Blog Archives

What You Can Do Now - Help the Earth Heal as We Protect Ourselves from the Coronavirus

3/27/2020

Help the Earth Heal as We Protect Ourselves from the Coronavirus

Environmental Forum

As we are housebound with our loved ones to prevent the spread of coronavirus, we should think about what we can do to help the planet heal. Here are projects you can start now:

Try new plant-based recipes – growing whole grains, fruits and vegetables uses less water and land, emits less pollution, reduces waste by-products, and is less destructive to the top soil.

Reduce food wastes - make soup stock with your vegetable scraps.

Compost – we’re running out of landfill space. About 20% of the waste in landfills is food waste. Composting also puts the carbon back into the soil.

Read instead of streaming – we all have books on our shelves we had planned to read. This is the time to do it instead of streaming or reading on your electronic devices. Reading does not require additional electricity.

Be an informed voter – the election is just months away. Learn about your candidates’ positions on issues. Look for online town halls and other opportunities to interact with political candidates. Support those who will take action to heal the earth.

Spring cleaning - use a combination of natural products that you likely have at home - alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, vinegar, lemon. Disinfect cleaned surfaces with a bleach solution of 2 tablespoons of bleach in 1 quart of water (or 1/3 cup of bleach in a gallon of water). Allow the surface to air dry. Bleach water should be made fresh daily. CAUTION: Do not mix bleach with any cleaning products (for example, vinegar) because these combinations can generate toxic chlorine gas.

Switch to Green Power – if you haven’t done so, contact your utility company and sign up for electricity generated from renewable sources.

Share your stuff – as you’re cleaning out your house, decluttering and eliminating duplicates, set things you no longer need aside. You can share them with your family or donate to someone who may use them when the pandemic is over.

Volunteer - PACG forums and other community organizations are continuing to do their work online. The Environmental Forum is holding monthly meetings online via Zoom.

Do eco-friendly activities – check the link below for eco-activities for all ages.

Start a garden exchange - spring is here. It's time to plant a garden and exchange seeds and plants with your friends and neighbors. Continue to practice social distancing by dropping these items off at their doors.

Keep moving - stay-at-home does not mean we have to be indoors all day. Take a nature walk or bike ride. Remember to maintain safe social distancing of at least 6 feet from other people. NOTE: Stay-at-home orders may change in the future and walks or bike riding outside may not be advisable. Follow directions from your local health authorities.
For more details check here:
https://www.earthday.org/11-actions-for-the-planet-during-a-pandemic/

Susan Leuthauser

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A Message from the President - QC Connection During Pandemic

3/24/2020

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A Message from the President

Dear Progressives,

I wanted to reach out to you all during this strangest of times. Our in-person meetings and events scheduled to occur in the next few months have been postponed or cancelled. Some of our scheduled events - specifically forum and group meetings - will be occurring virtually via Zoom, which is a wonderful way to allow us to continue our progressive work and to keep our members connected during these days where feelings of isolation may get us down. We will use our website and calendar to give you the most up-to-date information about these meetings and events. It is our hope to schedule larger virtual events for members revolving around our forum issues where members can learn about and discuss some of these pertinent topics. Again, keep your eye on our website and calendar.

In addition, I would also like to encourage you to support our local businesses by shopping locally on-line, ordering take out and buying gift cards. Realize the people who are delivering your food are doing so at risk to themselves. Please remember to tip generously. I have noticed a few initiatives that make this support easy and safe:

1. Monday, 3/23 is the start of our local virtual shop small event.

2. You can support local restaurants and non-profits by buying items that bring income to struggling businesses. Consider purchasing t-shirts and gift cards at https://qccustomtees.com/.

3. Check out the Quad City Emergency Take Out and Delivery Facebook page.

4. The Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page also has good information on how you can support local businesses

Please feel free to share with me (via email) any other initiatives you are aware of and we will post those on our website. As progressives, we all realize the value of having a thriving community so that all people may live fruitful lives.

Take care everyone!

Stay healthy and sane and stay connected with PACG!

