The Connect the Dots project is organizing a global day of action this Saturday, May 5, to raise awareness about how climate change affects extreme weather around the world. Eight events are scheduled in Iowa (Ames, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Decorah, Des Moines, Dubuque, Independence, and Iowa City). I’ve posted a press release with the details after the jump.  

Press release from May 1 (received from Democratic State Senator Rob Hogg):

ACROSS STATE, IOWANS ARE “CONNECTING THE DOTS” BETWEEN CLIMATE CHANGE AND REAL WORLD IMPACTS ON SATURDAY, MAY 5

DES MOINES – Iowa Climate Advocates announced today that at least eight communities will be participating in Climate Impacts Day on Saturday, May 5, by holding events intended to “connect the dots” between climate change and the real world impacts it is having in our state.  Events will be held in Ames, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Decorah, Des Moines, Dubuque, Independence, and Iowa City.

“We want to connect the dots for Iowans between climate change and real world changes in vegetation, weather and precipitation, and extreme weather,” said David Courard-Hauri of Des Moines.  “As people connect the dots, we also want people to take climate action, both personally and at a policy level.”

“As a conservative voter in Iowa, I am calling upon all parties to unite by ‘connecting the dots’ between climate change and the real life events that are and have been occurring in our state,” said Bill Ferrel of Coralville. “These events are creating historical damages that are costing our citizens billions in state and federal tax dollars as well as the untold trauma that comes with being in the path of disasters.”

“Our goal is to acknowledge climate change in Decorah, educate ourselves, and reach out to policy makers at the state and national level,” said Perry-O Sliwa of Decorah.

“We need three national policies to address climate change this year,” said Channing Dutton of West Des Moines.  “In 2012, we need Congress to stop the Keystone XL pipeline, end billions in fossil fuel subsidies, and extend the production tax credits for wind power and other renewable energy.”

Here are the “Connect the Dots” events being planned in Iowa:

AMES – Meet at 10:00 a.m. in front of the campus power plant on Beach Road east of Wallace Road to connect the coal burned at the plant to human health, climate change, and other environmental issues such as acid rain.

CEDAR RAPIDS – Meet at noon at Indian Creek Nature Center, 6665 Otis Road SE, following the Nature Center’s annual plant sale, then bike to Mays Island across from City Hall on the Second Avenue Bridge for a program at 1:30 p.m., to connect climate change to changes in vegetation and disasters like the Flood of 2008.

DAVENPORT – Meet at noon on the practice football field at St. Ambrose University with “found round” objects to “connect the dots.”

DECORAH – Meet on the stairs outside the Winneshiek County Court House at 1:00 p.m. for a brief program and a walking tour that will also mark the Upper Iowa River high water mark and visit the Water Street Plaza.

DES MOINES – Meet at noon in the right field fountain area behind Principal Park across the river from Mullets for a program to connect the dots between climate change and extreme river flows, both floods and droughts.

DUBUQUE – Meet at Washington Park in downtown Dubuque at 10:00 a.m. for a brief program.

INDEPENDENCE – Meet at 7:00 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 515 5th Street NE, in Independence for a program on the 2010 report, “Climate Change Impacts on Iowa,” prepared by researchers at Iowa State, Iowa, and Northern Iowa.

IOWA CITY – Meet at 10:00 a.m. on the University of Iowa Pentacrest to connect the dots between climate change and disasters such as the Flood of 2008.

These events are part of an international day of climate action sponsored by the organization 350.org.  For more details, visit www.climatedots.org.