* National Forest Protection Alliance * Religious Campaign for Forest
Conservation *
* Alliance for Sustainable Jobs and the Environment * The National
Catholic Rural Life Conference *

***********GREEN RAUCOUS IN THE IOWA CAUCUS***************

National Jobs & Environmental Day of Action -- Earth in the Balance
Des Moines, Iowa -- Wednesday, January 12, 2000
(time and place to be announced)
Special Guest: David Brower

Members of organized labor, environmental groups, clergy, farmers,
indigenous peoples, small businesses, recyclers, students, elected
officials, party activists, and more, are converging in Iowa – home of
the nation's first presidential contest -- to demand that the
presidential candidates begin addressing the most pressing issues of our
time -- PROTECTING THE PLANET AND OUR LIVELIHOODS.  An unprecedented
alliance of labor/environmental/religious/indigenous/farm leaders
recently came together in Seattle to protest the undemocratic WTO and its
assault on farmers, workers and the environment.  Some of these same
leaders and organizations are now planning a major PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION
in Des Moines, Iowa, for WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12.  The demonstration will
be held near Vice President Al Gore's Campaign Headquarters in downtown
Des Moines.  After the rally, demonstrators will caravan to the campaign
headquarters of other candidates.  This is a nonpartisan event, and we
will be addressing all the major candidates competing in Iowa, Democrat
and Republican.

Our message to the candidates is simple: not enough is being done by our
government to protect small family farms, workers and the environment.
We want a contract with the presidential candidates to set our nation on
a sustainable path that protects locally-owned businesses, family farmers
and the environment.  These issues are not receiving the attention they
deserve in the presidential campaign, and we demand a national dialogue.
Any and all organizations and activists committed to this goal are
welcome.

Bundle up for the cold weather (the event will be held outside), and
bring your family and friends.  Also bring your props, costumes, signs,
banners, and energy and ideas.  If you can't travel to Iowa, but want to
support the demonstration, you can ENDORSE THIS EVENT by adding your
organization's name to the list of groups that endorse the goals of the
demonstration.  This list will be distributed to the media.  SIMPLY REPLY
TO THIS EMAIL and we will sign your group on (please keep your message
brief -- all we need is the name of your organization and a message
saying, "Sign us on").  You can also help by FORWARDING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT
to anyone and everyone you know in the environmental, farm, labor, small
business and religious communities.  The presidential candidates are
struggling for every vote they can get in Iowa, a state where retail
politics still thrives, and where the candidates must respond to the will
of the voters.  This is a rare opportunity for us to send a powerful
message to our political leaders as we enter the new millennium.

[SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY -- PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES:  Anyone who can come to
Iowa for a few days before or after the demonstration will have an
opportunity to participate in the statewide-televised January 8
Democratic and January 15 Republican presidential debates taking place in
Des Moines.  While few, if any, of us will be able to get inside the hall
(it only seats 200), most of the action will be taking place outside.
The influx of national media into Iowa during that week will create
numerous opportunities for us to advance our cause.  We'll need to stay
flexible and seize whatever opportunities present themselves, but we'll
definitely be planning some sort of formalized press events around the
debates (at which participating groups will have an opportunity to
distribute their materials to the media).  We will also want to have a
large presence (with signs and banners) for the media outside the debate
hall.]

NFPA has some funds available to assist with car travel for those in
need.  NFPA will also assist as many activists as possible with housing,
and we will shuttle people to and from the airport (but we'll need
details on your itinerary).

For more information on the "RAUCOUS IN THE CAUCUS," or to endorse the
demonstration, please contact the National Forest Protection Alliance
through John Talberth [[log in to unmask] or 505-986-1163], Jake
Kreilick [[log in to unmask] or 406-829-6353] or Tom Weis
[515-265-8266].
_

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