Category: Of Interest To PACG Forum Members - PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good

" The Ground Between Us" screening - What You Can Do Now

2/3/2023

The Ground Between Us screening
Sunday, February 12th at 2:00 pm

Olin Center Auditorium
Augustana College
820 38th Street
Rock Island, IL (map)

QC Environmental Film Series
River Action/Singh Foundation

Hosted by the Augustana College Student Sierra Club

Since 2017, public lands throughout America have faced unprecedented threats. Bears Ears National Monument was shrunk by 85 percent, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was opened to oil exploration, and the Elliott State Forest in Oregon was nearly privatized. Throughout this, Americans from both sides of the political spectrum have stood up and made their voices heard in support of protecting these areas. The Ground Between Us presents these public lands debates alongside the day-to-day realities of three families who hold vastly different connections and perspectives on public lands.

Reflection speaker is Dr. Matt Fockler, Bureau of Land Management Socioeconomic Specialist for Nevada, Utah and Idaho.

Purchase tickets at this link.

Lori McCollum

2023 QC Environmental Film Series - Of Interest to Our Forums

12/11/2022

QC Environmental Film Series
Sundays, January 22nd through March 5th at 1:00 pm

Various Locations

River Action/Singh Foundation

This year the annual QC Environmental Film Series begins on January 22nd and ends on March 5th. Presentations always begin at 2:00 pm. Each Sunday the films will be shown at different locations.

The films were selected this year by a set of youth judges, with hopes of building interest and activism in younger environmentalists. You can buy tickets for individual films for $5 each, or for the entire series of six films for $20. Or, if you want to have even more fun and connection to these activities, you could part of the Film Crew and help sponsor the event and get a season film pass for $50!

For more information visit: http://www.riveraction.org/filmseries

Download a flyer here: http://www.riveraction.org/sites/default/files/2023_filmseries.pdf

Lori McCollum

Medicare help for seniors with diabetes - Of Interest to Our Forum Members

11/29/2022

Medicare help for seniors with diabetes

Health Care Reform Forum

Congress approved a $35 cap on what seniors will pay for insulin as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. But the change came too late to add to the Medicare plan finder, the online tool that helps beneficiaries sort through dozens of drug and medical plans for the best bargain.

To fix anticipated enrollment mistakes, Medicare officials will give beneficiaries who use insulin a chance to switch plans next year. They can make one change after December 8th and throughout 2023 through a special enrollment period for “exceptional circumstances.” Typically, people are locked in for an entire year.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services provided initial details of the opportunity in a document distributed to the State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP, which assists Medicare enrollees in every state. Beneficiaries can get more information by contacting their local SHIP office.

Frank Samuelson

ACA enrollment surges - Of Interest to Our Forum Members

11/29/2022

ACA enrollment surges!

Health Care Reform Forum

The Biden administration is seeing a big increase in the number of new customers buying private health insurance for 2023 from the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) marketplace. Nearly 3.4 million people have signed up for coverage — an increase of 17% compared to the same time last year.

The number of uninsured Americans this year reached a historic low of 8%. The marketplace also saw large gains in the number of Black, Latino and Native Americans who sought coverage.

If you don’t have health insurance simply go to the official government website, HealthCare.gov. and find a plan that suits you. Low income families can qualify for generous subsidies. If you enroll and pay your first premium by December 15th, your coverage will start January 1, 2023. The 2023 Open Enrollment Period continues through January 15, 2023.

Frank Samuelson

Scott County Community ID Press Conference - Of Interest to Our Forum Members

10/21/2022

Scotty County Community ID Press Conference
Saturday, October 29th at 11:00 am

St. Anthony's Catholic Church Parish Center
417 N Main St
Davenport, IA (map)

Quad Cities Interfaith, PACG Board of Directors and Civil Rights Forum, and others
The PACG Board of Directors agreed to support the initiative by our friends at Quad Cities Interfaith to provide residents with county identification. Below is a letter regarding a press conference asking the Scott County (Iowa) Board of Supervisors to begin to implement an ID system. Read more about this project here. We encourage our community to become involved with this campaign.

Dear Ally,

Do you support immigrants, returning citizens, people experiencing homelessness, and their basic right to an identity? Do you support everyone having access to the most basic economic and social aspects of everyday life? Do you want to stand with us in solidarity?

Quad Cities Interfaith, in coalition with 17 organizations and over 200 individuals, is asking Scott County Supervisors to implement a Scott County Community ID. Join us on Saturday Oct. 29th at 11:00 AM at St. Anthony's Catholic Church for a press conference on this important campaign! We will present statistical and social service aspects of the programs, as well as the personal perspectives of directly impacted community members.

A first of its kind in the QCA, community identifications are being proposed and supported by elected officials across the Quad Cities! The City of Moline is already moving forward with conversations about a community ID! Earlier this month at a City Council meeting, in collaboration with QCI Leaders, Alderman Alvaro Macias presented on the benefits of a community ID. Come learn more about it!

