Category: Info

Let’s Celebrate October with Stamps!

Posted on by Caroline Williams in Info, Inspiration, News

Oaktober

October is the month to celebrate Oaktober in the state of Illinois. It was established in 2015 after Governor Bruce Rauner declared October as Oak Awareness Month to honor the importance of oak trees in our state. This initiative resulted from the dedicated efforts of the tree community, coordinated by the Chicago Region Trees Initiative (CRTI) at the Morton Arboretum.

Often referred to as the “Kings of Biodiversity,” oak trees support approximately 2,300 species, including birds, insects, and fungi. Oak trees hold significant cultural and historical meaning. The Morton Arboretum wrote, “Oaks contribute greatly to communities and cultures around the world. Mature oaks provide shade and cooling in urban landscapes, and their great size imparts a sense of strength and inspiration.”

Additionally, the National Park Service stated, “It’s hard to talk about oak trees without slipping into tales of myth and legend. Oaks appear so often in the story of humanity that it could scarcely have been written without them—literally.”

In the U.S., an oak tree known as the Charter Oak played a significant role in the history of American independence and the fight against the British. It is depicted on the Connecticut Tercentenary commemorative stamp, which was first offered for sale at the post office in Hartford, Connecticut, on April 26, 1935.

The Charter Oak was an enormous white oak tree growing on Wyllys Hill in Hartford, Connecticut, from around the 12th or 13th century until it fell during a storm in 1856. In 1662, Connecticut colonists hid the Royal Charter of Connecticut within the tree’s hollow to thwart its confiscation by the English governor-general.

A picture of an oak tree was also used by the United Nations on stamps to symbolize World Refugee Year in 1960, which were issued by 70 countries. Here are two of them from Costa Rica and Guinea, West Africa.

There are many stamps from around the world that feature oak trees, oak leaves, or acorns. An article titled “Oaks on Postage Stamps,” published by the International Oak Society, showcases over 100 oak-related stamps.

As someone currently working in the field of tree equity with the Chicago Muslims Green Team, I am a proud owner of several stamps related to trees from the Muslim world. Here are stamps from the UAR (United Arab Republic), which at that time was the union of Egypt and Syria. They commemorate the celebration of the Tree Festival in 1967 and Tree Day in 1959.

The other stamps are from Lebanon, depicting cedar trees, the iconic evergreen conifers native to the region, known for their height, longevity, and historical significance. Cedar trees are a national symbol of Lebanon, also featured on the country’s flag, and have been used for construction and in religious texts for thousands of years.

I am also pleased to have recently acquired the First Day Cover of the 5th World Forestry Congress, issued by the United Nations in New York in 1960. The Congress was held in Seattle, Washington, that year.

According to the organizer, the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), the most recent World Forestry Congress took place in Seoul, South Korea, in 2022 under the theme “Building a Green, Healthy, and Resilient Future with Forests.” The next Congress will be held in Peru in 2027. President of Peru, Dina Boluarte, said the election comes “in recognition of our nation’s commitment to conservation, the sustainable management of our forests, and the fight against climate change.”

Hispanic Heritage Month

In the field of trees, we often discuss how the American native trees are more favorable to be planted because they are generally more resilient. The Hispanic Heritage Month also can tell stories about the resiliency of the native people in the American continent. It is celebrated nationally in the U.S. from September 15 to October 15.

According to the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino, it began as a week-long celebration in 1968 under President Johnson and was expanded to a month by President Reagan 20 years later, in 1988. The month-long celebration provides more time to properly recognize the significant contributions that Hispanic/Latino Americans have made to the United States.

Additionally, according to the American Immigration Council, in the last decade, the Hispanic community grew by more than 20 percent, reaching 65.1 million in 2023. U.S.-born Hispanics grew by 25 percent. Hispanic communities fuel every sector of American life. They have always been here, and will continue to be here, shaping the present and the future of this country.

A commemorative stamp honoring Hispanic Heritage Month was issued in October 1984 to recognize all Hispanic Americans from various walks of life. In 2023, the USPS published a booklet titled “Hispanic People and Events in U.S. Postage Stamps“. It celebrates many Hispanic individuals, places, and achievements, including explorers, pioneers, statesmen, athletes, entertainers, artists, and educators—people who have made a difference in our culture and history.

National Stamp Collecting

I first learned that October is the National Stamp Collecting Month from the American Philatelic Society (APS) Newsletter. Stamps were invented in 1837 as a means for people to pay for their mail, and it wasn’t long after that that people started collecting them. I have been collecting stamps since I was young, growing up in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia.

