Blog Archives - PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good

Living Downstream Podcast - No Hate In Our States

4/27/2021

Living Downstream Podcast: Struggling to Breathe in the Bronx

No Hate In Our States

NPR's "Living Downstream explores environmental justice in communities from California to Indonesia and is hosted by NCPM News Director Steve Mencher. The podcast features some of the most experienced environmental reporters in the public radio system, as well as a handful of talented newcomers."

"More than a year into the pandemic, the Bronx is still the New York City borough with the highest death rate from COVID-19. Last year, Ese Olumhense, former Bronx reporter at THE CITY, explored why residents there were dying from the virus at a rate double the city's average. Public health experts said Bronx residents, who are overwhelmingly Black and Latinx, were more likely to work outside of their homes, regularly exposing them to the virus. The borough also sees high rates of chronic illnesses like diabetes and asthma, which can make COVID-19 infection more dangerous."

Listen here:
https://www.npr.org/podcasts/655974992/living-downstream

Julie Ross

May Green Drinks - PACG Event

4/27/2021

May Green Drinks
Tuesday, May 4th at 5:00 pm

Environmental Forum

Join us on May 4th from 5 to 6 pm for our May Green Drinks. Dr. Jerry Schnoor from the University of Iowa will talk to us about Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.

RSVP at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcoduGpqTIsH9fD6ssFCjEteY09ZHZ41w6m

Susan Leuthauser

Celebrate One Victory for Equality - No Hate In Our States

4/22/2021

Join Us to Celebrate One Victory for Equality
Saturday, April 24th at noon

The Slumberland/Party City Corner
of John Deere RD & 16th St
Moline, IL (map)
(across from South Park Mall)

A Message from the President

PACG and community members have been gathering each Saturday for the past year on one of the busiest intersections in the QCA to demonstrate our support for Racial Equality Now!

We encourage others to join us this Saturday - especially in light of former police officer Derek Chauvin's guilty verdict in Minnesota.

We are meeting at a NEW TIME - from noon to12:30 pm. We will continue to be there every Saturday at this time.

Although we have extra signs, we invite you to bring your own. Slogan suggestions include "Honk for Justice," "Black Lives Matter," "I Can't Breathe," "No Hate in Our State," "No More Deaths," etc.

We all wear masks and keep physically distant, and request you do so as well. We are still able to socialize somewhat and enjoy each other's company as we show our support for equality.

Bring your family and friends to join an empowering and unifying experience. You may RSVP on our Facebook page or just show up!

Allison Ambrose

Ask Code Switch Podcast - No Hate In Our States

4/20/2021

Ask Code Switch: What About Your Friends?

"This podcast helps listeners understand how race and its evil cousin, racism, affect our friendships."

Be a good friend and listen:

https://www.npr.org/2020/01/22/798367810/ask-code-switch-what-about-your-friend’s

Julie Ross

Endangered Species Day - May Environmental Celebration

4/20/2021

Endangered Species Day - May Environmental Celebration
Friday, May 21st

Spearheaded by the National Wildlife Federation, the Endangered Species Act was signed by President Nixon in 1973. Both Iowa and Illinois passed endangered species acts in the 1970s, as well. We will celebrate Endangered Species Day on Friday, May 21st, to learn about threatened and endangered species and to take action to protect them.

As a result of these laws and of the work of environmental non-profit organizations, several species have been removed from the endangered list. Among these are the bald eagle, the American alligator, the humpback whale, and the wild turkey. The rusty patched bumblebee, a local endangered species, was spotted at the Nahant Marsh in Davenport in 2020.

The gray wolf was removed from the endangered species list in 2019, but is now becoming endangered again. Thirteen percent of the world’s bird species are now considered threatened. Rock Island County has an endangered species, the Blanding’s turtle. The Mississippi River is home to the endangered Higgens eye and the winged maple leaf mussels. The Midwest is in danger of losing numerous pollinators, including one fly, three bats, five birds, eight bees, and twenty-four butterflies.

Here are things you can do to celebrate Endangered Species Day:

Plant a pollinator garden to attract threatened and endangered birds and insects.
Join non-profit groups, such as the World Wildlife Fund, the Sierra Club, Environmental Action, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Center for Biological Diversity.
Visit Niabi Zoo in Coal Valley, IL to see endangered species, and learn from their excellent conservation programs.
Visit and participate in programs at the Wapsi River Environmental Center in Dixon, IA.
Create an owl pine cone feeder for yourself, your kids, or your grandkids.

