The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico rests heavily on the hearts of many. Seeing images of pelicans and other sea-life, I feel helpless. Bewildered by the disaster and British Petroleum's sluggish response, I realized how this violation of nature not only speaks volumes about our society's values but also reflects a spiritual crisis.

Being Muslim, environmental stewardship is an instrumental expression of my faith. God bestowed on mankind a covenant to protect the Earth in the role of vicegerent. The natural world is referenced in the Qur'an numerous times as a source of God's signs to mankind of His existence, not only to enjoy but also protect from exploitation. Yet, we continue to abuse the Earth, and I wonder to what extent our actions echo our culpability. We buy into a system that encourages pillaging natural resources, obsessing over consumption and feeling little urgency to take the role of the environment's protector. While the Obama administration has promised the development of alternative energy sources in order to rid us of dependence on foreign oil, long term plans cannot be used in place of immediate action. Short-term results can be achieved when individuals connect how their level of consumption affects the environment and begin to make even the smallest changes.