2024 World Water Day, From Drinking Water to Plastic Waste

In the CMGT’s Executive meeting on March 16, CEO Layalee shared this disturbing info from uselessplastic Instagram about water privatization.

“Nestle Waters pumped almost 79 million gallons of water from the area surrounding Flint, Michigan in 2016, and paid just $200 to the state to do so. They made $7.4 billion in bottled water sales alone that same year.”

Flint, Michigan is where the clean water crisis happened in 2014 after the drinking water for the city was contaminated with lead and possibly Legionella bacteria.

CBSNews (3/23/2023), Michigan still dealing with fallout from Flint water crisis 9 years later; Plus new water worries.

On March 20, MCC (Muslims Community Center) Green Team member, Rohina shared the following article in the WhatsApp group:


NBC Chicago (3/20/2024), Nearly 70% of children in Chicago are exposed to lead-contaminated water: Study.

Here are more news about lead issue in Chicago’s drinking water:

Back in 2019, the CMGT (Chicago Muslims Green Team) had a table at IMAN’s Farmer Market in Chicago Lawn, southwest side Chicago neighborhood. We helped a researcher from Virginia Tech to share free lead-test kits to the residents. Our campaign at that time was, “What’s in Your Water?”

Here are pictures from our activities.

This lead-contamination in Chicago drinking water may motivate many Chicagoans to buy water bottles which contributes to the amount of plastic waste. It also bring lots of profit for businesses on water privatization.

In March 2021, to commemorate the World Water Day, the CMGT published an article, Water as Traded Commodity from Muslims’ Perspective, written and edited by our volunteers Caroline and Kaylee.

The article discussed the answer to “What does water mean to me?”, the issue of water supplies in Chicago, the value of water from Muslim’ perspective, and reminders from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), why and how we should save water and protect the water resources for the benefits of all.

It is no doubt that there are so many things we need to do to ensure the access of clean water for our communities’ health benefits, to protect our water resources, and to reduce bottled water plastic waste.

One of the solutions is to install water filter. Here is the recommendation from The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) on Drinking Water Filters Certified to Reduce Lead.

We hope that our mosques or Islamic Centers will participate in raising awareness on this issue and installing water filters for our communities.

Welcome our new CEO!

Layalee has volunteered her time to help grow Chicago Muslims Green Team. With her efforts, CMGT has expanded both financially and individually as a team.

Layalee is Palestinian/American and graduated high school in the West Bank, Palestine. There she discovered the true meaning of living through occupation. During her college studies, Layalee was president of MSA and Vice President of Phi Theta Kappa’s honors society at Moraine Valley Community. There, she won an award in Washington, DC for “Most Distinguished Chapter,” mainly due to a “2015 Student Success Conference” she helped run on campus.

She believes that all people deserve access to healthy lifestyle and resources to advance overall health. Receiving her doctorate in Pharmacy degree from UIC, she enjoys caring for people and advancing their health outcomes. She has a passion for the environment because she believes the environment is the root of having an “ideal” lifestyle. This could include eating wholesome food, being outside, being aware of resources available and working together as a community is a legacy she wishes to accomplish.

Living in Palestine for over 6 years has inspired her in wanting improvement in environmental services that include waste and recycle. After moving back to the states in 2014, she received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2021.

She has accepted her position after being appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Chicago Muslims Green Team.

As CEO, she hopes to fulfil CMGT’s mission and vision in connecting Chicago Muslims and the greater community to issues of environmental justice while spreading awareness on eco-friendly lifestyles based on Islamic teachings. Hoping to advance scopes of work that include Building Bridges, Green Ramadan, Green Mosque, and Capacity Building.

Recycle Art & Craft: Crocheting Plastic Bags

Clean and used grocery plastic bag is not a waste and should not end up in the landfill. We can turn the bags into many useful and fun items, for examples: Welcome Mat, Sleeping Mat, a tote bag, a banner, even a dress to play costume or for other fun occasions.

Here is a very simple guide on how to start the project to upcycle plastic bags:

How to collect Plastic Bags

DO. NOT. PURCHASE. THEM. or collect them from restaurants or other stores.

In Chicago, we have to pay 7 cents to get plastic bags at grocery store. What a waste of money! Yes, we still can get plastic bags from restaurants, but that is NOT an eco-friendly way to collect plastic bags.

The best way to get them is from collection bins located in many grocery stores. Or, ask people to donate their plastic bags.

