This week in Iowa organizing…
There's been some good news along the CO2 pipeline front recently. Late last week, the South Dakota Supreme Court ruled that Summit's proposed pipeline is not a "common carrier." This calls into question Summit's claims that it provides a noticeable benefit to the public, in addition to halting their land surveys in South Dakota.
Then this morning, CCI members went back to the Worth County Board of Supervisors meeting where Supervisors voted unanimously in favor to pass a resolution against using eminent domain for CO2 pipelines. Congrats to all the members and residents of the community who helped make this happen by collecting 462 petition signatures at the doors, stores, and elsewhere in Worth county.
Let's take a minute to celebrate, then get back to work and taking action for our people and planet. Hope you stay cool to start the week, and read on for more updates and ways to plug in,
Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director
Member spotlight
Tom Mohan
Linn County
What got you involved with CCI? What keeps you engaged/motivated? Who are you fighting for?
"As a 67yr old retired public employee from Cedar Rapids, my working years were spent caring for youth and families who needed help and assistance in our area. I grew up in Sioux City. Kind of a dirtball, river rat type kid from a church going, blue collar family in a multi-racial, working-class neighborhood in my packing plant town. I lived near rivers, creeks, lakes and streams where me and my pals could swim, fish and generally ah, fool around! This recreation, along with good old Sunday school lessons about caring for all of creation's creatures helped me learn that clean air, clean water, sustainable soil are human rights not to be used and abused for personal gain or private profit.
I’ve been a proud Iowa CCI member since the early 2000s, but became actively involved during the Bakken/Dakota Access pipeline fight around 2015. I’ve pitched in to help out in our clean water, factory farm, fair housing, racial justice and movement politics work ever since. There are many things I love and admire about our work together. Perhaps the most important to me is our NorthStar principle that the best way to defend our land, lives and communities from abusive corporate power is through the collective action of our people-powered movement. We’re bigger and better when we work together to make the big social change we demand and deserve.
CCI strengthens my hope for the future and inspires me to do more to help my neighbors in need. Our community organizing offers real help and hope to our hurting families, friends and neighbors in the communities we love. The powerful work we do together informs me, inspires me and keeps me motivated to build the people-powered movement we need to build a bigger, better American Dream that makes our hopes and dreams come true. That’s why I’m a proud CCI member! See ya at our next action! And be sure to say hey!"
Take action
August 27 & 28: Public School Strong Iowa
We believe that every child – no matter their zip code, background, race, gender, identity, or ability – has an equal right to a quality education. That means fully funding our public schools, urban and rural, and it means we need local school boards free from partisan politics.
And it's why we're part of Public School Strong - a national movement of parents, teachers, students, and community members pushing for honest, equitable, safe, and fully-funded public education. Join us online to learn more and discuss ways to take action to defend and strengthen Iowa’s public schools!
September 5: CCI meet-up at the Des Moines Art Center
We're hosting an Iowa CCI meet up at the Des Moines Art Center on Thursday, September 5 and we'd love for you to be there! Join us to explore their powerful new exhibit “Hurricane Season”:
“Hurricane Season” is about a home under threat, cycles of environmental and political violence, repair even when more is coming and inevitable. It is about a home worth rebuilding, even under these conditions. The work speaks to climate change and the difficult experiences surrounding weather and nature.
We'll meet up at 5 pm for light refreshments and to learn about the exhibit from their Museum Learning and Engagement Manager. Then you're free to explore the exhibit on your own or with a newly made CCI connection. :)
More information and sign up to join us here!
Rescheduled to Sept. 10: Mitchell County Conservation - say NO to Summit
Bruce Rastetter’s Summit Carbon Solutions’ greed has no bounds. They may stop at nothing to make a buck at the expense of our health and environment. One clear example is unfolding in Mitchell County.
Summit has requested survey access through Nelson Paradise, a public wildlife area that is home to rare and threatened plants and animals, where they want to push through their hazardous CO2 pipeline.
Join us in person at the Milton R. Owen Nature Center in Osage on Tuesday, September 10, at 7:00pm when the Mitchell County Conservation Board will vote to deny or approve Summit’s request. Join CCI and members of the community to make your voice heard!
RSVP here to let us know you’re coming.
Summit pipeline meetings starting
Summit’s CO2 pipeline informational meetings start today. Click here to find out what meeting is closest to you and let us know if you are coming by replying to this email or giving us a call!
As we gear up for these meetings, check out our CO2 pipeline page on our website for more information, ways to take action, and our new video series featuring CCI member Jamey Rose sharing why thousands of Iowans oppose CO2 pipelines. Thanks for taking action to protect the people and places we love!
Water Talk
Let's talk about water! Below we have a selection of some stories that caught our eye relating to water quality and ways to take action for our water.
Articles of interest:
Iowa government has failed to protect our natural resources [Cedar Rapids Gazette]
When will Iowa do more about the Nishnabotna River fiasco? [Des Moines Register]
Milt Owen to join as guest speaker for our August 29 call
Milt Owen is the retired Mitchell County Conservation Director. He has been a major part of water quality monitoring and testing since 2006 - testing 10 different sites along the Cedar River with the County Conservation, DNR, and Soil and Water District.
His dedication to conservation is honored by Mitchell County with the Milton R. Owen Nature Center. The nature center is a place of learning and fun for all ages.
Milt will share with us:
History on how Iowa's water got here - politics maybe?
Iowa volunteer water testing - what was learned in almost 20 years of monitoring
The importance of building relationships - it takes organizing to make change
We'll also have time to connect and hear how your water testing is going.
We hope you can join us this Thursday at 5pm! RSVP here to get the Zoom information.
What We're Reading
These are a few links that are informing our work - we've shared them so that you can read, too!
Will the labor upsurge find its political voice? [Jacobin]
Healthcare for all isn't on the ballot this November, but it should be [Common Dreams]
Feenstra challenger urges split ticket, vote for Democrat in IA-04 [Bleeding Heartland]
Iowa school book ban undermines the state's mission of educating its students [Iowa Capital Dispatch]
'Check on your neighbors': how isolation makes extreme heat more deadly [The Guardian]