September 24, 2011 - 350.org Climate Challenge - Think As Green

"350 parts per million is what many scientists, climate experts, and progressive national governments are now saying is the safe upper limit for CO₂ in our atmosphere."

350  is a great initiative to start the conversation on climate change. There are many scary scenarios out there for the future of humanity on the planet for example wars, droughts, famine, etc. I am hopeful that global climate challenge will initiate a GLOBAL CONVERSATION on important issues such as global environmental crisis, consumerism, and COMMON BOND OF HUMANITY. Humans have enormous capacity for self-destruction. However, that lethal capacity is tamed only by the infinite power of COMPASSION, UNDERSTANDING, & LOVE. 

 So when Saturday, September 24, 2011 rolls comes up in a few days Where will YOU be that day? and What will YOU do? Join hands with your brothers and sisters in humanity ... more info: www.350.org

USA Go Green stamps

 

USA Go Green Stamps just as cool as 'Eid Greetings' stamp.

The Go Green stamps list the following ways to Think As Green

1. buy local produce - reuse bags

2. fix water leaks

3. share rides

4. turn off lights not in use

5. choose to walk

6. compost

7. let nature do the work - dry clothes outside

8. recycle more

9. ride a bike

10. plant trees

11. insulate the home

12. use public transportation

13. use efficient light bulbs

14. adjust the thermostat

15. maintain tire pressure

Start Spreading the Good News - Green Ramadan Initiative (GRI)

Here's More on Green Ramadan. Al-Basheer News (Arabic) covered the Green Ramadan Initiative. A good friend of mine AbdulBasit Abdullah forwarded this info to me.  www.ThinkAsGreen.com is a grassroots green movement initiating practical ways to go green. الاربعاء 24 رمضان 1432 الموافق 24 أغسطس 2011

الإسلام اليوم / خاص "دائمًا ما نحاول أن نستغل شهر رمضان المبارك في دفع المجتمع المسلم نحو مزيدٍ من التقدم", هكذا قال أحد قادة الجالية الإسلاميَّة في ولاية نيو جيرسي الأمريكيَّة, متحدثًا عن حملة تحت عنوان "رمضان أخضر".   وتهدف الحملة التي أطلقتها الجمعيَّة الإسلاميَّة في نيوجيرسي، جنوب برونزويك، إلى تشجيع الأفراد والمساجد المحليَّة على بذل مزيدٍ من الجهود للحفاظ على البيئة نظيفة وخضراء، خلال شهر رمضان المبارك. ووفقًا لما قاله فارز خان، أحد منظمي الحملة؛ فإنَّ "رمضان أخضر" هو برنامج تم إنشاؤه بواسطة مجموعة من المسلمين المعنيين برفع مستوى الوعي حول أهمية المحافظة على البيئة، والسير على خطى النبي محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم، كما تدعو المبادرة إلى تنفيذ أفكار واستراتيجيات جديدة لزيادة الوعي، والتخلص من النفايات، وتعزيز الحياة الصحيَّة. The Green Ramadan Initiative is a program created by a group of concerned Muslims aiming to raise awareness about the importance of environmental stewardship and walking in the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad, according to organizer Faraz Khan. The initiative calls for the implementation of new ideas and strategies that raise awareness, reduce waste, and promote healthy living. وأضاف خان: "لا تُعد هذه الحملة شيئًا جديدًا، فهي جزء من تعاليم الدين الإسلامي، فالعديد من الآيات القرآنيَّة والأحاديث النبوية تتحدث عن المحافظة على الطبيعة والتعامل معها باحترام؛ لأنّها آية من آيات الله". مؤكدًا أنَّ "تدمير البيئة دليل على عدم الاكتراث بما يقوله الله, والحفاظ عليها أحد الدروس التي نأمل أن ننشرها ونشجعها داخل المجتمع".  "This is not a new age thing, but part of the Islamic teachings, as many verses in the Koran talk about conserving nature and respecting it because nature is a sign of God," Khan said. "Destroying a sign of God is disrespecting God, so those are some of the lessons we're hoping to promote within the community." وذكر خان أنَّ فكرة مبادرة "رمضان أخضر" نشأت بعد زيادة المخاوف حول تضخم كمية النفايات المحتملة التي يمكن أن تنشأ خلال العطلة في رمضان", مضيفًا "خلال شهر رمضان المبارك, يوجد الكثير من التفاعلات وتكثر الصلوات والمواد الغذائيَّة، ولذا فإنَّنا نشعر بالقلق إزاء كمية من زجاجات البلاستيك في المسجد", لذلك بدأنا تبادل الأفكار حول كيفية جعل هذا الحدث أكثر صداقة للبيئة، وعليه فنحن نطلب من الناس أن تتفاعل مع "رمضان أخضر"، ونتعهد بالعمل من أجل تفعليه في المجتمع، كما نحاول الحد من استهلاك المياه".  "During Ramadan there's a lot of interaction, daily prayers and food served, so we're concerned about the amount of plastic bottles generated at the ISCJ since we're not eating or drinking from dawn until dusk," he said. "So we started brainstorming about how to make this event more eco-friendly. So we ask people to take the 'Green Ramadan' pledge to action, where we pledge to reduce energy consumption, water consumption, and consumption of meat." وأردف خان، أحد منظمي الحملة: "إنَّ المحافظة على البيئة هي الشيء الذي نأمل أن ينتشر بين الناس على مدار العام، ولهذا السبب رأينا أنَّ رمضان هو أفضل وقت لإطلاق هذه الحملة". "This is something that we hope spreads to people year-round, which is why we agreed Ramadan was the best time to launch it," Khan said.  وأشار خان إلى وجود 3 طرق معروفة للتخلص من النفايات هي: إعادة التدوير, وإعادة الاستخدام والتقليل منها.. لكن الحملة زادت رابعة: زيادة الوعي وجمع الناس على عمل واحد في المجتمع الإسلامي للعمل بالتزامن مع الصيام، إلى جانب إلهام الناس بالتحلي بالرحمة ورعاية المحتاجين.   "Khan mentioned: People talk about the three R's, recycling, reusing and reducing, so in our community we decided to make it the four R's, with Ramadan. This is a great way to raise awareness and bring people on board in the Islamic community to work in conjunction with fasting, to inspire people to exhibit care and compassion, while showing charity." من جانبه قال منظم آخر للحملة: "التوعية ببيئة خضراء واجب على كل مسلم، ليس لأنها كلمة طنانة أو سائدة هذه الأيام. ولكن لأنها جزء من المسئولية الأخلاقيَّة للمسلمين", وتشمل الحملة توعية المسلمين في العديد من المساجد الأمريكية الأخرى عن طريق إلقاء خطب عن التنمية وإعادة التدوير وتوفير الطاقة الكهربائية والمياه. جديرٌ بالذكر أنَّ حملة "رمضان أخضر" تعتبر امتدادًا للحملة التي أطلقتها الجاليَّة الإسلامية العام الماضي تحت عنوان "المسجد الأخضر", وهي الحملة التي بدأتها عدة مساجد في مختلف أنحاء الولايات المتحدة تهدف إلى التوعية بالبيئة وتشجيع المجتمع الأمريكي بأسره على تبني تغييرات صديقة للبيئة. يُشار إلى أنّ عدد المسلمين في الولايات المتحدة يتراوح ما بين 6 و 7 ملايين نسمة من عدد السكان، الذي تجاوز 300 مليون نسمة.

