By Becky Ross Member, Iowa City; 100Grannies Steering Committee member
Earth Day has come and gone for another year, but there will be many other environmental events happening this summer. Sometimes I feel very angry because our present government seems to think global warming is a hoax started by China. Much of the work that has been done by former legislators, presidents and scientists has been thrown out like garbage. Global warming should now be called a global emergency!
However, belonging to a like-minded group of women who are inspired to make a difference helps me feel better about the world — the 100Grannies for a Livable Future. Yes, our environment needs work, and the 100Grannies keep on working year-round.
It was April 2011 when a friend invited me to a dinner at Rev. Barbara Schlachter’s home. My friend had read an article about Barbara and her friend Ann Christenson, who had both been arrested in Washington D.C. while peacefully protesting the XL pipeline. My friend picked me up and we went to Barbara’s house. I knew the meeting was about the environment, but I had just recently retired and was very busy doing work for my church. I told my friend that it sounded interesting and I would go but I wasn’t going to get involved.
So 10 women sat down to dinner and listened to Barbara tell us she had just read James Hansen’s book, Storms of My Grandchildren. She had also just learned there was a second grandson on the way. This book really shook her up and she said to us, “This may be just why you were put on this Earth!” We discussed what we could name our new group and decided on 100Grannies for a Livable Future, with hope that we could build this group to 100 or more! How could I say no?
We now have 140+ grannies working relentlessly year-round. Our motto is “Educate, Advocate, and Agitate.” Our mission is to educate, advocate, and agitate for renewable energy, pure water, clean air, and a healthy environment for future generations. We donate books to the Iowa City School District and participate in Children’s Story Time at the ICPL. We call or write our state and federal lawmakers often. We sponsor tabling events and talk to people about various environmental issues. One of our current concerns is how unhealthy plastic is for us and how we can use less of it. We hold monthly meetings and make plans for speakers and films on water quality, CAFOs, plastic pollution, recycling, and any other subject we want people to be aware of.
If you are a woman who would like to get involved, please join us at our monthly meetings, usually the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Coralville Public Library. Please visit our website 100Grannies.org or reach out to us at 100GranniesIowaCity@gmail.com.