Allison Ambrose

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Coronavirus Update - from Dr. Alta Price, MD

3/23/2020

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Coronavirus Update – as of March 23, 2020

At this point we are still fortunate in the Quad Cities that we have only minimal community transmission of COVID-19. However, this pandemic is not to be taken lightly. There are obviously more cases in the community that have not yet been diagnosed. Our elderly members and those with chronic health conditions need to be especially careful - and everyone else needs to help protect those individuals.

The best advice is to follow the guidance of our local and state health departments: Scott County Health Department, Rock Island County Health Department, Iowa Department of Public Health, and Illinois Department of Public Health.

For a community with minimal or moderate spread, the CDC recommends that all events of 10 or more people should be cancelled or held virtually until April 1st. Of course, those with higher risk of serious COVID-19 illness should avoid any gatherings at all.

Large PACG events have been postponed or cancelled. Our regular meetings and other small gatherings will be held online using Zoom. PACG has purchased sufficient Zoom licenses for our leaders to schedule meetings. Our Office Manager, Julie Ross, can set up Zoom meetings on behalf of other members or affiliates. Contact her via [email protected], her cell (563-508-2209) or the PACG Office (563-676-7580).

People can join a Zoom meeting using a phone, tablet or computer. This service is free to the meeting participants. Zoom is a user-friendly tool and we are in the process of training our activists in its use (please be patient as we make this transition). We believe online meetings will enable us to keep up our good work through this difficult time. Just as important, for those who must self-quarantine, it will keep them connected with their fellow activists. And even after the pandemic restrictions end, we believe this will be a useful tool for holding at least some meetings in the future (think snow storms and other inclement weather).

We will use our website and calendar to give you Zoom links for meetings and online events.

Contact Alta Price, MD with questions or concerns.

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PACG Book Club for April - July 2020

3/22/2020

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PACG Book Club for April - July 2020

Hello Readers!

The PACG Book Club usually takes off the summer months as people travel for vacation or are busy with summer activities. However, with the coronavirus epidemic keeping many of us confined to home, and PACG's ability to use online video conferencing with Zoom, we decided we should keep meeting as a way to combat social isolation and boredom. So we have books selected for the next four months. After two years of reading mostly books with a racial justice theme, we are trying some other genres.

To come to any particular PACG Book Club discussion, contact Alta Price and ask for an email invitation to the Zoom meeting. Please specify the name and date of the meeting (e.g., book club on April 20th).

Monday, April 20th at 5:30 pm via Zoom: Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold

This is the first novel in the award-winning Vorkosigan series, dealing with the initial meeting of the main protagonist's parents, 17 years before Miles Vorkosigan first appears in one of the novels. This is Alta Price's favorite science fiction series, and seems like a good place to jump in. It is also a quick read.

Monday, May 18th at 5:30 pm via Zoom: Sherlock Holmes by Sir Author Conan Doyle

We may suggest specific stories to read in this series, possibly scheduling an additional Zoom meeting to view a documentary on the impact these stories had on the development of forensic science. Check back for updates.

Monday, June 15th at 5:30 pm via Zoom: The Death and Life of Aida Hernandez: A Border Story by Aaron Bobrow-Strain

After a two month break from social justice reads, this story brings us a true life depiction of immigration issues dealing with our southern border.

Monday, July 20th at 5:30 pm via Zoom: Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

This Young Adult fantasy novel was a New York Times #1 bestseller. It is also a quick read. Although it is the first book in a trilogy, and the third book has not been published, we felt progressives would enjoy the richly imagined West Africa setting.

See you online, readers!

Alta Price

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A Message from the Board Regarding Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Epidemic

3/13/2020

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A Message to Our Membership Regarding COVID-19

I have been keeping a close eye on the development of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States. I had an early personal interest since my son and his Chinese citizen wife were planning a Chinese marriage ceremony in Nanjing, China on March 1st. So I've been paying close attention since early January (needless-to-say, the wedding was postponed).

We are very fortunate in the Quad Cities that we are not experiencing widespread community transmission at this time. However, this pandemic is not to be taken lightly. Our elderly members and those with chronic health conditions need to be especially careful - and everyone else needs to help protect those individuals. The best advice is to follow the guidance of our local and state health departments: Scott County Health Department, Rock Island County Health Department, Iowa Department of Public Health, and Illinois Department of Public Health.

