Category: Earth Day - PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good

Earth Day Fair 2021 - After Action Report

5/25/2021

Earth Day Fair 2021 - After Action Report

Environmental Forum

On Saturday, May 22nd, PACG's Environmental Forum, along with sponsors, the Freight House Farmers Market and WVIK Quad Cities 90.3 FM, held the third annual Earth Day Fair.

We had such a successful day! The weather was excellent, despite a few sprinkles early in the morning. We had 20 vendors, including conservation, environmental, and outdoor activity organizations. The Metrolink electric bus returned after missing last year due to COVID. The Iowa State University Conservation Station was a hit, with its child-centered activities. We had five different musical groups, as well!

Based on the number of people circulating through the tables and decking, everyone enjoyed the event!

See you all again next year!

See more photographs on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PACGEF/permalink/4041850522573444/

Lori McCollum

What You Can Do Now - Go Plastic Straw-Free with Nicolina

5/23/2021

Earth Day Fair 2021 Was a Huge Success!

A Message from the President

PACG's Environmental Forum organized and presented the Earth Day Fair at the Freight House Farmer's Market on Saturday, May 22nd. It was evident that a lot of work went into making this event a success. Read the After Action Report from the Forum in this WEU, with more details about the incredible day. The linked Facebook post has almost 50 pictures of all of the activity. Thank you to the Freight House for providing the space for this delightful gathering!

In the meantime, I want to highlight one of the most impressive vendors at the fair - Nicolina's Turtle Company!

It was started by Nicolina when she was 8 years old! She was alarmed when she learned about the harmful environmental effects of plastic, and knew that she wanted to do something to make a difference.

One day she noticed her big sister - who was using a stainless steel straw in an effort to cut down on her own plastic footprint - put her straw directly into her backpack. It occurred to Nicolina that it would be a lot more sanitary if the straw could be put in some sort of a bag or container to keep it cleaner. She took sewing lessons and then asked her to mother help her design lined pouches. Nicolina's Straw Pouches were born!

Pouches can be purchased for $10. This includes one stainless steel straw. An extra $3 buys a small brush that can be used to thoroughly clean inside the straws. Each pouch is large enough to carry several stainless steel straws and the brush securely. The fabrics are bright and fun, and the pouches are closed with colorful snaps. Nicolina and her mother have enlisted community volunteers to help make pouches.

But, with the pouches, Nicolina was just getting started on her environmental journey! Merely creating Nicolina's Turtle Company, the pouches, a website and donating to local environmental groups, were not enough projects for her! She decided to approach schools and restaurants to ask them to stop using plastic straws. Restaurants now only offer straws when customers ask for them, and her school has stopped using plastic straws completely!

Nicolina is also working with the QC Straw Free Initiative, sponsored by the Quad City Earth Coalition, to spread this concept across the Quad Cities.

Read more about this amazing young person at her website: https://nicolinasturtleco.com.

By the way, these items are available from Nicolina's website. I bought a bunch of them! They will make stocking stuffers or other gifts for my own (adult) children.

If you wish to purchase larger quantities of stainless steel straws so that you can reduce your plastic footprint, they are available locally at many stores.

If you sew and have scraps of material lying around, consider helping in these efforts. You may also want to make a donation to help her save the environment from plastic and fund local environmental education.

I was touched to see the impact that these children are having on our Quad Cities community. What can you do to help the Earth?

Allison Ambrose

"Kiss the Ground" Viewing and Discussion - PACG Event

3/30/2021

2021 Earth Month Event – Watch and Discuss Kiss the Ground
Film Watching - April 10th through 26th
Discussion Happy Hour April 25th from 5:00 - 6:00 pm

Environmental Forum

To celebrate Earth Day 2021 Restore Our Earth, PACG Environmental Forum is teaming up with Interfaith Power & Light and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities to provide viewing of the award-winning documentary film Kiss the Ground.

Beginning April 1st, visit this Film Sign Up link to sign up to receive free access to the film anytime from April 10th to April 26th. You can also view this film on Netflix, if you have a subscription.

Join us on Sunday, April 25th, from 5-6 pm, for a virtual Happy Hour and panel discussion with soil conservation experts about Kiss the Ground. You will also learn about our local soil conservation efforts. Register at the link below.

Discussion Sign Up

Susan Leuthauser

Restore Our Earth Events - PACG Events

3/28/2021

Restore Our Earth Events - Earth Day Celebrations
April and May 2021

Environmental Forum

April 4th from 5 - 7 pm - Green Drinks – “Project Drawdown”

Virginia Melroy and Paul Pomrehn from Coralville will introduce us to the possibility of reversing global warming and the important role that you can play, based on the findings of Project Drawdown.
Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcoduGpqTIsH9fD6ssFCjEteY09ZHZ41w6m

April 10th–26th - Screening of Kiss the Ground

An award-winning film on how regenerating the soil can stabilize the climate, restore the ecosystem and create an abundant food supply.
After April 1, sign up for a free link at https://www.faithclimateactionweek.org/featured-film-kit/ to watch the film at your convenience between April 10th and 26th. This free viewing is co-sponsored with Interfaith Power and Light and UUCQC. The film is also available on Netflix.

April 25th from 5 - 6 pm – Happy Hour and Panel Discussion of the film Kiss the Ground

Agriculture and soil conservation experts will share with us actions that are taken to regenerate the soil in our area.

