Follow The Eco Muslim On "Tweeder"

Asalam`alaykum,

Zaufishan, the eco muslim here *tilts head, waves from afar*

For those following my Muslimness Twitter updates you'd notice the slight perk of #ecomuslims hashtags recently. Well I'm separating the Muslimness.com blog for only "iconic Muslim" media and have a new bubbly Tweeder account for The Eco Muslim. *arreeba!*

If you've any green links on upcycling, halal living, green deen info or an eco-blog, feel free to share it in the comments section below and RT (retweet) them to me @ Tweeder. (Yes, that's how I say it: Tweeder).

Follow Zaufishan @TheEcoMuslim

Recycling Plastic - Designer Bags From The Ecoist

This year, kick the plastic habit inshaAllah with the ECOIST

It may not seem like the greatest of life's resolutions but in UK alone, billions of plastic bags are left to clog up the clean streets, wildlife and oceans. The Ecoist is one spiffy eco-store that recycles junk and even plastic bags to make fabulous new and long-lasting reusable bags.

Large companies and grocery stores have put in bids to reduce their plastic bag production, which contributes vastly to pollution and toxic waste; and as plastic is not bio-degradable it's left to collect in tons. Once it's used, it's unusable.

You'd be surprised to know that almost half of UAE's Falaj Mualla camels choked on plastic bags in 2010 - that's how much of a catastrophic deal it is. Even the environmental guy Jim Carrey protests against them.

The Ecoist has designed reusable zipped shopping bags which I'm particularly liking. You can buy various recycled bags these days (and I have'em all) - hemp bags, heavy duty tote bags that unfold/zip for carrying loads around. The Ecoist provides a set of 5 with a drawstring, zip and/or handle for $38 (around £24 - I haven't checked the exchange rate):


Animal Planet Pouches

Reusable Bags - Origami

Green Planet Pouches

"Chic, inexpensive and compact, these reusable shopping bags carry the message of re-use to a world ready for a brighter ecological future."

• Tested for strength & safety
• Super strong, holds 44lbs
• Fully washable - won't fade
• Super convenient & water-resistant
• Fashionable & fun - a great gift idea!
• Solution to one-use plastic bag

Cutesy, fashionable things, this looks like a good investment for students and mothers (you know, when you need to have a separate bag for e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g?). I want a set now.

Malaysian Phone App Directing To Eco-Friendly Spots Wins Competition

From The Star | 19th Dec 2010

"ENVIRONMENTAL awareness and location-based service (LBS) technology proved to be a winning combination for three Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) students at the recent Samsung bada Varsity Developer Challenge finals in Kuala Lumpur.

Team G-Polaris, comprising computer science students Khoo Han Ni, Chai Jian Wei and Peter Lau Yi Zhong, emerged as the first place winners of the competition.

Together with their supervisor-lecturer Azlan Othman, they walked away with the grand prize of RM15,000, a Samsung Wave smart phone each and a year’s subscription of Mobile World magazine.

Supported by the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), the challenge required tertiary students to develop innovative mobile phone applications using bada.

Bada, meaning “ocean” in Korean, is an open smartphone platform by Samsung which enables applications to utilise hardware by providing interfaces for interactive elements such as 3D graphics and motion support..."

Continue reading Sustainable Invention on The Star

Five Important Fatwas on Halal Food, Drinks and Medicine (2010)

From Halal Media | April 10th 2010 | By Kamarul Aznam

Islam is a religion of all ages.

Although a lot has changed within the past 1,400 years, the basic understanding of what constitute Halal and what is not remain largely true.

With a view of providing a base of reference for both consumers and manufacturers, listed within the following pages are five important fatwas or judgements by respected Islamic scholars worldwide, compiled from various credible sources. They include:


1. The Use of Alcohol in Food & Drinks
2. The Use of Alcohol in Medicine
3. The Use of Animal Parts as Ingredients including Gelatin
4. The Status of Seafood in Islam
5. The Status of Food Prepared by the People of the Book

It must be noted however that this is not an exhaustive collection and one should seek more knowledge on any of the subject matter. Only through adequate knowledge and one’s own commitment shall the extend of acceptance be determined by the individual consumer.