May 18-19 – Natural Living Expo (Des Moines)
Learn about sustainable practices and healthy lifestyle choices. The Expo offers classes and vendors on green building design, sustainable agriculture, urban farming, non-toxic cleaning products, massage and more. Over 100 exhibitors include green builders, energy saving products, whole health providers, local farmers, grocers, artists, and fuel-efficient cars. Visit www.naturallivingexpo.org.
May 19 (and every Sunday) – Brunch at HoQ Restaurant (Des Moines)
HoQ is one of the Fallon Forum’s business sponsors, and owners Suman and Cynthia HoQ purchase 90% of what they serve from Iowa farms and businesses. HoQ’s slogan is “Local Food, Global Flavor.” They are now open for brunch from 9:00-2:00 on Sundays. For more information, visit http://hoqtable.com/.
May 19 – Charity Dinner to Support Iowa Legal Aid (Des Moines)
The Iowa Legal Aid Foundation announces that Americana Restaurant and Lounge will be holding benefit from 3:00-10:00 p.m. Ten percent of the supporting diner’s tab will be donated to the Foundation. People should bring either a printed or mobile device copy of the invitation to the restaurant. The invitation can be found on Iowa Legal Aid Foundation’s website: www.iowalegalaidfoundation.org.
May 20 – “America’s Climate Century” Book Signing (Des Moines)
Meet Senator Rob Hogg, author “America’s Climate Century,” at Beaverdale Books, 2629 Beaver Ave, at 6:30 pm. This book is a call to action to make the fight against climate change our new national purpose. Contact Rob.Hogg@legis.iowa.gov.
May 20 – Rob Hogg Book Reading and Signing (Newton)?
At 4:30 pm at Mattingly Music and Books, 113 West 2nd Street North. Rob will be reading from and signing his new book, America’s Climate Century. Books will be available for sale, but purchase is not required to attend. Rob will donate a copy to the Newton Public Library. Contact Rob.Hogg@legis.iowa.gov.
May 30 – Green Drinks (Des Moines)
Join excellent conversation about energy and the environment over food and drink at Gateway Market and Cafe, 2002 Woodland Ave from 5:30-7:30 pm. For more details, see www.greendrinks.org.
June 1 – Climate Advocates Meeting (W. Des Moines)
At 11:00 a.m. at Channing Dutton’s law office, 1415 Grand Avenue. This meeting will discuss upcoming statewide climate actions and Climate Advocates’ participation in the monthly Citizens Climate Lobby conference call.
June 7 – Matthew Shepard Scholarship Awards Dinner (Des Moines)
Honoring Alicia Claypool and recognizing distinguished Iowa high school students who are openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer. Judy and Dennis Shepard, the parents of Matthew Shepard, will keynote the event at the Convention Center, 730 3rd Street with a reception at 5:30 and dinner at 6:45. To purchase tickets and for more information, click here.
June 10 – “No Drones – No Guns – YES Peace!” (Des Moines)
The Annual March for Peace and Justice, sponsored by MFSA and others, will begin at 12:15 ta the south doors of HyVee Hall and end at the Hansen Triangle, corner of Watson Powell Jr. and 2nd Ave, where a brief prayer service will be held. The focus is on the harm done to children by drones and guns. Contact ecranke@mchsi.com.
June 15 – Contra Dance at Odd Fellows Hall (Des Moines)
Contra-Indications is hosting a contra dance at Odd Fellows Hall, 2904 Kingman Blvd, 8:00-11:00 pm, with lesson at 7:30 pm. Live music by Marc & Brandi Janssen duo from Iowa City; Reid Miller from Madison WI as caller. $10 adults; free under 12; $25 family maximum. Visit info@contra-indications.
June 21 – The Million Dollar Marathon (Coast to coast, and through Iowa)
Organized by Above + Beyond for Cancer, this 4000-mile relay across America will raise funds to fight cancer. The team of cancer survivors, caregivers, advocates, and others will run one marathon at a time, through 15 states and more than 500 communities, as the baton is passed from Pacific to Atlantic. The Team is still looking for a few more runners. To sign-up or for more information, visit http://coasttocoastforcancer.org/.
March 1–November 1, 2014 – Great March for Climate Action (America)
One thousand climate patriots are organizing to march 3000 miles across the country next year, from the West Coast to Washington, DC to demand action on climate change. To get involved, contact Ed Fallon at (855) 35-MARCH or ed@climatemarch.org.
Glad you’re back into the political ring, which office?
FYI Republican Rep Jorgensen from Sioux City, want to be a Governor too.
May 4 – PedalArt (Des Moines)
PedalArt is a local show of bicycle inspired poster artwork that introduces people to talented local artists and sends them home with affordable, original works of art.
Opening reception is Fri. May 4, 5:30-7:00 at the Des Moines Social Club. Admission is always free.
http://www.facebook.com/PedalArtDSM
President Obama, and Democratic Members of Congress, do not want voter ID to be a requirement to vote because it would most and unfairly impact the elderly, the disabled, and the young and poor. Even if the State handed out free IDs, and came to the door to deliver them to the disabled, making the requirement to show a photo ID to vote is an unnecessary burden on citizens and an abridgement to the right to participate in the democratic process. The deceptive purpose for the GOP’s idea for this is evident in two points: that the poor, ex-felons, and elderly generally vote Democratic, which was a point in a 2003 Republican agenda and with the Branstad administration when his first action as newly (re)elected governor was to overturn Vilsack’s Executive Order which automatically restored voting rights to ex-felons. The second point regards voting fraud. If there was a serious problem of voter fraud in this country, or in the State of Iowa, I might go along with it myself, but that old saw is only a deception; it is just a manufactured issue to detract people from real problems in government and perpetuate pubic fear over a non-issue. The only “problem” with the last election? Republicans could not accurately count votes and tried to minimize the situation when it became publicized, to the embarrassment not only of Mitt Romney, but of the Iowa Republican Party. Need I say more?
Ron Paul wouldn ‘t reign in corporations, they would be unregulated, and of course no EPA to bother them. Yeah for dirty energy.
He would try to eliminate Social Security and Medicare, and diminish aid for public schools. The social safety net would be trashed.
He wants to abolish income tax which will be wonderful for the 1%.
His form of freedom means there’s nothing left for us to loose.
I think he’s in it for himself. I say no thanks.
ED: My biggest worry for America is that Obama plans to wreck our economy (for whatever the reason). The only thing he asks for is an increase in spending and to increase the budget. He is now asking for another 1.2 trillion dollars.
He wants to appeal to the minorities and the needy who want the government to take care of them. He does not want ID at voting booths (we can get a photo ID for people on social security who do not drive – it is not a problem). He complains (to the ears of those who want to hear it) that photo ID is a way that reps can keep the poor from voting.
There is a lot of propoganda out there and so many who believe it. That is on both sides.
Ron Paul is the only candidate who will not go to DC and get into the same old political groove as all others. Abramoff says that all new congressmen are approached by leadership and told the main thing is to be re-elected so that party will not loose the seat. Then they introduce them to lobbyists who can help them to achieve that.
DC is owned and run by lobbyists and money. They are basically impersonaters when we see them. I don’t trust any of them.
The media is as afraid of Ron Paul as DC establishment.