Green Deen: May 2008

Green Turkey
Saturday, May 31, 2008

Turkey today faces major environmental issues such as water pollution from dumping of chemicals, air pollution, deforestation, and oil spills in the Bosporus. Yesterday Veysel Eroglu, the Environment Minister of Turkey sent a letter to the foreign ministry recommending that Turkey sign the Kyoto Protocol. The ministry is giving considerable thought and says it may sign the protocol in 2015 to allow the country to complete industrialization before it has to pay the big bill of becoming green.

The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 1997 by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, whose aim is to stabilize atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations that cause climate change. There are about six main “greenhouse” gases that the protocol requires reduction, the most important is carbon dioxide. Approximately 180 parties and about 137 developing countries have ratified the protocol. Thirty six developed countries that have signed the protocol are required to reduce emissions by a certain level that was specified for each in the treaty. Unfortunately, the US has not ratified the treaty.

Turkey is facing pressure from the EU to sign the protocol. Eroglu is to meet with the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and discuss signing the protocol. President Abdullah Gul recently declared that the Kyoto Protocol is an effective tool for sustainable development. Fortunately, Turkey is getting ready to take important steps to move towards becoming green.

Posted by Asma Mana at 10:38 PM | Permalink| 0 comments

Oil from Algae... Say What?!
Friday, May 30, 2008

So apparently I’ve been living under an algae covered rock. I first found out about this new source of fuel when perusing the LA Times yesterday. Apparently, the idea has been around for some time now. Sapphire Energy, a San Diego based company, is the company discussed in the article.

Here are some excerpts from relevant articles/websites that sum it up nicely:

“While a number of bio-feedstock are currently being experimented for biodiesel (and ethanol ) production, algae have emerged as one of the most promising sources especially for biodiesel production, for two main reasons (1) The yields of oil from algae are orders of magnitude higher than those for traditional oilseeds, and (2) Algae can grow in places away from the farmlands & forests, thus minimising the damages caused to the eco- and food chain systems. There is a third interesting reason as well: Algae can be grown in sewages and next to power-plant smokestacks where they digest the pollutants and give us oil!”

“The green crude also would produce fewer pollutants in the refining process and fewer harmful emissions from vehicle tailpipes, Pyle said.”

“Today's biofuels -- in the United States, that's biodiesel and corn-based ethanol -- have helped displace petroleum but also have troublesome characteristics that reduce their appeal. Corn-derived ethanol and soybean-based biodiesel eat into land used to grow food, and their production and distribution consume large amounts of energy.”

“Anair said he was encouraged by Sapphire's reported research results. But he said he'd want to see the greenhouse gas effects of the entire process, from production to combustion, before passing judgment on Sapphire's green crude.”

"We want to displace the existing petroleum system with a continuous production system that is essentially an oil field on top of the ground that produces oil on a continuous basis for as long as you want it to."

“With increasing demand for eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based transportation fuels, algae cultivation is coming to stay to produce bio-diesel. Algae will be researched and developed as a source of alternative energy. Algae can produce 30 times more oil per acre, compared to the current crops now utilized for bio-fuels production. Algae bio-fuel is eco-friendly also in the sense that it contains no sulfur. It is non-toxic and highly biodegradable.”

If this proves successful, I might not feel so guilty about gassing up my dream car.

Sources:
LA Times
Oilgae.com
ecofriend

Posted by MetaMuslim at 10:39 PM | Permalink| 0 comments

Dump it in the Ocean?
Thursday, May 29, 2008

Living in Southern California, I have been so fascinated by the beauty of the ocean. Yeah I would get to see Lake Michigan growing up here and there, but seeing the Pacific Ocean on an almost daily basis is another thing. Subhanllah it is a great reminder of Allah (swt)’s beauties. In my recent trip to Newport Beach, I realized that sometimes beauty can truly be hidden; it’s like that phrase, "looks can be deceiving." As my friend and I got closer to the coast line, we had noticed a lot of junk or so called “trash” was coming towards the coast along with the tide. And as we walked on the pier, we had noticed a lot of trash just floating underneath the Pier. At that point, I was really disgusted and actually wanted to jump in to clean up myself, but unfortunately I walked away not doing anything except to make sure I did not dump my Gelato cup into the ocean and utilized the trash bins at the entrance of the Pier.

Later that night, someone sent me an interesting article that talked about how areas of the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii and Japan have now become a “plastic soup.” Scientists have said that the “plastic soup” covers an area TWICE the size of the continental United States. Imagine living in a land full of trash…this is exactly what the marine animals are living through. The full article can be found here: The World’s Rubbish dump: A garbage tip that stretches from Hawaii to Japan.

So next time, you’re walking along the beach and you want to throw out your gum wrapper, think twice before throwing it in the beautiful Ocean. You may just save a seagull from dying.

Wa allahu alim.

(Jazakullah khayrun to Br. Danish Siddiqui for the article.)

Posted by mohammas at 6:42 PM | Permalink| 1 comments

Baby Green Bean -- No smushy jarred peas for me!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Baby nutrition is as essential as it gets. What goes into little babies tummies now will reflect eating habits and diet later in life.

One of the greatest inventions (or maybe not) for many busy-bee moms is the tiny jar of ready-to-eat baby food. Portable, widely available, and comes in every flavor, baby jar food accounts for a $1.25 Billion dollar industry.

And of course, when there's an industry, there's a bottom line. B aby food companies tout slogans such as "for learning to eat smart, right from the start", or " everything you could want in a baby food!".

Wrong! In fact, most of these large commercial baby food companies (ahem, Gerber, Beech-Nut, and Heinz) routinely replace a large portion of actual nutritious food with starchy fillers such as tapioca and refined wheat or rice flour as well as water. Some products even include high amounts of sugar and salt! There's even a line of baby desserts! Well, we now know where our obesity problem begins.

Granted, not every product contain fillers, many of the first-stage products include a higher percentage of actual food and few or no fillers. But that doesn't solve much.