In the 80-90s, there was no internet and email there. We relied on mails addressed to our home. Every time the postman delivered a mail, I was always excited to see what kind of stamp was affixed on the envelope, so I could add it to my collection. It was a cheap hobby for me and a form of recycling.

The Smithsonian National Postal Museum wrote, “What can you call a hobby which teaches so much—in addition to providing fun and pleasure? Stamp collecting helps instruct the collector in geography, biography, history, culture and art. Stamps are miniature gateways to the world.” That is the main reason why I love collecting stamps!

The stamps I have here feature those from 1972 and 1986, celebrating the stamp-collecting hobby. The other stamps commemorate the International Philatelic Exhibition in Washington, D.C. in 1966, Philadelphia in 1976, and Chicago in 1986.

There is a concern that stamp collecting is a dying hobby. New generations prefer using emails over mailing letters. They also tend to collect trendy items like Pokémon or baseball cards. Hopefully, there will always be a generation who appreciates vintage or antique items like postage stamps and recognizes the opportunities that stamps can offer to expand their international horizons. For example, they can connect with collectors around the world at the APS or attend the next World Stamp Expo in Boston.

A Reflection on Justice Outside’s Unite and Ignite Conference

Posted on by Caroline Williams in Advocacy, CMGT News, Environmental Justice, Info, Inspiration, Public Transportation

The Chicago Muslims Green Team (CMGT) is a small and young nonprofit. This October, we will be a 5-year-old 501(c)(3) organization. We are humble and grateful to have been given the chance to attend Justice Outside’s Unite and Ignite Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from September 22 to 24.

CMGT was represented by CEO Dr. Layalee Beirat and me, Tree Equity Program Manager. It was our first time visiting Philadelphia, and we were happy to learn that there are many Muslims in the city. We made great connections with local Muslims at the conference.

On the first day, I explored the city’s public transportation while CEO Beirat attended the Exclusive Pre-Conference Gathering for Grantees Only. I usually judge a city I visited based on the quality of its public transportation. I do not drive and I travel everywhere by bus or train. For me, it’s the best way to experience a city like a local does. I was impressed with the options available and I was excited to try the SEPTA trolley lines (T), something we do not have in Chicago. It is the descendant of a pre-World War II streetcar system. 

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)

The conference took place at the historic Crystal Tea Room, located in the Wanamaker Building. It opened in 1911 and was designed to be a grand dining space featuring chandeliers and classic architecture. When I arrived, I felt a sense of luxury and a high class of sophistication, usually enjoyed by European aristocrats. I imagine that, in the past, as an immigrant and a person of color, I would not have been allowed to enter the room. But here I was, with other people like me, many of whom run community urban and rural farms, dealing with soil and dirt in outdoor setting and wearing different kind of clothes that match our personalities. We were there enjoying a good breakfast and getting to know each other. For me, this is a sign of progress.

The opening remarks by Ronda Chapman, Kim Bailey, and Michelle Barakat from Justice Outside, followed by with keynote speaker Daniel Hunter from Choose Democracy, were inspiring. We were reminded of the importance of being united in turning our anger into a positive force for change. A quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was displayed: ‘The supreme task is to organize and unite people so that their anger becomes a transforming force.’

In his speech titled “Noncooperation and Authoritarianism,” Daniel Hunter identified what authoritarians do. One of them is, ‘The Autocrat Won’t Leave.’ This is unfortunately true.

I have been thinking that the U.S. will be 250 years old next year and is still facing the threat of authoritarianism, with their mission to make white supremacism great again. Compare that to many countries that are less than 100 years old, which gained independence in the mid-1900s after centuries of opposing Western colonization and supremacism.

I came from Indonesia, a country that fought for freedom from three centuries of Western colonialism and gained independence in 1945. As a student in Indonesia, I experienced living under a dictatorship that was in power for almost three decades and was forced to resign after massive protests and political, social, and economic unrest throughout the country in the late ’90s. I have heard that authoritarianism is making a comeback there.

For me, the fight against authoritarianism is a long struggle that may never end in our very short lifetimes. But it defines who we are. Are we simply accepting injustice, or are we standing against it? 

One thing we must not forget in our struggle is to keep joy in our lives, as it is a form of resilience. I was happy to discover that joy was a theme shared at this conference. I could feel how everyone works with love and passion for their communities. I learned a lot from a session titled “Joy Is Strategy: Centering Black and Brown Communities Through Festivals, Culture, and Land-Based Healing.”