How to store plastic bags

If you end up collecting lots of plastic bags, save space by folding them into a triangle. This will not only save space but also keep your plastic bags clean and ready to be used for crafting purpose.

Step 1: Fold the end corner of plastic bag into triangle shape
Step 2: Fold it again
Step 3: Repeat it until the end
Step 4: At the end of it, fold the remaining part of the plastic into the pocket

How to create Plarn (plastic yarn)

To create the plastic yarn for crocheting, follow these simple steps:

Step 1:
Cut the plastic bags into 3 parts as shown (top, middle, bottom). Fold the middle part into two and folded it again. Cut it into 4 pieces with the same size. Keep the top and bottom parts to be used for the project or other purposes.

Step 2:
Open up all the 4 pieces to make 4 plarns, as shown in this picture.

Step 3:
Connect all the 4 plarns like shown in the picture. To make it clear, here we use different color of plarn.

Step 4:
After all plarns are connected, we are ready to crochet. For crocheting plarn, we use 19-20 mm hook.

How to crochet plarn for beginners

There are many videos on the internet on how to crochet plarn. This is one of them. It also explains from the beginning how to create plarn and provides many useful tips on crocheting plarn.

Chicago Heat Watch 2023

Volunteer Opportunity!

What:

Chicago, along with 17 other communities across the country is building a team of resident scientists to measure heat across communities this summer.

Chicago needs 150 volunteers across the city on the Activation Day!

2023 Heat Watch Participating Cities

Why:

Identifying these hotspots, called urban heat islands helps local decision-makers take actions to reduce the health impacts of extreme heat, which often target the most vulnerable.

The data collected by volunteers will be analyzed and used to give Chicago residents and government decision-makers a clearer picture of ways to improve Chicago’s heat safety strategies.

When:

June – Volunteers will be contacted to be trained on the campaign.
July – Activation Day (Date/Time TBD: To be Determined)

Where:

Check out and contribute to this Point of Interest Map.

Point of Interest Map

How to volunteer:

  • Register HERE.
  • Take the training (date/time TBD).
  • Help the City to share info on Cooling Center Locations and Senior Well-Being Check.
  • On the Activation Day, over three shifts (morning, midday, and evening), volunteers will travel the routes with heat sensors on their own cars. Each sensor records temperature, humidity, time, and location.
Heat sensor to be used to collect the data (source: NOAA)

More Info:

Updates from the Chicago Muslims Green Team

Our New Executive Assistant

We are happy to welcome Layalee Beirat, CMGT’s new Executive Assistant. Layalee’s first activity with the CMGT was when we participated at the Openlands Community Tree Planting in the Fall 2022, located in the Little Village neighborhood.

Layalee at the Openlands Community Tree Planting

CMGT on the News

Last March, CMGT was interviewed by Muslim Travelers, an Indonesian Award Winning TV show. The interview was aired in April, close to Eid and Earth Day. It focused on Masjid Al Farooq, the CMGT’s main partner in the 2023 Green Mosque Program and Tree Ambassadors Program. The 3 parts of the show can be found on Youtube here: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

On May 8, 2023, CMGT was featured in Media Milwaukee represented by CMGT’s Executive Director, Caroline Williams and former CEO, Rohany Nayan. Click HERE to read the article.

The CMGT also was featured on May 2023 Tree Ambassadors Program Newsletter, published by the CRTI (Chicago Region Tree Initiative). Click HERE to read the article.

Muslim Travelers interview at Masjid Al farooq
Screenshot from Media Milwaukee
Screenshot from CRTI Tree Ambassadors Newsletter

Board & Executive Members’ Activities

Board President Mohammed Faheem gave a speech at the Faith in Place‘s Earth Day Vigil on April 27th. Click HERE to read the speech.

Board Member Nana Firman who is also a representative of ISNA Green Initiative and Green Faith was interviewed by ABC News on April 21, 2023. Click HERE to see the video.

Board member and Executive Director Caroline Williams received an invitation from Mayor Lori Lightfoot to attend the 2023 Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Caroline said farewell to Mayor Lori and thanked her administration for starting Our Roots Chicago, a tree equity program and invited the CMGT since its early formation.

Mohammed Faheem at the Faith in Place’s Earth Day Vigil
Nana Firman interviewed by ABC News on Earth Day
Caroline Williams at the Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month with Mayor Lori Lightfoot