ISIS Ransacking Cities and Using Historical Artifacts to Finance Operations, Scheme Could be Terrorist Group's Second Largest Source of Revenue

Administration Needs Authority to Restrict Imports of Smuggled Antiquities from Syria

Companion Legislation Already Passed House

Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and David Perdue (R-GA) introduced legislation to restrict ISIS' ability to profit from the sale of antiquities. ISIS has ransacked cities and pillaged historical artifacts, as it did in Palmyra, and then sold those antiquities on the black market. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has reported that this trafficking may be the group's second largest source of revenue. The Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act, would give the Administration the authority to impose import restrictions on Syrian antiquities. Ordinarily the process of restricting the sale of illicit historical artifacts could be done through the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, but since the U.S. lacks diplomatic relations with the Assad regime in Syria, additional authorities are needed.   

"The artifacts representing our world's cultural heritage shouldn't be used to finance ISIS' terrorist and criminal operations," Senator Casey said.  "This legislation will not only help to cut off a major source of ISIS's funding, but will also work to prevent them from continuing to pillage historical sites and destroy precious cultural heritage."

"Since World War II, the United States has led the international effort to protect and preserve cultural property during times of conflict and crisis," said Senator Perdue. "This legislation supports efforts to halt ISIS and other terrorist groups from profiting off of instability in Syria and to save priceless cultural heritage, artifacts, and sites. We cannot allow ISIS or anyone to demolish these key pieces of the world's rich history."

"We need to do everything we can to stop terrorist financing," Senator Grassley said.  "This bill would help cut off a source of the funding that supports terror and instability in Syria and beyond.  The Senate should pass our bill as soon as possible."

ISIS Antiquities Smuggling

In recent months, a series of reports have indicated that ISIS and criminal opportunists in Iraq and Syria have sought to profit from looting antiquities and selling them illegally on the black market. According to the State Department, on May 15, U.S. Special Operations Forces recovered a cache of hundreds of archaeological and historical objects and fragments during a raid in al-Amr (eastern Syria) to capture ISIL leader Abu Sayyaf.

There is evidence that ISIS collects a tax on antiquities excavated and smuggled out of its territory. Artifacts are sold to IS-approved dealers, who complete the transaction and are then granted safe passage through IS territory.

While government officials say that the majority of the trade is run by the ISIS, reports suggest that many groups, including portions of the Syrian government, other combatants, criminal networks also smuggle or trade in antiquities.

Why do we need legislation?

The U.S. is a party to a 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. In 1982, Congress passed the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act (CPIA), which enabled the U.S. government to implement the UNESCO convention.

The United States is a market for antiquities. One provision of CPIA gives the State Department authority to enter into memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with foreign countries to help protect their antiquities by restricting the import of certain items to the United States. Since the U.S. doesn't have diplomatic relations with the Assad regime, a traditional MOU cannot be entered into. Section 8 of the legislation gives the Administration the authority to impose import restrictions on Syrian antiquities, waiving the provisions of current law that require a request from the country of origin.

The House of Representatives has already passed a partner bill, authored by Representative Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Representative Ed Royce (R-CA).

The Downtown Davenport Partnership would like to say THANK YOU to the tens-of-thousands of people who made this past weekend spectacular! Downtown was jam-packed from Street Fest and RAGBRAI, to the Quad City Times Bix 7 and countless parties stretching across the entire length of 2nd & 3rd Streets. The Bix 7 weekend is growing right along with downtown.   A big thank you to our Street Fest title sponsor, Great Southern Bank, too!

Jazz lovers are in for a treat this weekend when the Bix Jazz Festival takes over the RiverCenter, Adler Theatre, and LeClaire Park! This year's festival features some of the hottest bands including The Hot Jazz Alliance, The Thrift Set Orchestra, and more. Find the entire festival's schedule here, and come downtown for back-to-back days of tunes celebrating the life and music of Bix Beiderbecke.

The end of July is here and Bucktown Center for the Arts knows just how to celebrate...with a wine walk, of course! This month's Final Friday boasts a triple threat - art, wine, and jazz. Find beautiful pieces of art both indoors and out while sampling wines throughout the galleries. There will also be jazz musicians and dancers for double the entertainment.

Even though the race is behind us, that doesn't mean you have to stop being active! Join Live Uncommon Summer Series on the Figge Betchel Plaza. Stop by this Saturday for Yoga UNCOMMON in the morning, or a capella music in the afternoon. Can't workout in the mornings? Come to their weekly 5k training at 5:30 p.m. every Wednesday and Thursday.

