dearest,
just want to know when did you first came up with this idea?
Answer
Salam,
The Danish media continues to focus on bad news regarding the Muslim minority; i.e. crime rates, violence, problems etc. We thought of a way to enhance the positive image of Muslims and Islam in this country, trying to show the many positive things to be found in our religion, contributing in a positive manner to our society.
When we heard the Global Environmental Summit was to take place in Denmark later this year, we decided to focus on environmental issues. Also shaykh Abdul Aziz Fredericks from Scotland was a great inspiration when he visited us together with Scottish brother Nadeem Shah who is a professional ecologist
.
Name
Othman
- Denmark
Profession
Question
dear Safia,
How did the youth themselves reacted to this campaign , I mean whether they were actively contributing, or did it take hard efforts to convince them of its advantages?
Answer
Salam,
The youth was amazingly committed! Even very young kids helped gather trash, then carrying heavy bags all the way to base camp to be weighted. In Copenhagen alone the youth gathered more than 500 kilos of trash in less than 2 hours.
Before the event took place we visited a number of schools and afternoon clubs; everywhere we went reception was positive and friendly, el-hamdulillah.
Young people in general are eager to take responsibility and engage themselves in society; we grownups often have no faith in them, thinking they are to young. This event proved the opposite, I think.
Name
Mohammed
-
Profession
Doctor
Question
It was mentioned that there are more actvities to be done In this campaign? And for how long will you be keeping it on?
Answer
Salam,
The campaign is planned to go on all throughout 2009.
Already next month we'll have a Blood Donation event (April 25, in sha 'Allah).
Later MID is going to attend some workshops and activities regarding the Global Environmental Summit in December 2009.
We are also going to focus on the coming political local municipality elections.
There are many ways how people can help take responsibility and our members have lots of ideas to be submitted, weighted and carried out.
Name
angelica
-
Profession
Question
from your position as a lawyer, what are the Danish laws required regarding the Muslim community?
Answer
I am not sure I understand your question 100 percent.
but as a minority Muslims have equal rights just as any Danish citizens in Denmark. The biggest issue, according to my personal views, is the inability for Muslims to pay religious taxes to our own community.
Muslims don't have to pay taxes to the National Church, but we would prefer if we could pay our religious taxes to the Muslim Community in stead of.
Name
Saed Amer
-
Profession
Question
Sister, barak Allah
How did the Danish government received this campaign, what was the opinion of the Gov.
Answer
The Danish government has not reacted at all.
The municipalities of the three major cities involved in this campaign, however, have reacted in a very positive way, and they have helped us by providing trash collecting materials and supported our campaign by joint-venture press messages and by attending the event on mayor and municipality levels.
Name
Jehad
- Belgium
Profession
student
Question
Keep up the good work brothers and sisters,
Why don’t you enlarge this campaign and change it to be :European Muslim Youth: take the responsibility?
Also, how this campaigns encourage the concept of integration among Muslim and non-Muslim Danish youth?
Answer
I would love to enlarge this campaign!!!
However MID is a small organization with limited resources. Maybe in the future insha 'Allah, when more Muslim youth are getting actively engaged.
Name
AMEENA
-
Profession
House Wife
Question
I'm thinking of spreading this initiative through Europe, not only Denmark, this I guess might help the integration process, and modify the Muslims' perception from their European countries.
Answer
We have plans to enlarge this campaign throughout Europe, but MID is a small organization with limited resources to coordinate a major European event.
But we would very much invite European Muslim organizations to venture this campaign further together with us insha 'Allah.
You can get in touch with us at this e-mail: info@m-i-d.dk
Name
nermeen
-
Profession
Question
my question is: have the Muslim youth in Denmark dontributed as well in the one-hour for saving energy day? and in your view, how Muslim youth around the world can unite to give a better represenation of Islam?
Answer
We had plans for contributing to this daylight-saving-day but it wasn't carried out because we were so busy coordinating the "collecting trash"-project.
However, MID is going to host more events in the Responsibility-campaign all throughout 2009, and many of them in relation to environmental issues.
To give a better representation of Islam is quite easy...we should follow the sunnah of our dear Prophet (PBUH); he showed the way for us in all kinds of matters, including the environmental matters.
Name
Sami- USA
-
Profession
Question
Dear sister sure I appreciate all these efforts, but I'd like to know who are responsible for the financing of the MID, and successively this campaign?
Answer
Salam,
MID is a self-financing organization.
However, for this particular Trash-project, we have received funding from Danish Youth Council to cover for expenses such as PR, campaign materials and other administrative expenses.
Name
Fatima
-
Profession
Question
How did you promote for this campaign and the coming ones?
Answer
We promoted this campaign in many ways; we visited schools and youth clubs and organizations in person to talk about the campaign. We also printed folders and flyers and contacted the press to promote it.
We used Facebook intensively because Facebook is where the action takes place for young people. I think we used every available channel to make the campaign known.
