Go to your "friend library" for books, magazines, or just...stuff.

Sometimes I tend to get carried away when I think about reducing my consumerism. Some of my most favorite hobbies call for me to buy things, so I find myself limiting the activities I enjoy... but it doesn't have to be that way. I have to remind myself that the purpose of a compact is to:

1. To go beyond recycling in trying to counteract the negative global environmental and socioeconomic impacts of US consumer culture to resist global corporatism, and to support local businesses, farms, etc...
2. To reduce clutter and waste in our homes.
3. To simplify our lives.

-SF Compacters

This doesn't mean limiting your life to the bare necessities, just finding ways around doing what you normally do that involves spending. Everyone has their "thing" and I've learned that my "thing" is my fascination with books. I love books. Buying them, reading them, storing them, just looking at them. I would always tell myself "you're buying books to read, not junk to just own" and justify the mounds and mounds of books I buy in a really short time period. It's this obsession that I've realized I need to control and have begun to tame in the following ways.

A few of my friends have this same problem of buying lots of books. We realized that we don't own exactly the same library because of our varying interests, but it was cool to see what the other person has in their library and learn something from what they've read. For example, I would borrow a book from my friend in Chicago, and when finished reading it, would send it to her through the mail or wait to give it to her in person if I knew I was travelling soon. My other friends live close by, so when they come over, they "check out" a few books and return them to me next time they're over or if I visit them. It's endearing to know that you and your friends are offering to each other one of the best gifts in the world: knowledge.

It's a true library system that has been working great for the past few years without any kind of organization. It happens pretty randomly, at house visits or after a conversation about "this amazing book I just read, and you should too." We don't have a mechanism of keeping track of who borrowed which book, we're just trustworthy and considerate of each other's belongings. But I guess if you want to try this library system out and are worried your books will be jacked forever, try creating your own personal library kit to keep track of who has what.

1. Stick a sheet of paper on the last page of the book that has your name and info.

2. Keep a log at home on paper or on your computer to remember who checked the book out last.

3. Write on the paper in the book when you'd like the book back.

You could probably even use this library system with other hobbies, you lend your friend your roller blades and they lend you their ski stuff. Let us know how it works for you.

Happy Ramadan, happy compact, and happy reading!

I've got the power...

In the midst of tropical storm Saturday, I was trying to figure out how to not use disposable products at an upcoming iftar and thinking, "hmm...wouldn't it be nice if I found a set of used silverware at a garage sale that I could just have on hand for parties...hmm." Sheer boredom (and lack of food) told it me it would be a good idea to drive out to the estate sales in Springfield (about 25min away) in the pouring rain, to test out this idea.

And one soggy drive and a 25% discount later:

silverware for 8:


and an insulated carafe for the post-iftar caffeine addicts (ok so its not the prettiest one out there, but the only one for $3 probably):


So not only does participating in the compact give you superhuman powers but good estate sale karma as well ;) alhamdulillah.

Ramadan Mubarak!

Click here to sign-up for a buy-nothing Ramadan in 2008!

Ramadhan around the corner

Funny how summer flew so quickly, and we're looking for Ramadhan yet again--this blessed month that makes us stop in our tracks and reflect on our daily behavior. That takes us back to the beginning of Islam.

It begins with the constant readings of the Qur'an, duas, asma ul husna...every masjid and Islamic center sets the mood, replacing songs from the radio with the remembrance of Allah. Slowly, we begin to disconnect from the fast pace of our present lifestyles. Other behaviors that follow vary greatly: I have friends who stopped wearing makeup in Ramadhan, friends who chose to have zero physical contact with other men during Ramadhan, friends who started wearing hijab, did volunteer work at soup kitchens and masjids, and the list goes on...people slow down, don't feel the need to indulge their vanities, try to make time for the needy, or even try to put aside anything that was not happening at the Prophet's time.

For me, the feeling of Ramadhan and early Islam brings lots of visions, many of which coincide with the 'sustainable' lifestyle for which aware and conscientious people are striving. I can see the prophet eating a simple meal of dates, bread, and yogurt, repairing his own torn sandles instead of throwing them out, constantly reflecting on nature in his connection to Allah, and encouraging his followers and close family members to live a similar lifestyle of simplicity. His daughter Fatima and her husband Ali were very similar: they chose worship over luxuries, had nothing that was not a basic necessity, and gave generously to all who came to their door.

As it is, we have to fight this culture hard just to pray on time every day, let alone eat only 2 or 3 kinds of food and not be walking consumerists. But I'm praying this Ramadhan, we can strengthen our connection and move one step further than last year, and the years before.

Ramadhan 2008 is going to be particularly meaningful after the food crisis this summer, and knowing how many people were really deprived of food b/c of high prices. Its not easy to fast when its still so warm outside, but knowing that it helps us connect to the greater body of humanity beyond our own local geography reminds me how very profound it is that Allah prescribed this for us. (I'll admit though, I have to make up some fasts from last year, which is in part helping to prepare me for this year.)

What does the feeling of Ramadhan and early Islam do for you?

Inequality

The Worldmapper project has interesting visual representations of the world, resized according to various criteria: population, energy consumption, poverty, etc, which make for some pretty powerful comparisons.

A regular map of the world:


Adjusted for Population:


According to wealth


According to ecological footprint


Via Professor Mark Newman, University of Michigan: website

Check out this excellent video about cradle to cradle, an incredible design philosophy subhanallah:

William McDonough: The wisdom of designing Cradle to Cradle

Our Minds... Treasure Without End

"Avoid cupidity (i.e. greed), for it is instant poverty."
-Prophet Muhammad PBUH

My Mind to me a kingdom is,
Such present joys therein I find,
That it excels all other bliss
That earth affords or grows by kind;
Though much I want which most would have,
Yet still my mind forbids to crave.

No princely pomp, no wealthy store,
No force to win the victory,
No wily wit to salve a sore,
No shape to feed a loving eye;
To none of these I yield as thrall:
For why? My mind doth serve all.

I see how plenty surfeits oft,
And hasty climbers soon do fall;
I see that those which are aloft
Mishap doth threaten most of all,
They get with toil, they keep with fear;
Such cares my mind could never bear.

Content to live, this is my stay;
I seek no more than may suffice;
I press to bear no haughty sway;
Look, what I lack my mind supplies:
Lo, thus I triumph like a king.
Content with that my mind doth bring.

Some have too much, yet still do crave;
I little have, and seek no more.
They are but poor, though much they have,
And I am rich with little store;
They poor, I rich; they beg, I give;
They lack, I leave; they pine, I live.
-Sir Edward Dyer, 16th Century

"Consider well contentment, for it is a treasure without end."
-Prophet Muhammad PBUH