NATIVE DEEN sing 'Our Earth' - ThinkAsGreen.com

The American Muslim hip-hop band Native Deen who are going on their North African and Asian tour from September 20 - October 3, 2011 share their green identity.

Naeem Muhammad of NATIVE DEEN & Faraz Khan of TAG - Think As Green.com

Check out the new song OUR EARTH from Native Deen's new album 'The Remedy'. 

"If the Muslims could be at the forefront of that [environmental movement] I think we will really be changing the hearts and minds of people about what Muslims are all about."



The story of Native Deen is an inspiring one that began with three Muslim youth possessing unique talents and a passion to spread the uplifting message of Islam.  Originally solo artists and active participants of their communities searching for creative ways to educate and inspire Muslim youth, today Native Deen has become a fusion of Hip-hop and R&B flavors, thrilling fans with their eclectic and unique combinations of lyrics, rhythms and sounds. The trio made up of Joshua Salaam, Abdul-Malik Ahmad and Naeem Muhammad came together in 2000 and has embarked upon a professional career in the music industry together in order to highlight issues confronting Muslims living in America. [www.NativeDeen.com]

How Green is YOUR MSA - Work in Progress

I have been working with Princeton MSA (Green Ramadan Initiative) see latest conversation with Chaplain Sohaib Sultan on green www.thinkasgreen.com and learned a few lessons:

1. Form a TEAM - a Few passionate individuals can make a lasting impact
2. MSA Leadership - Make Public Intention to go Green via PLEDGE/RESOLUTION (available on TAG)
3. Start out Small (SOS) - it will swing momentum and people will start paying attention. DO NOT SET UP MSA Green work for a BIG PROJECT (hence a BIG FAILURE). ex. minimize disposable water bottles, eliminate styrofoam, reduce water waste (sunna wudu)...etc.

