plastic recycle or replacement

Hello, Soomro. About the lighting . . .

In a place with abundant sunshine, where most activities go on during the day, where there's floor space for 1000 prayer rugs, where there is a dome (and minarets?) . . . I would look into ways of supplementing (including only partial or restricted-hours use of) the existing artificial lighting.

If Imam could be convinced to approve, it would seem to me that the geometric exterior motif of Muslim holy places would lend well to the use of light pipes which could bring direct or indirect (sun) lighting into the interior space; if the interior is tiled, so much the better. Additionally, photovoltaic power might also be feasible on the mosque roof or as a fitting decorative augmentation of a minaret. No, this would not be quick or inexpensive . . . but it's atmospheric warming, and Islam, we are speaking of; that along with probably phased installation . . . a long view and enduring patience would seem to offer the best rewards.

I dine frequently at a Chinese restaurant in Calif's central valley. About a year ago that restaurant recently installed just four large, translucent skylights in the ceiling of the large dining room. Since then, I've noticed that the tube lights (there are about 25 quad fixtures) do not come on at all until the sun is about to set in the evening; so the fluorescents only light about one (summer) to three (winter) hours per day. The light color qualities between the sky lights and the tubes is very similar. Visibility is good at all times . . . sufficient for (menu) reading at any point in the room; and . . . no shadows, even with sky lighting alone.

About the food packaging . . .

If this is for charity purposes I would suggest that the aforementioned canvas bag idea is a good one, for many reasons:

• By my observations of middle-east exports (and apparel worn by mid-easterners) Pakistan and middle east workers produce the best textile products . . . so there should be an abundance of qualified volunteer labor to draw from . . . if making the bags is incorporated as a volunteer Mosque activity.
• The bags are not expensive. (In the US canvas bags about the size of a brown paper bag (two plastic bags) sell for about $1. Stretchy bags made of parachute-like material will accommodate about 4 (or more) paper grocery bags, and sell for about $3-4.)
• In addition to making and distributing the bags in addition to food, you could provide an "exchange program where food recipients would return with the bags for exchange or refilling.
• Surplus bags produced by volunteers (or purchased) could be sold to fund food and other charity and mosque programs.
• Further use of plastic bags, or paper, would be curtailed . . . you would only need a small supply on hand to meet unexpected "emergencies" in food distribution.
• You will have essentially eliminated both plastic and paper from the local waste stream.
• Use of textile bags also might support local (trustworthy) "textile growers/breeders"

What do you think?