowans concerned about the broader impacts of the pipeline is essential. Thus, Bold Iowa requests that the IUB hold a public hearing in Story County where DA officials and IUB representatives are available to answer any and all questions from Iowans who have concerns about DA’s proposed expansion.”

Dakota Access Announces Pipeline Expansion

June 13, 2019 by Ed Fallon
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Dear Friends, As predicted, Dakota Access (DA) announced yesterday that it wants to increase the amount of oil flowing through its pipeline across Iowa. DA claims it needs no additional authorization from the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) to proceed. Bold Iowa disagrees. Today, we filed the following request with the IUB. We need YOU to take action, too. Here’s our five-step action request, which should take you about half an hour. It’s important, and your voice is needed NOW! 1. Read Dakota Access’s filing. 2. Continue reading →

Court rules against people, planet, property rights

May 31, 2019 by Ed Fallon
341 comments
Dear Friends, For those of us who have fought Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) and the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) for nearly five years, today is a sad day. This morning, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that ETP had the right to forcibly take Iowans’ land for an export crude oil pipeline. And make no mistake: DAPL is an export pipeline. While I’ve yet to find anyone, even inside the oil industry, who can tell me exactly how much of the oil is destined for export, it’s Continue reading →

Apology is O’Rourke’s path out of climate contradiction

May 28, 2019 by Ed Fallon
351 comments
Dear Friends, Six Bold Climate Bird Dogs arrived at Beto O’Rourke’s CNN town hall last week with great expectations. O’Rourke had just released a climate plan that generated much excitement. He talked about climate during his recent Iowa tour and the plan is featured prominently on his website. Forty-five minutes into the CNN town hall, Terrance Pendleton asked O’Rourke a general question about climate. That was followed by Patrick Bourgeacq’s more specific inquiry into O’Rourke’s past donations from fossil-fuel interests and his pro-oil-industry votes while in Congress. Continue reading →

Farewell, LaVerne Johnson

April 11, 2019 by Ed Fallon
345 comments
Dear Friends, Sadly, those of us fighting the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) lost one of our strongest allies this week. LaVerne Johnson died suddenly and unexpectedly on Sunday. My heart goes out to his wife, family, and closest friends — though he will be missed by more people than he would have imagined. I first met Vern four years ago this month, when I walked the proposed Iowa route of DAPL. Recalling my first conversation with Vern always brings back a smile. In the most Continue reading →