Kids Korner: Let’s Celebrate Inventors!

Posted on February 8, 2021February 10, 2021 by Bayaan Thomas in Kids Korner

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner and us being in the middle of Black History Month, what better time to focus on the topic of Love. Love can feel and look many different ways. You can love your family and friends, but you also love different things, like your favorite food (I LOVE pizza!!), your favorite toy, your house, our city and even our planet!

Oftentimes when we love someone or love certain things, we want to show appreciation for them by making them feel happy and taking care of them. CMGT always promotes love not only for our planet but for our different communities. One way to show love to our planet earth is by using recycled materials. When we use recycled materials, we show our appreciation for the earth by creating less trash and keeping our planet clean (which makes the earth very, very happy)!

Have you ever heard of Garret Morgan? He is an important African American figure in the U.S. history as he was the first man to invent the three-position traffic signal. This traffic signal is still used to this day as the common Stop, Slow & Go light at every intersection. Without this important invention, there would be a lot more accidents on the road. Thank you, Garret Morgan!

To show love and appreciation to Garret Morgan here is a fun game you can try at home using the Stop, Slow & Go signals.

Stop, Slow & Go!

How to play:

To play the game you should have 2 or more people to play. To begin, you must have 3 different colored signs that say or indicate Stop, Slow & Go.

To play in-person:

Make sure to have a good amount of room between you and the other player(s), at least 20 feet apart. Everyone must choose 1 person to be Player 1. Player 1 will have the three Stop, Slow & Go signs. The purpose of the game is to have all other players race to Player 1 and whoever reaches them first wins the game. All other players must follow the signs Player 1 is holding. If Player 1 shows the Red sign, it means Stop (all Players must freeze). If Player 1 shows the Yellow sign, it means Slow Down (all players must move at a walking pace). If Player 1 shows the Green sign, it means Go (all players can go as fast as they want to reach Player 1). Every person playing the game can have a turn at being Player 1.

To play on Zoom (or any other video chatting platform):

Everyone will choose 1 person to be Player 1. Player 1 will have the three Stop, Slow & Go. If the person chosen to be Player 1 doesn’t have specific Stop, Slow & Go signs they can use any items they have at the house to indicate Stop, Slow or Go. Since players will not be able to run, players can choose to do another action instead such as dancing. If Player 1 shows the Red sign, it means Stop (all Players must freeze). If Player 1 shows the Yellow sign, it means Slow Down (all players must move slowly). If Player 1 shows the Green sign, it means Go (all players can move as fast as they want). If any player doesn’t follow the direction of Player 1, they will be out of the game. Every person playing the game can have a turn at being Player 1.

Materials:

1 red colored paper*
1 yellow colored paper*
1 green colored paper*
3 pencils*
Scissors
Tape

Directions:

Draw a circle on each of the colored pieces of paper.
With the supervision of an adult, cut the circles out of the paper.
On the red circle write STOP, on the yellow circle write SLOW, and on the green circle write “GO.”
Tape each of the circles onto the pencil.

***All materials can be exchanged with any other material you have around your home (remember recycled material is always preferred).

Did you know that one of the most popular snacks in the world, kettle chips, was invented by an African American man named George Crum? Although he is not the first person to invent potato chips, he was one of the first to popularize thinly sliced and pan-fried potato chips initially known as Saratoga Chips from Saratoga, New York. Today, these chips are often known as kettle chips. Without George Crum’s incredibly delicious invention, chips would definitely be crummy!

In honor of the great African American Chef George Crum, here is a recipe you can do with your family to create his one-of-a-kind chips at home. Remember, making food at home contributes to a smaller carbon footprint!

Saratoga Chips (Kettle Chips)

Ingredients:

4 large oval Idaho potatoes
Salt
Black pepper
Peanut or vegetable oil
Ice water
(optional) ½ cup smoky barbecue sauce
(optional) Brown paper bags
Small thin towel (to soak up oil)

Directions:

Peel potatoes and slice thinly and evenly (a mandolin works well for this).
Submerge potatoes in ice water and allow to sit for about 30 minutes, separating slices so the starch on each is rinsed.
Heat oil in a large kettle or fryer to 375°F.
Drain potatoes from the water and pat dry using paper toweling, making sure they are completely dry.
Fry potatoes in small batches until golden.
Drain potatoes and place on clean brown paper. Season to your liking.
Keep potatoes in the oven on low temperature to keep warm while finishing other potatoes, if necessary.
Serve chips with smoky barbecue sauce or any other dips that you like.

The Repair Culture in the U.S. and Beyond

Posted on February 8, 2021February 10, 2021 by Kaylee Craig in Green Tech

Imagine if we didn’t need to throw away what seemed beyond repair. Imagine if we had a repairable culture instead of a throwaway culture in the U.S. The possibilities for Green Tech are endless, and it all starts with our relationship to objects.