Large PACG events may have to be postponed or cancelled. Although right now the recommendation is to not have events with more than 50 people for the next 8 weeks (per the CDC as of 3/16/20 at 1100 am), these guidelines will change over time. PACG will be following the advice of public health officials. We will use our website and calendar to give you the most up-to-date information about cancellations. Please begin checking those before attending any previously scheduled meeting or event mentioned in our Weekly Email Update (WEU).

Although at this point small gatherings are not banned in our area, out of an abundance of caution we will soon transition to holding our meetings online using Zoom. PACG will purchase sufficient licenses for our leaders to use to schedule meetings. People can join a meeting on a phone, tablet or computer. This service is free to the meeting participants. Zoom is a user-friendly tool and we are prepared to train our activists in its use. We believe online meetings will enable us to keep up our good work through this difficult time. Just as important, for those who must self-quarantine, it will keep them connected with their fellow activists. And even after the pandemic restrictions end, we believe this will be a useful way to have at least some meetings in the future (think snow storms and other inclement weather).

Our Office Manager, Julie, can set up Zoom meetings on behalf of members or affiliates. Contact her via [email protected], her cell (563-508-2209) or the PACG Office (563-676-7580).

Contact Alta Price, MD with questions or concerns.

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Attend City Council Meeting in Support of Earth Month Proclamation

3/11/2020

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Earth Day Proclamation - East Moline -
Monday, March 16th at 6:30 pm

East Moline City Hall
915 16th Avenue E Moline, IL (map)

Environmental Forum

In honor of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day this April, the Environmental Forum has asked the mayors of local cities to pass a proclamation declaring April, 2020 as Earth Month. You may read the letter to these mayors along with our suggested proclamation on our Earth Month Proclamation Blog post.

Most of the mayors have responded to our request, and the proclamation will be proposed at their city council meetings. The first meetings we are aware of are East Moline and Davenport.

We would like to have PACG members from each city attend these city council meetings to voice support for our proclamation and all sustainability efforts in their city. Please contact Shirley, Susan, PJ or Lori if you are willing to come to your city hall in support of this issue. We will keep you informed about upcoming dates as they are scheduled.

The East Moline city council meeting is at 915 16th Avenue, 2nd Floor, East Moline at 6:30 pm.

Davenport's city council meeting to pass the proclamation is tentatively scheduled for April 8th. The more people who attend, the more council members will recognize how important environmental issues are to their citizens.

If you are able to attend or have specific questions, please contact the people below by your location.

East Moline and Silvis residents - contact Lori McCollum.

Bettendorf and Moline residents - contact Susan Leuthauser.

Rock Island residents - contact Shirley Johnson.

Davenport residents - contact PJ Slobojan.

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What You Can Do Now - Support Earth Month Proclamation at Your City Council Meeting

3/11/2020

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Attend Your City Council Meeting to Voice Support for the Earth Month Proclamation - What You Can Do Now

Environmental Forum

The Environmental Forum has requested that local municipalities consider declaring April as Earth Month in honor of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.

The following cities are having Earth Month Proclamations issued at their city council meetings. All PACG members are welcome at each event, and we especially hope that everyone attends their own city's council meeting to voice their support for these proclamations and for continued year-round efforts to protect the environment.

3/16 East Moline: 6:30 pm at 915 16th Avenue, 2nd floor, East Moline, IL (map)
3/17 Bettendorf: 7:00 pm at 1609 State St. Bettendorf, IA (map)
3/23 Rock Island: 6:45 pm at 1528 3rd Ave, 3rd floor, Rock Island, IL (map)
4/08 Davenport: 5:30 pm at 226 W. 4th Street Davenport, IA (map)

We would like to have PACG members from each city attend these city council meetings to voice support for our proclamation and all sustainability efforts in their city. Please contact Shirley, Susan, PJ or Lori if you are willing to come to your city hall in support of this issue.

We will keep you informed about upcoming dates as they are scheduled.

If you are able to attend or have specific questions, please contact the people below by your location.

East Moline and Silvis residents - contact Lori McCollum.

Bettendorf and Moline residents - contact Susan Leuthauser.

