Don't "Go it Alone", Come to Our Meetings!

Solving our poverty and climate crises isn't easy. Fortunately, nobody has to do it alone. The Iowa Oxfam Action Corps meets every month in Ames and in Des Moines. Meetings are where we plan our next actions, review the vision for our organization, and support each other in our efforts to make the world a better place. Our next meeting will be in Ames on August 19th. The next meeting in Des Moines will be during the third week of September.

A summary of our recent meeting in Des Moines follows:

Vision: We envision ourselves as an organization that draws connections between poverty and the injustice of climate change. We want to focus on education and empowerment of Iowans to take action for climate justice, and we will advocate for the rights of those who are disempowered.

Online Tools: We like the flexibility of setameeting.com for scheduling our meetings. We want to use a zoho group for online conversation between meetings. Email us if you would like an invitation to join.

Upcoming Events:
1) We are scheduling a meeting with the staff of both of our Iowa senators during the last week of August or the first week of September.
2)There will be an opportunity to help run a table at the Downtown Farmers' Market on September 27th. (See our previous post)
3)There is a big event being planned with the League of Women Voters on November 13th. We will show our new movie: "Sisters on the Planet" and bring in a speaker who has been to Bangladesh.

Oxfam: Coming to a Farmers' Market Near You

Part of building a movement for climate justice is connecting with curious and concerned people and inviting them to learn and to act. Members of the Iowa Oxfam Action Corps are actively reaching out at a variety of venues, from concerts to conferences to the Iowa State Fair. Many of our best connections have been made at Central Iowa farmers' markets.

Basically, we set up a table of information alongside local farmers and craftspeople at the market. As market patrons pass by, we invite them to learn more about Oxfam and our work solving poverty and climate change. If they are interested, we invite them to sign our climate petition or join our listserv to hear about upcoming actions. The response is usually positive; as we exchange stories and information with passers-by. Not everyone wants to sign up right away, but most people appreciate the chance to learn about our work and to lend us their persepctives on our issues.

To help further our mission of empowering Iowans to make a difference for those facing poverty and social injustice, we are planning to be at the Downtown Des Moines Farmers' Market on August 30th and again on September 29th. Come and visit us!

Climate Justice Video

In this video from Oxfam America, people from around the world tell us how climate change is impacting their communities and their lives. The United States needs to stop harming and start helping. Providing resources to vulnerable communities through an international adaptation program is an important part of any climate solution. Countless small actions have contributed to causing climate change, and small actions can help craft the policies that will reverse it. Take action to help the communities in the video: click here to add your name to Oxfam America's petition for climate justice.

Update on the Climate Security Act

Unfortunately the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act was pulled from the Senate floor without an opportunity for amendments. However, forty-eight senators voted in support of continuing the debate- more than ever before- and six who weren't able to make the vote voiced thier support as well. Sixty votes would have been needed to move the legislation forward. Although all of us are disappointed to see the bill pulled, the push for change continues and together we're building a movement that will reform climate policy in the years to come. You can read Oxfam America's response to this development here.

If you're curious about the Oxfam Action Corps or have a passion for climate justice, come to our next meeting on June 18th at 7pm at Caribou Coffee (3220 Ingersoll Avenue in Des Moines).

Actions Needed Now, Things you can do here in Iowa

Thursday is World Environment Day

How might you celebrate in Ames?

Iowa Oxfam Action Corps is having an informal meeting discussing Climate change and how it hurts the poor.

Taking place June 7 at 5pm at Cafe Diem on Main St. In Ames

We will:
- Learn about the campaign
- Discuss how we will engage Iowan on Climate Justice
- Plan up coming actions
- Meet others who are interested in climate change

No RSVP is necessary, just come if you can and pass the word on.

To learn more about Iowa Action Corps please visit our blog at: http://oxfamaction-iowa.blogspot.com/


Also, we have established a secure listserv that I will be using in future correspondence (it avoids my needing to bcc everyone via gmail). You can subscribe yourself at iowa.actioncorps-subscribe@lists.riseup.net

Finally, right now, the Senate is debating a climate change bill that could have a huge impact on communities around the world. We need you to make sure that they’re not leaving poor people behind. Climate change is already affecting the world’s most impoverished people, who are facing droughts, floods, and increased disease—and are least equipped to deal with these disasters.

Tell the Senate to we must ramp up our efforts to help vulnerable communities impacted by our changing climate. http://act.oxfamamerica.org//campaign/LW

Communicating Climate Justice

On Friday, May 23rd, members of the Oxfam Action Corps met with staff at Senator Harkin's office to talk about climate policies. They talked about how to address climate change in a just and equitable way. The United States needs to implement policies that reduce pollution to environmentally acceptable levels. Equally important, the US should assist poor and vulnerable communities as they transition to a green economy and adapt to the climate change that is already occurring.

An important step in the right direction, the Climate Security Act will be introduced for debate in the Senate on June 2nd. The act would set up a cap-and-trade system to reduce climate-altering pollution. Under cap-and-trade systems, polluters are required to acquire licenses to pollute. The government caps the total amount of pollution by limiting the number of available licenses. The Action Corps would like to see most or all of the pollution licenses auctioned instead of given away, and the proceeds reinvested in community adaptation efforts, poverty alleviation, and the public good.

Communicating the importance of climate justice to government figures is an important part of what the Action Corps does. The Oxfam Action Corps looks forward to maintaining a working relationship with Senator Harkin's office as the Climate Security Act and related legislation moves forward.

Climate Change Impacts Iowa

In case you're wondering about the effects of climate change on our own state of Iowa, The Des Moines Register has some words of enlightenment on impacts and solutions. Read their recent article to see what the future may have in store- if we don't act today.