Blog Archives

PACG History - Health Care Reform Forum Event

8/21/2008

Community Discussion on Health Care
Thursday, August 21st at 7:30 pm

Health Care Reform Forum

On Thursday August 21st at 7:30 pm, Iowa for Health Care is holding a community event at United Neighbors office on 808 Harrison Street in Davenport.

Speakers at the event will discuss the challenges facing women and families in a health care system that is increasingly plagued by higher costs and lower quality. Participants will also discuss their concerns about Senator John McCain's recent policy proposals, which would do nothing to control costs, would make it harder for Americans to get coverage and would erode consumer protections already in place.

Panel speakers for the event include local Health Care Voters: Karen Metcalf, Caroline Vernon and Shirley McClemore. The event is open to the public and allows time for open discussion about this important topic. The health care system in this country has reached a crisis point, and the longer we wait to act, the worse it is going to get.

For more information, contact Karen Metcalf (PACG) or Adam Surly (Iowa For Health Care).

Please share this information with your friends and family members... this is an issue that affects us all.

Caroline Vernon

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PACG History - Peace Forum meeting

8/13/2008

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Peace Forum Meeting
Monday, August 18th at 6:30 pm

Peace Forum

Hi Friends!

I regret having missed the last meeting, but I have met with James and it looks like we are in good shape to finalize plans for a peace event at Vanderveer park on Sunday. September 21.

We will meet this monday August 18 at 6:30 PM at the Unitarian Church to finalize plans for event and assign tasks and to begin planning for followup series on building inner peace for activists....
This planning will continue on August 26 at the PACG Moral Values Meeting.

Let me know if you can join us this Monday....thanks and peace!!

Cathy Bolkcom
PACG Peace Forum
cbarts4@aol.com

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PACG History - Day of Remembrance for Immigration Reform

8/8/2008

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Moment of Silence and Day of Remembrance for Immigration Reform
Monthly on the 12th at noon

LULAC, PACG and QCAIR

PRESS RELEASE:

QUAD CITY NATIONAL COALITION ON IMMIGRATION
May12 Movement / Movimiento 12 de Mayo

It appears that Iowa, USA is at the very center of a target for the US Immigration Custom Enforcement (ICE), (in view of the recent Postville raid), therefore be it resolved that all the League of United Latin

American Citizens (LULAC) Councils hereby make May 12, 2008, a day of remembrance and a National Movement;

In accordance, every 12th day of every month, starting July 12, 2008, at 12.00 noon, across the nation, all LULAC Councils will observe two minutes of prayer or reflection. Furthermore this observance will end when Congress passes an immigration bill that is fair, leading to citizenship within a short time, more humane, compassionate, especially for children suffering the pains of being uprooted and separated from their families, and a moratorium on further raids by ICE.

We invite all people of good will to remember the May 12 immigration raid, by praying or reflecting at their churches, temples and places of worship at 12.00 noon.

If you live in the Davenport area, we invite you and friends to attend this event at

THE UNITARIAN CHURCH , 34707 EASTERN AVE
(Corner of Eastern and Kimberly), Davenport, Iowa

TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2008 at 11.45 CDT
(Second anniversary of raid at Postville)

On this date, LULAC members and persons of good will should call their senators and congressmen to demand immediate passage of such an immigration bill.

Progressive Action for the Common Good (PACG) and Quad Cities Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees (QCAIR) are both happy to add their names as sponsors/participants of this important initiative!

Jose Bucksbaum, Gilbert Sierra
Member of LULAC Council 10   Iowa LULAC State Director
jlbusa@mcleodusa.net and Iowa Delegation

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PACG History - "the Business of Being Born" Social Justice Movie Night

8/5/2008

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The Business of Being Born - SJ Movie Night
Friday, August 15th at 6:30 pm

Director Abby Epstein's controversial documentary takes a hard look at America's maternity care system, juxtaposing hospital deliveries against the growing popularity of at-home, natural childbirths that many expectant parents are now opting for. Former talk show host Ricki Lake was inspired to produce this compelling exposé after a dissatisfying birthing experience with her first child left her with many unanswered questions.

Birth is a miracle, a rite of passage, a natural part of life. But birth is also big business.Compelled to explore the subject after the delivery of her first child, actress Ricki Lake recruits filmmaker Abby Epstein to question the way American women have babies.

The film interlaces intimate birth stories with surprising historical, political and scientific insights and shocking statistics about the current maternity care system. When director Epstein discovers she is pregnant during the making of the film, the journey becomes even more personal.Should most births be viewed as a natural life process, or should every delivery be treated as a potentially catastrophic medical emergency?

Social Justice Movie Night is always the 3rd Friday, 6:30pm, at the Davenport Unitarian Church.

Everyone is welcome, free popcorn and lemonade.