Ever wonder how jarred foods such as "mixed vegetables and chicken" or "butternut squash and corn" can last for weeks, months and even years on the shelf? (At home, most of our food goes bad in just a couple of days!) Well, thanks to new technology we can practically zap our food with instant longevity. Well, that is, baby food is pureed, strained, mixed, then heated to extremely high temperatures, which renders the food commercially sterile; which is then put into jars, vacuum sealed, and shipped off to market.

I asked a friend of mine why she chose jarred food, and she said that she read the ingredients in her baby's food. "Pears and water" she said. It's the same thing she would have given her baby. Sure, pears and water are fine, but they're also from a jar with a long shelf life.

What's wrong with food with a long shelf life? Well, the extreme heat of the sterilizing process does not only destroy all bacteria, but also a huge potion of the nutrients in the food. What you are getting is a tasteless, often starch-filled jarred food that also has little nutritional value.

So what's the solution? Many families absolutely need the convenience of jars, and yet want nutritious foods for their babies. Personally, I think the old-fashioned way is best: make your own at home. If you must buy jarred baby food, at least buy Organic, such as Gerber Organic, or Earth's Best.

Making your own is not only saving you a lot of money, but it's fun too! Some of the easiest recipes are the tastiest. You can make your baby's food along side your family's dinner meal!
There are recipes all over the internet, there are many books with baby-friendly meal plans. Annabel Karmel's "Top 100 Baby Purees" is a great start. It takes simple every-day ingredients, easy steps, minimal preparation, and stores in the freezer for a long time.

Another great alternative, but is significantly more costly (but well worth the investment in my opinion) is Organic frozen baby food. Such as Happy Baby Premium Organic Baby Meals. These meals are prepared and then immediately frozen: no fillers, no sugar, no nutrient-destroying heat. They not only skipped out on the processing, but the company will also donate to malnourished children in Malawi for every purchase.

So, please, feed your children well!

Labels: baby food, home-made baby food, jarred food, organic baby food

Posted by Ferdaus at 12:34 PM | Permalink| 4 comments

Garbage Garden
Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Composting is one of the smartest, easiest, funnest, and cheapest ways to recycle organic scraps. Basically, composting is controlled decomposition via microorganisms--yielding amazing soil conditioner and consequently, healthy and beautiful plants. I found these steps (and the added info below) to be very useful. This is also a great family and classroom activity!

Let the merit of microbe activity manifest!

5 STEPS TO A COMPOST HEAP

BEFORE YOU START:

How a compost heap works: The basic ingredients of a compost heap are nitrogen, carbon, oxygen, and water. Nitrogen-rich materials include most fresh, green forms of vegetable matter, such as kitchen peelings, green leaves, and grass clippings.

Carbon-rich materials include those that have already started to decompose by drying out: straw, dried leaves, and bark. Paper is also rich in carbon. Green materials also contain some carbon, but an effective heap requires at least twice as much dry, carbon-rich material as green, nitrogen-rich matter.

Oxygen is absorbed from the air, so the heap must be turned regularly, or, if it is enclosed, provision should be made for air to penetrate through the sides. Too much water is as bad as too little--excess water will decrease the amount of oxygen in the heap. To keep the heap damp but not wet, cover it. If it starts to dry out, you can add moisture for a few minutes by fine spraying with a hose.

The interaction of all these elements, combined with the heat generated by microbe activity, breaks down the organic matter. Regular turning of the heap helps maintain a high temperature and adds fresh oxygen, which reacts with the nitrogen to provide additional heat. A fresh heap takes about two weeks to reach its maximum temperature, and, if it is well maintained, will mature in two to three months. The result should be a dark-colored, sweet-scented, crumbly medium for mixing into garden soil.

STEP 1:
In a sunny position, measure out an area at least a yard square (this is the minimum size necessary to generate the required heat in the shortest possible time). The bigger the heap, the more rapidly it generates heat.

STEP 2:
Arrange coarse materials, such as sticks, prunings, and bark pieces, to form the base. These will allow air to filter into the center of the heap without smothering the soil surface. You want worms to enter the heap, and smothering the soil discourages them.

STEP 3:
Place 2 to 4 inches of other organic matter, such as kitchen waste, grass clippings mixed with dry leaves, animal manure, or weed-free garden loam, over this.

STEP 4:
Lightly water each layer with a fine spray and build further layers of material 4 inches deep.

STEP 5:
For every 4 in. layer of waste, add a handful of blood meal and bonemeal or a spadeful of manure. Turn the heap once every two weeks with a pitchfork.

AND KEEP IN MIND:

Heaps versus bins. A simple, open heap is the traditional and most common way to compost materials, but its exposure to the elements means that heat build-up is slow. Bins are more efficient. A series of three containers will ensure a regular supply: one in the process of being filled, a full one with waste left to decompose, and a third with fully decomposed waste being used as needed on the garden.

A plastic compost bin, store-bought or improvised from a bottomless garbage can, is useful in limited spaces.

Alternate soil layers with waste layers.

Source: http://home.ivillage.com/gardening/0,,82lr,00.html

Supplemental Info:

Composting Steps - more detailed instructions
How to Make Compost: by someone who did it... - nice slide show
163 Great Composting Items - very useful list!

Benefits of Using Compost:

Action Ideas:

"Indeed it is Allah Who splits the grain and the seed; it is He Who brings forth living from the dead, and it is He Who brings forth dead from the living; that is Allah: so how are you deluded away from the truth?" [Qur'an 6:95]

Labels: bin, compost, composting, decomposition, layers, microbes, organic, soil, waste

Posted by Aïcha Sebaa at 5:44 PM | Permalink| 2 comments

Pesky Pesticides
Monday, May 26, 2008

Although organic products are appearing at a very fast pace in most locations sometimes they aren't accessable or within one's budget. Here are some easy ways to minimize exposure to those pesky pesticides when eating non-organic foods taken from The Daily Green.

