WASHINGTON, D.C. (MASNET) April 24, 2008
- We've all been a little preoccupied with the political primaries,
rising food and gas prices, and falling consumer confidence, so the
fact that April 22nd was Earth Day - a 'designated' day set aside each
year to reflect on the global climate crisis, and the fragile planet
that we call home, likely went unnoticed by many of us.
Earth
Day is recognized across the nation, and throughout the world, as
people gather to bring awareness - and take action - in response to a
wholesale potential environmental collapse.
The
ominous signs - melting polar ice caps, increasing deadly storms around
the world, massive droughts that threaten to generate catastrophic
starvation - are already clear and present.
But
Muslims (especially), who constitute nearly one in four persons on
planet earth, need to rise up and join the forward ranks of the global
movement to save our world.
I
am hardly being extreme, or dramatic, when I say that we're facing a
potential human catastrophe bigger that wars, inflation, or anything we
could possibly imagine; however, unlike a massive meteor colliding with
the earth, it's a catastrophe that we can avert.
Over
the past year, I've reported on some of the activities and actions that
we can take. Even small actions - like taking mass transit to work on
occasion, or changing our light bulbs at home to energy saving compact
fluorescent units - small things that can make a huge difference in the
amount of greenhouse gases spewing out into the atmosphere.
While
April 22 is the annual commemoration of "Earth Day" - we should focus
on every day as being Earth Day - and to that end, I am calling on the
Muslim community to take action by calling on our congressional representatives, imploring them to unite in supporting a moratorium on building new coal-fired energy plants in America (as introduced by renowned NASA Scientist Dr. James E. Hansen). (Of note: it has been reported
that of the 151 proposals in early 2007, more than 60 were dropped by
the year's end - many blocked by state governments and dozens more
bogged down in court challenges.)
In
supporting a moratorium on building coal-fired energy plants, we could
be a part of moving our country in a new, and more earth-positive
environmental direction.
And why should we be concerned?
Because (among other reasons) America,
which constitutes roughly five percent of the global population, is
responsible for some 25% of the greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide,
carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide) pumped into the earth's atmosphere.
And
because the Holy Qur'an tells us that we, as humans, are the
vice-regents (Khalifa) of the Creator, and responsible for the care and
nurturing of the natural world.
So don't forget - O' you who believe - every day is Earth Day.
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RELATED
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The Earth Day website: http://ww2.earthday.net
Listing of Earth Day Events Throughout the Month of April
Congressional Switchboard Phone Number: (202) 224-3121.
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MAS Freedom (MASF) is a civic and human rights advocacy entity and sister organization of the Muslim American Society (MAS), the largest Muslim, grassroots, charitable, religious, social, cultural, civic and educational organization in America - with 55 chapters in 35 states. Learn more here.
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