Speakers at the press conference will include:
Alvaro Macias, City of Moline Alderman
Gloria Mancilla, Quad Cities Interfaith Leader and St. Anthony’s Hispanic Food Pantry Coordinator
Yasmin Gabriel, Quad Cities Interfaith Leader
Ashley Velez, Humility Homes and Services Executive Director
Alex Manuel, Quad Cities Interfaith Youth Leader

In Solidarity,
Quad Cities Interfaith

Allison Ambrose

Medicare Advantage Plans - Extra Nursing Care Costs

10/11/2022

Medicare Advantage Plans - Extra Costs for Nursing Care

Health Care Reform ForumThere are many drawbacks for enrolling in a Medicare Advantage Plan, but the following article outlines what can happen when Medicare Advantage Plans shorten nursing home stays. Think twice before choosing one of these plans. What seems like a good deal at first, can cost you plenty. Follow the link for more information.

https://khn.org/news/article/nursing-home-surprise-medicare-advantage-plans-shorten-stays/

Deb Sperry

NAACP Water Campaign October 17th and 18th - What You Can Do Now

10/7/2022

Water Campaign for Jackson, MS
Monday, October 17th and October 18th from 5 to 7 pm

Davenport Metrocom NAACP Environmental Committee

the Friends of MLK Center
501 Brady St
Davenport IA 52803 (map)

If you are unable to attend the water bottle drop off and would like to make a donation online, please click here or go to www.davenportnaacp.org.

naacpdavoice@gmail.com

Make Temporary Visitor's Driver's License (TVDL) a valid ID! - Of Interest to PACG Forum Members

9/8/2022

Let's make the Temporary Visitor's Driver's License (TVDL) a valid ID!

PACG received this letter from our progressive friends at Quad Cities Interfaith.

Dear Ally,

The Temporary Visitor's Driver’s License in Illinois came into effect on July 1, 2014. This allows non-visa status individuals or undocumented immigrants the opportunity to obtain a temporary Visitor's Driver's License. Nonetheless, this temporary driver's license is not a valid form of identification in the State of Illinois.

Leaders from Quad Cities Interfaith, along with affiliates of the Gamaliel Network, have started a campaign to demand a regular driver's license for undocumented immigrants that can be also a valid form of identification. This is because many have faced obstacles using it as a form of ID when accessing their bank accounts, when returning items at stores, and even facing stigmas because the TVDL states: "Not Valid for Identification". Federal limits would still apply with this new ID, but community members would no longer face obstacles in accessing basic aspects of everyday life and would feel more comfortable when interacting with law enforcement.

One of the first steps of this campaign is to invite both candidates running for the Secretary of State, to the Gamaliel of Illinois & Iowa Public Meeting, to be hosted on October 13, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. on Monroe Street Christian Church, Springfield, IL.

If you are interested in learning more about TVDL please click HERE or email Mayra@qcinterfaith.org

In Solidarity,
Quad Cities Interfaith

Proposed Pipeline informational meeting - Action Alert

8/21/2022

Proposed Wolf Carbon Solutions Pipeline Informational Meeting - Action Alert
Wednesday, August 31st at 12:00 noon

River Center
Adler Theater
136 E 3rd Street, Davenport (map)

Environmental Forum

From the Iowa Utilities Board: The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) today issued an order approving the dates, times and locations for six public informational meetings requested by Wolf Carbon Solutions US, LLC (Wolf), which includes a virtual meeting option. The meetings are to discuss Wolf’s proposal to build and operate a carbon capture pipeline system that will transport liquefied carbon dioxide from local facilities in eastern Iowa to an underground storage facility in Illinois.

Read this link for more information, including other meeting locations (including a virtual one on September 19th), pertinent documents regarding the pipeline.

We also have a detailed PACG blog post regarding Carbon Capture and Storage that gives more details.

Susan Leuthauser

carboncapture2.pdf
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August Environmental Celebration - National Honeybee Day

8/21/2022

August 2022 Environmental Celebration
National Honey Bee Day – August 20th

Protect Honeybees by Planting a Pollinator Garden

Lush, green, weedless lawns are beautiful and desirable, but they are nutritional deserts. Early in the spring, when the world comes alive again, bees and other pollinators emerge when very few other flowers have bloomed; dandelion nectar becomes an important source of nutrients for them.
By necessity, pollinator gardens must change as the season does. It is a privilege to be able to be in tune with the subtleties of different blooming times and their connection with migrating birds and insects. As the saying goes, “When the goldenrod blooms, it is time for monarchs to start their long migration south.”

Take Action Steps:

Don’t mow early in the spring - the bees need your dandelions.
Plant native plants that are not genetically modified or treated with pesticides. Shop at local nurseries that know their plant suppliers.
Plant flowers that bloom at different times during the growing season.
DO NOT use any herbicides or pesticides; even the smallest exposure will kill bees and butterflies.
Create pollinator-friendly areas in your yard. Plant milkweed.