1. Buy only fruits and vegetables that are USDA regulated. Imports from other countries aren’t as stringent about their pesticide guidelines.

2. Eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. This way you won't be ingesting larger amounts of one particular pesticide.

3. Don't wash your produce until just before preparing or serving. If it needs a good scrubbing with a vegetable brush, go for it. This will remove most of the dirt, insects, bacteria and some pesticide residue.

4. When washing your produce, do so with clean, cold water. There's no need to use veggie cleaners. Clean, cold water works just fine. Plus you'll have one less product to buy and one less package to throw in the recycle bin. When appropriate, immerse the produce in the water, drain and do it again if necessary. Keep your faucet running at a minimum.

5. Peel your produce when it's appropriate. Even though you may lose some nutrients and fiber in the process, we have to believe that it outweighs eating a sulfuric acid-laced baked potato. When it comes to vegetables like celery and leafy greens, cut off the top of the stalks and peel away the outer leaves of the head of lettuce or cabbage. This most likely is where the bulk of the pesticide residue resides.

6. This may sound sacrilegious to a chef because it's where a lot of flavor comes from but … trimming the fat and skin from meats, fish and poultry will lessen your exposure to pesticides too. Pesticide residue concentrates in animal fat and can also be found in fish tissue

Source: 6 Ways To Guard Yourself Against Non-Organic Pesticides in Food

More:

Labels: health, Kitchen, nutrition, organic, pesticides

Posted by Angie at 11:50 PM | Permalink| 10 comments

Greening the Movement
Sunday, May 25, 2008

Just Peace: A Grassroots Movement

Just resistance for peaceful existence.

Just Peace is a student based pro-justice movement in Southern California. They fight for the establishment of justice across the globe, and attempt to convey their ideals through products such as t-shirts, bracelets, and freedom scarves. Aside from desiring to establish justice on the political and moral frontier, they also strive for environmental justice through their products.

All of Just Peace garments are American Apparel. All of their clothing is made locally in Los Angeles. At the work site, workers are paid fairly and an onsite massage therapist is even available for those sitting at sewing machines all day. Their standards are to treat their employees fairly and to make clothes in a "sweat-free" environment.

Just Peace “peace bracelets” are made from organic hemp materials, and Just Peace shirts are made from 100% organic cotton, the face of the shirt stating:

“Cut yourself out of the picture. Only when we stop conforming can change be made. Let the roots of justice spread. Let the revolution begin.”

For more information on Just Peace or to preview and order products email them at justpeacesocal@gmail.com

Labels: Just Peace

Posted by Nadya Aweinat at 10:09 PM | Permalink| 0 comments

Recycle, Reuse, Reduce.....
Saturday, May 24, 2008

A Montessori school in Mexico called the Children's House of Palo Solo took this familiar saying to the next level.

The Children's House of Palo Solo is the first Montessori school for poor children Mexico. It was founded 25 years ago on what was once a garbage dump. Before the establishment of the Children's House, many of the children in the Palo Solo area did not attend school for financial reasons. Because their parents were uneducated and their families were facing poverty, these children for the most part went on to work at early ages in order to financially help their families rather than attending school. The answer to this predicament? Utilize native weaving techniques and used candy wrappers to make accessories that can then be sold to offer jobs to families in need and help fund the school. The bags are made under the label Mitz which in Nahuatl means "For you."
The way it works is each artist or bag maker gets 100% of the profits from the bags that they sell but in turn have made an agreement to donate 20% of proceeds to the school. This way, families are given jobs and the school is being funded as well. Of course, the other benefit from this project is that the streets of Palo Solo are not being cluttered with used candy and snack wrappers.

To find out more about the Palo Solo Mitz project check out their site.

Labels: bag, candy, mexico, Mitz, Palo Solo, wrapper

Posted by Naadiya Patel at 11:05 AM | Permalink| 0 comments

Gas: I Wish I Could Pass
Friday, May 23, 2008

While I may be branded as Captain Obvious with this post, greendeen is long overdue for a gas price rant!

Yesterday, AAA announced that the average price of a gallon of gas in California reached $4.

$4! With your average car getting 20 mpg, that translates to 5 miles per dollar! Now just imagine if your car got 40 mpg. That would give you 10 miles per dollar, or in other words, it is as if you were driving your current 20 mpg car but only paying $2 a gallon!

I'll stop here with the numbers to spare the mathematically challenged.

While the best ways to dodge the sky-rocketting gas prices and save the environment include public transportation and carpooling, many of us just can’t give up our own cars. Did somebody say Prius? I doubt I'm the only one who has been eyeing (with the appended mashaAllah, ofcourse) those super cool hybrids more than ever. With more and more hybrid models coming out, I'm looking forward to the added variety I'll have when I do eventually upgrade my vehicle.

Have you recently acquired a new fuel efficient car? Planning on it?

Share your thoughts!

Posted by MetaMuslim at 9:44 PM | Permalink| 4 comments

A vacuum 's job is to suck
Thursday, May 22, 2008

Most vacuums have an alter ego---one that blows…

We see the vacuum suck up dust balls and think it's working. But that vacuum is also sucking up air. Have we ever wonder where that air goes? That's the dirty little secret of many vacuums. That air they just sucked up, dust and particles and all, is blown right back. Now this really sucks, because that is what we breath!!!

The solution is: We buy a vacuum with a HEPA filters. HEPAs (High Efficiency Particulate Air Filters) remove particles so small you need a microscope to see them. It sucks them in and outs them in dust jail. There is no blow backs. You can get a deep steam cleaning once or twice a year. The heat in the steam sterilizes everything without using nasty chemicals.

I believe there is also a service that can come and do it for you (some may even move and replace your furniture), or you can just rent a machine and do it yourself from your local supermarket.

Posted by Rushda at 1:49 PM | Permalink| 2 comments

Baby Green Bean - What's In My Bag?
Wednesday, May 21, 2008

This is a list of my top ten favorite must haves for the green diaper bag.

