muslims don't care about the environment

[wheelworks]

Originally Posted by Timbit

Just like Imam Zaid.

Who I see almost every week

[zakk]

Meh. I think before getting frustrated with an entire group of people, one should first look at what sort of background the majority of people are coming from, how much time has passed, and how much progress is being made. Also, one should take into account that IT ALWAYS TAKES BABY STEPS TO EFFECT A SUBSTANTIAL, VIABLE CHANGE.

You have to work with human nature, and not against it. Getting frustrated just leads to disillusionment and can lead to apathy on your own part about the very thing that you were so eager to change. How many times have you heard "yeah, I tried getting Muslims to do ______, but no one was interested, so I just stopped." You can't expect instant change, and you do have to roll with the circumstances and figure how to make things easier for people, instead of lecturing them and making feel that whatever they ARE doing is inadequate. That can also lead to apathy.

Basically, most motivated people need to figure out how to look what they are trying to acheive in the long term, and realize that it takes time to educate public sentiment. In the meantime, figure out what you can do your own self to make it easier for people to join you.

[IbnMardhiyah]

Originally Posted by sally

RIS 2006 was two years ago..

It was 14 months ago to be precise, so just over one year ago. The point is that it is being talked about.

eone event out of hundreds of lectures in mosques and musallahs and msas across north america isn't enough

Its better than nothing.

Not like you've been to those hundreds of mosques, musallahs, or MSAs across North America.

[Purple_alien]

I love the environment, but my house only JUST started recycling about a year ago. I did some stories on the Pitman NJ environmental commission, and found out that many towns go through your trash to see if you recycle. Hardcore, yes, but enough to scare my mother into FINALLY recycling.
Caring about the environment is also one of the pillars in a group I am trying to get into. So I do my best.

[Sugarberry]

Originally Posted by farah

hey sal, where in the US are you located, ish?

Green Muslims in the District

My sister goes to those dinners...inshallah i plan to go to the next one as well.

but I like how alot of people in this thread seem to equate recycling as being envrionmentally friendly.


I agree with sally though i dont think as a whole muslims partake in being envrionmentally friendly or the method of thinking that would lead to a sustainable life ( of course there are exceptions).

I dont think any family that has more than 2 cars can claim to be environmentally friendly.
or people who eat meat more than 4 times a week environmentally friendly.

( I could go on ...but ill stop)

but i dont blame them.....environmentalism is something thats not taken as a priority in the majority of the cournties that immigrant muslims come from..which is also not thier fault cause they need to survive first and worry about saving water later.

[IbnMardhiyah]

Sugarberry:

My family has three cars, and we're voracious carnivores.

Please explain how, in your opinion, our behavior constitutes lack of concern for the environment.

[Salahadeen]

I agree that Muslims don't care about the environment, even though our religion teaches us to.

Nonetheless, I think it's just a matter of priorities. Worrying about the environment is something that first world countries do. It's a task usually done by people who have nothing else to do , no other cause to rally around....instead, we Muslims are always worried about military occupation, oppression, etc etc....bigger things...

I'm not saying environment is not important. Definitely, we Muslims should be more up into all that...a segment of us at least. I'm merely explaining why this is the case.

If I was the ruler of a third world country, I could care less about the environment...I'd try to industrialize as much as possible and try to catch up with the West even if it means destroying the environment in the process...after all, that's the way the Western countries did it...they first destroyed the environment, got on top by doing that, and then started worrying about the environment...and even now they continue to destroy the environment but expect third world countries to do more....sorry, but a third world country has more pressing concerns...

[Sugarberry]

Originally Posted by IbnMardhiyah

Sugarberry:

My family has three cars, and we're voracious carnivores.

Please explain how, in your opinion, our behavior constitutes lack of concern for the environment.

casue its perpetuates the need for gas = oil , and this need for oil results in huge companies drilling in remote places ...and not so remote places further ruining the environment and the world

The meat industry aka ranching is ruining casuing major deforestation in third world countries like brazil,argentina,chile, etc...

[Sugarberry]

Originally Posted by Salahadeen

I agree that Muslims don't care about the environment, even though our religion teaches us to.

Nonetheless, I think it's just a matter of priorities. Worrying about the environment is something that first world countries do. It's a task usually done by people who have nothing else to do , no other cause to rally around....instead, we Muslims are always worried about military occupation, oppression, etc etc....bigger things...