See ya at the movies!

Please share the attached flyer with at your favorite haunt(s).

Caroline Vernon

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PACG History - Peace Forum Gun Violence Remembrance

8/1/2008

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Gun Violence Remembrance
Sunday, August 3rd at 10:00 am

PACG Peace Forum

In light of the recent tragic shootings at the Unitarian Church in Knoxville, TN, where one of Davenport's former congregants Monica Castaneda and her family now attend, all are encouraged to stand together with the QC Unitarian Community at the Unitarian Church on Sunday at 10 a.m (August 3). The church will hold a special service of healing and remembrance for the shootings at Knoxville 's Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. All are welcome.

A labyrinth/walking meditation and journaling will be available before and after the service for those who mourn and are seeking peace—for themselves, for others and for the earth. Rev. Butts will lead the service.

We stand up for justice, for tolerance and to offer support and consolation to the church community in Knoxville. There will be no peace until we can accept one another.

I send along a letter from Monica Castaneda about what happened last weekend and one of the lessons she took from it.

Dear Friends:
Last Sunday morning my husband made banana pancakes for breakfast. I was sitting there admiring the eating capacity of our two boys, 5 and 2, and how my husband has been increasing the quantities in his recipe over the months to satisfy their morning hunger and still have some to carry in their lunch box to go to church. After breakfast I got the kids and myself ready to go. Then I saw my husband walk to the bathroom saying he was going to shower. We were already running a little bit late and I was surprised to see he wasn't ready and hadn't even showered yet. He said, "Why don't you go ahead with the boys and I'll meet you there later." I agreed, but when I got to the kitchen to fetch their lunch box with the pancakes I changed my mind, and decided that it was more important for us to be together as a family on a Sunday morning than to be on time. I could as easily have left, annoyed at my husband's tardiness on such a special day as this. You see, I had promised my kids that I would take them to see the play "Annie Jr." that the children of our church had put together during summer camp. That morning I listened to the voice of love, instead of to the voice of annoyance and I will forever be grateful for it.

We got to the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Church in Knoxville, TN at 10:21, right after the first police car arrived. In fact, the police car passed us on Kingston Pike and I felt the first pang of fear when I saw him turn on the driveway to our church. The second pang came when we saw the officer get out of the car with what looked like a sniper's rifle. Then a couple of young women told us there had been a shooting and while I was trying to convince myself this was probably a quarrel or a burglary, they shouted "people have been shot, you have to leave!" At that time they didn't know that the perpetrator had been submitted and disarmed by members of the congregation.

I am sure you have heard the rest in the news.

Now that the initial shock is over, I am once again reminded that there are many things in life that I cannot control, some over which I don't even have a say, but there are also many things in my life in which I can make a difference. One of these is my home, what I put in it and how I take care of it. The care of my home cannot be separated from the care of my family. At times like these it is even more important that I create a tranquil and loving atmosphere in our home. We have many friends that were touched by this tragedy in a variety of degrees. It is important that we stay loving and centered ourselves so that we can provide support and comfort where needed. This applies to us adults as well as to our children.

Work to make your home into an embrace of love. Let go of things that you don't use, don't like, don't love, and those things that are reminders of bad times. Make sure all the living beings in your home, people, pets and plants are thriving. Fix what can be fixed, hire help for what you cannot do yourself. Make a plan, budget your time and your resources. Make sure to leave some time every day to recharge your batteries, to do something that nourishes you and that you enjoy. These are the basics of a happy home.

And when you need to choose between the voice of love or the voice of fear, anger or annoyance, always choose the voice of love.

May you be blessed by Feng Shui!

Monica P. Castaneda
monica@fengshuiforu s.com

Cathy Bolkcom

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PACG History - Health Care Reform Forum Event

Community Discussion on Health Care​Thursday, August 21st at 7:30 pm

PACG History - Peace Forum meeting

Peace Forum Meeting​Monday, August 18th at 6:30 pm

PACG History - Day of Remembrance for Immigration Reform

Moment of Silence and Day of Remembrance for Immigration ReformMonthly on the 12th at noon

PACG History - "the Business of Being Born" Social Justice Movie Night

The Business of Being Born - SJ Movie NightFriday, August 15th at 6:30 pm

PACG History - Peace Forum Gun Violence Remembrance

Gun Violence RemembranceSunday, August 3rd at 10:00 am

Archives

Categories

Community Discussion on Health Care
Thursday, August 21st at 7:30 pm

Peace Forum Meeting
Monday, August 18th at 6:30 pm

Moment of Silence and Day of Remembrance for Immigration Reform
Monthly on the 12th at noon

The Business of Being Born - SJ Movie Night
Friday, August 15th at 6:30 pm

Gun Violence Remembrance
Sunday, August 3rd at 10:00 am