1) Sassy Biodegradable Diaper Sacks

Keeps dirty duds in wraps, 50 count, and smells really great.

2) Seventh Generation Diapers

Chlorine free, non-toxic diapers.

3) Nature Baby Wipes

Biodegradable wipes and packaging!

4) Bumkins Bib

PVC & Phthalate-free, washable, wipe-able, catch-all bibs.

5) Bumkins Washcloth

Organic, bleach-free silky-smooth cloths.

6) Burt’s Bees “Baby To Go Kit”

Tried-and-true natural care for baby! Smells like a dream…Includes diaper ointment, baby powder, baby wash, baby lotion.

7) Sassy Earth Brights Toy

Hand-crafted hardwood toys, with water-based natural finishes, packaged in 100% paperboard.

8) Gerber Organic Mini Fruits

Organic freeze-dried fruits, bite-size dissolvable snacks perfect for babies.

9) Gerber Organic Onesies

A diaper bag must-have for any situation. 100% Organic cotton.

10) Fleurville PVC-Free Re-Run Diaper Bag

PVC, Teflon-free, stylish bag. Made wipe-able with Green-Lam. Made from recycled plastic bottle fabric!

Posted by Ferdaus at 9:13 PM | Permalink| 0 comments

Sh. Ibn Uthaymeen
Tuesday, May 20, 2008

I recently heard this over the weekend in a seminar with Shaykh Yasir Birjas, and thanks to Angie's great note taking skills, I just couldn't wait to share it with you all. :)
This is a reminder to myself of the essence of the blog, to tie in our environmental choices with Islam.

Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen:
Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen (may Allah (swt) be pleased with him) was very green! - He would tell the people that are in the masjid to turn the AC on 1/2 an hour before the 'iqamah. As soon as you see me come in (to lead prayer) turn it off. This was done to save energy even though they didn't know about global warming or "being green". - The lights in the masjid were turned off unless there were people in the masjid using the lights. There were spotlights on the sides for the students of knowledge that would come to the masjid to study so as not to be wasteful. subhan Allah.. "If you take this as your lifestyle then it becomes your mission.. like the mission of the anbiya'''
I am now on a search for scholars, shuyukh, and other Muslim role models in our history who have paved the way to "being green." The difficult part of the search are that the majority of resources of Islamic history have not yet been translated from Arabic to English. I ask that if you have anything you would like to share, names and examples, to please share it with us in sha' Allah. You are more than welcome to comment or email socal.greendeen@gmail.com.
Jazakum Allahu khayran!

Labels: A/C, Angie, Ibn Uthaymeen, Masjid, Yasir Birjas

Posted by Green Deen at 11:58 PM | Permalink| 1 comments

Helping Palestine
Monday, May 19, 2008

As Muslims, the catastrophe (not celebration) that happened decades ago marked it's 60 year "anniversary" this May 2008. Yes, the beginning of the theft of the Palestinian land, ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people and slaughtering of numerous lives. Here on the other side of the planet, miles and miles away from the chaos, we try our best to speak out, protest and campaign against these illegal and atrocious human rights violations..

and here's one more way we can help. Buy Palestinian Fair Trade.

I've seen these products being sold at events scattered here and there but I am not quite sure if there's an online source that you can purchase from or which retails stores carry them. Regardless of which, if you run into them, make sure to support!

Check out the website at Palestinian Fair Trade Association. They even carry organic products!

Labels: fair trade, olive oil., palestine

Posted by Angie at 3:00 PM | Permalink| 0 comments

Waste not, want not
Saturday, May 17, 2008

Although the concept of conservation slowly emerged in the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe, the US is given credit for starting the conservation movement in the 19th century. However, way before Europe or the US developed such a concept, Islam promoted conservation.

Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala says in surat Al-Araf: “Do not mischief on the earth, after it has been set in order, but call on Him with fear and longing (in your hearts): for the Mercy of Allah is (always) near those who do good” (7:56)

Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) taught his companions not to be wasteful. It is related that the Prophet (PBUH) passed by his companion Sa’ad, who was performing his wudhu’ (ablutions), and said:
“What is this wastage, O Sa’ ad?”“Is there wastage even in washing for prayer?” asked Sa’ d;and he said, “Yes, even if you are by a flowing river!” – Ibn Majah
Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala also warns us against being wasteful in numerous Quranic verses.

“There is the type of man whose speech about this world’s life may dazzle you, and he calls Allah to witness about what is in his heart; yet he is the most contentious of enemies. When he turns his back, his aim everywhere is to spread mischief through the earth and destroy crops and progeny, but Allah loves not mischief”. (2:204-5)

“It is He who produces gardens, with trellises and without, and dates and tilth with produce of all kinds, and olives and pomegranates, similar (in kind) and different (in variety): eat of their fruit in their season, but render the dues that are proper on the day that the harvest is gathered. But waste not by excess: for Allah loves not the wasters.” (6:141)

Our Creator has provided us with great bounty and sustenance. As Muslims it is our obligation to enjoy what He has provided us with in moderation and with sincere gratefulness. Allah (S) describes those that are wasteful as the “brothers of Satan” (17:27). I ask Allah not to make us from the among the family of Satan and I ask Allah to continue providing us with His blessed bounty and to forgive us for our wasteful ways. ~ Ameen

Posted by Asma Mana at 9:35 PM | Permalink| 1 comments

A Pioneer of the Environment
Friday, May 16, 2008

I recently came across an article on IslamiCity.com and thought I'd share it. Here's just a teaser! Enjoy.

Prophet Mohammed: A Pioneer of the Environment

By: Francesca De Chatel

"There is none amongst the believers who plants a tree, or sows a seed, and then a bird, or a person, or an animal eats thereof, but it is regarded as having given a charitable gift [for which there is great recompense]."[Al-Bukhari, III:513].

The idea of the Prophet Mohammed as a pioneer of environmentalism will initially strike many as strange: indeed, the term "environment" and related concepts like "ecology", "environmental awareness" and "sustainability", are modern-day inventions, terms that were formulated in the face of the growing concerns about the contemporary state of the natural world around us.