RSVP at :https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0lf-yurzwrHdJhkB41__sGDcVbeuOY0dVl

May 4th from 5 - 7 pm - Green Drinks – “International Climate Change Policies”

Dr. Jerry Schnoor from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa, will discuss past and current international climate policies.
Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcoduGpqTIsH9fD6ssFCjEteY09ZHZ41w6m

May 22nd from 9 am - 2 pm – Earth Day Fair at the Freight House Farmers Market, 421 W. River Drive, Davenport, IA (map)

Join us for live music, interactive activities and table displays. Learn about what local environmental and community organizations have been doing.
This is a family-friendly and free event. COVID safety protocols must be followed.

Read about making your Earth Day proclamation here.

Lori McCollum

Make An Earth Day Proclamation - What You Can Do Now

3/28/2021

Take Action!
Make Your Earth Day Proclamation

Environmental Forum

As part of our Earth Day celebration in 2021 we encourage you to download this Proclamation and make a commitment to Restore Our Earth.

Identify one or more actions you or your family will commit to in order to help combat the climate crisis. Suggested ideas include: decrease your household energy use; eat more plant-based meals; increase travel by foot or bike; add native plantings to your yard; eliminate or reduce the use of single-use plastics; print on both sides of the paper, etc. Check out https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-tips/ for more ideas.

Enter your action(s) into the Restore Our Earth – My Personal Earth Day Proclamation below and post it in a visible location at home or work as a reminder.

Consider bringing your proclamation to the Earth Day Fair at the Freight House Farmer’s Market on May 22nd.

Read about other Earth Day events here.

earth_day_proclamation..pdf
File Size:	134 kb
File Type:	pdf

Earth Day 50th Anniversary Celebration! - After Action Report

7/21/2020

Earth Day 2020 - After Action Report

Freight House Farmers Market - Davenport

Environmental Forum

On Saturday, July 18th we celebrated Earth Day 2020 at the Freight House Farmers Market with the support of sponsors Quad City Earth Coalition, Living Lands and Waters, Sierra Club - Eagle View Chapter, the Freight House Farmers Market, and the Mark Schwiebert Grant for Environmental Studies. There were a small, but stellar group of exhibitors, musicians, and volunteers in attendance. Fun was had by all on this hot, but breezy summer day.

Safety was emphasized with masks and hand sanitizer, and tables were spaced for proper physical distancing. Several hundred people wandered through the exhibitor tables, learning about our wonderful planet, and the children enjoyed a number of family friendly activities.

We emphasized the importance of celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day by VOTING for candidates who endorse policies for a healthy planet.

Lori McCollum

After Action Report - Davenport Earth Month Proclamation

7/17/2020

City of Davenport Honors PACG With Earth Month Proclamation - After Action Report

From the City of Davenport Government Facebook page on Sunday, July 12th:

Earth Day is usually in April, but not in Davenport this year.

The Davenport City Council proclaimed July as Earth Month at its meeting Wednesday, July 8. The proclamation notes that the global community must step forward and take action to create positive environmental change.

The City is recognizing Earth Day during the whole month of July because of the nationwide closures that occurred in April. Alderwoman Judith Lee presented the proclamation to PJ Slobojan and members of Progressive Action for the Common Good (PACG).

View the proclamation.

Julie Meyerson-Ross

What You Can Do Now - Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day

7/9/2020

50th Anniversary Earth Day Celebration -
Saturday, July 18th at 9:00 am

Freight House Farmers Market
421 W River Drive, Davenport, IA (map)

Environmental Forum

Come celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day with us. Experience what our community is doing to help save Planet Earth. There will be exhibitions, children's activities and live music.

For everyone's safety, please wear face coverings and practice at least 6 feet of social distancing.

Susan Leuthauser

After Action Report -" the Story of Plastics" Discussion

5/5/2020

The Story of Plastics Zoom Happy Hour - After Action Report

Environmental Forum

In lieu of our postponement of Earth Day events, we placed an ad in local papers for the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, and wish to thank the PACG Board for providing funding for that announcement. We also co-sponsored a virtual showing of the film, the Story of Plastics, along with the Rock Island Soil and Conservation District, the Niabi Zoo, and the UU Congregation of the QC. The film was on the Discovery Channel, or available virtually through a link. We then offered a followup Happy Hour on Zoom to discuss the film and listen to local leaders who are working with methods of reducing plastic pollution: Joel Vanderbush from the Zoo, Kurt Liske from the Scott County Waste Commission, Karen Neder from Terracycle, and Dawn Temple of RISCD. We had nearly 20 people online for the happy hour! We all agreed to continue our work on plastics in the QC through the Plastic Free QC initiative started through the BICAN.

We plan on having our originally scheduled Earth Day activities in July, with "the Vision for the Future" event at the Botanical Center on Thursday, July 16th, and the Earth Day Fair at the Farmers Market on Saturday, July 18th. We hope to see you all there.

Remember to make every day Earth Day!

Lori McCollum

What You Can Do Now - Earth Day Action Steps

4/21/2020

Earth Day Action Steps - Wednesday, April 22nd

Environmental Forum

This year we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22nd.

You can celebrate Earth Day in many ways:

Sing “I Feel the Earth Move Under My Feet” or another earth-based song.
Go for a walk and notice what you see, hear, smell, and feel.
Clean out your old toxic household supplies and stock up on non-toxic cleaners.
Cook a plant-based dinner.
Make cloth grocery bags from some old t-shirts. Patterns can be found online.
Write a letter or postcard to your local, state and federal political leaders about an environmental issue.
Pick a national or state park you plan to visit this summer.
Teach your kids about an endangered species or learn more yourself.
Make a pledge to reduce single-use plastics.
Check your voter registration status: http://www.nass.org/can-I-vote