<[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]>This is a call to action for Iowa's 'environmentalists', smart land use advocates, energy efficiency experts, promoters of local food economies, public health activists, renewable and community energy developers, recycling and cycling enthusiasts, and anyone who might have inklings in those directions.
As we near the end of this legislative session, I am a bit surprised by what I see. We have been defeated on many of our priority issues:
Local Control is dead.
Sustainable Funding isn't sustainable yet.
The Bottle Bill has been reduced to rubble.
The Power Fund is all about ethanol instead of efficiency.
The Merchant Power Language and Climate Change Commission are on their last legs.
We have issues that should cross the aisle, issues that will both protect our environment and move our economy forward.
We have one last chance to let the State Legislature and the Governor know how we feel about this session, and what it means for them in future elections. Come to the Capitol on April 23rd, the Day After Earth Day. Let's use the momentum built by Step It Up 2007 and a solid weekend of Earth Day events to push us forward into the last few days of the Legislation session and the interim period. The Iowa Environmental Council's Legislative Roundtable will meet from 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM that day, followed by tabling opportunities in the Rotunda (thanks to Representative Donovan Olson, who has requested our presence) from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
IF YOUR ORGANIZATION WOULD LIKE A TABLE IN THE ROTUNDA ON APRIL 23RD, please contact Mark Kresowik at [log in to unmask] or 319-621-7393 as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you soon. If you can't make it, give a call to the Governor and your State Legislators this week and on Monday: http://www.legis.state.ia.us . Give them an Earth Day message the day after Earth Day!
This next year presents amazing opportunities. Because of the caucuses and national attention Iowa is receiving we will have new resources. Global Warming and Clean Energy are getting major attention from people we haven't effectively organized with before - unions, faith organizations, local governments, and small businesses. We do still have a legislature with a lot of allies and a Governor that is going to need some big initiatives to recover his very un-green start.
We need to take advantage of this situation. We need to build to some big wins in the 2008 legislative session. And we need to take that momentum into electing a new state legislature and Federal Government in November of 2008. But that means something new, something I haven't seen us do before. It means a serious dialogue about how to organize ourselves on the LOCAL level. It means an open and honest discussion about priorities, about message, and about how we work together. It means an analysis of resources. It means a coordinated strategy for gaining power. We need to start that conversation with each other on April 23rd and carry it into the first few weeks of the interim session. We need a plan.
Again, we look forward to seeing you on April 23rd. Contact Mark at 319-621-7393 with any questions. Thanks!
Mark Kresowik Midwest Clean Energy Campaign Sierra Club [log in to unmask] 319-621-7393 (cell) 515-276-4690 (office) 515-251-4811 (fax) 3839 Merle Hay Road Suite 280 Des Moines, IA 50310- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubsribe 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