Des Moines Branch Stands Up for Clean Water
Published on April, 46 2018
By Jan Corderman
Des Moines Branch
On World Water Day (March 22), the Des Moines Branch of WILPF rallied at the River Walk to stand up for clean water. This year’s theme for the United Nations Day of Action, "Nature for Water—exploring nature-based solutions to the water challenges we face in the 21st century,” fit in well with our message to Big Ag: No More Pollution!
Mary Hanson Harrison itemized the costs of the overuse of insecticides and fertilizers to our health, our soil, and our way of life. She asked us to take action against the proposed merger of Bayer and Monsanto, making them the world's largest integrated pesticides and seeds company.
Other speakers brought focus to the call for a moratorium on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). WILPF Des Moines is one of 50+ Organizations that have called on Iowa’s General Assembly to support a sweeping proposal for a moratorium on Iowa factory farms. The first-of-its-kind legislation moves beyond failed regulation attempts and focuses on implementing a statewide halt to new construction or expansion of factory farms in Iowa.
A harsh, unhealthy, and environmentally risky form of food production, factory farming employs an unsustainable method of raising food animals that packs together large numbers of animals into confined spaces. Currently, Iowa is home to over 10,000 factory farms, which produce more than 22 billion gallons of manure per year. The pollution generated by the industrial animal operations has resulted in widespread water contamination and diminished quality of life throughout the state.
An Iowa Farmer spoke to the direct effect of CAFOS on her family and joined our call for the health of our communities and the environment to come before the interests of Big Ag.
It's time to end Big Ag’s polluting ways!
