Topsy Turvy Bus to Visit Scavo Alternative High School Monday, May 7th
By ISP
Overturned School Bus Welded atop another Bus Demonstrates Upside Down Federal Budget Priorities
DES MOINES TOPSY TURVY TOUR
Scavo Alternative High School (1800 Grand) 11:30 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.
Nollen Plaza (Downtown Des Moines) 12:30 – 1:20 p.m.
State Capitol (West Drive Area) 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
The campaign known for its pull-out pens and crazy vehicles has done it again. The Priorities Campaign’s “Topsy Turvy Bus” is on its way to Iowa from its birthplace, San Francisco, making stops along the way to educate concerned citizens about the federal budget. Monday, May 7th, the bus will stop in Des Moines at Scavo Alternative High School (1800 Grand, Des Moines).
Topsy will be at Scavo from 11:30 a.m.—12:20 p.m. so students, teachers and community members can tour it and snap photos. Scavo Principal Kittie Weston-Knauer, who is a supporter of Sensible Priorities, says “We are excited to have this very creative vehicle visit our school. It will be a terrific experience for our young people and teachers.”
After that, Topsy will head downtown to Nollen Plaza for the remainder of the lunch hour (12:30 – 1:20 p.m.). Then, it’s on to the Capitol (West Drive Area) from 1:30 – 2:00 p.m. Topsy will spend the rest of the afternoon cruising around the metro area.
Ben Cohen, president of the Priorities campaign and co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, dreamed up the Topsy Turvy Bus to illustrate America’s upside-down education priorities and urge the presidential candidates to straighten out America’s mixed up budget priorities.
“Topsy reminds us that over half the budget Congress allocates every year goes to the Pentagon, leaving slivers for other priorities,” Cohen said.
The bus was designed by noted artist Stefan Sagmeister (www.Sagmeister.com). Artist-mechanic Tom Kennedy (http://www.TomKennedyart.com/) fabricated the bus with the help of ten other artists. Kennedy is driving the bus from California on a national tour to reach New Hampshire where Topsy will spend two months before rounding out the year in Iowa.
When Topsy returns to Iowa, Priorities field organizers will take turns driving the bus and use the video equipment inside to further explain the federal budget and how Iowans can help change it.
Iowans for Sensible Priorities is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to shifting money wasted by the Pentagon on unneeded and outdated Cold War-era weapons and excessive nuclear weapons toward social needs such as health care, education, renewable fuels research, and deficit reduction.
Liz Larson
Communications Director
Iowans for Sensible Priorities
http://www.SensibleIowans.org
1620 Pleasant Street, #218
Des Moines, IA 50314
phone 515/244-1207
fax 515/244-1750
cell 515/333-1608
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