Karen Tigges got 5 speaking engagements at three schools in the Greater
Des Moines area.  I presented a program on the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge focusing on why it is so very special and so very unique and why
we need to protect if for future generations.  We reached approximately
190 students between an ecology class at Drake University, 2 classes at
Cowles Montessori and 2 ecology classes at Simpson College.  What was
primarily was accomplished was handing out reputable fact sheets where
student could get accurate  information about the Arctic Refuge,
including drilling information, on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service web
site, and contact information for President Obama.  After a presentation
to classes 4th through 6th graders (about 70 children) on girl asked "If
children like us get it (why drilling in the Coastal Plain is not the
solution for American's energy problems) why can't adults?".  

Perhaps the most encouraging results occurred during an ecology class at
Simpson College.  They had recently debated drilling in the Arctic and
the facts overwhelmingly  led them to think  for  drilling in the Arctic
Refuge as good thing. I asked them where they got their facts.  They said
they googled ANWR.  I said that's the oil industry web pages--that's like
googling the tobacco companies and to find out if  smoking  cigarettes is
a good thing.  

After my presentation on information I got  US FWS and US Geopolitical
reports, and the 12 min DVD The Refuge we had a great discussion and at
the end.  I asked do you now think we should drill or permanently protect
the Arctic Refuge and I got a 100% hands up to protect the Refuge.  One
student asked what are of chances of saving it and I honestly said we
almost lost it several years ago when President Bush was President and
pro drilling lawmakers put it in every bill including the Budge Bill. 
Told them Iowa Sierra Club members phoned as many Sierra Club members as
possible in IA  to contact Congressman Nussle of IA, who was chair of the
Budget Bill, and ask him to make sure drilling in the Refuge was not
placed in the Budget Bill.  He was running for Governor of IA and got
many calls, emails and letters from Iowans and this very likely made a
difference.  I told the students that President Obama would most likely
delete such a proposal in any bill he must sign and that was good, but
the change in Congress favors pro fossil fuel lawmakers.  Protection 
could change with a new President. I said to help permanently protect the
Arctic Refuge they needed  contact President Obama and ask him to make
the Refuge, including the Coastal Plain, a National Monument.  The
teacher, who had a project to have the students write to members of
Congress about their projects, told them they would get credit for
writing to President Obama, asking him to designate the Arctic Refuge as
a National Monument and the reasons to do so.  The class was 100% behind
that!  So education works.

Thanks also to Dennis Nicholson for stepping up to host a Sierra Club 
Arctic Refuge party  on Nov 28 in Indiana--another good opportunity to
educate and get people to take action.   Phyllis

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to:
[log in to unmask]

Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information:
http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp