FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 21, 2020 — 1:00 p.m. CT
Contact: Samantha Kuhn, Climate Crisis Parade Coalition,
Contact: Jonas Magram, Climate Crisis Parade Coalition

Speakers Set For February 1st 65-Organization Climate Crisis Parade

DES MOINES, IOWA — Organizers of the 65-organization Climate Crisis Parade on February 1 in Des Moines, Iowa, have announced the four speakers who will kick-off the parade. The speakers will call upon the hundreds of members of the US and international press who will be in Des Moines to cover the Iowa Caucuses to step up their coverage of the climate crisis.

“Despite its prolific coverage of the conflagrations in Australia and California, and other natural disasters that the world’s scientists have directly linked to climate change, the press does not emphasize this connection nearly enough,” according to one of the parade’s organizers, Steve Shivvers. “This has to change. The media is where people get their facts and, as such, it has a critically important responsibility to let people know that, without bold action on the part of our leaders, the future of their children, grandchildren, and all future generations of life on our planet is in serious jeopardy.”

Among the four speakers making this plea will be two Indigenous youths, Tyler LaMere and Keely Driscoll. LaMere is a Winnebago activist from Nebraska and the daughter of Michelle Free-LaMere. Driscoll is a member of the Meskwaki nation and a student of international studies at the University of Iowa. They will be joined by Isabelle Brace, co-state Iowa lead for Iowa Climate Strike, inspired by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, and Ako Abdul-Samad, the director of Creative Visions, an Iowa non-profit serving the greater Des Moines area.

Driscoll sums up her message, saying, “Indigenous ecological knowledge, public education, and the media are tools we must mobilize in the face of the current climate emergency.”

Shivvers adds, “With its 65 organization sponsors, the Climate Crisis Parade will be one of the most widely sponsored Iowa events in memory. We invite all Iowans concerned about the growing climate crisis to join us.”

Parade participants will gather at Cowles Commons in Des Moines, at 12:00 noon. Individuals and organizations interested in participating may visit the coalition’s Facebook event page or RSVP on Eventbrite.

Organizational members of the coalition (as of Jan. 20) are 100 Grannies for a Livable Future, Ames Climate Action Team, Ames United Church of Christ, Bold Iowa, Boundary Waters Action Fund, Care of Creation Group (Cathedral Church of St. Paul), Catholic Peace Ministry, Central College SCATE (Students Concerned About The Environment), Central District United Methodist Women, Citizens’ Climate Lobby (Des Moines), Citizens’ Climate Lobby (Iowa City), Citizens’ Climate Lobby (Mason City), Climate Action Iowa, Climate March, Climate Reality Project (Des Moines Chapter), Code Pink, Creative Visions, Des Moines Faith Committee for Peace, Des Moines Intentional Eucharistic Community (Social Justice Committee), Des Moines Valley Friends (Quaker), Des Moines Order of the Sacred Earth, Drake Environmental Action League, DSM Intentional Eucharistic Community-Soc. Justice Committee, Environment Iowa, Farmers & Ranchers for a Green New Deal, First Unitarian Church of Des Moines, Green Boat Team, Urbandale UCC, Homes 4 My Peeps, Indianola Green Team, Indigenous Iowa, Interfaith Green Coalition, Iowa Climate Strike, Iowa Interfaith Power and Light, League of United Latin American Citizens (Council 307), LENA Project, Methodist Federation for Social Action (Iowa Chapter), Millennials for Climate, Moms Clean Air Force, NAACP (Des Moines), National Wildlife Federation, Occupy the World Food Prize, Organic Consumers Association, Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart Catholic Church of Ankeny, Oxfam, Physicians for Social Responsibility (Iowa), Physicians for Social Responsibility (US), Plymouth Church Creation Care and Justice Coalition, Progressive Action for the Common Good’s Environmental Forum, Regeneration International, Sage Sisters, Seeding Sovereignty, STAR*PAC, Student Climate Strike (Iowa City,) Sunrise Movement, Swap Society, The Collective, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities, Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City, United Methodist Trinity Las Americas — the Earth Guardians, University of Iowa Environmental Coalition, Urban Ambassadors, VegLife, Vote Mob, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (Des Moines Branch).

– End –

http://boldiowa.com/coalition-plans-major-climate-action-before-iowa-caucuses/
December 17, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Samantha Kuhn
Contact: Steve Shivvers

Coalition plans major climate action before Iowa Caucuses

Des Moines, Iowa – December 17, 2019 – A coalition of 38 environmental, civic, justice, and faith groups is organizing a Climate Crisis Parade two days before the Iowa Caucuses, challenging voters and the media to act with urgency on behalf of our climate. This event marks the first time these local, state, and national groups have worked together to spotlight the urgent need for all to act on climate.

The Climate Crisis Parade is scheduled for Saturday, February 1 at 12:00 noon CT. Participants will gather at Cowles Commons, 221 Walnut Street, in Des Moines and parade to the Iowa Events Center, where media from around the world will assemble to report on the Iowa Caucuses. The action is non-partisan and not organized in support of any presidential candidate.

“Our core message is ‘We Challenge You!’” said Steve Shivvers, a member of the local chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby, who serves on the coalition’s steering committee. “Participating groups will walk with signs and feature ‘parade floats,’ calling out the climate impacts of greatest concern to their constituencies.”

