I believe as others that we will see no improvement in water quality until our voices become louder than those of industrial agriculture, and policies begin to reflect our interests. And that won't happen until water quality begins to concern us all as a public health issue.

The contents of this page began as a list of recorded webinars for my own use while trudging on our trudgemill,  and may always be more useful to me than to anyone else. But I hope it can help equip and inspire others to become effective environmental advocates, with a focus on protecting and improving water quality.  

In today’s world corporate interests and money often speak louder than the people’s voice, and policies put in place by elected officials often favor those interests over the people - including most farmers. But we do have a voice. The word democracy comes from the Greek demos (people) and kratos (power or rule), meaning rule by the people, and we all need to remember that.

I came across this quote during an April 2024 Iowa Learning Farms webinar, and I will have to agree:

“I used to think the top global environmental problems were biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse, and climate change. I thought that with 30 years of good science we could address these problems. But I was wrong. The top environmental problems are selfishness, greed, and apathy — and to deal with these, we need a spiritual and cultural transformation. And we scientists don’t know how to do that.”
— Gus Speth

That same spirit came through in a Substack post by former State Representative Chuck Isenhart:

“Where can you start if you want more parks and trails, clean water, clean air, soil health, wildlife? Stop being a wallflower. Pick up your smartphone and connect with those elected officials who might be willing to dance with you now. Don’t wait for threatening legislation to drop and then jump out of your skin.”

And this, from Senator Art Staed’s Desk, March 7, 2025:

“Gotta have trust. It’s clear that Iowans deeply value their natural resources and outdoor recreational spaces, as demonstrated by the overwhelming opposition to the Defund the Natural Resources & Outdoor Recreational Trust Fund bill. After receiving hundreds of emails from concerned citizens, lawmakers took notice — and the pressure led Republicans to pull SJR6. This victory shows the power of civic engagement. When communities come together to protect what matters most, real change is possible. Now, let’s keep up the pressure to finally fund the Trust — a promise made to voters back in 2010.”

If we’re not satisfied with where things are headed, we have a responsibility — and a right — to speak up! The Iowa Environmental Council's Legislative Portal links to some advocacy tools that can help us do that effectively.