And yet...Read on!

Posted by MetaMuslim at 11:10 PM | Permalink| 0 comments

Green Juice
Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Want something refreshing, energizing, tasty, healthy and...green? This is the perfect morning booster and it's super-healthy! I've tried many green juices and experimented with different twists but I find this recipe to best of them all:

G R E E N_J U I C E:

2 cups orange-pineapple fruit juice
1 frozen banana
1 plum
3-5 strawberries
2 cups fresh spinach
0.25 cup yogurt (w/active cultures)
zest and juice of 1 lemon
10 wheatgrass blades
1 mint spring
optional: 1 tsp raw honey to sweeten

Blend it!

Say:
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
bismi-llāhi ar-raḥmāni ar-raḥīmi
"In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful"

Bon Appétit :)

~~~

"So eat of the lawful and good food which Allah Has Provided for you. And be grateful for the Graces of Allah, if it is He Whom you serve." [Qur'an 16:114]

~~~

Check out a whole foods list with tons of info here.

Labels: fruits, green juice, health, juice, nutrition, wheatgrass

Posted by Aïcha Sebaa at 12:59 AM | Permalink| 3 comments

Dirty Veins?
Monday, May 12, 2008

As if polluted air is not bad enough already, now comes word that long-term exposure to the tiny, dirty particles may increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis, blood clots in the thighs or legs. A recent Italian study found that people who had been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis had been exposed to a higher concentration of polluted air. "Compensating for other environmental and health factors, the researchers found that the risk of deep vein thrombosis increased by 70 percent for every increase in particulate matter of 10 micrograms per square meter." These particulate matters are the type that we breathe in every day. They are found in the exhaust of vehicles, especially diesel engines and the burning of fossil fuels.

For the full article, please visit: Air Pollution Linked to Blood Clots in Legs

Labels: air pollution, Blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, exhaust of vehicles, fossil fuels, pollution, thrombosis

Posted by Abu Sumayyah at 11:00 PM | Permalink| 5 comments

Homemade Honey Products
Sunday, May 11, 2008

So, Naadiya's post on bees and Ferdaus' post on carcinogens found in commonly marketed products inspired the idea of this post. Why don't we make our own products from honey (as one of the main ingredients)?

Going natural is much better than saturating our skin with products that are filled with toxic chemicals and random whatnots with nomenclature beyond the average person's pronunciation comfort level. Our skin is a highly permeable membrane and easily absorbs anything we put on it (many times leading directly to the bloodstream.) So it makes sense to put substances on our skin that is healthy to eat/that we would not mind getting into our bodies, right? :)

My mother (btw, Happy Mother's Day) and I have tried many of these recipes before and they work great! Plus, there is comfort in knowing every little thing that is in the blob you are about to dab on and you can even customize any given concoction in a way that works best for you. (E.g. random tip for cleansers: for dry skin, add a little banana purée and for oily skin, add a little raw mashed-tomato.)

Note: try to use organic, raw and unprocessed ingredients.

"HONEY" for SKIN CARE

FACIAL TREATMENT:

1/3 cup finely ground oatmeal
3 tablespoon Really Raw Honey, or enough to make a smooth paste
1 tablespoon rose water or orange flower water

Blend oatmeal with honey until well mixed. If too thick and unmanageable, add a little rose water or orange flower water. Spread over clean face with the exception of your eyes and leave on for ½ hour. Relax while it is on. Remove this, a good astringent should be applied to tone the skin.

FACIAL CLEANSER:

2 tablespoons finely ground almonds
1 tablespoon Really Raw Honey
1/2 tablespoon lemon juice

Blend almonds, honey and lemon juice. rub gently into face. rinse with warm water

SOOTHING SKIN CLARIFIER FOR ACNE:

1/2 cup warn water
1/4 tablespoon salt
Dab of Really Raw Honey

Mix warm water and salt. Using a cotton ball, apply mixture directly to blemish. Maintain pressure with cotton ball for several minutes, to soften blemish. Using a cottton swab, dab Really Raw Honey on blemish; leave on 10 minutes. Rinse and pat dry. You can use a dab of Really Raw Honey anytime on blemishes!

FACIAL TONER:

1 peeled cored apple
1 tablespoon Really Raw Honey

In a blender puree apple and honey. Smooth over face. Leave on 15 minutes. Rinse with cold water.

FIRMING FACIAL MASK:

1 egg white
1 tablespoon Really Raw Honey
1 teaspoon glycerin
Flour

Wisk together egg white, honey, and glycerin. Add flour to form a paste. Smooth over face and throat. Leave on 10 minutes. Wash off with warm water.

FACE LOTION:

1 tablespoon sweet almond oil
2 tablespoons honey

Blend together. This lotion should be used after the skin has been thoroughly cleansed. Leave on skin for ½ hour. Remove with a soft cloth and tepid water.

FACE SCRUB:

1 / 2 cup almond meal
Really Raw Honey

Mix to form a thick paste. Scrub face with paste, paying close attention to oily areas. Leave on for a few minutes. Remove with tepid water and a soft cloth. Your skin will be soft and refreshed!

SKIN SOFTENING BATH:
Add 1/4 cup of Really Raw Honey to water for a fragrant silky bath.

SMOOTHING SKIN CONDITIONER:

1 teaspoon almond oil
1 teaspoon Really Raw Honey
1/4 teaspoon lemon juice

Mix oil, honey, and lemon juice.
Rub into hands, elbows, heels, and anywhere skin feels dry. Leave on 10 minutes.
Remove with tepid water and a soft cloth. Your skin will be soft and refreshed!

HAIR SHINE:

4 cups (1 Quart) Water
1 teaspoon Really Raw Honey
1/4 teaspoon lemon juice

This recipe is for those who wish to use shampoo in addition to honey but shampoo is not necessary. Honey cleans in addition to aiding the health of the hair and scalp.
Mix water, honey, and lemon juice. After shampooing, pour mixture through hair. Do not rinse out. Dry as normal.