4. RESOURCES - Renewal Documentary & GreenDeen are two best works out there.

5. OUTDOORS - plan a hike and discuss the global env. picture and local MSA/House connection. Come up with a PLAN to CHANGE.
Lastly, we need to give MSAs concrete plans... Platinum, Diamond, Gold and encourage “Do the Following” action items. If the entire Green plan is open ended 101 suggestions on green, none of suggestions would get implemented. If we give concrete “implement five of the eight items”  such as 100 green pledges from students, 20% reduction in food waste, No styrofoam policy, reduce one meat dish, plant a tree/sapling this year, etc.

Any suggestions? Please share how things are evolving on your campus.


Best,
Faraz Khan

p.s. Be an Inspiration

TAG: Buddhist & Islamic Perspective on the Environment

Beacon Institute presents respected theologians for second talk in
“Spirituality and the Environment” series
Buddhist and Islamic perspective on Sept. 15 at environmental center
BEACON, NY
Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries, as part of its environmental lecture series, is presenting the second of two panel discussions with respected spiritual leaders to examine the role of spirituality in protecting the environment at the Institute’s Center for Environmental Innovation and Education at Denning’s Point in Beacon, NY. The lively and engaging discussion that began earlier this summer with Christian and Jewish leaders continues with revered Buddhist and Islamic theologians, designed to transcend differences amongst belief systems to find common points of intersection and hope.

The panel discussion will take place on Thursday, September 15, 2011 at 7 pm with Bonnie Myotai Treace, founder and head Sensei of Hermitage Heart and the Bodies of Water Society in Garrison, NY, and Faraz Khan, a Senior Environmentalist with the New Jersey DEP and Muslim Chaplain at Rutgers University. Through the dialogue, they will explore the similarities and differences between the ways Buddhist and Islamic traditions relate to environmental challenges within the context of today's world, as well as how human responsibility to earth itself is understood. Beacon Institute’s John Cronin, an internationally renowned environmentalist and a former Thomas Merton Fellow, will moderate the discussion. Online registration for this free event is encouraged at www.bire.org/events.

―Clearly this is a pivotal time. Life as we know it is genuinely at stake," states Myotai Sensei. "What religious practice brings to the table is the critical capacity for a centered, dignified stance —fully and intelligently engaged while exquisitely and peacefully still."

―The environmental ethics in Islam are based on serving humanity and preserving the resources, whether animate or inanimate,‖ offers Faraz Khan. ―Preserving the environment is a communal obligation based on the Islamic paradigm of living a well-balanced life.‖

Online registration for this event is encouraged. For more information about upcoming Beacon Institute events, visit http://www.bire.org/events.

TAG: "Much Easier than You Think" Sohaib Sultan on Green Initiatives

A Conversation with Sohaib Sultan, Chaplain Princeton University and Arshe Ahmed on Green Ramadan Initiative at Princeton University. Faraz Khan from TAG, Think As Green.com asks about challenges of bringing Muslim community on campus to enjoin a Green program for college MSA (Muslim Student Association).
"If you make the right contacts and put a little bit of effort and right intention, inshAllah the [green] effort will be full of blessings and can be done, it's much easier than you think". Imam Sohaib Sultan



The RESULT was incredible as Chaplain Sohaib explains how a total of 60 large size trash bags were thrown away full of waste last Ramadan during iftars compared with 10 bags for the entire green Ramadan. Students borrowed plates, cups, glasses, and utensils from resident colleges/dining hall and made an effort to reuse water bottles. Chaplain Sohaib Sultan led the green effort on campus by implementing a NO STYROFOAM Policy for all iftars. The MSA and Muslim Life Program at Princeton reduced plastic water bottle trash to nearly 0% by ordering reusable stainless steel bottles for students.

Daily Iftars (evening meals) would consist of 50-100 people hosted by the chaplaincy program that cultivated NO WASTE and COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION policies: 1. Avoid taking more than you can eat. 2. Exercise patience and think of others when taking your servings. 3. Take ownership of turning off lights and AC when not in use.

The Green Community and Values were fostered by sharing the following Six principles: 1. Come early to set-up tables and chairs. 2. Clean-up your eating area after you are done. 3. Wipe tablecloths, but do not throw away. 4. Rinse plates in basement sink. 5. Wash serving spoons (utensils) in basement sink. 6. Put leftover food in white fridge in basement.

Special thanks to Sohaib Sultan and Arshe Ahmed for sharing their advice for other MSAs on how to implement a Green Team, Green MSA or a Green Program on campus.

TAG, Think As Green promotes green efforts on a grassroots level with mosques, community centers, and on campus. Obviously, in a perfect no waste exists. TAG promotes minimization, reduction, and promotes a healthy balance by supporting alternatives to dominant waste culture.

For more info on Green Initiatives please check out TAG, Think As Green http://www.ThinkAsGreen.com