Dear
Friends,

Tuesday June 22, the Fallon Forum broadcasts live from First Mennonite Church, 405 Myrtle Ave in Iowa City. The public is invited and should arrive by 6:45 pm. We discuss a proposed ordinance by the Sanctuary City Commission to establish Iowa City and/or Johnson County as places friendly to undocumented workers.
 
In light of the new immigration law in Arizona and the ordinance being considered today in Fremont, Nebraska, Iowa City/Johnson County propose taking the debate in a very different direction.  If enacted, officials covered by the ordinance would not be required to ask about a person’s immigration status. Local government officials who work with undocumented immigrants do not enforce federal law now. They refer cases to ICE, and are under no obligation to cooperate with federal officials on enforcement of federal immigration law.
 
The goal of the ordinance we’ll discuss on Tuesday’s show is to create an environment that is welcoming and enables people to approach law enforcement about crimes without fear of repercussion. Our guests on the program include Sarah Swisher, Fr. Juarez, and Paul Deaton.
 
While there are at present no sanctuary communities in Iowa, there is certainly historical precedent for Iowans to launch such an effort. After all, it was Governor Vilsack who set-up the regional Diversity Welcome Centers in 1998 and Governor Ray who led the effort to relocate southeast Asian refugees in 1975. And while the sanctuary proposal is controversial, people should be open to dialogue on what it accomplishes before passing judgement. Our radio broadcast can help advance that dialogue.

Monday we talk with Rev Hugh Stone about his recent trip to Israel and Palestine, and how Palestinian Christians to illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. We’ll also get Hugh’s take on the announcement by Israel that it will ease the blockade against Gaza.

Wednesday we talk more about the oil spill in the Gulf, and about  McClatchy Newspaper review of public records revealing that at least five new offshore drilling projects have been approved since June 2nd, three of them with waivers exempting them from detailed studies of their environmental impact. This comes after President Obama said on May 14 that he was “closing the loophole that has allowed some oil companies to bypass some critical environmental reviews.”

Thursday Jeff Ibbotsen joins us for the first half of the show to talk about his innovative new business: Ambience Midwest. The technology of Ambience Midwest uses crop-based bio-fuels that burn in safe, attractive portable fireplaces, with a flame that burns without smoke, odor, or toxic emissions.

Ed & Lynn Fallon

EVENTS
 
June 22 – Rural Health Care Reform and Farm Bill Listening Session (Orient)
Join the Iowa Farmers Union and Center for Rural Affairs for an evening of discussion and light refreshments at Henry Wallace Country Life Center near Orient from 7:00-9:00 pm. Contact Amber Anderson Mba at (800) 775-5227 or amber@iowafarmersunion.org.
 
June 24 – Fair Housing Conference: Sustainability After the Flood (Cedar Rapids)
From 8:00 am – 4:00 pm at Kirkwood Center for Continuing Education, 7725 Kirkwood Blvd SW. Sponsored by Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission.
 
June 24 – Green Drinks (Des Moines)
At Gateway Market and Cafe, 2002 Woodland Ave from 5:30-7:30 pm. Join others interested in environmental and energy concerns for informal conversation over a beverage and/or supper.
 
June 25 – Call to Action: Rebuilding for the Future (Cedar Rapids)
Reception from 4:30-5:30 pm with panel discussion to follow at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 1340 3rd Avenue SE. The panel will feature perspectives from law enforcement, education, legal, government, labor and non-profit.