Middle East Politics.Net » Jordan

$40 Million for Jordanian Landfill Project

mmunguia — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 06:26:18 +0000

$40 million will go to the expansion of the Ghabawi landfill starting early next year. The money will be provided by a loan agreement, signed between the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) and the World Bank, this past Thursday. This project will allow for the improvement of the waste management capabilities in the municipality. The loan will be paid back with the money made from the selling of methane gas that is produced by the landfill.

Mayra Munguia

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Combating Violence Against Women in Jordan

mmunguia — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 06:24:07 +0000

Uniting and organizing national efforts is said to be the most effective method to combat violence against women in Jordan by activists and officials. The Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW) has already made recommendations for a draft that proposes certain efforts to be made in order to protect women and were made available to the press a week after the national conference on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women ended. The participants of this year’s conference also want to focus on increasing male participation.

This conference took place on November 25 and among the participants were local officials, activists, students and artisans.

Mayra Munguia

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Businesses Committing to UN Global Compact

mmunguia — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 06:22:18 +0000

There are officially 24 local businesses in Jordan registered and committed to the UN Global Compact (UNGC). 10 principles are universally accepted through the UNGC in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. The UNGC is a “strategic policy initiative for businesses that are considered primary agents driving globalization and can help ensure that markets, commerce, technology and finance advance in ways that benefit economies and societies everywhere” (UNGC website). By endorsing the UNGC last year, Jordan became one of the first Arab countries to support the initiative.

There are over 4,700 corporate participants from over 130 countries, which make it the biggest corporate citizenship and sustainability initiative in the world.

The ten principles are:

Human Rights:

1. Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and

2. Make sure that they are not complicit in human right abuses

Labor Standards:

3. Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

4. The elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labor

5. The effective abolition of child labor; and

6. The elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

Environment:

7. Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;

8. Undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and

9. Encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies

Anti-Corruption:

10. Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery

Mayra Munguia

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Great Turnout of Signatories, but not Jordan

mmunguia — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 06:16:58 +0000

The Norwegian Ambassador to Jordan, Mette Ravn, stated his surprise at the number of signatories that turned out for the global ban on cluster munitions. He added that there is still an extra effort that needs to be made in order to get other countries to join.

On Tuesday, about 92 countries put their names on the humanitarian treaty of the decade during the opening of the Convention on Cluster Munitions at Oslo’s City Hall on. The convention is to remain open until Friday and puts a global ban on the use of stockpiling and production of cluster munitions and creates requirements for the destruction of the stockpiles. Among the countries that signed were Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Laos–some of those most impacted by this problem.

The treaty was not signed by Jordan even though it is a leader in the Mine Ban Treaty, because it is not affected by cluster munition, but has stockpiles.

Mayra Munguia

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Jordanian Peace Camps

mmunguia — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 06:13:54 +0000

This year’s 2nd Generations for Peace Camp were held in Aqaba, Petra and Wadi Rum. Attending were participants from the continents of Asia and Africa who suffer from political and social unrest. A press conference will be held by HRH Prince Feisal, as the camp concludes its work for the year.

Mayra Munguia

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Increase in Tourism in Jordan

mmunguia — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 06:11:57 +0000

The Ministry of Tourism released figures earlier this week showing that tourism increased between January and September by 6%. Most of the people stayed in classified hotels in the capital, followed by Petra, the Dead Sea and Aqaba. This is great news say industry officials who have been working hard to fight against the challenges facing the global economy. Most of the tourist going to Jordan are doing it through package tours.

The CEO of the Jordan Inbound Tour Operator Association (JITOA) said that these figures can be expected to change over the next year because of the current global economic crisis.

Mayra Munguia

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

UN Envoy and Jordan’s Bashir Speak

mmunguia — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 06:09:23 +0000

On Thursday, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert Serry met with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Salah Bashir, to speak about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It was stressed by the minister that the main conflict in the Middle East is that of Palestine and Israel. He went on to emphasized that the only solution would be a two state plan. He also warned Serry about Israel’s settlement activities in the West Bank, specifically in East Jerusalem. This would be something that would disrupt any negotiation plans, stated the minister. Bashir ended by bringing attention to the current siege imposed by Israel that is not allowing entry of food and humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip by saying that there should be immediate action taken to end it.

Mayra Munguia

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Jordan’s Fayez Requests Computerized Departments

mmunguia — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 06:07:21 +0000

Interior Minister, Eid Fayez, re-emphasized the need to computerize multiple departments and other sections of the Kingdom’s governorates, linking them to ensure a more effective service to the public. Fayez called on officials in Jordan’s governorates to treat all citizens equally during a visit to the Amman Governorate.

Mayra Munguia

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Importance of Volunteering in Jordan

mmunguia — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 06:04:37 +0000

HRH Princess Basma was the honorary guest for the International Year of Volunteers this past December 4th. She stated her excitement for the great progress in the volunteer movement in Jordan since the UNV Program was introduce in 2000. The purpose of the UNV is to promote volunteer work by teaching of the important impact it provides.

According to UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative posted in Jordan, Luc Stevens, if Jordan wants to meet its Millennium Development Goals by 2015, it is essential to get more people to volunteer. Volunteers are needed for developmental projects.

Mayra Munguia

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Jordan: Persons with Disabilities not Covered in Media

mmunguia — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 06:02:58 +0000

According to the unreleased study conducted by the British Council, issues relating to disabilities are rarely covered in Jordan’s print media. In this study, Jordan’s major newspapers were studied and only 68% of them included disability issues–98% of the articles not being placed on the main page.

The purpose of the study is to bring awareness to the segment of the population that lives with special needs. In interviews, they state that they want to be treated as normal people and not people “with special needs.”

Mayra Munguia

Bookmark It

Hide Sites