Blog Post – Page 2 – Chicago Muslims Green Team

Recycle Art & Craft: Crocheting Plastic Bags

Posted on August 28, 2023August 31, 2023 by Caroline Williams in Info, Life Hacks, Recycle, Waste Management

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

Posted on June 9, 2023June 10, 2023 by CMGT in Environmental Justice, Info, News

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!

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.

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

Posted on June 9, 2023June 12, 2023 by CMGT in CMGT News

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

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

A Message from Our President

Posted on April 26, 2023April 26, 2023 by CMGT in Inspiration

Earth Vigil: Layers of Light

Faith in Place’s event, April 27, 2023 at 6 PM

Reinforcing the message shared by God through His Prophets over time, Islam places a great emphasis on the earth, the environment and its preservation, in the Quran revealed through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him).

Muslims believe that the environment is a gift from God and that they are responsible for taking care of it. This responsibility is reflected in the teachings of the Quran, the Hadith (the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad-Peace be upon him), and the example set by the Prophet himself.

One of the key concepts in Islam that relates to the environment is the idea of “stewardship” or “trusteeship” (khilafah in Arabic). Muslims believe that they are not owners of the earth, but rather its custodians, and that they are accountable to God for how they treat the environment. The Quran says,

“It is He who has made you vicegerents (khulafa’) of the earth.”
(Quran 6:165)

In Islam, there are a number of practices and teachings that emphasize the importance of preserving the environment. For example, Muslims are encouraged to use resources responsibly and not to waste them. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said,

“The earth is green and beautiful, and Allah has appointed you his stewards over it.”
(Hadith)

Islam also prohibits the destruction of natural resources and wildlife, and encourages the planting of trees and the preservation of forests. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said,

“Whoever plants a tree and it bears fruit, whoever cultivates land and makes use of it, or whoever builds a house and makes use of it, Allah will reward them.”
(Hadith)

In addition, Islam teaches that all creatures, including animals and plants, have rights that must be respected. Muslims are encouraged to show kindness and compassion to all living beings, and to avoid actions that harm them.

Many Muslim scholars and organizations have also been at the forefront of promoting environmental awareness and sustainability, and have launched several initiatives to address environmental challenges. The Chicago Muslims Green Team is an example, along with several Islamic environmental organizations that focus on promoting sustainable development, conservation, and environmental justice.

Overall, Islam views the environment as a sacred trust and calls on Muslims to be responsible stewards of the earth.

Mohammed Faheem
President – Chicago Muslims Green Team
http://www.Chicagomuslimsgreenteam.org

Welcome our new Board Members and Officers!

Posted on January 7, 2023January 9, 2023 by CMGT in Blog Post, Info, News

Chicago Muslims Green Team (CMGT) is grateful to receive ongoing support from our Board of Directors. In 2022, CMGT welcomed four new Board Members and elected our new Board Officers for 2023 as follows:

President: Mohammed Faheem
Secretary: Joko Supriyanto
Treasurer: Fred Williams

The full list of our Board of Directors can be found on “Our Team” webpage.

As a young nonprofit organization, CMGT depends on a strong Board of Directors to provide the guidelines and evaluations, to strengthen the foundation of the organization, and to expand our networks. CMGT is blessed to have Board members from diverse background with different cultures, knowledge, and skills.

Here are pictures of activities from our Board members:

Meet and Greet with the Illinois Governor

Board of Directors Rayda Edding and Mohammed Faheem represented CMGT at the event on September 27, 2022 at Bridgeview Community Center organized by CIOGC (Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago).

Click HERE to view the video from the event.

Faith for a Just Energy Transition

Board of Director Nana Firman who is also a representative from GreenFaith and ISNA Green Initiative gave a speech at an International webinar of Faith for a Just Energy Transition on September 28, 2022. The event is co-hosted by GreenFaith, the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims, the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, and the Laudato Si Movement.

At the event, religious leaders worked together to demand a Non-Proliferation Treaty on fossil fuels and created an interfaith letter to be sent and released to the governments and financial institutions.

For more info, please click HERE to read an article and HERE to watch the video recording of the event.