(Source: http://www.reallyrawhoney.com/recipes.php#skincare )

Here are some more recipes (with more great info too).
Side (interesting read): Honey, Hadiths, and Health Day: A Spectrum of Healing in the Daily Life of Boston Muslims By: Amy E. Rowe

Enjoy!

If you have any recipes you'd like to share or any feedback on the recipes above, please leave a comment :)

Photo Source: http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l123/adamlf/Honey2.jpg

Labels: all natural, beauty, bees, homemade, honey, organic, products, raw, skin, skin care

Posted by Aïcha Sebaa at 11:09 AM | Permalink| 1 comments

What happened to the buzz?
Saturday, May 10, 2008

I remember growing up as a child, often afraid to play in the yard for fear that I would be stung by a bee. Then, one day I actually was stung by a bee and my fear only grew stronger. Don't get me wrong, I always admired them as amazing creatures, I was just afraid. As the years passed by, I noticed seeing less and less bees, or maybe it was just that I wasn't as paranoid as I was a child, constantly searching for them every time I stepped out into the yard? However, the unfortunate truth is that the bees are in fact disappearing.

Where have all the bees gone?

Its the question that many beekeepers have been asking themselves for a while now. Its seems that bees have disappeared due to what is now called Colony Collapse Disorder. This phenomenon results in empty hives or hives with dead bees. While it is not yet understood where the bees have gone or why they have disappeared in the first place, one theory is that Neonicotinoids (nicotine-based pesticides) are to blame. While studies show that Neonicotinoids are safer for humans and animals, they are increasingly harmful to insects (including bees). Neonicotinides depress the immune system of insects, causes memory loss, nervous system disorders and causes insects to stop feeding.
Generally, honey bees have a keen sense of direction and are capable of traveling up to 2 miles in search of food by using the sun and landmarks along the way. They are able to return to their hives by following the distinct scent of their hive. Honey bees communicate the location of their food sources through what researchers have called "the dance". "The dance" is thought to be one of the more complex forms of communication in the animal kingdom. Unfortunately, lately, it seems the bees are getting lost and are unable to find their way back home. Those bees that are not lost are dying in great numbers. Colony Collapse Disorder has left some bee hives deserted while others are left with unattended larva and eggs which is quite out of the ordinary for bees as they would never leave their young unattended to.

So why is all this so important?

While bees may seem to be a nuisance to anyone who simply sees them as pesky bugs that buzz around and sting people, they are much more than that. Bees play a vital role in our eco-system. The fruits and vegetables that we enjoy everyday in our meals rely on the pollination of bees in order to grow. The honey that we use to sweeten our tea with requires bees to produce it. The flowers that color our landscapes require bees to pollinate them. So to put it simply bees are very important and although we may fail to pay heed to it, they are critical to our survival.

I believe that we can all learn a lesson from bees, and if we pay enough attention, maybe we too can be like the bee:

“Leave the world to those who hanker after it, as they leave the Afterlife to its seekers. And be in this world as the bee: it eats only good, produces only good, and when it rests upon anything it neither ruins it nor deflowers it.” -Al-Fawa’id (Riyadh: Maktabah al-Rushd, 2001), 187; trans. Surkheel Sharif.

60 minutes did a segment on Colony Collapse Disorder (watch it here):

More information can also be found at Burt's Bees.

Posted by Naadiya Patel at 11:05 AM | Permalink| 3 comments

Take a Hike!
Friday, May 09, 2008

Get off your...

...computer and get yourself over to one of the many beautiful scenic views just moments away! While I am not too familiar with what Orange Country has to offer (help me out OC folk), Los Angeles is full of great hiking spots. I recently went on a night hike with some buddies to the top of the hills surrounding Griffith Park. We took this picture overlooking Los Angeles County.

Don't tell me you've already started to make excuses? I figured you would this quickly so here are some excuse busters in no particular order:

1. Hiking is great exercise! The distance combined with the natural uphill/downhill terrain makes for an excellent workout.

2. It's hiking season! Any trail you choose will be full of vegetation this time of year.

3. Masha'Allah/SubhanAllah inducing scenery. Whether you hike deep into a ravine or to the top of a hill, you are sure to be overwhelmed by the surrounding beauty.

4. Kodak moments! Who doesn't like to make good memories? Memorable moments ALWAYS find their way in to hikes.

5. Walking amongst nature is a great reminder of the beauty of Allah's creation. We are commanded to look to the signs of Allah in nature... How are we supposed to do this if we never got out from under the city lights or venture out of our paved cities?

6. While many of us are eco friendly as a matter of principle, having tangible, personal reasons for why we want the Earth preserved adds immensely to our commitment.

7. Don't have the right shoes? Check out GreatGreenShoes!

8. Cool people hike.

Now, go!

Posted by MetaMuslim at 7:31 PM | Permalink| 2 comments

Baby Green Bean - Carcinogens in the Tub
Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Mr. Bubble? What happened?

The last thing we think about when we (or our kids) reach for the soap are petrochemicals and carcinogens. But, sigh, are we really surprised anymore that these cheap and potentially deadly ingredients are found in our daily health and beauty products?

Synthetic ingredients are not only easy but very inexpensive ways of making a product generally perform and deliver the desired result. For example, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is commonly used to make bubbles more “bubblier”. It is used in shampoos for its detergent and foam-building abilities. It has been known to cause eye irritations, skin rashes, hair loss, scalp scurf similar to dandruff, and allergic reactions. It is frequently disguised in pseudo-natural cosmetics with the parenthetic explanation “comes from coconut”.

Carcinogens have found their way into some of the most commonly used health and beauty products, specifically those targeted for children and women.

1,4-Dioxane is a petroleum-derived contaminant considered a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a clear-cut animal carcinogen by the National Toxicology Program. It is also on California's Proposition 65 list of chemicals known or suspected by the state to cause cancer or birth defects. Because it is a contaminant produced during manufacturing, the FDA does not require it to be listed as an ingredient on product labels!

