Miriam’s Trial

Forwarded message ———   From: Miriam Kashia  Date: Fri, Nov 8, 2019 at 4:16 PM

My Friends,

On Tuesday Nov 12, I am on trial with four other members of BOLD Iowa for our arrest on June 11 in Des Moines at a fundraiser for Donald Trump. Our arrest was for a “misdemeanor trespass” because we blocked one of the entrances to the venue and then we approached the building where Trump was scheduled to speak.  To be clear, we were protesting to raise awareness about the climate crisis among his supporters, not against the President. 
If the media shows up, there will be a press conference at 1:30 followed by the trial at 2pm. It will probably last 1 – 2 hours  The judge and the prosecutor have both said this will be an “important” trial.  And the more support we can gather, the greater the impact we will make.
The only reason to risk arrest in a non-violent direct action (civil disobedience) is to challenge something you know must change and all “legal, follow-the-rules” strategies you have tried have not worked.  And the primary purpose is to inform the public and gain their support.  That is what ultimately creates real changes such as:

Women’s right to vote, civil rights, Vietnam war, Nuclear disarmament, EPA & environmental protections, the Women’s Movement, LGBTQ and marriage equality.  Many any other significant social justice and environmental laws were accomplished because ordinary citizens – like us – were willing to take to the streets, and in many cases, willing to commit civil disobedience/direct action.  History tells us that is what turned the tide.

PLEASE consider carpooling with other Grannies to join in solidarity with me and my four Bold Iowa fellow arrestees on Tuesday 11/12.
MEET UP:  West side of the Barnes & Noble parking lot at 11:30 to arrange carpooling.  Then enjoy your trip together to the Polk County Justice Center (222 5th Ave, Des Moines) for press conference followed by trial. (I will have to leave earlier)
PARKING: On 5th between Court & Walnut (a couple of blocks from the Justice Center)
SCHEDULE:
11:30 meet up at Barnes &Noble
1:30 pre-trial press conference
2:00 Trial – will probably last till about 4pm

IF YOU CANNOT GO TO MY TRIAL –  RIGHT NOW you can show your support and make a difference by going to:

BOLD IOWA Facebook
HOME (take a look at our homecoming banner drop picture headlining the homepage!)
EVENTS (at the bottom of the search options on the left)
Click on “Climate Justification Trial, Round 2”  (yes, that’s me being handcuffed)
SELECT: Going or Interested  (I hope you will consider going!)
CLICK INTERESTED IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND.
Feel free to write a comment of support.
And take a look at the awesome Granny action pictures down the page a bit.
 
Grannies  Educate   Advocate   Agitate    We do it all.
With gratitude for your support,
miriam
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Student Climate Strikers Photos 2019

Climate Strikers Old Brick 12-6-19

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Watch live: 2019 Presidential Forum on Environmental Justice

Friday, November 8, 6pm ET

This Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at 6 p.m. ET, Democracy Now!’s Amy Goodman and former EPA official Mustafa Ali will co-moderate the first-ever Presidential Forum on Environmental Justice.

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Bring Un-Recyclables to Next Granny Meeting

Remember to bring the four categories of unrecyclables to the next Granny meeting.

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City of Iowa City – Climate Action Commission

IOWA CITY – CLIMATE ACTION COMMISSION

Three vacancies to fill a three-year term, upon appointment – December 31, 2022
Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 12, 2019

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Dec 12 Beyond Coal with Katie Rock IC Public Library 7pm

Thursday December 12 at 7 pm Iowa City Public Library Meeting room D:   Beyond Coal Presentation – a meet and greet with Katie Rock, Iowa Campaign Representative for the Beyond Coal Campaign. Katie will present on the damaging effects of coal and efforts to close down coal power plants in Iowa and nationally.  Beyond Coal is a national campaign to retire the U.S. coal fleet by 2030 led by the Sierra Club. To date, Beyond Coal has intervened to retire over 2,000 MW of coal power capacity in Iowa.