I'm not saying environment is not important. Definitely, we Muslims should be more up into all that...a segment of us at least. I'm merely explaining why this is the case.

great post.. thats exactly what i was trying to say in my earlier post

[sally]

Originally Posted by IbnMardhiyah

Sugarberry:

My family has three cars, and we're voracious carnivores.

Please explain how, in your opinion, our behavior constitutes lack of concern for the environment.

lol...that's common sense 101. at least the meat issue. the car stuff might be straight cuz im not gonna assume anything abt the kind of cars u have

the meat issue..read up on the 10% energy rule.

basically it takes a lot more plant to get very little meat.

[Sugarberry]

Originally Posted by sally

lol...that's common sense 101. at least the meat issue. the car stuff might be straight cuz im not gonna assume anything abt the kind of cars u have

the meat issue..read up on the 10% energy rule.

basically it takes a lot more plant to get very little meat.

seriously eating meat is a very energy intensive industry. I like to mix it up occasionally.

[Revert]

This thread should be aimed at Jamroll and his ozone layer destroying farts.

[IbnMardhiyah]

Originally Posted by Sugarberry

casue its perpetuates the need for gas = oil , and this need for oil results in huge companies drilling in remote places ...and not so remote places further ruining the environment and the world

Oil is a natural resource that God gave to humanity, just like metals, timber, water, etc. It can and should be used for advancing humanity's collective technological advancement as well as a host of other pursuits, and indeed it is.

However, I think what you might be referring to is one of the common end-uses of oil - petrol or gas, and the pollution it causes when it is burned in combustion engines of cars.

We live in Canada and we have pretty tough emissions and safety standards and cars have to be certified every few years otherwise we cannot legally drive them. So on one hand, the local governments are ensuring clean air policies on a provincial or national level, and on the other hand members of my family including myself also make extensive use of alternative methods of transport such as public transport [bus and subway], carpooling, and for relatively short distances in the summertime, I will grab my bike.

Now, if I told you that all three cars were often used for carpooling with others, and if they were used to assist the deen and dawah, etc - would you still object? Or would you agree that these cars were creating more productivity net overall than any detrimental effects they might be having on the environment?

Evaluating any entity's total carbon footprint is not as simple as observing how many cars are in their possession or how big their house is. In reality it is much more complex and there's lots we have to do or can do to give back to Ma Earth.

The meat industry aka ranching is ruining casuing major deforestation in third world countries like brazil,argentina,chile, etc...

Again, God advised us that we are free to eat of animals and plants on the land. In our family, yes we eat massive loads of meat but we eat similar amount of whole wheat grains and vegetables too.

In regards to your concerns about ranching and associated deforestation: Are you aware that most countries in the world that have sizable forest areas [Canada is 45% forested] have long-standing policies regarding renewal of such resources?

For example in Canada it is federal law that any entity clearing out forests for logging purposes has to replant a commensurate rate of new trees such that in 100 years, the deforested area will be exactly as it was at the time of cutting and deforestation.

In other words, a 100-year cycle ensures timber for human needs and consumption and also ensures that the Earth will be able to heal itself and continue providing these resources for her inhabitants.

The objections that you have identified in your posts above are not, in and of themselves, anything inherently unhealthy or inadvisable for either humans or the Earth. The issue at hand is both balance and proper management of these resources and consumables so that the net effect is either zero, or positive.

[wheelworks]

Originally Posted by Revert

This thread should be aimed at Jamroll and his ozone layer destroying farts.

I agree. It kills trees and there's not enough oxygen to go around nowadays because of that

[farah]

honestly? everyone has their vices, everyone makes mistakes. by saying "you do X, Y or Z and therefore aren't environmentally conscious" is dumb. just like everything else, it's a process. you start with baby steps and move up. don't ridicule other people's accomplishments, or belittle your own advances.

similarly, the whole "muslims have other things to worry about" argument, while it has some credence, doesn't really work in the long run. environmentalism is an international problem that's affecting billions and will honestly hurt the poorest populations (many of which are Muslim) more than anyone else. all in all, a lot of environmental activities are just a matter of energy conservation or just cleaning up after ourselves -- something that can be beneficial and done by almost everyone.

if we're accepting environmentalism as part of Islam (which i personally do and i'm sure others agree), then why belittle it?