Lori McCollum

Winona LaDuke Podcast - No Hate In Our States

4/16/2021

Winona LaDuke - First Born Daughter

No Hate In Our States

Winona LaDuke is an internationally renowned activist who works on issues of sustainable development, renewable energy and food systems. Ojibwe leader, writer, food activist, rural development economist, environmentalist, Harvard graduate, she is founder of White Earth Land Recovery Project. The two-time US vice-presidential candidate is interviewed in this Kitchen Sisters podcast.

https://podcast.app/winona-ladukefirst-born-daughter-e120241818/

Julie Ross

Environmental Advocacy Action Alerts

4/13/2021

Environmental Advocacy Action Alerts

Environmental Forum

It's once again time to contact your federal Congressional representatives. There are two pending bills that require action to help address pollution and climate change. The first is the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act of 2021. It was introduced in both the US House and Senate on March 31st by Tom Udahl, Jeff Merkley and Alan Lowenthal. It has specific goals to eliminate single-use plastics, increase requirements for recycling, reduce pollution from industries that make plastic, and much more.

The second bill is the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, which was introduced in the House in 2019. It proposes fees on carbon at the point of extraction to encourage market-driven innovation of clean energy. It was introduced by Rep. Ted Deutch and six co-sponsors. Please call your House Representatives and Senators, or send postcards/letters asking them to co-sponsor and vote FOR these important bills.

Lori McCollum

Arbor Day - April Environmental Celebration

4/7/2021

Arbor Day - April Environmental Celebration
Friday, April 30th

Environmental Forum

Arbor Day was initiated in Nebraska in April 1872 when people moving west realized there was a dearth of trees to provide windbreaks for farms and to stabilize the soil. By 1920, 45 states and territories celebrated Arbor Day by planting trees in their communities. Today, Arbor Day is celebrated in all 50 states, generally on the last Friday in April.

Trees provide many benefits: capturing carbon, offering shade, removing pollutants, providing oxygen, cleaning ground water, benefiting wildlife, and offering a source of beauty and spirituality. While all kinds of trees add beauty, native trees are especially beneficial to wildlife and the local ecosystem. For example, native oaks support over 550 species of caterpillars and moths, as opposed to ginkgo trees, which are native to Asia and host only 5 regional species of caterpillars. Birds, particularly migrating species, need these caterpillars and other insects to survive.

Take Action Steps:

Plant trees on your own land, or support organizations that plant trees, such as the Living Lands and Waters Million Trees Project.
Plant the right tree for your region, being aware of insect infestations, such as the Emerald Ash Borer. Be sure to plant it in the right location for sunlight and its full-grown canopy.
Properly water and fertilize your new or existing tree. New trees require 4-10 gallons each week during the first growing season, while established trees need one inch of water weekly.
Join organizations that support trees, such as the Arbor Day Foundation, American Forests, or One Tree Planted.

For more information, check out these links:
https://www.arborday.org/
https://www.chicagoaudubon.org/native-plant-gardening-birds
https://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/bwdsite/bestofbwd2016/birds-eat-dont-really-know.php

Lori McCollum

Local Asylum-Seeker Fund Drive Successful! - After Action Report

4/6/2021

Fundraiser for Our Local Asylum-Seeker Was a HUGE Success! Thank You!

Civil Rights Forum and the Quad Cities Sanctuary Coalition

Thank you for your donations, and for spreading the word about our fund drive! We made our initial $2,000 goal and then raised an additional $1,000 to help get Ana settled once her case is decided. We actually ended up raising $3,545 through Faithify, and even more including donations made directly to the Sanctuary Project.

We can assure you all of the funds will be spent to support Ana, or the next asylum-seeker we sponsor if Ana no longer needs our financial support.

We are still looking for volunteer drivers and want to spread the word about sponsoring asylum-seekers. Have you approached your church leaders about sponsoring an asylum-seeker? We can help you do that. Contact me.

Progressive Action for the Common Good is a member of the Quad Cities Sanctuary Coalition (QCSC). Alta Price and Margie Mejia-Caraballo are the PACG representatives to the QCSC.

Ana, an asylum-seeker from El Salvador, was released from dehumanizing conditions in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention as a result of the partnership between the Quad Cities Sanctuary Coalition and the Sanctuary Project at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities (UUCQC).

Due to the disruptive nature of our immigration system and other factors, we have had unexpected expenses of over $2,000 and there have been increased demands on our volunteers. For instance, ICE has repeatedly re-scheduled appointments upon us arriving in Chicago, in spite of our best efforts to confirm the appointment before undertaking the trip!

The Faithify fund drive has closed. You can still donate to the Sanctuary Project through the UUCQC church. Visit the Sanctuary Project page at the UUCQC website for details.

If you would like to volunteer with the Sanctuary Project at the UUCQC, please fill out this Google Form. We especially need drivers, both locally and those willing to drive to Chicago (we are mindful of Covid protocols).

As ICE releases asylum-seekers, more sponsors will be needed, so also please consider whether sponsoring an asylum-seeker is right for your organization. If interested, please email sanctuary@uucqc.org to arrange a discussion with a member of our group.

Contact me if you have questions.

Alta Price