CAIRO — Muslims and Christians in the United States are joining hands to help slow the pace of the climate change by transforming their buildings and their congregants' mindsets, the local South Florida Sun-Sentinel newspaper reported on Sunday, March 11.
"I felt motivated to do something," said Altaf Ali, Executive Director of the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
Ali said God commended all people to take care of the Earth.
"It's important for Muslims to have a close connection with the creator. It's our humble duty to play an active role," he added.
Qur’an stipulates that man should not engage in acts that harm the earth after Almighty Allah has created it suitable and well prepared for the successive human generations.
Islam also makes it incumbent on every Muslim to contribute his/her share in improving greenery.
After watching a documentary on global warming, Ali redesigned his backyard so as to be certified an official wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.
He also stopped using pesticides in his backyard, filled with fruit trees.
In its first assessment in six years, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded in February that global warming was man-made.
The UN scientists said fossil fuel pollution would raise temperatures this century, worsen floods, droughts and hurricanes, melt polar sea ice and damage the climate system for a thousand years to come.
Responsible
Different religious denominations were motivated to join efforts to slow the pace of climate change, sending messages to their followers through Web sites, e-mails and sermons.
The Washington, D.C.-based Evangelical Environmental Network, a Christian group, bases its fight against global warming on the Bible.
David Clark, president of Palm Beach Atlantic University, a Christian college in West Palm Beach, has started installing energy-efficient lighting and air-conditioning regulators throughout the campus.
"I'm not a tree-hugger. But the evidence is overwhelming."
A year ago, Clark joined 84 other Christian leaders in signing the Evangelical Climate Initiative, urging federal legislation to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
At Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church in Parkland, a Land Stewardship Committee has maintained the church's 24 acres in their natural state for 13 years.
"When you come to church, you interact with the foxes, squirrels and osprey. It's not just a parking lot," said Paul Gore, land stewardship director.
"This is compatible with liturgy. We recognize we have a responsibility to the land and our neighbors."
*Without Allah, without Islam, life would be meaningless. If I've ever learned patience, it's because of this. Alhamdulillah...*
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