As the threat of another flood over the past week and a half in Cedar Rapids winds down, an organization called IOWA 350 is hosting an event this weekend in Cedar Rapids to raise awareness of climate issues.

"Linn County Rise for Climate, Jobs and Justice" is scheduled for Saturday, September 15 at Greene Square Park in downtown Cedar Rapids. It's being held from 10 a.m. to noon, in conjunction with hundreds of other such events nationwide.

We've seen increasing intensity of floods, droughts, tornadoes, heat waves, hurricanes and other climate events in recent years, and the group would like to raise further awareness of their costs to our environment through seminars and speeches.

Representatives of the local Sierra Club, Linn County Solid Waste Agency, I-RENEW, Prairiewoods, League of Women Voters, United Nations-Linn, Green Iowa AmeriCorps, Linn County Public Health, Veterans for Peace, Inter-Religious Council of Linn County, The Create Exchange, Interfaith Power & Light, Kennedy HS Electric Car, NextGen, Trees Forever, Alliant Energy and others will be at the event.

Spokesperson Cheryl Valenta also said,

Eastern Iowans are invited to Cedar Rapids on Saturday from 10-12 when we'll take action in Greene Square Park to highlight the newest technologies in zero emission cars, renewable energy and energy efficiency. There will be music and art activities for kids of all ages, followed by a rally and march to the river for a blessing of the water. Voter registration will be available.

Additionally, their aim is to educate area citizens on climate concerns prior to the upcoming midterm elections, and encourage candidates for public office to "take action to move Iowa off fossil fuels and toward a fossil free world with fair jobs and 100% renewable energy."

Call Cheryl Valenta for more information at (319)361-2348, visit the Iowa 350 Facebook page, or the Linn County Rise Facebook event page.

 

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