In this fun, interactive workshop led by Teria Powell from Building Bridges in Washington, D.C., we explored how culturally rooted festivals can be powerful tools for environmental justice, healing, and land connection, using case studies from Washington, D.C. During the workshop, we literally had to get up from our chairs, connect with another participant, and write a letter to our colleague about one thing we will do in the next 30 days to move our work forward. The letter will be sent to our addresses via snail mail, not electronic mail.

Another inspiring session I attended was titled “Beyond Representation: Challenging Exceptionalism in Outdoor Recreation Practices and Culture,” led by David Malana from Color the Water in L.A. and Hanan Robinson from the Build Love Advocacy Center in Arizona.

Hanan emphasized the importance of free access to outdoor activities for everyone, including gear that fits our body shapes. This reminded me of the barriers I used to have in my mind, such as thinking my legs were too short for rock or wall climbing. Additionally, at our recent wall climbing event in Chicago, two young Muslim girls demonstrated great climbing skills. Their parents told us that if we had not organized this event, they would not have come out.

David talked about bringing the joy of surfing to Black Lives Matter activists and reminded us that Indigenous Americans were experts in surfing, using gear made from natural materials. He also highlighted how surfing was part of social, cultural, and community activities, as seen in Hawaii, before being whitewashed by colonizers and transformed into a competitive sport dominated by Westerners.

I also attended an informative workshop titled “Represent Your Community: Environmental Commissions 101.” Speakers Jonathan Tyrrell and Karyn Bigelow from the Next 100 Coalition shared facts about environmental commissions that make decisions regarding millions to billions of dollars in local, state, and federal funding, directly impacting outdoor access, public health, and the local environment. However, community representation is often significantly lacking in these spaces.

In this session, we first learned how to identify the commissioners, and we were encouraged to attend their public meetings to represent our community. I fully support this initiative because, since 2018, I have been attending these public meetings. I also joined the City Bureau Documenters to receive training and get paid to write reports or live-tweet from the meetings. This is just one of many ways to contribute to our society, to represent and empower our communities.

Overall, the conference lived up to its title, “Unite and Ignite.” I felt fired up joining Assata’s Chant with our fists in the air:

It is our duty to fight for our freedom!
It is our duty to win!
We must love and support one another!
We have nothing to lose but our chains!

Chicago Muslims Green Team Explores Gut Health at Green Teacher Gathering

Posted on by CMGT in CMGT News, Green Idea, Info, Inspiration, Interesting Read

Author: Sara Siddiqui

The Chicago Muslims Green Team recently had the pleasure of attending the Green Teacher Gathering in Chicago—a vibrant event bringing together educators, gardeners, and sustainability advocates from across the city. Among the many inspiring sessions, one workshop stood out for its blend of science, culture, and hands-on learning: “Bacteria is my Gut’s BFF.”

Led by the dynamic and passionate Chef Sarai Blankenbaker or Chef BB, the workshop took us deep into the fascinating world of the gut microbiome. We explored how beneficial bacteria play a crucial role in digestion, immunity, and overall well-being, and how our gardens can be sources of healing and health.

Chef BB introduced us to an array of prebiotic and probiotic foods we can grow ourselves—like cabbage, carrots, and hot peppers—and demonstrated how to transform them into delicious, fermented creations.

We had the chance to taste homemade kombucha and sample vibrant fermented veggies made by Chef BB herself, learning about the unique flavors and health benefits of these traditional preparations. We left not only with new knowledge, but also with a kombucha recipe, step-by- step fermentation methods, and a deeper appreciation for how different cultures—including indigenous communities—have used fermentation as a sustainable, health-supporting practice for generations.

This workshop aligned beautifully with the Chicago Muslims Green Team’s vision of cultivating environmentally responsible, health-conscious communities rooted in Islamic values. It reinforced our commitment to connecting spiritual well-being with ecological stewardship, and highlighted how growing and preparing our own food can nourish both our bodies and our planet.

We’re excited to put this knowledge into practice and to continue creating spaces where learning, community, and sustainability come together.

Pictures from the Green Teacher Gathering at Academy for Global Citizenship on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

CMGT table at the Green Teacher Gathering.

Warning: Nuclear Waste in America!

Posted on by Caroline Williams in Advocacy, Environmental Justice, Info, News, Waste Management

Yesterday (3/18), I first learned from CHEJ (The Center for Health, Environment & Justice) about Radioactive waste from The Manhattan Project affecting Americans in St. Louis, Missouri (MO).

The secret project that was started in 1942 to produce nuclear bomb left behind toxic waste buried in the landfill, contaminates the American land, water, and air.

