Groups pressure Iowa delegation on global warming
Posted: Wednesday, October 03, 2007
DES MOINES (AP) -- A coalition of interest groups, led by Greenpeace, is trying to put pressure on Iowa's congressional delegation to support legislation targeting global warming.
And they've chosen a unique symbol to illustrate their cause.
As she called Tuesday for greater leadership from Iowa's congressmen, Greenpeace's Kelly Mitchell stood in front of an aerial shot of a crop formation her group had helped create on a farm outside of Ames. The corn in the field has been fashioned into the shape of a wind turbine, a symbol of Iowa's need for greater commitment to renewable energy in the effort to reduce global warming, Mitchell said.
"The solutions are right here in the fields of Iowa," Mitchell said. "We see this as a symbol of Iowa's commitment to renewable energy (and) we hope that our representatives will see this as a symbol of our commitment."
Members of Greenpeace, Iowa Farmers Union, United Steelworkers Union, Iowa Interfaith Power, and Iowa Environmental Council, among others, gathered at the Des Moines Public Library to support legislation addressing global warming.
The groups want Iowa's congressmen to sign onto the Safe Climate Act, a measure now in the U.S. House. The act would take a variety of steps to reduce global warming, including creating a national renewable electricity standard and increasing tailpipe emissions standards.
So far, Mitchell said, only Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Waterloo, has signed on as a supporter of the legislation.
Mitchell said it was imperative that Congress take action against global warming and called on Iowans to contact the state's four other representatives -- Reps. Leonard Boswell, D-Des Moines; Steve King, R-Kiron; Tom Latham, R-Ames; and Dave Loebsack, D-Mount Vernon.
John Campbell, with the United Steelworkers, said it was sound business to embrace renewable energy and confront global warming.
"If we want a new economy ... now is the time to do it," Campbell said. "We have the technology. All we need is the will."
And they've chosen a unique symbol to illustrate their cause.
As she called Tuesday for greater leadership from Iowa's congressmen, Greenpeace's Kelly Mitchell stood in front of an aerial shot of a crop formation her group had helped create on a farm outside of Ames. The corn in the field has been fashioned into the shape of a wind turbine, a symbol of Iowa's need for greater commitment to renewable energy in the effort to reduce global warming, Mitchell said.
"The solutions are right here in the fields of Iowa," Mitchell said. "We see this as a symbol of Iowa's commitment to renewable energy (and) we hope that our representatives will see this as a symbol of our commitment."
Members of Greenpeace, Iowa Farmers Union, United Steelworkers Union, Iowa Interfaith Power, and Iowa Environmental Council, among others, gathered at the Des Moines Public Library to support legislation addressing global warming.
The groups want Iowa's congressmen to sign onto the Safe Climate Act, a measure now in the U.S. House. The act would take a variety of steps to reduce global warming, including creating a national renewable electricity standard and increasing tailpipe emissions standards.
So far, Mitchell said, only Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Waterloo, has signed on as a supporter of the legislation.
Mitchell said it was imperative that Congress take action against global warming and called on Iowans to contact the state's four other representatives -- Reps. Leonard Boswell, D-Des Moines; Steve King, R-Kiron; Tom Latham, R-Ames; and Dave Loebsack, D-Mount Vernon.
John Campbell, with the United Steelworkers, said it was sound business to embrace renewable energy and confront global warming.
"If we want a new economy ... now is the time to do it," Campbell said. "We have the technology. All we need is the will."
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Nathan wrote on Oct 3, 2007 9:50 AM: