Organic and Halal: Muslim Food For Thought

It’s official- Ramadan is over and so food is back on topic!

To mark this, I wanted to spread the word about RENEWAL, the first feature-length documentary film that captures the work of religious-environmental activists. It’s 90 minutes long and showcases Muslims, Jews, Christians and other religious groups’ efforts to tackle climate change and instill a love for the planet.  The segment on Muslims is entitled ‘Food for Faith’ and looks at issues of sustainable farming and ‘Eco-halal’. Definitely worth a look.

The Architecture of Mud in the Muslim World

Mud buildings have withstood the test of time; will they populate our futures too?

Think of Islamic mud structures and more than likely the iconic Great Mosque of Djenne in Mali will come to mind. The largest mud brick building in the world, the mosque is considered to be amongst the greatest achievement of Sudano-Swahelian architecture and one of the most famous landmarks of Africa.

But it’s not only Africa that boasts impressive (and sustainable) mud structures, the Middle East is home to some of the most stunning mud buildings in the world. From the ‘Manhattan of the Desert’ in Yemen to the Bam citadel of Iran, these mud structures show that there’s more to Muslim architecture than Mecca and Masdar.