For our first Green Tech piece, we are discussing a recent article, The country rejecting throwaway culture, published by BBC on January 28, 2021 and its relevance to rethinking our relationship to objects we purchase. While this discussion isn’t about “Green Tech” in the traditional sense, it is about the policy and consumer shift that needs to happen in the United States to continue the movement of sustainability in tech. When we think of tech, the first visual that we think of is that of electronics, phones, computers, etc. Technology encompasses more than we might think, however. Technology is a broad term that describes the skills, knowledge, and processes we utilize to create tools and services for our everyday lives. It can be argued that repair fits into this term through utilizing the same knowledge and skills required for an original product to give new life and convenience in the product’s life cycle. Giving legitimacy to repair and rethinking the life cycle of objects mobilizes an informed and sustainable approach to the creation of new technology that will be valued instead of discarded.

Let’s imagine if we didn’t need to throw away what seemed beyond repair. Imagine if we had a repairable culture instead of a throwaway culture in the U.S. What would that even look like?

Europe continues to illuminate this culture through the hundreds of fix-it workshops that occur across the continent. Most recently, France’s National Assembly introduced an index of “repairability” ratings for appliances, the first of its kind globally. The French government hopes to increase their repair rate for appliances and electronics from 40% to 60% by 2026. According to the article, “Those rules came into force in January and require manufacturers to display ratings – similar to the energy ratings system already widely in place – that are calculated using five measures: ease of repairability, price of spare parts, availability of spare parts, availability of repair documentation and a final measure that will vary depending on the type of device. After the first year, a fine of up to €15,000 (£13,300/$18,200) will be given to producers, distributors and sellers who don’t comply. The bill also includes a ‘durability’ index from 2024 that will have new criteria such as product reliability and robustness.”

To put this further into perspective, “Analysis by the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), a network of environmental citizens’ organisations in Europe, found that extending the lifetime of all washing machines, notebooks, vacuum cleaners and smartphones in the EU by one year would save four million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually by 2030 – the equivalent of taking two million cars off the roads each year.” By holding producers, distributors, and sellers accountable for the waste decisions they force upon their consumers, healthy competition will occur that will stimulate the economy and foster a circular economy that benefits the planet. France’s example, which you can read more about at the link above, reminds me of the resilience communities have had in the United States against the power of our throwaway culture. Much like the European repair cafes that started in Amsterdam in 2009, cities and towns across our country have met the need for repair cafes.

*Photos Courtesy of Chicago Tool Library and Community Glue*

Here in Chicago, there is the Chicago Tool Library and Community Glue. Chicago Tool Library is not a repair cafe per se, but they do provide access to building and repair for communities and individuals without the tools. Launched in 2019, it is a tool lending library that took inspiration from the ones started in Ohio, Washington, and California in 1976. Chicago Tool Library joined the 200 other tool libraries providing resources and tools to communities around the world. Community Glue is a repair cafe that has held fix-it clinics around Chicago since 2012. They welcome all beyond-repairs, torn fabrics, and any other thing that you can’t fix on your own. As of January 2019, there are 75 repair cafes in the United States and that number is growing. We have a long way to go in tackling the challenges we face around our valuing of objects, the consequences of convenience, and the waste that continues to accumulate. However, the buzz around circular economies and repair cafes/tool libraries brings hope and innovation that is here to stay.

Green Deen: What Islam Teaches about Protecting the Planet

Posted on February 2, 2021February 10, 2021 by Asma Ashraf in Interesting Read

In 2018, I gave a speech on the case for the reusable coffee mug at the Downtown Islamic Center Toastmasters Open House and the launch of the Chicago Muslims Green Team (CMGT), and I won a book, Green Deen: What Islam Teaches about Protecting the Planet. I recall researching the devastating effects of single-use coffee mugs and feeling overwhelmed at the sheer amount of actions needed to protect our environment. As I read Abdul-Matin’s book, I was overcome by a sense of peace and hope.

*Photos Courtesy of* *Abdul-Matin via ibrahimabdul-matin.com*

Abdul-Matin begins his novel by sharing that Islam is a Deen, which means a religion, a path, and a way of life. The premise of his book is that the Earth is a mosque, and we need to protect it and take care of it. Through his experiences as a policy advisor and as a Muslim, he shares unique insights within the four sections of the book: Waste, Watts, Water, and Food. While there are certainly connections to Islam throughout each section, he also shares knowledge and advice that are applicable to all readers without delving into their spirituality.

Society’s mass consumption stood out greatly within the Waste section. The unique history behind Watts, or Energy, was eye-opening for me. As were Abdul-Matin’s insights into Water and Food. He utilizes a personable way to connect with readers to share his knowledge about the practices and policies that have led to our current environment, along with what it means to be socially responsible as a company and as a consumer. Through empowering the reader by sharing the effects of the power of our choices to shape our world, he inspires readers to take positive steps to protect and nurture our environment.

