IOWA FOCUS: Blogs, Alternative Energy, Sustainable Agriculture, Groups and Events

This comes from the Iowa chapter of 1Sky.org:

Climate Voters Welcome 111th Congress in Visits Across the State

Constituents encourage Congress, President-Elect Obama to jumpstart a green economy

IOWA – In small groups across the state, citizens welcomed members of Iowa’s Congressional delegation with welcome cards calling for bold climate action and a new green economy. Constituents visited the offices of Representative Loebsack, Representative Latham, Representative Boswell, Senator Harkin and Senator Grassley. Iowans delivered a strong message for drastic cuts in global warming pollution, the creation of five million green jobs, and a moratorium on new coal-fired power plants.

“It’s crucial that the new Congress and President-elect Obama know what we expect of them in January,” said Anjuli Kronheim, 1Sky organizer for Iowa. “The economic crisis and the climate crisis can be tackled at the same time with investments in renewable energy and efficiency that create jobs and put people back to work.”

Many of these new jobs would be in weatherizing buildings, installing solar panels, and erecting wind turbines, jobs that can’t be shipped overseas. According to a recent report from the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts, more than 21,000 green jobs would be created in the next two years if Iowa industry and government invested $968 million (a tiny amount compared to the $700 billion opening bid to bail out Wall Street) in clean energy.

“Youth turned out to vote in record numbers this year and we are here to say that we are staying engaged,” said Allison Peeler, a senior at Iowa State University who attended Tom Latham's letter delivery. “We need our elected officials to address climate change now, because otherwise it will be a problem that our generation and our children’s generation will have to live with.”

Over 4,000 climate activists welcomed elected officials in similar events across the country. On Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, hundreds urged President-Elect Obama to attend the crucial United Nations Climate Conference in Poland in December and take bold action on climate in his first 100 days.

“I think our actions today helped our public officials finally realize this is something that all of the country, including Iowa, wants,” said Graham Jordison, Greenpeace volunteer. “We know what the solutions are—now we’re just waiting for Congress to pass them.”

Partner organizations for the Climate Leadership Now! national day of action in Iowa are 1Sky, the Energy Action Coalition, National Wildlife Federation, Greenpeace, Environment Iowa, Interfaith Power and Light, Iowa Global Warming Campaign, and Ames Citizens for Clean Energy.

BLOGGING IOWA:

Bleeding Heartland is a community blog for Democrats and progressives in the state of Iowa. I find this a very good source of Iowa news.

Blog for Iowa is a progressive source of information in Iowa.

Iowa Liberal

Progressive Populist: The Independent Journal from the Heartland

LeftyBlogs Iowa is the place to find out what's happening in the progressive blogosphere across Iowa.


Some Stories of Interest:

Iowa House: Jubilation in Progressive Community as Christopher Rants Faces Demotion

Who Pays Iowa Taxes?

Comparing two lapses in judgment by Des Moines school board members

If you’re happy about President Obama, thank Howard Dean

Hormone-disrupting Cosmetics Chemicals Found in Teenage Girls

The Map: Iowa's New Legislature

Energy-efficiency programs are good for the economy

Iowa for Health Care Leads Charge to Fix Health Care System

Methyl mercury and coal fired power plants in Iowa

Yes, we can meet our baseload needs with clean, renewable energy


Alternative Energy and Sustainable Agriculture:

The Leopold Center is a research and education center with statewide programs to develop sustainable agricultural practices that are both profitable and conserve natural resources. It was established under the Groundwater Protection Act of 1987 with a three-fold mission:

*to conduct research into the negative impacts of agricultural practices;
*to assist in developing alternative practices; and
*to work with ISU Extension to inform the public of Leopold Center findings.

In 2002, a vision statement was adopted: The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture explores and cultivates alternatives that secure healthier people and landscapes in Iowa and the nation.

Sustainable Farming Connection: Where farmers find and share information

Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization -- founded in 1943 -- that serves as an advocate for conservation professionals and for science-based conservation practice, programs, and policy. SWCS has over 5,000 members around the world. They include researchers, administrators, planners, policymakers, technical advisors, teachers, students, farmers, and ranchers. Our members come from nearly every academic discipline and many different public, private, and nonprofit institutions


Peace Vigils:

Weekly Anti-War Vigil at Nollen Plaza
Every Thursday
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Nollen Plaza, 3rd and Locust Des Moines, IA
Contact: Wendy Vasquez
Please join us for this weekly witness against the war.
For more information, contact Wendy Vasquez at 515-771-8656.

Women for Peace Knitters
Supporting the peaceful arts of knitting and crocheting. This group meets monthly on the 2nd Tuesday, 9:30-11:30 am at Prairiewoods, 120 E Boyson Rd, Hiawatha. (Group also meets fourth Tuesdays each month at Marion Public Library, 7-8:30 pm., Marion.) For more information call 377-3252.

Cedar Rapids Peace Vigil
Women for Peace, Iowa, meet each Saturday at noon at the corner of 1st Avenue and Collins Road.


And for those who are focused on combining fun and politics, here are the local Drinking Liberally groups in Iowa:

Ames, Iowa
* Every Friday, 5:00 pm onward
* Legends American Grill, 200 Stanton Ave, 7th Floor (in Campustown)
* The group will meet in the large accessible party room left of the elevators unless it is booked by a larger group. We will then be in the Sky Box. Ask a waiter for our location.
* Hosted by Jan Bauer and Brent Wynja, ames (at) drinkingliberally.org

Des Moines
* Every Thursday, 8:00 p.m. onward
* The Lift, 222 4th St (between Court Ave and Walnut)
* Hosted by Amanda Mittlestadt, Tricia Kell, Cassie Samspon and Matt Jesson, desmoines (at) drinkingliberally.org

West Des Moines
* Third Friday of each month, 5:00-7:00 pm
* Tonic, 5535 George M Mills Civic Pky (within West Glen Towncenter)
* Hosted by Cassie Sampson, Mikael Brown and Jenny Irlmeier, wdsm (at) drinkingliberally.org

Eating Liberally
* Second Monday of each month, 6:00-7:30 pm
* Continental Wine Bar, 428 E Locust St
* Hosted by Marcus Walsh and Tricia Kell, desmoines (at) eatingliberally.org

Iowa City, Iowa
* Every Thursday, 8:00 pm onward
* The Mill Restaurant, 120 E Burlington StBlg