Page 15 CentralBeat / PowerfulWomenOfCentral
Ada Mohammed – uniting Islam and the environment
By Saeeda M Ali
Business teacher Ada Mohammed of Claxton Bay is the founder , and an active member , of Green Deen Trinidad , an organisation attached to a similar one in South Africa which is aimed at raising awareness on the relationship between Islam and the environment . ‘ Deen ’ is the Arabic word for ‘ religion ’ or ‘ faith ’. She is also a distributor of biodegradable products who fully understands why it is important to preserve our environment .
“ My childhood was totally different to what childhood is now ,” Ada , 37 , tells Central Beat . “ We grew up with a lot of cousins playing outside , climbing trees and riding bikes . It was more about fun outdoors , and that is where my love for preserving the environment started . When you build a love for the environment , then you ’ ll know how to preserve it .”
This passion for protecting the environment truly began when she went to live in the Virgin Islands for three-and-a-half years and became part of a group called Green V . I . that worked on environmental preservation : education awareness drives , going to schools and teaching students about composting , buying locally – all the things that make for good citizens . While there , Ada even assisted in lobbying for solar panels to be legalised in the V . I .
When she returned home she decided to continue this movement in Trinidad : “ I came back home in 2011 right before Ramadhan and observed that the first Iftaar I went to , people used a lot of styrofoam plates and plastic cutlery , and I just wanted to see where it ended up . The next day I drove to the dump ; we know it becomes garbage , but exactly where does it end up ? It ’ s three miles from my home , so we inhale all the fumes . I thought , being pregnant at that time , what kind of environment would my child inherit ? There was just tons and tons of garbage ! It ’ s scary to think that this is what it looks like now – what is going to happen later ?”
Since the drive for business runs in Ada ’ s family — with her
Ada Mohammed and her children Sajid and Sanna have some fun .
two older brothers and parents involved in their own businesses — she soon formed her own company , ASA Distributors , to distribute biodegradable products .
“ Price was a factor because it was obviously more expensive than styrofoam . But then you explain to people that while styrofoam is cheaper , the coming generations will pay the cost in terms of inheriting a land only with garbage .” Now , the Bioware products Ada distributes are stocked at Massy Stores , JTA and Xtra Foods in San Fernando .
It did not stop there for Ada . As a Muslim woman , Ada wanted to look at environmental preservation from the Islamic point of view . That ’ s when she stumbled across Green Deen South Africa , an organisation that deals exactly with what Ada was looking for . After contacting them and establishing Green Deen Trinidad in 2011 - their first ever branch outside of South Africa – Ada set about making her company and the organisation known .
“ Every Ramadan I launch something , so the first time was a magazine , then some posters . This year I plan to launch some videos to show people how you can be a little more eco conscious for Ramadan .
“ This year ’ s theme is going back to the Sunnah , or the teachings of the Prophet ( s . a . w ). When you look at how the Prophet ( s . a . w ) did things , you ’ d see that he was an environmentalist . He made wudhu with 2 / 3 litres of water . Did he break fast with aloo
Children at a camp held by Ada and Green Deen . pie , pholourie and doubles in a plastic plate ? No , he had dates and water . And scientifically now , they are saying that that is the ideally best thing to break fast with . And ironically , there ’ s a lot of food wastage during Ramadan , although Islam stresses the importance of eating all your food .”
Ada has done many outstanding things in her environmental drive . “ I collaborated with UWI and we hosted a movie night under Green Deen , we had astronomy nights , we had environmental camps for kids where we had a lot of different companies and groups came in to help out . I also started recycling in my neighbourhood and got everyone involved . I ’ m trying to partner with the EMA for some bins to collect recyclables for the masjids . Slowly , people are starting to understand the importance of environmental preservation .”
The environmental activist says that Green Deen is an organisation that looks at the Islamic perspective of preserving the environment but the group is open to all religions .
“ I was trying to see if we can get people to do the Hindu and Christian perspectives , because each of the religious books talk about taking care of what God put on the earth . Because when we think about Heaven , we don ’ t think about skyscrapers and tablets and touchscreens , we think about rivers and trees and fruits . And so why are we destroying our environment here and hoping to enjoy heaven ? God
One of the Green Deen Trinidad posters .
May 2017 made us as trustees for his environment . Everyone is entitled to their opinion , but if you see another way that it works , why not try it ? And economic times aren ’ t the best , and people are looking for ways to cut costs . Taking care of the environment is a good way to do that .”
Of course , nothing is without its obstacles . “ Because of other commitments , I don ’ t have the time to do as much as I ’ d like . But because the organisation is more recognised now , there are a lot more people trying to help . But the main obstacle was people ’ s thinking . You can ’ t change everyone , but if you just change a few , then you ’ ll know somewhere , somehow , it ’ ll be worthwhile .
“ I ’ ve been asked , ‘ Ada , where do you expect to go saving one plastic bottle ?’ And I said , ‘ well that ’ s one plastic bottle less in the dump !’”
What about the satisfaction she feels in going green and encouraging other people to do the same ? “ It ’ s amazing yet humbling because all I did was spark an awareness . Going green is simple , we just need to change our habits , which is the hardest part . But if someone can show you how to do it and you make the commitment , it ’ ll work out . And everyone else and their kids are the ones who will benefit in the long run .
“ We hope that Trinidadians can change their mindset in terms of having more respect for the environment . We talk about being patriotic , but the only times Trinis are patriotic are when we are at a football match / cricket match , and don ’ t even pick up after ourselves .”
She notes that her generation is the one that created the dependency on bottled water and individual containers , so they must now change the mindset of the younger generation .
“ Let them understand why we should recycle and preserve the environment . I ’ m hoping things pull through and they can ban styrofoam in Trinidad . It ’ s something we can live without . Yes , it will take a lot of time , and not everyone will come on board at the same time . You can ’ t avoid the negative people , but it ’ s so important to look at the bigger picture . It ’ s not too late to start now .
“ Ramadan is a time for us Muslims to get abundant blessings ,” adds Ada . “ Why not try to gain more blessings through environmental preservation ?”
Persons interested in purchasing bio-degradable products or joining Green Deen Trinidad can contact Ada at 777-3880 .