My green work relates me with a lot of things, issues on human rights, health, law, politics, religion, you name it (ok, get the idea why I never bored dealing with my work.)
         I looked at my old files and found my scattered note on the idea that religious group supposed to speak out for the environmental protection or broader aspect such as good governance or poverty eradication. That time I guess I am a bit dissaponted for their action such as "sweeping women walking alone in public space without Hijab" (sigh ..it is weird but its really happens here), or protesting the American Play Boy magazine published in Indonesia (I think it's a matter of limiting the distribution, just ask the distributor to make it expensive and  exclusively circulated if you are afraid your children buy it..Anyway, internet access is cheaper, so why bother?). Nothing is progressive; they don't even find a method to combat rampant corruption in this country with their religious movement.
       I am quite concern for the affect of pollution to women. In most environmental pollution, men and women often do not experience the effects in the same way whereas the different effect can be attributed   to three factors: economics, biology, and gender roles. Environmental degradation gives significant effects to socio-economic ladder. It pushed vulnerable group (those who cannot afford to protect themselves from environmental deterioration). Women are suspiciously positioned at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder. In terms of biological aspect, there are many differences between women and men, such as hormonal structure and reproductive system that make women and men are susceptible to different health effects from exposure to toxins and other pollutants [1]. Low level contamination of dangerous substance (i.e. carbon monoxide) from air pollution may not be harmful to a single human. However, even though it is declared as safe for human, it still harmful for pregnant women.  Due to women reproductive system, the low level carbon monoxide exposure during three months pregnancy might cause a premature birth because the infant lack of oxygen supply. In other case, residue of a pollutant (i.e. pesticides) will also affect men and women in different ways. A pregnant woman will have double impact since the fetus will automatically be contaminated by the substance through the nutrition supplied by the mother; furthermore, as the pregnancy period over, the baby is still facing danger due to the contaminated breast milk.
       In Indonesia, most victims of environmental conflict are women and children. From the  Buyat Bay pollution case in Manado due to a big mining activity (releasing mercury to the air and toxic tailing to the sea), the women's health quality is significantly dropping off. In 2004, from 100 respondents, it is reported that 94% of peolple  had health problem.  Those who had health problem were 60% of women, 40% of children and toddler [2]. Another case, in Kenjeran beach, Surabaya where 45%  of the people work as fisherman and 55% of them work as labor force, the environment is polluted by heavy metal Hg, Cu, Pb and Cd. People eat contaminated and low nutrition food. There are 60% of  toddlers live in malnutrition and 56% of  women suffered from anemia [3]. Other symptoms might be reported but there is no extra attention from the government to the deeper research of the pollution and its impact.
     Based on the above conditions, triggering the concept of religion to be one of the problem solvers is an interesting topic. To be specific, Islam paramount the importance of social justice and insists on the distribution of the wealth. Regarding the environment and nature protection, the tasks of human being is not to contend with nature and to dominate it. We live in a friendly environment which we must care and respect for. According to Islam, damage of all forms and kinds is forbidden. One of the fundamental principles is the Prophetic declaration: "There shall be no damage and no infliction of damage" (Al-Hakim). Prevention of damage and corruption before it occurs is better than later treatment.  Another important juristic rule is, "The averting of harm takes precedence over the acquisition of benefits. "Accordingly, all activities which aim at achieving good and securing benefits by way of satisfying human needs, providing services and developing agriculture, industry, and means of communication should be carried out without causing significant damage, injury, or corruption [4].
      In fact, there is a wide gap between understanding the concept and implementing it. Although Islam stressing the social welfare and natural protection, the people lives with corruption and oppression; human degradation is also a common sight in societies; conspicuous wealth and abject poverty often exist side by side; and the environmental damage keeps increasing. Besides the gap, the state is also gender bias in interpreting the concept and rigid in implementing it.  In some Islamic countries, women's political right is still in debate. The debate is centered on the problem of whether Islam puts forward and teaches about women's political rights or not. Mainstream Islamic discourse maintains that women should remain in the domestic sphere, while politics is part of the public domain managed by men [5].
     Patriarchal interpretation and rigid implementation restrict women's access and any role in society. This is brought into social construction, education and even state system. Based on that perception, it is not important for women to have higher education and to have access in political channels. In Aceh, under Sharia Law, woman has become the primary targets of enforcement rather than man. Beside religion and the state factor, the women's weak accesses to information, education, participation and justice are influenced by the high work load, social construction and the gender role. The weakness in those accesses, are causing women to have a very limited knowledge on their living environment and the impact of activities around them. It is very important to promote that Islam is also put forward women's involvement in politics from beginning. Women should involve in decision making process since the political products and decision will impact their life. 
       I think for a broader idea, Muslim should aim to rediscover the values and ethics of the concept and use it to promote civil society, participatory and accountable governance. This should be done with the grass roots, with full participation of all members of society.