More than two dozen products were tested for 1,4-Dioxane by West Coast Analytical Service, an independent testing laboratory specializing in trace chemical analysis. Among the products tested:

http://www.breastcancerfund.org/site/pp.asp?c=kwKXLdPaE&b=2483603

Product Baby & Children's Consumer Products	1,4-Dioxane concentration
Disney Clean as Can Bee Hair & Body Wash (Water Jel Technologies)	8.8 ppm
Disney Pixar Cars Piston Cup Bubble Bath (MZB Personal Care)	2.2 ppm
Gerber Grins & Giggles Gentle & Mild Aloe Vera Baby Shampoo	8.4 ppm
Hello Kitty Bubble Bath (Kid Care)	12 ppm*
Huggies Baby Wash Shea Butter	4.0 ppm
Huggies Natural Care Baby Wash Extra Gentle and Tear Free	4.2 ppm
Johnson's Head-to-Toe Baby Wash (Johnson & Johnson)	5.3 ppm to 6.1 ppm
Johnson's Kids Tigger Bath Bubbles (Johnson & Johnson)	5.6 ppm to 7.9 ppm
Johnson's Kids Shampoo Watermelon Explosion (Johnson & Johnson)	10 ppm*
Lil' Bratz Mild Bubble Bath (Kid Care)	3.7 ppm
L'Oreal Kids Orange Mango Smoothie Shampoo	2.0 ppm
Mr. Bubble Bubble Bath Gentle Formula with Aloe	1.5 ppm
Rite-Aid Tearless Baby Shampoo	4.3 ppm
Scooby-Doo Mild Bubble Bath (Kid Care)	3.0 ppm
Sesame Street Wet Wild Watermelon Bubble Bath (The Village Company)	7.4 ppm

Adult Consumer Products
Clairol Herbal Essences Rainforest Flowers Shampoo	23 ppm*
Olay Complete Body Wash with Vitamins (normal skin)	23 ppm*
Suave Naturals Passion Flower	2.0 ppm
_{*Product was at or above FDA maximum}

There is a vast array of personal products at our disposal. Our personal health and well-being, as well as our environment locally and globally, are in question by the widespread use of synthetic substances. We cannot avoid all synthetic substances, and not all synthetics are bad for us. Many of these materials have improved the quality of our lives, but many have also deteriorated it. We do not know what will result from our use of certain synthetics in the long run. The environment can be sustained or systematically destroyed by our choices. As consumers we can participate in the sustaining of eco-friendly organic farming practices, wise waste disposal, clean manufacturing processes and biodegradability of ingredients. The choices are many, and the freedom to choose is ours. The answer can make a difference to your health and our ecosystem.

Posted by Ferdaus at 9:50 PM | Permalink| 2 comments

What To Ditch & What To Switch
Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Submitted By Guest Blogger:
Nadya Aweinat

Try these ecofriendly ideas that only cost a few dollars each, offer immediate health benefits by reducing indoor pollutants, and also have long-term positive effects on the planet...

In the Kitchen...

Ditch: Plastic storage containers

Switch: Glass storage containers

Why: Plastic is manufactured from a nonrenewable, limited resource: petroleum. Glass, which is made from sand, soda, ash, and limestone, can be recycled easily and perpetually into more glass. It's also nontoxic, won't stain, and doesn't leech into your food or water!

Ditch: Pots and pans with nonstick coatings

Switch: Cast iron

Why: Nonstick coatings are made with chemicals that have been found to cause developmental problems in lab animals. The EPA has concluded that routine cooking with such pans causes the chemicals to linger in the environment and also. Cooking in cast iron, on the other hand, can increase the amount of beneficial iron in your food by as much as almost 80 percent.

Ditch: Conventional dishwashing deterhent

Switch: Nontoxic, ecofriendly dishwashing products

Why: Conventional detergents may be petroleum-based and contain chlorine or phosphates, all of which pollute our water supply, don't biodegrade easily, and present health hazards. Look for alternatives that are biodegradable, nontoxic, cholrine free, and phosphate free.

In the Bathroom...

Ditch: Vinyl shower curtain

Switch: Cloth shower curtains

Why: Vinyl is another petroleum-derived synthetic. It stays in the environment and is suspected of contributing to a host of illnesses, ranging from cancer to birth defects, according to Greenpeace. I mean all you need to do is smell the thing! A natural-fiber cloth shower curtain, made form organic cotton or hemp is washable, breathable, and free of chemicals.

Ditch: An older-model or leaky toilet

Switch: A new water-saving toilet

Why: If your toilet was manufactured before 1993 (the date stamp is usually inside the lid or behind the seat), it may guzzle up to 7 gallons per flush! We don't even drink that much in a week! A new ultra-low-flush model will reduce that figure to 1.6 gallons or less, saving thousands of gallons a year! Or better yet...just build an outhouse :)

Ditch: "Spa" showers

Switch: A water saving showerhead

Why: A full body, spa-type showerhead may use as much as 60 to 100 gallons of water per MINUTE! A single water-conserving showerhead may use less than 2 gallons per minute--and you won't run out of hot water.

ECO TIP: To find out more about how you might conserve water in your bathroom and home, visit the Water Budget Calculator at http://www.h2ouse.org/.

Labels: Bathroom, Ditch, Kitchen, showerheads, Switch

Posted by Green Deen at 11:21 PM | Permalink| 3 comments

Environmentally-Friendly Muslims
Monday, May 05, 2008

"Environmentally-Friendly Muslims" by Shaykh Sadullah Khan

Labels: community, environment, Islam, khutbah, lecture, muslims, video

Posted by Angie at 9:23 AM | Permalink| 1 comments

Bottled Water vs Tap Water?
Sunday, May 04, 2008

Assalamu `alyakum,

So, it started with Perrier. Somehow, a French company convinced people it's cool to buy bottled water. Today, Evian has surpassed Perrier in sales and now it's the chic French water of choice. Why? It costs about 5 bucks a gallon! Why do people pay so much for something they can get virtually free?

