Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Announcement Posted by Jane Clark "Support Family Farms" rally & lobby day set for January 15th in Des Moines People across the state who are fighting factory farms and corporate concentration in agriculture will gather at the State Capitol in Des Moines on Tuesday, January 15th at 11 a.m. for a "Support Family Farms" rally and lobby day. The event is being sponsored by Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI), and will coincide with the opening of the 2002 state legislative session and the Governor's state of the state address. "This promises to be a big event," said Boone County resident Bob Uetz, chairperson of the Iowa CCI Board of Directors. "All of the good grassroots organizing that's been happening in the past 3-4 months across the state has forced key Republican lawmakers to re-open the debate on factory farm issues this year. We need a big turn-out to keep the pressure on legislative leaders and Gov. Vilsack. They need to know we want action, not lip service!" Representatives from various family farm, rural advocacy, labor and church groups will participate in the event. During the day, they will meet with key legislators and DNR officials to push for policies that support family farms, protect the environment and public health, and sustain rural communities. The group will also meet with Gov. Vilsack that day. "We're not going to let factory farms and corporate mega-mergers run family farmers out of business, destroy our communities, and ruin our quality of life," stated Uetz. "By working together, we can get things done. We're inviting all Iowans who support family farms, clean air and clean water to be at the State Capitol on January 15th." Chartered buses from different areas of the state will bring people to the rally and lobby day. For more information, call or email Iowa CCI at 515/282-0484 or [log in to unmask] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]