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Harkin says getting rid of nuclear weapons is possible

September 24, 2009 By

Iowa Senator Tom Harkin is applauding today’s efforts by the United Nations to rid the world of nuclear weapons. The U.N. Security Council this morning unanimously approved a U.S.-sponsored resolution that urges global disarmament and aims to cut the risk of “nuclear terrorism.”

Harkin, a Democrat, says it’s not just optimistic; it’s realistic to envision a world without nukes. “I believe that is a possibility,” Harkin says. “It depends on other nations of the world but I have long supported and hoped for, dreamed of a nuclear arms-free world.”

The resolution comes as tensions are high over Iran’s suspected plans to begin stockpiling a nuclear arsenal. Harkin says with the cooperation of all other countries, it’s time to end the decades-looming threat of an atomic holocaust by diffusing all nuclear warheads and halting any future weapons production.

“Yes, I do believe it’s possible, but it’s not going to be easy,” Harkin says. “Already, if I’m not mistaken, Russia and the United States have already dismantled over 20,000 nuclear warheads, so at least those two superpowers have charted the way that we ought to be going.” President Obama chaired today’s Security Council meeting, the first time a U.S. president has presided over that international panel.

Filed Under: Military, Politics & Government Tagged With: ,

Oversight Committee won’t review Film Office problems today

September 24, 2009 By

The co-chair of the Legislative Oversight Committee says the 14-member panel is “committed” to investigating the state film office and alleged mishandling of state tax credits for film makers. But Representative Vicki Lensing, a Democrat from Iowa City, announced at the start of today’s Oversight Committee meeting that nothing would happen on that front ’til the panel’s next meeting at the end of October.

“Oversight’s job has always been to oversee, but we’ve also learned to be patient,” Lensing said. “When there are investigations going on, we sometimes have to let that happen.” Governor Culver fired the film office manager on Monday and ordered that the tax credit program be suspended until investigators could figure out what went wrong.

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Filed Under: Politics & Government, Recreation & Entertainment

Movie set to shoot at Des Moines airport Friday

September 24, 2009 By

Visitors to the Des Moines International Airport Friday morning will be asked to steer clear of a Hollywood movie production. Airport spokesperson Roy Criss says film crews for the movie “Janie Jones” will be shooting a scene at the north end of the terminal. The scene involves a person exiting a car and entering the airport. The production will only occupy one of three traffic lanes.

“But, it is Hollywood. They run cables, set up lights and they do several takes,” Criss said. “It really shouldn’t negatively impact anyone very much, but we just want people to know what to expect when they get out here.” The filming is expected to start at 7 a.m. and finish around noon. Airport visitors could catch a glimpse of at least one Hollywood movie star.

“Elisabeth Shue is in the film and I know the male lead is supposed to be in the shot, so I guess my assumption is (Shue) might be here because she is the female lead,” Criss said. This won’t be the first time a major film production has done work at the Des Moines Airport.

In January, a couple scenes for the movie “The Ticket Out” were filmed at the airport. The heavy metal band Slipknot has also filmed a video in one of the airport’s hangars. Criss says the impact of the Friday morning shoot to passengers should be minimal. But, he wants to spread the word so no one’s surprised when they arrive at the airport.

“You know how people are when they get to the airport…they get nervous anyway,” Criss said. “If something happens that’s unexpected, then sometimes it agitates them and we just want people to know what’s going on. We’re trying to be a good partner and a good neighbor to the film industry.”

The “Janie Jones” production is one of many that’s set to receive money from the state in the form of tax credits. The program, however, was put on hold last week when state officials discovered irregularities and alleged mismanagement. The fallout, thus far, has included the firing of the manager of the Iowa Film Office and the resignation of the director and deputy director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development.

Filed Under: Recreation & Entertainment

Iowa group featured in report on immigration and religion

September 24, 2009 By

An Iowa group is featured in a national report on how faith communities are playing a role in the immigration reform movement. The report by the Center for American Progress cites the Decorah Area Faith Coalition and its role in the Agriproccessors immigration raid in Postville.

Reverend Mike Blevins of the Calmar United Methodist Church says the raid brought people of all religions together to help. Blevins says the entire region was “traumatized” but he says one of the things to come out of the raid and how it was conducted is that the Decorah Area Faith Coalition and the Postville Faith Coalition combined to respond to those in need. Blevins says the raid and the work by the churches afterward shed new light on the plight of immigrants.

He says the “grassroots attitude” of people changed as human faces and stories made an “abstract polarized issue one of compelling human suffering, of injustice, of violation of basis biblical and national values.” “So we’ve seen a sea change here,” Blevins said. Blevins says the human side got legislators talking about the issue. He says the impact has gone beyond northeast Iowa.

Blevins says they have received support in Postville and Decorah from all over the world as St. Bridges in Postville had to raise $8,000 a month to support the one thousand people that were left “destitute” as a result of the raid. “The pain of the raid has become the promise of reform as the stories have become more visible,” Blevins says. Blevin says the faith coalitions plan to follow up on their prayer service in February with another in November that will continue to address the issue.

Blevins says they will continue to emphasize the “humanity of our neighbors and to overcome some of the hostility that we have seen in town hall meetings over the issue of healthcare.” So he says they will have a town hall potluck to talk celebrate their diversity. Belvins says Decorah has a heavy Norwegian population, one that celebrates that heritage. You can see more in the report ” Loving Thy Neighbor: Immigration Reform and Communities of Faith” on the Center for American Progress website.

Filed Under: Religion Tagged With: ,
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