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Vegfest article by Andy Douglas

Vegfest celebrates delectable diversity- Press Citizen 5 Nov 2019

These are interesting times for a person who eats a whole-food, plant-based diet. When I moved back to Iowa in the early 1990’s, vegetarianism was still regarded with some suspicion. Now, with Impossible Burgers gracing the menu at Burger King, physicians recommending we eat less meat, Greta Thunberg and other inspiring figures reminding us that the most effective personal step we can take to protect the environment is to go vegan, a cultural shift seems to be taking place. Meat producers are getting a bit nervous.

It’s still hard for me to understand how the violence and cruelty that characterizes the meat industry can be rationalized. Likely it’s a matter of out-ofsight, out-of-mind.

I do understand that diet is a very personal choice. People quite rightly get frustrated when they feel that others are trying to tell them what to eat, or guilttrip them into a change.

As with other public health and safety issues, though, it helps to examine the social costs involved. There are health costs that we as a society bear, when diet and obesity-related diseases flood our hospitals. Environmental costs we suffer when confinement lots spill their manure, their odor, into the surroundings, or forests are bulldozed for grazing land and leave us with less oxygen.

I’d argue that the suffering of an innocent creature killed for meat also registers a social cost. Any suffering inflicted on animals is a social negative. Like throwing a sack of unwanted kittens into a pond, such actions necessarily leave a mark on our psyches, on our souls. We all get that when it comes to family pets. It hasn’t quite registered when

it comes to other sensitive creatures like pigs and cows.

I believe, though, that we’re riding an unstoppable trend. This cat is not going back in the bag.

Want to learn more about vegan and vegetarian diets? Or celebrate their diversity and deliciousness? Here’s your chance.

The second annual Vegfest of Eastern Iowa will happen Saturday, Nov. 9, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Kirkwood Regional Center, 2301 Oakdale Blvd in Coralville. Admission is $5 for adults, and free for kids under 18; tickets are available online at vegfesteasterniowa.com. Last year over 700 people attended and that number is expected to grow.

Attendees will be able to purchase delicious vegan food and beverages from Trumpet Blossom Café, Brightside Kitchen, Get Fresh, The Full Bowl, Dodge Street Coffeehouse, Clementine, Oryza Asian Cuisine, Wild Culture Kombucha, and Comfort Food Farms (local makers of vegan cheese). Other vendors will offer cruelty-free home goods and body products, jewelry, apparel, the essentials needed for a zero-waste home, vegan chocolate treats, and more. Nonprofit groups will be present to share more about how attendees can get involved in the local vegan community.

Some great speakers and researchbased educational presentations will appear throughout the day. Topics include the environment, animal welfare and animal rights, nutrition and health, and fitness. Cooking demonstrations by local chefs are also on the slate.

Jenny Brown, this year’s

keynote speaker, is an author and farm animal sanctuary founder who previously worked in film and television. An experience in Texas documenting stockyard conditions led her to change course and dedicate her life to farmed animal advocacy. Jenny’s story has been featured in the New York Times, New York Magazine, CNN, and more. She is the author of “The Lucky Ones: My Passionate Fight for Farm Animals”.

Advance ticket purchase is recommended, though tickets will still be available at the door. The first 150 guests through the door receive a free swag bag full of vegan products and coupons.

This event is presented by the Vegan Community of Eastern Iowa, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, whose mission is to promote the joy, compassion, and life-enhancing possibilities of a vegan lifestyle.

Writers’ Group member Andy Douglas is the author of “The Curve of the World: Into the Spiritual Heart of Yoga.”

I do understand that diet is a very personal choice. People quite rightly get frustrated when they feel that others are trying to tell them what to eat, or guilt-trip them into a change.

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Sanders, AOC set to visit Coralville Saturday

https://100grannies.org/sanders-aoc-set-to-visit-coralville-saturday/

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“2020: Race to Save the Planet,”

“2020: Race to Save the Planet,” will premiere on 8 PM Eastern time, 7 November 2019 on the Weather Channel.

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Drawdown Follow Up

Reversing Global Warming: What You Can Do!
Monday, November 4 at 6:30 p.m. in room 202 at The Center
This is a follow-up session to Drawdown: How to Reverse Global Warming. Find out how you can get involved with local environmental groups. Members from 100 Grannies, Citizens Climate Lobby, and Sierra Rise (and possibly others) will share what their organizations are working on locally. Presenters are Virginia Melroy and Deb Schoelerman. Free and open to all; no need to register.
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