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