As Abdul-Matin writes, “The Earth is a mosque.” Through taking the steps to treat the Earth as a place of worship, as a place that is our refuge, and a place where we can both learn and rest, we can move towards protecting our environment for both ourselves and future generations. This book is a fascinating read on the current state of our environment, how it came to be this way, and how we can work to protect and nurture our planet.

Kids Korner: Recycling and Plastic Bags

Posted on December 28, 2020January 1, 2021 by Bayaan Thomas in Kids Korner

Assalaamu ‘alaikum Kiddos!

Happy New Year 2021 and welcome to our first issue of the Green Leaf Newsletter!

Here together we are going to have fun learning about different ways to become a “Green Khalifah” – a person who takes good care of self, family, friends, the environment and our precious planet. Our ailing earth needs us now to do our part in saving and helping it heals. This month let’s talk about RECYCLING and PLASTIC BAGS.

What is “recycling”?

Recycling is collecting certain items that would be thrown away in the trash and turning them into new items that can be used again.

Why is it important to recycle?

Recycling is important because it helps the planet we live on! When we recycle, we create less trash to keep everything in our environment clean and healthy.

How do I recycle?

STOP! Before you throw that thing away in the trash, ask yourself: Can this item be used again? Can it be recycled?

There are many items that we use on a day-to-day basis that can be recycled such as: water bottles, plastic containers, soda cans, newspapers, electronics, cardboard boxes, and much more! Often times if you have seen this symbol:

This item can be recycled!

Now, not everything can be recycled. Certain things have to be thrown away in the trash such as styrofoam, broken glass, straws, pizza boxes and more. Use the link below to learn more with Gus, at National Geographic Kids about what items can be recycled, composted or thrown away while playing the game Recycle Roundup to win all the points! Enjoy this game!!!

What about plastic bags?

Plastic bags are made out of plastic, so they should be recycled right?

Technically yes! Unfortunately, many places that process recycling materials advise against it because the plastic bag’s handles often damage the machines used to sort out and process recycling materials. As a result, millions of plastic bags are thrown away in the trash which often ends up harming humans and animals on land and in the oceans. Do you know that it takes about 500+ years for each plastic bag to photodegrade!!!

Fortunately, there are many different projects you can do at home to recycle your own plastic bags. Can you think of any creative ways to do this?

FYI at the Chicago Muslims Green Team, we have a cool project called, the PLARN Sleeping Mat: Conserve, Crochet, Care . The term “plarn” means plastic yarn. Volunteers in this project collect CLEAN recycled plastic bags and creatively crochet them into a sleeping mat. They then distribute the sleeping mats made to our neighbors who need them especially for folks who don’t have housing or beds. Each mat takes about 700 plastic bags to make. That means, we can save about 700 plastic bags from the landfills. The Plarn Project team aims to make about 100 plarn sleeping mats by April 2021 insha Allah. How many plastic bags do we need – guess??? YES! We can save approximately 70,000 plastic bags from the landfills. How cool is that – saving both our planet and helping our neighbors in need? Check out the project and volunteer if you can.

If you can’t find any plastic bags at home, there are certain local stores near you such as Target, Walmart, Jewel-Osco, Harris Teeter and many others that will have bins located inside to recycle those plastic bags for you. For your information, those bins will then be sent to specific recycling centers that have special equipment to properly recycle your plastic bags.

Here are 7 reasons why it is important to recycle your plastic bags:

According to the Center of Biological Diversity,

Americans use 100 billion plastic bags each year which is not great for the environment because it requires about 12 million barrels of oil to make.
About 100,000 marine animals every year are killed by plastic bags.
1 in 3 leatherback sea turtles have been found with plastic bags in their stomachs.
Plastic bags are typically only used for an approximate of 12 minutes.
It takes about 500+ years for a plastic bag to degrade in a landfill.
According to Waste Management, only about 1% of plastic bags used are recycled.
According to Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), it is estimated that about 80% of plastic bags in the ocean originate from landfills.

As you can see recycling plastic bags is an incredibly important step in helping our environment and we all have to work together in any way that we can to help heal our planet! So, keep recycling!!!

Green Idea: Self Watering Planter Using Plastic Bottle

Posted on December 28, 2020January 1, 2021 by Kaylee Craig in Green Idea

How Long Will the Water Last?

In this calming video, we learn how to create a self-watering planter using plastic bottles that would otherwise be recycled. There are many resources out there, so if you don’t have access to shoestrings or chemical-free wet wipes (as used in this video), feel free to check out other tutorials. You can grow most herbs and vegetables hydroponically, but be mindful that some will need to be transplanted to a pot full of soil once they establish a root system. This is a great way to stay connected to nature during the winter and it’s incredibly rewarding to see the plants grow from your efforts.

What herb or vegetable are you eager to grow first?

Self Watering Planter using Plastic Bottle Youtube video by
HODUNE