In 2012, a group of mothers in St Louis founded a nonprofit organization, “Just Moms STL” after they smelled intense odors from the burning of nuclear waste escaped off the landfill.

Read their story here: https://justmomsstl.org/about/our-story/

For years, they have raised concerns about potential links between radioactive waste and increased rates of cancer and autoimmune diseases among residents.

This area is majority Republicans. Recently, on March 17, Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) finally secured pledge from Trump appointed EPA leader, Lee Zeldin to clean up radioactive waste after decades of neglect from the American’s ruling party, Democratic and Republican.

This is an undeniable proof that environmental issues ARE NOT political issues. It is affecting every American.

If Republicans are truly “American First!” MAGA, they should fix this ASAP. Stop sending our taxpayers money to support other countries’ wars and stop the assault on environmental movements. We have to work on this together, regardless of our faith or political views.

By the way, St. Louis, MO is our state, Illinois’ next-door neighbor!

Picture from JustMomsSTL.org

Watch “How the push for the atomic bomb led to long-lasting nuclear waste problems in St. Louis“.

Learning Environmental History from Philately

Posted on by Caroline Williams in Advocacy, Close to Nature, Conservation, Environmental Justice, Environmental Justice, Info, Inspiration, Youth Activities

From my recent browsing at a flea market, I got an interesting philatelic item. It is the First Day Issue Stamp And Envelope of Anti Pollution Campaign, released in 1970.

There are four stamps attached to the envelope. As described by New York Times, the stamp designs incorporate two segments topped by pleas to “Save Our Soil,” “Save Our Cities,” “Save Our Water” and “Save Our Air.” The left portion of each stamp pictures the world as viewed from outer space. In adjoining panels, the Soil stamp shows wheat bent by the wind. The Cities stamp has children at play and skyscrapers in the background. The Water stamp depicts a fish. The Air stamp shows a bird.

A quote by Richard M. Nixon is printed on the envelope. “… Begin to make reparations for the damage we have done to our air, to our land, and to our water.”

Former President Nixon from the Republican Party was infamous for the Watergate Scandal that led to his resignation. His legacy in environmental policies is not well-known in the US.

From the Nixon Foundation, “President Nixon’s consequential environmental record is surprising to many people. The Nixon administration initiated many of the most important, and enduring, environmental policies in American history including: the signing of the National Environmental Policy Act, the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, the signing of the Clean Air Act of 1970, the creation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the signing of the Endangered Species Act, the signing of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the creation of the Legacy of Parks program, which converted more than 80,000 acres of government property to recreational use in 642 new parks.”

In 2017, Harvard Law School had a discussion on “The Remarkable Evolution of American Environmental Law from Nixon to Trump and Beyond.”

They discussed the fact that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was initially created, and later championed, by Republican administrations. One of the panelists, James Barnes, a chief of staff to the first EPA administrator, noted that the environmental movement barely existed before 1970, the year of the first Earth Day.

The impetus was a string of environmental disasters, i.e., The Cuyahoga River catching fire, the Santa Barbara oil spill, the near-death of Lake Erie, and the near-extinction of the bald eagle. People were also beginning to notice that their favorite fishing hole was no longer producing fish. There were vast outpourings of public concern, an estimated 20 million people at sit-ins and protests. In 1969 Congress passed an environmental act that Nixon signed. He proclaimed that the 1970s will be the decade of the environment.

Unfortunately, environmental issues turned into divided political issues for Republicans and Democrats. Democratic opponents ridiculed George H.W. Bush for being serious about his aim to be “the environmental President.” Richard J. Lazarus from Harvard Law School and author of “The Making of Environmental Law” suggested that, neither Nixon nor Bush got much political return for their pro-environment stance, leading them to rethink their principles.

As President Trump returns to the White House, environmental issues continue being politicized and sharply dividing the American people. In 2012, Trump tweeted, “The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive. In his 2025 Executive Order, Trump stated that, “Climate extremism has exploded inflation and overburdened businesses with regulation.” It is clear that Trump is prioritizing American businesses and manufactures over environmental issues championed by Republicans in the 70s.

Learning history is important to understand the political issues, like the historical shift of the ruling parties in pursuing the American ideal values, i.e., taking care of our environment and using science and technology to build a better civilization on Earth.

Learning history from stamps is one of the reasons I love Philately or stamp collecting. It was a popular hobby in the 80s. I sometimes exchanged and sold my extra stamps to my classmates to grow my collection. Stamps were the window to the world for me who grew up in Indonesia before the era of the Internet and email. To this day, I still enjoy learning history, nature, culture, and science from stamps.