Now's the time to stop by and see the Figge Art Museum! In honor of it's 10th anniversary, they are offering FREE admission. That's right, all events and programs are FREE until September. Be a true Iowan and check out the Corn Zone exhibition, as well many others throughout the museum. The Figge would like to thank the Riverboat Development Authority for making this available to the community.

Start your weekend off with Friday Live at 5 in the RME courtyard featuring Hal Reed & Mississippi Journey, and continue the party to the Redstone Room with Jerry Garcia's Birthday Bash. Make sure to purchase your tickets for G. Love & Special Sauce for Tuesday while you still can, and plan to return on Wednesday for the up & coming Alana Royale with Busted Chandeliers!

Bask in the beautiful summer weather over at Modern Woodmen Park. The Quad Cities River Bandits are back at home this week battling the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and the Bowling Green Hot Rods. Enjoy the Friday Fireworks or Fan Appreciation Saturday. Bring the kids on Tuesday for a $10 All-You-Can-Ride promotion and BOGO ticket deals. Sit back and relax on the Mississippi River, while supporting your local baseball team!

See you downtown!

For more events and activities, click here.

Iowa event shows livestock farmers how biodiesel helps their bottom lines

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Biodiesel is known for powering vehicles across the country?but it also works for poultry and livestock farmers by powering their profitability.

That was the message today at Western Dubuque Biodiesel's plant, where soybean groups hosted a tour of the biodiesel facility and gave an economic presentation to members of the state livestock industry. The United Soybean Board, Iowa Biodiesel Board and Iowa Soybean Association hosted about 40 ag leaders to share information and answer questions on how biodiesel impacts the profitability of the livestock industry.

An increased demand for biodiesel also increases the demand for domestic soybeans to crush, growing the supply of soybean meal. This greater supply lowers the meal's price, which decreases the relative cost of it to poultry and livestock farmers.

That means in addition to soybean farmers, animal agriculture also benefits from biodiesel.

"Animal agriculture is the soybean farmer's No. 1 customer with 97 percent of soybean meal going to feed poultry and livestock," said Delbert Christensen, a soybean farmer from Audubon, Iowa and director on USB. "Biodiesel helps animal agriculture by creating demand for soybean oil, which helps lower the cost of animal feed and creates an additional market for animal fats."

Increased demand for biodiesel helps keep soybean meal prices competitive as demand for soybeans continues to rise globally.

"In the last five years, biodiesel has lowered soybean meal prices by at least $21 per ton," said Alan Weber, a National Biodiesel Board consultant and fellow farmer.

Biodiesel demand impacts more than meal costs for animal ag farmers, as animal fats and tallow can also be used to make biodiesel, adding value to their products.

For Iowa farmers, these meal savings and increased fat and tallow values really add up. Weber notes that in 2013 alone, pork farmers saved $60,802,700 and dairy and beef farmers saved $25,511,700 respectively. Those savings help strengthen animal agriculture in Iowa.

In addition, glycerin, a byproduct of the biodiesel manufacturing process, can go back into farmers' feed troughs as an additional energy source, creating a full circle.

Soybeans act as a common thread between the biodiesel and animal ag industries to fuel profitability in new and exciting ways.

"It's important for pork, poultry and other livestock farmers to understand the connection between biodiesel and increased profitability," said Christensen. "Soybean and animal farmers may wear different hats, but we all benefit from biodiesel."

The Iowa Biodiesel Board is a state trade association representing the biodiesel industry.

Beginning August 11 our canning series kicks off with green beans

Students will be using a pressure can method and will each receive a jar of their work to take home and enjoy. Class size is limited to a small number of students and classes fill up quickly so register early. Students must either register by credit card by phone (563) 265-2455 or in person with cash, check or credit card in the store by 5pm on the Sunday prior to the class.

About our instructor, Theresa Poma:
Theresa Poma was born and raised in the Quad Cities, and lives in Rock Island. From an early age, she learned how important it was to bake, garden, and preserve food, and enjoys passing on what she knows to anyone who wants to learn. She has been employed by the Rock Island/Milan school district as a baker/cook for the last 11 years.

The Canning series is funded in part by a  Scene Grant from EICCD.

Canning series schedule:

8/11 Green beans $20

8/18 Pickled beets $20

9/1 Bread and butter pickles $20

9/8 Tomatoes $20

9/15 Zucchini relish $20

9/29 Apple butter $20