Iowa Pipeline Walk: Day 35

Mountain Dave

Wednesday, April 15, 2015 – Paullina, Iowa

{Celebrate the completion of the Iowa Pipeline Walk with an Earth Day Rally to Stop the Pipeline, Wednesday, April 22 from 5:00-6:00 p.m. at Locust and E. 7th in Des Moines. For the latest route and schedule detail, click here.}

Of all the interesting, inspiring people I’ve met on the Walk, Mountain Dave may qualify as the most colorful. Dave lives in an 8′ x 10′ hut that he built entirely from recycled materials. Much of his time is spent clearing out the thick stands of invasive cedar trees that have taken over the prairie hills along the Little Sioux River Valley.

The pipeline would come within 300 feet of his home, a possibility that Dave “imagines would be as much fun as living in Omaha.” I was moved by some of the difficult stories Dave shared from his past, and by his words of wisdom about America’s obsession with materialism. Check out this brief video capturing a bit of our conversation . . . which closes with Dave extending an invitation to folks to “Stop by, have a beer.”

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Senator Rob Hogg

Senator Rob Hogg is one of the key Iowa lawmakers leading the way on the eminent domain bill that would stop the pipeline. Rob also is a national leader on climate change, and he asked that I share this invitation with you: “The Climate Reality Project, founded by former Vice President Al Gore, will have its next international training in Cedar Rapids May 5 – 7. This is an extraordinary opportunity for Iowa, both to have as many Iowans as possible attend the training and to showcase our state for the national and international guests who will be visiting, including Al Gore. Click here for more details or to apply. It would be great to have a large delegation of Iowans attend, Iowans who would then use their knowledge, skills and networks to help us grow the movement for climate action in Iowa.”

The deadline to apply has been extended to Monday, April 20.

************With less than sixty miles to go, I want to share a word of thanks to all of you who have helped make the Walk happen. And I want to remind folks in the Des Moines area to thank the local businesses that help make this and the Fallon Forum possible: