Climate Strike, Steak Fry, DAPL

Dear Friends,

September 20 kicks off the GLOBAL CLIMATE STRIKE. People in 150 countries plan to participate, joining with Greta Thunberg and students who’ve been striking on Fridays for the past year. (FYI, Bold Iowa has invited Greta to visit Iowa. Read the letter here.)

On Friday, September 20, concerned citizens from all walks of life will stand together to demand climate sanity. In Iowa, actions are planned in Ames, Bernard, Bettendorf, Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs (Omaha), Decorah, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fairfield, Iowa City, Marion, Vinton, and Waterloo. See details about the Iowa actions here. Outside of Iowa, click here. Wherever you are, participate!

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Valerie Madison with Bold Iowa sign at an Elizabeth Warren event in Newton.

IOWA CAUCUSES. Presidential candidate activity across Iowa continues to roll along unabated — with 150 events this month alone! Here’s the schedule of upcoming events. Please attend as many as you can. Ask questions. Hold signs. Do whatever it takes to raise the profile of the climate crisis — not just for the candidates, but for the media and general public as well.

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Bold Iowa’s big push this week is to build a significant climate presence at the POLK COUNTY STEAK FRY on Saturday, September 21 in Des Moines. (Citizens Climate Lobby and the Sunrise Movement will be there, too — thank you!) Over 11,000 people and eighteen presidential candidates are expected to attend. 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 Ed know ASAP at [email protected].

Dakota Access pumping station near Cambridge, Iowa.

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Finally, we were thrilled on September 6 when the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) issued an order requiring Dakota Access to get approval before it increases the oil flowing through the DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE.

The IUB’s order came in response to a notice filed on June 12 by Dakota Access  announcing that it would double the flow of oil across Iowa. Bold Iowa filed an immediate response that helped slow down the process, and letters that many of you sent further strengthened our hand. (Thanks specifically to Kathy Byrnes, Bret Scofield, Peter Clay, Dianne Post, Kat Haber, Linda Sorenson, Shari Hrdina, Keith Puntenney, Sylvia Spalding, and Kristin Jean Frish.)

Wally Taylor of the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club also submitted an excellent, detailed analysis of Dakota Access’ proposal that the IUB referred to several times in its order. Great work everyone! We’ll see how Dakota Access responds, but it’s almost certain that we’ll call on you again for additional action.

Thank you, and keep pushing as if our lives depend on it — because they do!

The Bold Iowa Team