If they're not buying Evian, they buy Aquafina and Dasani and the dozens of new brands that are jumping into this billion-dollar business, including bizarre ones like Venus, the Water for Women, and Trump Ice, with "The Donald" scowling on the label. I'd have to be very thirsty to buy that.

Many people say they buy bottled waters because they taste better. Here are some quotes from people:

"I drink Dasani. It tastes good, it tastes crisp, like -- natural," one girl said.

"I think tap water kind of tastes like sewer," said another.

People also say they drink bottled water because they believe it's safer than tap water.

One man told me he's the only one "who's brave enough" to drink tap water at home. His family's afraid to drink tap water because of germs, he said.

At recent Earth Day celebrations, a lot of people told us they believe tap water is unhealthy. "As a parent I feel more comfortable giving her bottled water," one father said.

Bottled water, we are told, is cleaner, safer, healthier.

Watching bottled water ads, you'd think that tap water might not be healthy. But it's not true.

"20/20" took five bottles of national brands of bottled water and a sample of tap water from a drinking fountain in the middle of New York City and sent them to microbiologist Aaron Margolin of the University of New Hampshire to test for bacteria that can make you sick, like E. coli.

"There was actually no difference between the New York City tap water and the bottled waters that we evaluated," he said.

Many scientists have run tests like that and have consistently found that tap water is as good for you as bottled waters that cost 500 times more.

One thing people may not realize is that tap water has higher and more strict regulations than bottled water. Recently, there have been several cases found where people got sick from contaminated tap water. How many cases have we heard of people get sick from from tap water? Very few, if any at all.

Convert people! Plus, let's not mention how much plastic you are wasting, and how toxic the production of that plastic was to the Earth's environment; that's a whole different subject on its own.

If you want your water to taste like bottled water, go buy a filter. They cost about $35 from TARGET (not Walmart) and last a very long time.

DO IT! Stop buying bottled water and go drink from your tap, right now!

Posted by Mohammad Mertaban at 7:19 PM | Permalink| 9 comments

Ever wonder what's behind your wall??
Saturday, May 03, 2008

Behind most walls in the US is a think layer of insulation made of asbestos. Asbestos is a commonly used highly fibrous material found in many industrial products, including:
1. insulation
2. ceiling or floor tiles
3. cement pipes
4. potting soil and fertilizers
5. talc-containing crayons

Asbestos fibers with a size of about 2-3 micrometers (µm) in length and as thin as 0.01 µm are invisible to the naked eye. Inhaling such small fibers accumulates in the lungs and can cause asthma, lung cancer and many other lung-related diseases.
Although, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration have set limits as to what is an “acceptable” concentration of asbestos, there continues to be mining of asbestos and the production of asbestos-containing items.

Here are a few tips on what you can do to limit the consumption of asbestos:
1. Consume products without asbestos
2. Use substitute materials such as fiberglass, stone- and glasswool insulation
3. Be conscious of what you buy and what’s made from
4. When looking for a place to live look out for signs reading: “this building may contain asbestos” (required by law)

Finally, we are quick to say “Hazardous waste” and it’s to a certain extent important to do so. However, we need to be conscious of the process by which such waste is disposed of and any by-products released during this process. Typically items containing asbestos are disposed of as a “hazardous waste” in most developed countries. Fortunately, asbestos can be recycled by transforming it through chemical reactions into harmless silicate glass. A relatively new technique called microwave thermal treatment can also be used to convert asbestos into porcelain stoneware tires, porous single-fired wall tiles and ceramic bricks.

Posted by Asma Mana at 11:50 PM | Permalink| 1 comments

Planet to Planet
Friday, May 02, 2008

"The future of our planet hangs in a

delicate balance...

The future of our Earth is in OUR hands"

It’s a basic fact that when we don’t take care of something, it eventually becomes unreliable. And if we don’t do something to service or repair it, it’s likely to break down. I believe the planet needs time to recover from the onslaught it has received over the last 100 years or so.

One option might be to get off–the earth, that is. Perhaps, the UN could organize an extended holiday for all of us to another planet, in which time the earth could get back to normal programming. (I pity the other planet selected, though).

The other option, which I think the UN may favor, involves considerable more effort: Everyone makes behavioral changes and leads a more sustainable lifestyle – a lifestyle that provides a better balance between what’s taken from the earth and what the earth can give back. Living sustainably provides lots of personal benefits for us, too.

Looking into the history, the natural system that has sustained life on earth to this point is remarkable. They evolved over billions of year. They’re perfectly capable of healing themselves – if left alone–even during bizarre period of human history. For example, during the World Wars in the 20^th century, fish stocks in the North Atlantic recovered dramatically, simply because it was too dangerous for fishing fleets to head out to sea and capture fish.

Although many people believe that some environmental catastrophes caused by human activities may be irreversible, an increasing number of examples show that once-natural environments can quickly recover, if its deterioration is checked in time. Check out: www.landcareonline.com to be inspired by what people are doing to repair the environment.

Talking about our future generation, we have to leave a legacy for them. Future generation will be determined if today’s lifestyle is sustainable. If our current consumption habits leave nothing for future generation to enjoy, then our habits are clearly not sustained. I’m not talking about a long-term future – like the Star Trek, involving creatures from other planets. No, I’m talking about the immediate future: Our children and Their children.

We all can make a difference if we consume only what we need, stop throwing away so much stuff! And do things more naturally and invest locally. Lastly, we can try to develop more sustainable habits and life styles insha’Allah.

Shortage of water is world wide, use less water!
Don't waste
Turn off appliance, use less electricity
Go for Green cleaning product
Buy organic food
Energy crisis is booming, if feasible, covert your energy supply to a Green Pure Source
Go bio diesel www.biodieselamerica.org

Posted by Rushda at 11:03 PM | Permalink| 1 comments

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