Blog Archives

Environmental Forum Meeting

5/28/2019

PACG Environmental Forum Meeting -
Monday, June 3rd at 6:30 pm

Cobblestone Place
1212 W 3rd Street, Davenport, IA (map)

The PACG Environmental Forum will meet on the first Monday of each month. We welcome newcomers to our Forum ~ this week’s topics include:

June 27, 2019 PACG Environmental Forum Green Drinks on the last-Thursday-of-the-month (5:00-7:00 p.m.) networking opportunity at Fresh Deli (map) at the Freight House.

Earth Day 2020!!! Planning the 50th anniversary

Meeting with Iowa and Illinois state legislatures and federal representatives. Please bring a question you would like to ask your legislator to our meeting Monday evening.

Voters deserve to know: Which candidates commit to acting on climate change as a "Day One" priority when in office. Whether presidential candidates support the Green New Deal or can offer their own climate plan that also meets the scale of the crisis.

Sixty-two percent of voters believe that the federal government should do more to address climate change. (Jennifer Marlon et al., "Yale Climate Opinion Maps 2018," Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.)

Join us for this planning meeting!

Shirley Johnson

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Vote Smart - Educate Yourself on Important Issues and Candidates

5/25/2019

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Vote Smart - Educate Yourself on Important Issues and Candidates

Be an informed voter! Make sure your potential candidate represents your values and beliefs. One important way to do this is to use online guides like VoteSmart.org.

Vote Smart is a one-stop website where you can find information on state and national legislation and politicians. This non-partisan site is easy to use. There are links to every candidate's bio and contact information; voting record; ratings and endorsements by national and local organizations; speeches and public statements; and campaign finance and funding.

The website explains the work of their volunteers and staff this way: "Vote Smart is a historic undertaking. Citizens come together, not in selfish interest or to support one candidate over another, but to defend democracy. It is an extraordinary gathering of people committed to one purpose: to strengthen the most essential component of democracy -- access to information -- even as it suffers grave attacks from candidates and political parties, many who are now willing to manipulate information and deceive voters."

Vote Smart has additional information, such as:

VoteEasy -- this powerful, interactive research tool lets you instantly see which candidates are most like you
Publications -- Free to all citizens -- order your Voter's Self-Defense Manual, a 100-page report on your congressional delegation. A video, which describes what the Vote Smart does, how we do it, and how you can use it, is also available.
Voter Registration -- For every state, find out policies and procedures, locate voter registration forms, where to send them, where you can register in person, and where your polling place is.
Ballot Measures -- Descriptions of ballot measures for every state, including complete text, sponsors, and election results.

It is never too early to research issues of concern to you both locally and nationally. Vote Smart! But, most importantly, VOTE!

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Restorative Justice - Car Theft Accountability Training

5/20/2019

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Restorative Justice: Car Theft Accountability
Training Date To Be Determined

Scott County Juvenile Center
500 W. 4th Street, Davenport, Iowa (map)

A recent PACG Blog post detailed the importance of this incredible new program.

If you’re interested in being a volunteer for this initiative where you would be part of a restorative justice circle, you must attend a four-hour training. For more information, contact Michelle Bancroft at 563-326-8228

Michelle Bancroft

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June Book Club Meeting

5/20/2019

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June PACG Book Club Saturday, June 1st at 10:30 am

Davenport Main Public Library, 321 N Main St, Davenport, IA (map)

The PACG Book Club continues to read books on racial justice this month:
Dear Martin by Nic Stone.

From Goodreads: "Raw, captivating, and undeniably real, Nic Stone joins industry giants Jason Reynolds and Walter Dean Myers as she boldly tackles American race relations in this stunning debut." This book is highly recommended by one of our book club members.

Contact Alta Price with questions or to learn more.

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Iowa Federal Aid Swap Program - What You Can Do Now

5/19/2019

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Oppose the Iowa Federal Aid Swap Program

What You Can Do Now

You may be aware from recent media reports, there is a growing coalition of organizations opposed to the new Iowa Federal Aid Swap program. Under this program millions of federal dollars allocated to the Quad Cities for road construction and other infrastructure projects are “swapped” for state dollars. Why does this matter?

Federal dollars contain certain protections, including Davis-Bacon Act “fair wages,” “BUY AMERICAN” sourcing restrictions, environmental regulations as well as women and minority-owned business engagement incentives. State dollars do not. This creates a competitive advantage for contractors outside the QCA to import less skilled, under-paid, transient workers in order to underbid our reputable local contractors. Bottom line, this leads to greater local unemployment and more money draining away from our local economy. Most importantly, it’s not right. This community needs to “opt-out” of this ill-conceived program, now. And, there will be a vote to do so on Tuesday, May 28th.

Please make your voices heard in opposition to the Iowa Federal Aid Swap program by going to: https://noswaps.com/. There you can learn more and “TAKE ACTION” by sending an email to local elected officials telling them “No SWAPS!” It’s easy. It’s quick. And, all the information you need is right there, including a sample email you can use. Please act today. And then encourage others to give input as well.

Click this link more information about the Iowa Federal Aid Swap program and the reasons to oppose it.

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Earth Day 2019 Was a Success!

5/2/2019

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2019 Earth Day Celebration - After Action Report

St. Ambrose University Rogalski Center and Freight House Farmers Market

The PACG Environmental Forum began the 2019 Earth Day celebration by screening the National Geographic film Paris to Pittsburgh on April 17th from 5 pm. to 7 p.m. at Rogalski Center, St. Ambrose University. This event was held jointly with the SAU Green Life Environmental Club. A panel discussion on Climate Change and actions needed to address this urgent issue followed the film. Approximately 120 students and members of the general public filled one of the Rogalski ballrooms, it was standing room only for the late comers.

The second Earth Day celebration was held on Saturday, April 20th, from 9 am to 1 pm at the Freight House in Davenport. The Environmental Forum teamed up with the Freight House Farmers Market and Living Lands & Water to host this event. Twenty speakers gave 10 minute “mini-TED” talks on various environmental topics. There were over twenty display and activity tables hosted by environmental organizations, a museum, and vendors. Many learned how to repurpose a T-shirt into a tote bag and Farmers Market kicked off their 2019 Bag Reduction Program.

There was live music, children’s activities, door prizes, and networking everywhere during the event. The river and weather cooperated - about 2,000 visitors enjoyed a beautiful sunny morning along the riverfront and learned about the urgency of protecting the environment. Visit our FB page for more pictures of the event.

Planning for the 2020 Earth Day events has already started. 2020 will mark the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day! If you have any suggestions, please contact the Environmental Forum and/or join us at one of our meetings on the first Monday of each month.

Susan Leuthauser

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Environmental Forum Meeting

PACG Environmental Forum Meeting - ​Monday, June 3rd at 6:30 pm

Vote Smart - Educate Yourself on Important Issues and Candidates

Vote Smart - Educate Yourself on Important Issues and Candidates​

Restorative Justice - Car Theft Accountability Training

Restorative Justice: Car Theft Accountability ​Training Date To Be Determined

June Book Club Meeting

June PACG Book Club Saturday, June 1st at 10:30 am

Iowa Federal Aid Swap Program - What You Can Do Now

Oppose the Iowa Federal Aid Swap Program

Earth Day 2019 Was a Success!

2019 Earth Day Celebration - After Action Report

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PACG Environmental Forum Meeting -
Monday, June 3rd at 6:30 pm

Vote Smart - Educate Yourself on Important Issues and Candidates

Restorative Justice: Car Theft Accountability
Training Date To Be Determined