July 23, 2021 EXPO 2021 Poster

The Rise of Eco-Islam: Environmental Organizations and Religious Identity

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.22.6″][et_pb_fullwidth_post_title author=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”3.23.3″ title_font=”Standard||||||||” title_text_color=”#ffffff” title_font_size=”61px” title_line_height=”1.3em” meta_font=”Standard2||||||||” meta_text_color=”#ffffff” background_color=”#000000″ custom_padding=”||60px” title_font_size_tablet=”39px” title_font_size_phone=”28px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone”][/et_pb_fullwidth_post_title][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.23.3″ max_width=”1221px”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_image src=”https://thenurj.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Headshot-Kayan-Khraisheh.jpeg” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|phone” module_id=”circle-image” _builder_version=”3.23.3″ width=”40%” width_tablet=”26%” width_last_edited=”on|desktop”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.23.3″ text_font=”Standard2||||||||” text_font_size=”27px” min_height=”40px” custom_padding=”18px||”]Kayan Khraisheh[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.23.3″ inline_fonts=”Times New Roman”]

Subject: Social Sciences 
Adviser: Professor Rania Masri
DOI: 10.21985/n2-rc8c-0y73

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Kayan Khraisheh is a senior at Northwestern University in Qatar, majoring in Media Industries and Technologies and pursuing a certificate in Strategic Communication. She has worked as a research assistant for two professors at NU-Q, with topics ranging from mental health information-seeking and voice commerce to public safety communication campaigns. Her research interests include environmental sustainability, human rights, the Palestinian issue, and gender representations in the media.

Her short story ‘Work in Progress’ was published in the June 2020 issue of the literary magazine The Write Launch, and was selected as the winner of the Creative Writing category at NU-Q’s 2021 Media and Research Awards. She was also awarded 2nd place at NU’s 2020 Creative Arts Festival for her documentary titled ‘All Roads Lead to Palestine’.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.23.3″ text_font=”Standard2|600|||||||” text_font_size=”25px”]Abstract[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.23.3″ text_font=”Times New Roman||||||||” text_font_size=”19px” text_line_height=”1.5em”]Experts have recognized the potential for religion to shape environmental attitudes. In recent decades, the world has seen the rise of faith-based organizations in tackling issues of sustainability, particularly those following Islamic ecotheology. Embedded in Islamic scripture is an emphasis on responsibility and accountability towards the Earth; Islamic environmental organizations have capitalized on such teachings to inspire action in Muslim communities. In my research paper, I explored the following question: how are environmental organizations, operating in Western countries with a clear Muslim identity, using religion to encourage environmental sustainability? I chose to focus on Islam as it is the world’s second-largest and fastest-growing religion. I selected four of the most successful Islamic environmental organizations in the West: Green Muslims, Faithfully Sustainable, Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences, and Khaleafa. I analyzed each organization based on three factors: target audience, strategy, and use of religion. Similarities included the use of Muslim traditions and celebrations (i.e. Ramadan and Eid), the use of stewardship to highlight individual responsibility towards the Earth, and the provision of educational resources regarding Islamic environmentalism. The primary differences were their target audiences, the nature of their projects, their use of social media, and their use of religion on their websites and social media platforms. The eco-Islam movement will continue to grow, alongside the rise of faith-based environmental organizations associated with other religions. Learning the most effective way to utilize religion to inspire eco-friendly behavior is becoming increasingly important as we continue to face exigent environmental threats.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_code _builder_version=”3.23.3″][/et_pb_code][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.23.3″][et_pb_code _builder_version=”3.23.3″][/et_pb_code][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]