One organization is planning a parade float that warns of the increasing number of extinct or endangered species affected by climate change. Others will call attention to this year’s historic flooding along the Missouri River, concerns about the Dakota Access pipeline, and the health impacts of climate change.

“Individuals and organizations interested in the Climate Crisis Parade should visit the coalition’s Facebook event or RSVP on Eventbrite,” said Kelcie Kraft of Urban Ambassadors. “When we work together, we can accomplish so much more, as was evidenced by the Facebook event launch last week. In just four days, our event garnered over 1,000 people indicating they were ‘going’ or ‘interested.’”

Organizational members of the coalition (as of 5:00 p.m., December 16) are 100 Grannies for a Livable Future, Ames Climate Action Team, Bold Iowa, Catholic Peace Ministry, Central College SCATE (Students Concerned About The Environment), Central District United Methodist Women, Citizens’ Climate Lobby (Des Moines), Citizens’ Climate Lobby (Iowa City), Citizens’ Climate Lobby (Mason City), Climate Action Iowa, Climate March, Climate Reality Project (Des Moines Chapter), Creative Visions, Des Moines Order of the Sacred Earth, Des Moines Valley Friends (Quaker), Environment Iowa, Homes 4 My Peeps, Indianola Green Team, Indigenous Iowa, Interfaith Green Coalition, Iowa Climate Strike, Iowa Interfaith Power and Light, League of United Latin American Citizens (Council 307), Methodist Federation for Social Action, Millennials for Climate, Moms Clean Air Force, NAACP (Des Moines), National Wildlife Federation, Physicians for Social Responsibility (Iowa), Physicians for Social Responsibility (US), Plymouth Church Creation Care and Justice Coalition, Sage Sisters of Solidarity, Seeding Sovereignty, STAR*PAC, Student Climate Strike (Iowa City), University of Iowa Environmental Coalition, Urban Ambassadors, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (Des Moines Branch).


Bold Iowa
Dec. 12, 2019

Climate Crisis Parade challenges mainstream media

Dear Friends,

A coalition of 37 organizations just announced a major climate initiative, to be held a couple days prior to the Iowa Caucuses. Scheduled for Saturday, February 1 at 12:00 noon, the Climate Crisis Parade calls out the mainstream media for ignoring the urgency of the climate crisis. The launch was this past Tuesday through Facebook, and in less than two days, nearly 1,000 people signed on as Going or Interested!

Here are three things you can do:
1. Join the effort on Facebook and share it with others.
2. Sign-up to participate through Eventbrite and we’ll keep you posted with updates.
3. If you’re with a group that would like to join the coalition, email communications@climatemarch.org or call 858-35-MARCH (858-356-2724).

Please get it on your calendar and spread the word, because …

CLIMATE CAN’T WAIT!


Date:
Saturday, February 1, 12:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Location:
Cowles Commons and the Iowa Events Center, Des Moines, Iowa

What: 
We’ll gather at Cowles Commons, then “parade” to the Iowa Events Center where media from all over the world will assemble in advance of the Iowa Caucuses. We’ll have parade “floats” that call attention to one or more dimensions of the climate crisis, e.g., species extinction, the Dakota Access Pipeline, health impacts of climate change, impacts on minority and Indigenous communities, threats to our water and food supply.

Here’s how the coalition is describing and promoting the action:

“As individuals and organizations, we’re doing amazing work to raise awareness about the impending catastrophes that are guaranteed if we do nothing to combat climate change. Unfortunately, a large segment of America still has a blind spot about what’s happening. That includes the mainstream media, whose coverage of climate change during this presidential campaign has been totally insufficient to inform the American public about the urgency of the crisis.

“Because of the Iowa Caucuses, Iowans have a huge opportunity to influence the media and the public across the country. Most Democratic candidates have elevated climate in their agendas, which is great. The press, however, has remained largely silent.

“Des Moines will be swarming with national and international media during the days leading up to the Caucuses on February 3, giving Iowans a unique opportunity to take our message about the urgency of climate change to the media and the general public.”

As of today, 37 organizations have signed on! Here’s the complete list. Join us! — Ed

100 Grannies for a Livable Future

Ames Climate Action Team

Bold Iowa

Catholic Peace Ministry

Central College SCATE (Students Concerned About The Environment)

Central District United Methodist Women

Citizens Climate Lobby, Des Moines

Citizens Climate Lobby, Iowa City

Citizens Climate Lobby, Mason City

Climate Action Iowa

Climate March

Climate Reality Project, Des Moines Chapter

Creative Visions

Des Moines, Order of the Sacred Earth

Des Moines Valley Friends (Quaker)

Environment Iowa

Homes 4 My Peeps

Indianola Green Team

Indigenous Iowa

Interfaith Green Coalition

Iowa Climate Strike

Iowa Interfaith Power and Light

League of United Latin American Citizens, Council 307

Methodist Federation for Social Action

Millennials for Climate

Moms Clean Air Force

NAACP, Des Moines

National Wildlife Federation

Physicians for Social Responsibility, Iowa

Physicians for Social Responsibility, US

Plymouth Church Creation Care and Justice Coalition

Sage Sisters of Solidarity

Seeding Sovereignty

Student Climate Strike, Iowa City

University of Iowa Environmental Coalition

Urban Ambassadors

Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom, Des Moines Branch