Iowa
Progressive Radio:  This Week On The Fallon Forum

Dear Friends,

No, 10-10-10 is not a fertilizer. It's October 10, 2010, and it's shaping up to be a big day for planet earth, with thousands of events calling attention to the climate crisis. Author and activist Bill McKibben is helping spearhead the initiative.

This past weekend, McKibben was part of a group that drove from Vermont to Washington DC with a gift for President Obama: one of the 32 solar panels President Carter installed on the White House in 1979. Those panels were dismantled by President Reagan, concurrent with Reagan's dismantling of federal support for renewable energy research.

McKibben's group asked Obama to reinstall one of the panels on the White House as an indication of the President's commitment to tackling the climate crisis. The offer was rejected, leading McKibben to write:

“I just walked out of a disappointing meeting with the White House: they refused to accept the Carter solar panel we came to Washington to deliver and said that they would continue their 'deliberative process' to discuss putting solar panels back on the White House roof.

“Well, we're done deliberating. When Pakistan is under water, Russia is on fire, and millions of people are ready for clean energy jobs, it's not time to deliberate: it's time to get to work.”

Critics argue the effort was just showmanship, that Carter's solar panels are far-less efficient than current models. Still, when Sungevity, a California-based solar energy company, offered to install state-of-the-art panels on the White House free of charge, they were rejected too. Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate has taken climate-change legislation off the table, and many wonder if and when Obama will exhibit the type of leadership necessary to move the issue forward.

Today, Monday, we discuss the climate crisis, starting with a look at McKibben's 10-10-10 effort and what's planned for Iowa that day. The global effort is called 350.org, referencing the necessity to reduce the parts per million of carbon in the atmosphere below that level. So far, Iowans are organizing events in Ames, Chelsea, Des Moines and Iowa City.

Tuesday, we discuss the first of three gubernatorial debates between Chet Culver and Terry Branstad.

Wednesday, it's back to our conversation about food, farming, and the latest news in the DeCoster egg recall.

Thursday, details are still being hammered out, so stay tuned for more by checking our website or face-book page.

Our Thursday giveaway is two tickets to the Des Moines Buy Fresh Buy Local Harvest Party at Drake University's Olmsted Center this Saturday from 4:00-6:00 pm. The tickets are worth $15 apiece and the event includes delicious samples prepared from local foods as well as Iowa wines.

And for more progressive talk radio check out The Bradshaw Show, Monday – Friday from 1:00-4:00 pm on 98.3 WOW-FM. Bradshaw's a West Des Moines' native and up against Rush Limbaugh during that time slot. So give him a listen and even a call as we work to create more local, progressive programming on our public airwaves.

Ed & Lynn Fallon

EVENTS

September 14 – Noam Chomsky to speak (Omaha)
Noam Chomsky will be the keynote speaker at the Fifth Annual Omaha Peace and Justice Expo at the UNO Ballroom, Milo Bail Student Center, 5:00-8:30 pm. Admission is free. Contact Steve Thyberg at incompassion@yahoo.com.

September 15 – “Tapped” (Iowa City)
Viewing of a film about the impact of the bottled water industry on our health, climate, and reliance on oil. At the Public Library in Room A at 6:30 pm. Contact Matt Ohloff at mohloff@fwwatch.org.

September 16, 17 & 18 – Small Wind Site Assessor Training (CR)
Sponsored by Iowa Renewable Energy Association at Indian Creek Nature Center. Contact (319) 388-1076 or irenew@irenew.org for program and registration details.

September 18 – Iowa Peace Initiative Conference (Dubuque)
A day of discussion featuring Iowa peace groups and national leaders at Loras College, St. Joseph Science Lecture Hall, 10:00-5:00. Contact Dan Clark at (563) 263-3021 or dclark@muscanet.com.

September 18 – Latinos Unidos Annual Scholarship Dinner (Des Moines)
At Grace United Methodist Church, 3700 Cottage Grove from 6:00-8:00 pm. Tickets are $15 and this year's celebration focuses on Mexico's bicentennial. Contact Lena Robison at (515) 279-6840 or iowalatina@msn.com.

September 19 – Buy Fresh Buy Local Harvest Party (Des Moines)
Sample a variety of dishes prepared by local chefs with local foods. Iowa wines, too. At Drake University's Olmsted Center, 4:00-6:00 pm. Suggested donation of $15, ticket required. Visit http://www.buyfreshdrake.org or call (515) 271-4956.