Rock Island residents - contact Shirley Johnson.

Davenport residents - contact PJ Slobojan.

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What You Can Do Now - Keep Up-to-Date With Our Earth Month Calendar

3/10/2020

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Keep Up-to-Date on April Earth Week Activities in Our Area

Environmental Forum

PACG is partnering with many organizations in the Quad Cities Area to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, which was originally established as April 22, 1970. Various groups are offering a wide variety of ways to honor our connection to the principles of having clean waterways, protecting species, moving toward a commitment of clean transportation and rethinking urban land use.

Our PACG website will maintain a current calendar list of everything we know about that relates to Earth Week. You can view the PACG calendar here. We are proud that our website, calendar and Facebook pages are ways for our community to know what's happening. And, although we don't usually post Community Events on our PACG calendar, we are going to for the month of April so that people in the Quad Cities can readily find the events celebrating the day, week and month devoted to taking care of the Earth.

Contact Lori McCollum with questions or comments.

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Earth Month Proclamation - Environmental Forum

3/8/2020

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Proclamation to Establish the Month of April as Earth Month
in the Quad Cities

Environmental Forum

Because this April marks the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, the Environmental Forum has written to the mayors in the Quad Cities Area, requesting that they declare the month of April Earth Month. The letter to these mayors reads as follows:

This year marks the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, which was first celebrated on April 22, 1970. The original goal was to inspire an appreciation of our nation’s natural resources through conservation and protection. The Environmental Forum of Progressive Action for the Common Good (PACG) is encouraging Quad City Area communities to make official Earth Day Proclamations in recognition of a commitment to environmental stewardship. We have attached a draft proclamation for your city council’s consideration and use.

Quad City Earth Month activities can be found at the Quad City Earth Coalition web-link: https://www.qcearth.org/earthweek2020.

The draft proclamation that PACG would like each city council to consider is:

Earth Day Proclamation 2020

WHEREAS, Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970, with the goal of inspiring an appreciation of our nation’s natural resources through conservation and protection; and

WHEREAS, the celebration of this day marks an annual review of and commitment to the principles of that first Earth Day; and

WHEREAS, Earth Day marks a renewed commitment to environmental stewardship and to the implementation of sustainability efforts; and

WHEREAS, the global community now faces extraordinary challenges, such as environmental degradation, global health issues, climate change, food and water shortages; and

WHEREAS, a green economy can be achieved on the individual level through education, public policy, and consumer activism campaigns; and

WHEREAS, it is understood that the citizens of the global community must step forward and take action to create positive environmental change to combat the aforementioned global challenges; and

WHEREAS, the City of Davenport celebrates Earth Day by extending it to the month of April in recognition of the commitment to environmental stewardship; and,

WHEREAS, the City of Davenport residents are encouraged to implement practices designed to preserve and protect our environment and shape the future of our environmental security.

THEREFORE, I, (name), Mayor of (city), do hereby proclaim the month of April 2020 as Earth Month.

We hope that the mayors take this proclamation to their next city council meeting for discussion and input from the community. We ask that residents attend these meetings to strongly voice their support for their city adapting some form of this proclamation to proclaim April as Earth Month in the Quad Cities. We will post information in the Weekly Email Update as meetings are made known to us. Thanks for your continued support.

Lori McCollum
Susan Leuthauser
Shirley Jackson

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Help the Earth Heal as We Protect Ourselves from the Coronavirus

A Message from the President

​Coronavirus Update – as of March 23, 2020

PACG Book Club for April - July 2020

A Message to Our Membership Regarding COVID-19

Earth Day Proclamation - East Moline - ​Monday, March 16th at 6:30 pm

Attend Your City Council Meeting to Voice Support for the Earth Month Proclamation - What You Can Do Now

Keep Up-to-Date on April Earth Week Activities in Our Area​

Proclamation to Establish the Month of April as Earth Month​in the Quad Cities

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Coronavirus Update – as of March 23, 2020

Earth Day Proclamation - East Moline -
Monday, March 16th at 6:30 pm

Keep Up-to-Date on April Earth Week Activities in Our Area

Proclamation to Establish the Month of April as Earth Month
in the Quad Cities