2009 National Ethnic Media Awards Winners

Environmental Issues

Winner

"Color Me Green"
Azizah Kahera & Staff Writers, Azizah Magazine

Runner Up

"Green Rules Force Small Truckers Into the Red"
Sunita Sohrabji, India West

Environmental Issues

Winner: Azizah Kahera & Staff Writers, "Color Me Green, Loving Planet Earth," Azizah Magazine (Atlanta, Georgia)

A feature that explores the connection between Islam and environmentalism. A first-person perspective of junking one's car for car-sharing. One woman's journey toward eco-activism.

This collection of stories was published in Atlanta-based Azizah Magazine, which presents the issues and accomplishments of Muslim women in North America.

So what's the connection between environmentalism and the Muslim woman?

According to the Holy Qur'an, when Allah created humankind, he told the angels, "I will create a khalifah on earth." Khalifah, environmental researcher and journalist Najma Mohamed reminds her readers, is "vice regent, not master, trustee not tyrant." In fact, a hadith also tells Muslims, "The world is sweet and green [alluring] and verily Allah installs you as vice-regent of it in order to see how you act."

"We wanted to emphasize going green is dear to us because we have a spiritual responsibly to care for the earth," says Tayyibah Taylor, Azizah's editor-in-chief and publisher. "We tried to show how Muslims were doing it here."

They are doing it in many different ways. Contributor Nadirah Z. Sabir describes running her last minute errands using a car share service. Readers can also take the Azizah Green Test from editor Azizah Zahera to find out how green they are. For example, do you return empty ink cartridges? What about pre-soaking clothes?

Some Muslims are already doing their greenest. Zaynab Aden meets a group of Green Muslims in Washington, D.C., who have started a "Ramadan Compact," which they describe as a "buy nothing experiment." They even have a Green Dinner potluck.

Despite an emphasis on faith, Taylor says it was very important to not "preach." Instead, the package tries to engage readers by highlighting what people were doing to make small changes in their lives. "The more you know about options and possibilities, the more apt you are to put it into practice," says Taylor.


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Testimonials

About NAM's First National Ethic Media Awards
Washington, D.C., 2006

Hillary Rodham Clinton

I want to congratulate the honorees who are receiving the equivalent of the “Pulitzer Prize.” Every generation brings so many voices to the debate. Ethnic media represent the way the new Washington needs to connect to the new America.

Len Downie, Executive Editor, Washington Post

I was very pleased that I could be at the awards ceremony. New America Media is a very significant journalistic organization and you are doing important work.

Michael Jack, VP of Diversity, NBC Network

Congratulations for pulling off such a successful event. It is not easy to do anything for the first time, but you managed to do just that. The well deserving recipients truly appreciated the acknowledgement.

Brant Houston, Executive Director, Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc.

Thanks for including us in this great project.

Lorena Hernandez, Bay Area Director of Communications, Comcast

Congratulations on the successful National Ethnic Media Events in DC!

Juliet K. Choi, National Partnership Development Senior Associate, American Red Cross

Congratulations on a beautiful inaugural Ethnic Media Awards – and kudos for getting Senator Clinton to show!

Julie H. Sun, Corporate Relations and Housing Outreach Manager, Freddie Mac

We were very happy to be engaged.

Pat Lawson Muse, Anchor, NBC4

Congratulations for pulling off such a successful event. Many of the stories that generated awards were so moving. The well de- serving recipients truly appreciated the acknowledgement.

Anna Lefer, U.S. Programs Program Officer, Open Society Institute

Congratulations on a hugely successful awards ceremony. After scanning the crowd of journalists and executives from ethnic and mainstream media, elected officials, international dignitaries and diplomats, and DC insiders, it is quite clear that NAM is a part of the political fabric down in DC.

Pam Larson, Executive Vice President, National Academy of Social Insurance

Being part of NAM’s gathering and associated events was a true honor and thrill for us! . . . You’ve got a real eye for the future -- and for making a better “present” for many people, too!

Ellen Hume, Senior Research Fellow, UMASS Boston

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Jon Funabiki, former deputy director of the Media, Arts and Culture with Ford Foundation

New America Media truly has changed the nation by bringing the power of ethnic news media into focus and making people take notice. NAM has changed the course of history.