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GOAL 13: Climate Action

Recycling bins are seen more often around town in the city of Amman, it’s still not common enough, however, there is always a sense of positivity whenever you spot them, a hopeful reminder that the community exists, and it’s slowly becoming part of peoples approach to reduce waste, and fight climate change in small ways.

Only few neighborhoods have recycling programs that is part of the municipality’s project, yet we have a long way to go.

GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

This statement that I found written in beautiful Arabic calligraphy is at the core of the conversation about that intersection of culture, religion and the environment.

When preparing this project, this prophetic saying from the Islamic faith was a key example of something almost every kid growing up have heard, reminded of, and asked to repeat.

The words read (translated into English): “Cleanliness is a sign of faith” followed by a statement made by the person who wrote this “Do not throw away your worth here”. The first line is a reminder that faith is beyond scripture or clear acts of worship, and that embodying your faith authentically should result in a better version of ones self where the outer as well as the inner motive for cleanliness includes our environment and the spaces we occupy.

The second line is a reminder against littering, and tying the bad and irresponsible act of littering and consumption with one’s respect for their selves as well as their space.

GOAL 15: Life on Land

Stray cats in Jordan, as well in many parts of the other world is an issue that leaves any cats and kittens vulnerable and in harms way. It also places the responsibility of caring for them in the cities on people in those communities, a responsibility that not all take seriously.

Caring for animals is part of culture and tradition as well as spiritual practice, it is seen as an act of charity, as well as a way to show gratitude for one’s own blessings. Many locals can take this responsibility seriously, despite financial strains to do what they can to ensure the animals are taken care by providing food, and in some cases shelter.

Unfortunately, Jordan does not have a designated governmental program that protects stray animals from abuse, or have dedicated public shelters. Yet, these cats are an integral part of the ecosystem.

GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

There has been beautiful examples of working upcycling into some businesses, which I would consider part of the #9 goal of innovation.

In this picture, I took it at my favorite coffee shop, that aside from having the best coffee in Jordan (add it to your list for your next visit to Jordan), the owner has made many bold moves to try and lower the waste that his stores produce.

DImitri’s Speciality Coffee did that through many practices, or options given to customers, and when I asked him years ago, he said it’s because he owns up to that responsibility he has as a business owner, and his belief that as a society we should be more aware of this issue.

The sign in Arabic means “Please put your paper cups here, they will be upcycled in farming”. What they do is take these cups, clean them, and use them in local farms to sprout new plants and vegetables in the place of plastic.

Other practices at the coffee shop include:

- Being the first shop in Jordan to offer paper straws

- Offering free clean water for customers instead of buying plastic bottles

- Offering a discount for those who bring their coffee tumblrs

- Giving away dried coffee grounds that were used to make drinks to customers, to be used as a natural fertilizer

GOAL 2: Zero Hunger

This is one of my favorite sights to see around Amman. Signs that stores would have to give away food or drink for free for those who can’t afford to pay for it.

This sign is places in one of the oldest bakeries in town, which has bags of pita bread (a staple in every home) with a sign that reads “This bread is for free for those who can’t afford to buy it”. I have also seen similar examples done with water, especially during the summer months.

There are also food shops that have signs where if someone needs to eat and can’t afford it, they can count to get a hot meal, no questions asked.

This is deeply rooted in tradition and culture, part of it can be seen as an act of good or charity, but many look at it as a given, and part of the hospitality and care given to one another, and the idea that we take care of each other, regardless of kinship or family connections.

GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Who knew a recycling drop off point can be categorized as a “happy place”, but what you see in this picture is my happy place.

Jordan has a few recycling factories, or many would label them as “sorting” factories which sort some recyclable materials which are then shipped to other countries. Aside from the problematic and “unsustainable” nature of these practices, this drop of point is such an important resource for locals who want to recycle and reduce their waste.

In the last 5 years, there has been a few more that popped up around the city, but sadly, the demand is still not as high as companies would want to cause for more to open, however, it’s still a path towards a more sustainable city and community.

GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Similar to another post, this Arabic calligraphy is a rephrased prophetic saying that reads “Your cleanliness highlights your faith”. But the second line brings an important example of free water fountains that has been part of the culture of centuries, that third line reads “Drink and Show Mercy to People - Water for the sake of God”, what that frame doesn’t show is a fountain of drinking water in an old area of town that is probably over a 100 years old, and is something you can see examples of across the Arab world and the MENA region.

GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

The art scene in Amman is a beauty, and in recent years, there has been an annual art campaign sweeping the local scene, and luckily, this year, the theme is “The environment”. Sadly the pandemic has limited the exploration of about 12 murals across the city, but this one was a beautiful surprise on one of my walks, an interpretation of an anti-waste super hero of some sort.

Art I do believe is one of the greatest way to spread awareness or change cultural perception.

Art is by a local artist named Suhaib Attar

#suhaibattar

GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

There could be a whole project dedicated to the use of verses from the Holy Quran (The Islamic Holy Book) on buildings or places of business, for me many represent perfectly that intersection of layers between culture, faith and the ecosystem at large.

In this picture, you can see parts of two different verses, the first translating to “Whichever you blessing you have, it is from God” and the second one which is repeated in the Quran with different variations translates to: “Eat from the good things We have provided for you, but do not transgress in them”.

There are many verses that speak about the awe in creation, the abundance in variation in the food we eat, and the ways in which one should take as signs to reflect that wonder human beings should have towards that creation. that verse is also significant for the part that talks about transgression, which is an important theme in the Quran whenever the topic has to do with the earth and the environment.

GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Similar to other posts, these beautiful water cooler is an example of the free water fountains that one can find to drink. This particular cooler has the foundational statement in Islamic faith that says “In the name of God, the most merciful, the most compassionate” written across the four sides.

There is a beautiful history and cultural significance to free water sources in the tradition, and other statements within the culture that people tend to forget that it points to sustainable practices that can seem western or modern, when in fact, it existed as part of the moral compass of many generations, to provide clean water to those who need it, and be cautious in our consumption of these resources, and have respect towards it.

GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Upcycling is part of the culture way before “upcycling” became a trend. In the cultural I grew up in, there are classic items that were without question upcycled, and had become part of our visual childhood memory.

This picture of three large sunflower oil cans that have been repurposed as planters. Upcycling was done in previous generations without much thought, it just made sense, and throwing an item that still has use and benefit did not make sense.

Other items included Chocolate tin cans that somehow always ended up housing buttons and needlework kits, and dark tin cans that were used as containers.

This photo doesn’t really fall under any of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, however, it is an important picture to start with, signifying the role that faith plays in “sustaining” blessings both tangible and intangible by the reminder one sees on buildings, or hears in peoples speech and personal perspective, echoing the principle that every blessing or “resource” given to man is a gift from God, and a gift is to be treated with care, respect and gratitude.

This picture is of an old building, with words inscribed on top of the door referencing the words of the historically known by different faiths as King Solomon, in one of the quotes he says “This is from the blessings of my lord”, a statement that many use in their doorways, or physical blessings. Which I believe is a path to have conversations about sustainability and responsible consumption and attitude towards physical blessings with nature, health, food etc.

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